Modalities in Physical Therapy

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a new wearable type of lumbosacral support on low back pain. METHODS: A total of 121 healthcare workers participated in this study. They were randomly allocated into the experimental and control groups and the former wore the support with signals of compression on the back by poor posture for the first 3 months. The control group remained on a waiting list for the first 3 months. Medical history, musculoskeletal symptoms, feeling in good posture, sleep habits, psychological distress, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, and Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) were evaluated...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of femoral rotational taping on task performance, dynamic postural control, and pain during the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) in patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP) compared to healthy controls. DESIGN: Case-control study, pretest-posttest. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four female participants (16 with PFP, 8 controls). INTERVENTIONS: Participants in both the PFP and control groups performed SEBT with no taping, sham taping, and femoral rotational taping...

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on cartilage degeneration, and expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), in an experimental rat model of osteoarthritis induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). DESIGN: Experimental. SETTING: University animal laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We performed histological examination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, to assess cartilage degeneration, urine C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II), and mRNA expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (c-Jun), p38, and MMPs...

The aim of the present study was to compare hemodynamic responses between blood flow-restricted resistance exercise (BFR-RE), high-intensity resistance exercise (HI-RE) and low-intensity resistance exercise (LI-RE) performed to muscular failure. 12 men (age: 20±3 years; body mass: 73.5±9 kg; height: 174±6 cm) performed 4 sets of leg press exercises using BFR-RE (30% of 1-RM), HI-RE (80% of 1-RM) and LI-RE (30% of 1-RM) protocols. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) were measured on a beat-to-beat continuous basis by a noninvasive photoplethysmographic arterial pressure device...

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the availability, usage, and factors affecting usage of electrophysical agents by physical therapists in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. [Subjects and Methods] Questionnaires were sent to all 1,571 physical therapists working in 245 institutions within Nagano Prefecture. A total of 1,110 questionnaires were returned, out of which 1,099 (70%) questionnaires containing valid responses were analyzed. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for 22 modalities with regards to availability, usage, rate of usage, and confidence level in usage...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact on the edema and pain when applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. [Subjects and Methods] Eleven patients who were diagnosed with lymphedema were selected as the subjects of the study. The experimental group received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation treatment on edema regions three times per week for four weeks. Surface tape measurement was used to measure changes in lower extremity edema. Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. [Subjects and Methods] In this study, an experiment was conducted on 20 subjects who were divided into the control group (n=10), which would receive conservative physical therapy (CPT), and the experimental group (n=10), which would receive effects of high intensity laser therapy after conservative physical therapy. All patients received their respective therapies three times each week over a four-week period...

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to quantify in vivo posterior translational movements occurring in the glenohumeral joint during posterior mobilizations and to determine the intratester reliability of those posterior translational movements. METHODS: Twenty-eight individuals (17 females, 11 males) participated in this study. One physical therapist utilized a Kaltenborn approach to apply three grades of posterior humeral mobilization. A hand held dynamometer was used to quantify the force used during each grade of mobilization...

CONTEXT: Cryotherapy, a common intervention used by clinicians, poses several benefits in managing acute injuries. However, cooling muscle tissue can interfere with muscular properties and the sensory-motor system. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of cryotherapy with a crushed-ice pack on shoulder proprioception concerning joint position sense, force sense, the threshold for detecting passive movement, and maximal force production. DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind controlled trial...

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dry needling on hamstring extensibility and functional performance tests among asymptomatic individuals with hamstring muscle tightness. BACKGROUND: Dry needling has been shown to increase range of motion in the upper quarter and may have similar effects in the lower quarter. METHODS: 27 subjects with hamstring extensibility deficits were randomly assigned to side of treatment (dominant or nondominant) and group (blunt needling or dry needling)...

CONTEXT: Foam rolling has been proposed to improve muscle function, performance, and joint range of motion (ROM). However, whether a foam rolling protocol can be adopted as a warm-up to improve flexibility and muscle strength is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To examine and compare the acute effects of foam rolling, static stretching, and dynamic stretching used as part of a warm-up on flexibility and muscle strength of knee flexion and extension. DESIGN: Crossover study...

BACKGROUND: Recently, dry needling has emerged as a popular treatment for muscular pain and impairments. While there are numerous studies detailing the benefits of dry needling for pain, few studies exist examining the effects on soft tissue mobility. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if the addition of hamstring dry needling to a standard stretching program results in greater improvements in hamstring flexibility compared to sham dry needling and stretching in subjects with atraumatic knee pain...

BACKGROUND: Dry needling (DN) is an evidence based treatment technique that is accepted and used by physical therapists in the United States. This clinical commentary is the second in a two-part series outlining some of the pertinent anatomy and other issues that are needed for optimal utilization of this treatment modality. Part one was an overview of the thorax with a summary of reported adverse effects (AEs) and the underlying anatomy that could be used to minimize patient risk. As is the case with any intervention, the technique of dry needling has some inherent patient risk...

INTRODUCTION: Quadriceps strength after arthroscopic knee procedures is frequently diminished several years postoperation. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training uses partial venous occlusion while performing submaximal exercise to induce muscle hypertrophy and strength improvements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate BFR as a postoperative therapeutic intervention after knee arthroscopy. METHODS: A randomized controlled pilot study comparing physical therapy with and without BFR after knee arthroscopy was conducted...

[Purpose] Kinesio taping is a therapeutic method used in the treatment of various musculoskeletal and neuromuscular deficits, but there is limited evidence of the effects of trunk kinesio taping in neurologic patients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of trunk kinesio taping on balance ability and gait function in persons after a stroke. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-five post-stroke patients were included in this study. Kinesio tape was applied to four trunk muscles. Before and after the taping, in all subjects, the balance ability was measured using the Wii Balance Board, and gait function was assessed using the GAITRite system...

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effects of kinesiology taping (KT) and athletic taping (AT) on ankle proprioception when tested in functional, full weight-bearing stance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy university students participated. Proprioception was measured using the Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus (AMEDA). The three testing conditions: no-taping, KT, AT, and foot tested were randomly assigned...

CONTEXT: Cold-water immersion (CWI) has been applied widely as a recovery method, but little evidence is available to support its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of CWI on muscle damage, perceived muscle soreness, and muscle power recovery of the upper and lower limbs after jiu-jitsu training. DESIGN: Crossover study. SETTING: Laboratory and field. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8 highly trained male athletes (age = 24...

BACKGROUND: Muscle injuries are among the most common sports-related lesions in athletes; however, optimal treatment remains obscure. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) may be a promising approach in this context, because it has gained increasing importance in tissue regeneration in various medical fields. HYPOTHESIS: ESWT stimulates and accelerates regenerative processes of acute muscle injuries. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study...

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture reportedly relieves chronic knee pain and improves physical function in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis, but the duration of these effects is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the temporal effects of acupuncture on chronic knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis by means of a meta-analysis. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for studies published through March 2015...

OBJECTIVES: Up to 35% of runners develop medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) which often results in lengthy disruption to training and sometimes affects daily activities. There is currently no high quality evidence to support any particular intervention for MTSS. This study aims to investigate the effect of shockwave therapy for MTSS. DESIGN: A randomized, sham-controlled, pilot trial in a university-based health clinic including 28 active adults with MTSS. METHODS: Intervention included standard dose shockwave therapy for the experimental group versus sham dose for the control group, delivered during Week 1-3, 5 and 9...