Effects of the Russian current in the treatment of low back pain in women: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a high impact condition that affects the working population, generating social and economic repercussions, the most relevant symptoms being pain and functional disability. Conservative treatment is often based on stabilizing spinal muscles with exercises: the Russian current (RC) is reported as an alternative, because it promotes muscle contraction, providing muscle strengthening and hypertrophy.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the RC in aiding the treatment of low back pain.

Lower Trunk Muscle Thickness Is Associated With Pain in Women With Patellofemoral Pain.

Objectives: To compare trunk muscle thickness of women with and without patellofemoral pain (PFP) and to assess the association of trunk muscle thickness with self-reported pain of women with PFP.

Methods: Forty-four women were recruited and divided into 2 groups: a PFP group (n = 22) and a pain-free group (n = 22). The thickness of the following trunk muscles was obtained by B-mode ultrasound imaging: transversus abdominis, obliquus internus (OI), obliquus externus (OE), rectus abdominis, and multifidus.