The Effects of a Single Vagus Nerve's Neurodynamics on Heart Rate Variability in Chronic Stress: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The modulation of the autonomic nervous system's activity, particularly increasing its parasympathetic tone, is of significant interest in clinical physiotherapy due to its potential benefits for stress-related conditions and recovery processes. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the addition of neurodynamics in enhancing parasympathetic activation in subjects with chronic stress.

Methods: A clinical trial randomly assigned participants to a group with neurodynamics (6 bpm breathing protocol + manual therapy + neurodynamic technique) or a group without neurodynamics (6 bpm breathing protocol + manual therapy only).

Effects of minimalist shoes on pelvic floor activity in nulliparous women during running at different velocities: a randomized cross-over clinical trial.

In the last decade, minimalist shoes have gained popularity as an alternative to traditional shoes. The aim of the present study was to determine the short-term effects of minimalist shoes in femur range of motion (ROM) and cadence. The secondary objectives were the assessment of the electromyographic activity of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in nulliparous women.

Influence of unstable shoes on women with lumbopelvic postpartum pain: randomized clinical trial.

Background: Back pain is a normal symptom during pregnancy and is expected to become worse beyond the first three months after childbirth.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of wearing unstable shoes instead of conventional shoes, regarding pain intensity, low back mobility and stability, among women with lumbopelvic pain (LPP) during the postpartum period.

Design And Setting: Prospective, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial conducted at a podiatry and physiotherapy clinical center.

Ultrasound Assessment of the Abdominal Wall Muscles in Women with and without Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is one of the most common gynecological disorders in women of reproductive age that may affect quality of life. It is believed that the underlying cause of PD may be the excessive production of prostaglandins (PGs), however, between 20%-25% of women with PD did not respond to pharmacological treatments, showing that nociceptive mechanisms underlying PD are still not understood. The purpose of this study was to measure and compare, through the use of ultrasound imaging, the thickness at rest of the abdominal wall, as well as the interrecti distance (IRD), in women with and without PD.

Subacute Clinical Features After Arthroscopy Surgical Reconstruction of Complete Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture: A Case-Control Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical features in the subacute phase after surgical reconstruction of complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLR) with respect to healthy participants.

Methods: A case-control observational study was performed. A total sample of 80 participants was recruited from an outpatient clinic and divided into case (n = 40 patients after ACLR reconstruction in subacute phase) and control (n = 40 healthy participants) groups.

Efficacy of quadriceps vastus medialis dry needling in a rehabilitation protocol after surgical reconstruction of complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

Background: Several new rehabilitation modalities have been proposed after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Among these, trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN) might be useful in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome associated with ACL reconstruction to reduce pain intensity, increase knee flexion range and modify the mechanical properties of the quadriceps muscle during late-stage rehabilitation. To date, this is the first randomized clinical trial to support the use of TrP-DN in the early rehabilitation process after ACL reconstruction.

The concurrent validity and reliability of the Leg Motion system for measuring ankle dorsiflexion range of motion in older adults.

Background: New reliable devices for range of motion (ROM) measures in older adults are necessary to improve knowledge about the functional capability in this population. Dorsiflexion ROM limitation is associated with ankle injuries, foot pain, lower limb disorders, loss of balance, gait control disorders and fall risk in older adults. The aim of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Leg Motion device for measuring ankle dorsiflexion ROM in older adults.

The use of reflective journaling as a learning strategy during the clinical rotations of students from the faculty of health sciences: An action-research study.

Background: Reflective practice contributes significantly to the assimilation of knowledge in undergraduate health students. Reflective journals constitute a learning strategy that promotes student reflection during clinical practice.

Aims: The overall aim of the study was to explore teachers' perceptions and experiences regarding the use of reflective clinical journals as a learning tool for students in order to improve the implementation of clinical journal writing in all the Health Science degrees offered by our University.

Anatomical association between wrist extensor musculature and topographical pain sensitivity maps of the elbow area.

Objective: High-density topographical sensitivity maps have been developed to visualize nonuniformity deep tissue pain sensitivity in, for example, lateral epicondylitis (LE). The aim of this cadaveric study was to determine the anatomical association between the topographical sensitivity maps over the elbow area and wrist extensor musculature.

Methods: A topographical pressure sensitivity map consisting of 12 points forming a 3 × 4 matrix: 4 points in the superior part, 4 points in the middle, and 4 points in the lower part around the lateral epicondyle was marker on a 50-year embalmed cadaver.

Topographical pressure and thermal pain sensitivity mapping in patients with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia.

Unlabelled: Our aim was to quantify spatial differences in pressure and thermal pain sensitivity maps between patients with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia (LE) and age- and sex-matched controls. Pressure (PPT), cold (CPT), and heat (HPT) pain thresholds were assessed over 12 points forming a 3 × 4 matrix (4 points in the superior part, 4 points in the middle, and 4 points in the lower part around the lateral epicondyle) bilaterally in 16 subjects with strictly unilateral LE and 16 age- and sex-matched controls in a blinded design. Topographical pain sensitivity maps to pressure and thermal stimulation over the elbow in patients with LE and healthy controls were calculated.