Short-term Effects of Transcranial Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation on Motor Performance in Healthy Human Subjects: An Experimental SingleBlind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Transcranial near-infrared photobiomodulation (NIR-PBM) is a new noninvasive procedure which transcranially applies a near-infrared wavelength to the scalp with a laser or a light-emitting diode (LED) source. Improvement in the neurological or psychological symptoms has been reported following light irradiation. However, to our knowledge, there is no study to investigate the effects of transcranial NIR-PBM on motor performance directly.

Vibration settling time of the gastrocnemius remains constant during an exhaustive run in rear foot strike runners.

In this study, vibrations of human gastrocnemius during an exhaustive run protocol are considered for analysis. Previous studies have shown increased vibration intensity and damping coefficient within the soft tissue with fatigue. The question of this study was to investigate if the vibration settling time remains constant during a prolonged running.

Myoelectric Activity of Individual Muscles Variation by Differing Seat Pan Depth.

Background: The chair influences the position of the user in relation to his or her devices. Prolonged static sitting is a frequently mentioned risk factor for low back pain. Seat design, thus, plays an important role in the study of human sitting.

Effects of External Perturbations on Anticipatory and Compensatory Postural Adjustments in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and a Fall History.

Background: Although previous studies have investigated postural adjustment mechanisms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), it seems that no study has yet investigated the relationship between anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments (APAs and CPAs, respectively) and falls.

Methods: Seventeen MS fallers, 17 MS nonfallers, and 15 controls were exposed to a series of expected and unexpected backward pull perturbations applied at the trunk level. The electrical activity of 12 leg and trunk muscles as well as center of pressure displacement were recorded.

Effects of McGill stabilization exercises and conventional physiotherapy on pain, functional disability and active back range of motion in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to compare the effects of "McGill stabilization exercises" and "conventional physiotherapy" on pain, functional disability and active back flexion and extension range of motion in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty four patients with chronic non-specific low back pain were randomly assigned to McGill stabilization exercises group (n=17) and conventional physiotherapy group (n=17). In both groups, patients performed the corresponding exercises for six weeks.

Electrophysiological assessment of piano players' back extensor muscles on a regular piano bench and chair with back rest.

[Purpose] Sitting position is the dominant position for a professional pianist. There are many static and dynamic forces which affect musculoskeletal system during sitting. In prolonged sitting, these forces are harmful.

Hip joint torques in type II diabetes with and without neuropathy.

Background: Patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy demonstrate significantly reduced peak torques at the peripheral joints.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess isometric and concentric peak torques of the hip joint in people with type II diabetes with and without peripheral neuropathy in comparison with healthy participants.

Methods: 27 patients with type II diabetes including 15 patients without peripheral neuropathy, 12 patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy and 15 healthy people participated.

Effects of tool handle dimension and workpiece orientation and size on wrist ulnar/radial torque strength, usability and discomfort in a wrench task.

The effects of tool handle dimension (three modified designs of wrenches with 30-50 mm diameter cylindrical handles and traditional design with rectangular cross-sectional (5 mm × 25 mm) handle), workpiece orientation (vertical/horizontal) and workpiece size (small/large) as well as user's hand size on wrist ulnar/radial (U/R) torque strength, usability and discomfort, and also the relationship between these variables were evaluated in a maximum torque task using wrenches. The highest and lowest levels of maximal wrist U/R torque strength were recorded for the 30 mm diameter handle and traditional wrench design, respectively. The prototype handle with 30 mm diameter, together with 40 mm diameter handle, was also better than other designs as they received higher usability ratings and caused less discomfort.

Effects of Stabilization Exercises Focusing on Pelvic Floor Muscles on Low Back Pain and Urinary Incontinence in Women.

Objective: To investigate the effects of stabilization exercises focusing on pelvic floor muscles on both low back pain (LBP) and urinary incontinence (UI) in women suffering from chronic nonspecific LBP.

Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 60 women, ranging from 45 to 60 years old, with chronic nonspecific LBP and stress UI were recruited. They were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 30) that received routine physiotherapy modalities and regular exercises, or the training group (n = 30) that received routine physiotherapy modalities and stabilization exercises focusing on pelvic floor muscle (12 weeks).

Correlation between Hip Rotation Range-of-Motion Impairment and Low Back Pain. A Literature Review.

Background: Hip rotation range-of-motion (ROM) impairment has been proposed as a contributing mechanical factor in the development of low back pain (LBP) symptoms. There is a hypothesis which suggests that a limited range of hip rotation results in compensatory lumbar spine rotation. Hence, LBP may develop as the result.

Physiotherapy for women with stress urinary incontinence: a review article.

[Purpose] This review article is designed to expose physiotherapists to a physiotherapy assessment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and the treatment and possibly preventive roles that they might play for women with SUI. Specifically, the goal of this article is to provide an understanding of pelvic floor muscle function and the implications that this function has for physiotherapy treatment by reviewing articles published in this area. [Methods] A range of databases was searched to identify articles that address physiotherapy for SUI, including the Cochrane Library, Medline, and CINAHL.

Comparison of tap water and normal saline iontophoresis in idiopathic hyperhidrosis: a case report.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tap water (drinking water) and normal saline (sodium chloride solution 0.9%) iontophoresis treatment for a patient with idiopathic hyperhidrosis [Subjects and Methods] In this study, tap water and normal saline iontophoresis were used to treat a 21 year-old female who was suffering from severe palmoplantar idiopathic hyperhidrosis. Post-iontophoresis sweat intensity of 8 treatment sessions were averaged and then normalized relative to the corresponding mean value which was obtained before iontophoresis treatment.

Effects of neuromobilization maneuver on clinical and electrophysiological measures of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of neuromobilization combined with routine physiotherapy in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome through subjective, physical, and electrophysiological studies. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (totally 32 hands) were assigned two groups: treatment and control groups. In both groups, patients received the routine physiotherapy.

Reliability of upper limb tension test 1 in normal subjects and patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Background And Objective: Tension tests or neurodynamic techniques assess the mobility of the peripheral nerves and provide a guide for planning and managing physiotherapy treatments of entrapment syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). One of the upper limb tension tests (ULTT) is ULTT1 that evaluates the efficacy of physiotherapy treatment. It has been shown to be a valid test but its reliability has not been investigated for CTS.

Activation-induced force enhancement in human adductor pollicis.

It has been known for a long time that the steady-state isometric force after muscle stretch is bigger than the corresponding force obtained in a purely isometric contraction for electrically stimulated and maximal voluntary contractions (MVC). Recent studies using sub-maximal voluntary contractions showed that force enhancement only occurred in a sub-group of subjects suggesting that force enhancement for sub-maximal voluntary contractions has properties different from those of electrically-induced and maximal voluntary contractions. Specifically, force enhancement for sub-maximal voluntary contractions may contain an activation-dependent component that is independent of muscle stretching.

The dependence of force enhancement on activation in human adductor pollicis.

It has been well recognized that the steady-state isometric force after active muscle/fiber stretch is greater than the corresponding isometric force for electrically stimulated muscles and maximal voluntary contractions (MVC). However, recent evidence obtained for sub-MVC suggests that force enhancement properties are different from those observed for electrically induced and MVC. Specifically, it appears that force enhancement is activation-dependent and that there is a subject-specific threshold for force enhancement in sub-MVC.

Force enhancement at different levels of voluntary contraction in human adductor pollicis.

There is substantial evidence that the steady-state isometric force following active muscle stretch is greater than the corresponding isometric force for sub-maximal and maximal electrically induced contractions, and for maximal voluntary contractions (MVC). This so-called force enhancement (FE) has not been investigated systematically for sub-MVC. Recently, we found that FE only occurred in about half of all tested subjects at 30% of MVC in the adductor pollicis muscle, suggesting that FE for voluntary contractions might depend on the level of activation.

Force depression following muscle shortening in sub-maximal voluntary contractions of human adductor pollicis.

Mechanical properties of skeletal muscles are often studied for controlled, electrically induced, maximal, or supra-maximal contractions. However, many mechanical properties, such as the force-length relationship and force enhancement following active muscle stretching, are quite different for maximal and sub-maximal, or electrically induced and voluntary contractions. Force depression, the loss of force observed following active muscle shortening, has been observed and is well documented for electrically induced and maximal voluntary contractions.

Observations on force enhancement in submaximal voluntary contractions of human adductor pollicis muscle.

It has been observed consistently and is well accepted that the steady-state isometric force after active muscle stretch is greater than the corresponding isometric force for electrically stimulated muscles and maximal voluntary contractions. However, this so-called force enhancement has not been studied for submaximal voluntary efforts; therefore, it is not known whether this property affects everyday movements. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was force enhancement during submaximal voluntary contractions.