Assessment of the pelvic and body interface pressure during different recumbent and semi-recumbent birthing positions.

Background: Childbirth, a multifaceted physiological event, undergoes dynamic changes influenced significantly by the chosen birthing position, impacting comfort and maternal and neonatal outcomes among other factors. This study aimed to investigate the bed-body interface pressure across five commonly adopted birthing positions, particularly focusing on their influence on pelvic expansion biomechanics during labour.

Methods: Twenty healthy participants, aged between 18 and 49 years, were evaluated.

Does an alternative breast support garment provide symptomatic relief for larger breasted women with chronic non-specific back pain?

Background: Nonsurgical guidelines recommend implementing a correctly fitted bra when managing back pain among larger breasted women. Achieving this is challenging with current bra solutions, sizing principles, and fitting approaches. Persistent wearing of an ill-fitting bra can cause negative health implications, including non-specific back pain.

Perceptions of stigma associated with chronic knee pain: voices of selected women in Thailand and Malaysia.

Introduction: A higher prevalence of knee pain in Southeast Asian countries, compared with non-Asian countries, is an established fact. This article hypothesizes that this fact, combined with personal, cultural, and environmental factors, may influence attitudes toward illness and treatment-seeking behavior and adherence.

Objective: This study aimed to determine current attitudes, stigma, and barriers of women to the management of chronic knee pain and treatment in two Southeast Asian countries.

Impact of a new clinical mattress solution on interface pressure and comfort during supine lying.

Objective: Effective pressure management for individuals is critical for hospital and community-based care, to prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers. This study explores the impact of a new mattress and topper solution on interface pressure and comfort during supine lying.

Method: In this quantitative, healthy cohort study, patient-surface interface pressures were calculated for three mattresses (a standard hospital mattress, a new mattress solution (Levitex Foams Ltd.

The use of statistical parametric mapping to determine altered movement patterns in people with chronic low back pain.

Kinematics studies have generally focused on the quantity of movement using discrete parameters such as maximum and minimum angles to compare between people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and healthy individuals. However, discrete parameters cannot be used to fully describe movement patterns and segmental contributions. This study aimed to explore the use of Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) to characterize quality of movement by examining if differences in movement patterns exist between groups, and within-group segmental contributions, during active movement tests.

Understanding experience, knowledge and perceived challenges related to bra fit for sports participation: a scoping review.

The breasts are reported as the fourth largest barrier to participation in physical activity (PA). This scoping review provides a comprehensive understanding of experiences, knowledge and challenges relating to bra fit and sports participation. The search strategy was adopted by the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and multiple databases were searched.

Case study: night compression use in a patient with Milroy's disease.

Aim: Lymphoedema is associated with dysfunctional lymphatics, tissue fibrosis and inflammatory changes in the skin and local tissue. Ensuring compression supports tissue health is crucial to managing lymphoedema. Providing patients with safe compression which enhances their tissue health is paramount when supporting their 24-hour self-management regimens.

The effect of motor imagery on quality of movement when performing reaching tasks in healthy subjects: A proof of concept.

Introduction: The use of motor imagery (MI) has been shown to offer significant improvements in movement performance in sports, and is now receiving a lot of attention as a relatively new therapeutic approach which can be applied in rehabilitation. However, the effects of MI on the quality of movement is still unclear. This study explored the immediate effect of MI on reaching tasks in healthy subjects.

The impact of breast support garments on fit, support and posture of larger breasted women.

Due to current measurement, sizing and fitting approaches, poor bra fit is prevalent amongst larger breasted women. The impact of improving bra fit hasn't yet been explored. This pre-clinical study aimed to explore immediate and short-term biomechanical responses to changing breast support garment.

"I'm walking into the unknown": Qualitative insights into how emotions and lived experience related to multiple sclerosis diagnosis impact on decisions to pursue disease modifying treatment.

Introduction: People with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) are increasingly included as active participants in shared decision making around their treatment options. Choosing a first disease modifying treatment (DMT) is a complex process that often takes place soon after a diagnosis has been given. Patients therefore are often required to make difficult decisions at a time when they are still coming to terms with their illness.

Rider Skill Affects Time and Frequency Domain Postural Variables When Performing Shoulder-in.

In equestrian sports the novice rider learns first to follow the movements of the horse's back and then how to influence the horse's performance. One of the rider's challenges is to overcome inherent horse and/or rider asymmetry patterns when riding in straight lines, mirroring the movements on the left, and right sides when turning. This study compares the performance of novice and advanced riders when riding in sitting trot on straight lines and when riding shoulder-in to the left and right sides.

Examination of a new mobile intermittent pneumatic compression device in healthy adults.

Objective: Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) is an alternative method of compression treatment designed to compress the leg and mimic ambulatory pump action to actively promote venous return. This study explores the efficacy of a new portable IPC device on tissue oxygenation (StO) in two sitting positions.

Method: In this quantitative, healthy single cohort study, participants were screened and recruited using Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q, Canada).

Examination of the effects of a new compression garment on skin tissue oxygenation in healthy volunteers.

Objective: Compression devices have been shown to reduce venous stasis, increase blood flow and skin tissue oxygenation (StO), promoting healthy tissue. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of a new compression garment in three different positions in healthy adults.

Methods: In this quantitative study, potential participants were screened and recruited using the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q, Canada).

Can the use of proprioceptive knee braces have implications in the management of osteoarthritic knees: An exploratory study.

Background:: Use of proprioceptive knee braces to control symptomology by altering neuromuscular control mechanisms has been shown in patellofemoral pain. Although their potential in patients with knee osteoarthritis is vast, little research has examined their efficacy.

Objectives:: This study examines the effect of a proprioceptive knee brace on lower limb kinematics and kinetics in healthy participants and in participants with OA.

Determination of Ankle and Metatarsophalangeal Stiffness During Walking and Jogging.

Forefoot stiffness has been shown to influence joint biomechanics. However, little or no data exist on metatarsophalangeal stiffness. Twenty-four healthy rearfoot strike runners were recruited from a staff and student population at the University of Central Lancashire.

Do orthotic walkers affect knee and hip function during gait?

Background And Aim: Much previous research on orthotic walkers has focussed on their ability to offload structures in the foot and ankle; however, little is known about their effects on lower limb mechanics. This study aimed to determine effects of two orthotic walkers on the biomechanics of the knee and hip joints compared to standardised footwear.

Technique: A total of 10 healthy participants walked under three conditions: Walker A (Össur, Iceland), Walker B (DJO Global, USA) and standardised footwear (Hotter, UK).

Do people who consciously attend to their movements have more self-reported knee pain? An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study explored the relationship between propensity for conscious control of movement (assessed by the Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale) and self-reported knee pain.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: General population.

Biomechanical differences between experienced and inexperienced wheelchair users during sport.

Background: During functional wheelchair movement there are several types of stroke pattern that a manual wheelchair user (MWCU) can utilize in order to propel.

Objectives: To examine the biomechanical differences between disabled (WCU) and able-bodied (NWCU) children whilst taking part in functional activities at the Cheetahs Wheelchair Sports Club.

Study Design: A multiple measures cohort study.

Children's use of the bearing angle in interceptive actions.

The authors investigated the effect of ball velocity and walking direction on children's adherence to the constant bearing angle (CBA) strategy. Children (N = 20) approached a moving ball to manually intercept it at a predefined target area. Results revealed that 10- to 12-year-olds adhered more than 5- to 7-year-olds to the CBA strategy.

Postural adjustments and bearing angle use in interceptive actions.

The experiment investigates the effect of ball velocity and walking direction on the adherence to the bearing angle (BA) strategy in adults. Adult participants (N=12) approached a moving ball in order to manually intercept it at a predefined target area. Results revealed that during locomotion the BA strategy was implemented, but on reaching the point of interception, this strategy broke down and the BA strategy of the wrist compensated for the movement requirements relative to the ball velocity and approach angle.