The application of infrared thermography in the assessment of patients with coccygodynia before and after manual therapy combined with diathermy.

Objective: This study examines the potential usefulness of a novel thermal imaging technique in the assessment of local physiologic responses before and after conservative therapies for coccygodynia.

Methods: Patients with coccygodynia were selected on the basis of detailed history taking, clinical examination, and dynamic series radiography. They underwent therapeutic modalities consisting of 6 to 8 sessions of manual medicine treatments (massage of the levators followed by Maigne's manipulative technique) and external physiotherapy (short-wave diathermy) 3 times a week for 8 weeks.

Effect on spasticity after performance of dynamic-repeated-passive ankle joint motion exercise in chronic stroke patients.

Spasticity associated with abnormal muscle tone is a common motor disorder following stroke, and the spastic ankle may affect ambulatory function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of dynamic-repeated-passive ankle movements with weight loading on ambulatory function and spastic hypertonia of chronic stroke patients. In this study, 12 chronic stroke patients with ankle spasticity and inefficient ambulatory ability were enrolled.