Eccentric and blood flow restriction exercises in women induce hypertrophy.

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the mechanical and metabolic effects of eccentric (ECC) resistance training and blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise on the elbow flexors in recreationally trained females.

Methods: Seventeen females (ECC: 30.0±7.

The Effect of Current Low Back Pain on Volitional Preemptive Abdominal Activation During a Loaded Forward Reach Activity.

Background: A volitional preemptive abdominal contraction (VPAC) supports trunk stability during functional activity. Pain-free individuals can sustain VPAC during function, but such has not been reported for individuals with current low back pain (cLBP).

Objective: To examine whether cLBP affects VPAC performance during a loaded forward reach (LFR) task.

Spinal height change in response to sustained and repetitive prone lumbar extension after a period of spinal unloading.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate if differences in spinal height changes in healthy individuals were observed after a period of spinal unloading using repetitive as compared with sustained lumbar extension exercises.

Methods: This study used a pretest, posttest, crossover design. Asymptomatic participants were recruited using convenience sampling.

Validity of musculoskeletal ultrasound for identification of humeroradial joint chondral lesions: a preliminary investigation.

Context: Epicondylalgia is a common condition involving pain-generating structures such as tendon, neural, and chondral tissue. The current noninvasive reference standard for identifying chondral lesions is magnetic resonance imaging. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MUS) may be an inexpensive and effective alternative.

Effect of recurrent low back pain history on volitional pre-emptive abdominal activation during a loaded functional reach activity.

Study Design: A 2 (group) × 2 (abdominal contraction) × 2 (reach activity) crossover mixed design with repeated measures for contraction and activity examined the effects of a loaded (4.6 kg) forward-reach activity and abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) on transversus abdominis (TrA) contraction in subjects with nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) history versus controls.

Objective: We measured TrA contraction during a loaded forward-reach activity while using the ADIM and examined if a NSLBP history affects TrA activity.

Co-contractive activation of the superficial multifidus during volitional preemptive abdominal contraction.

Objective: To investigate whether the superficial multifidus (MF) muscle at the lower lumbar spine displayed co-contraction during volitional preemptive abdominal contraction (VPAC) through the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) or the abdominal bracing maneuver (ABM) in 3 different postural positions.

Design: A within-subject cohort design.

Setting: A clinical laboratory.

Reliability of a seated three-dimensional passive intervertebral motion test for mobility, end-feel, and pain provocation in patients with cervicalgia.

Objectives: Neck pain can be evaluated with passive intervertebral motion (PIVM). No study has evaluated the reliability of three-dimensional (3D) segmental PIVM testing of the cervical spine in symptomatic subjects in a functional, seated position. The purpose of this study was to evaluate inter-rater reliability of such 3D PIVM technique for pain provocation, hypomobility, and end-feel detection.

The effect of isometric shoulder internal and external rotation on the acromiohumeral distance.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of isometric internal and external rotation at various degrees of shoulder abduction on the acromiohumeral distance (AHD).

Design: This was a prospective study that used a within-subject repeated-measures design and randomization of independent variables. Data from 29 of 58 (40 women, 18 men) prospectively enrolled healthy subjects were used for analysis.

Chronic female pelvic pain--part 2: differential diagnosis and management.

Pelvic pain is a common condition. Treatment interventions have traditionally targeted biomedical conditions with variable success. Utilizing a systematic approach to examination of the pelvic girdle and related organ systems contained within the pelvis will aid the clinician in identifying the painful structure(s) as well as the associated impairments limiting functional recovery.

Chronic female pelvic pain--part 1: clinical pathoanatomy and examination of the pelvic region.

Chronic pelvic pain is defined as the presence of pain in the pelvic girdle region for over a 6-month period and can arise from the gynecologic, urologic, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. As 15% of women experience pelvic pain at some time in their lives with yearly direct medical costs estimated at $2.8 billion, effective evaluation and management strategies of this condition are necessary.

Immediate changes in spinal height and pain after aquatic vertical traction in patients with persistent low back symptoms: a crossover clinical trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of aquatic vertical traction on spinal height, pain intensity, and centralization response compared with a land-based supine flexion position for patients with low back pain and signs of nerve root compression.

Design: Single-blind, repeated-measures crossover design.

Setting: Outpatient physical therapy clinic.

The deep neck flexor endurance test: normative data scores in healthy adults.

Objective: To investigate (1) the average hold time for the deep neck flexors (DNF) endurance test in subjects without neck pain or pathology, and (2) whether different groups of subjects categorized by age, gender, and lifestyle display different hold times.

Design: Normative research.

Patients: A convenience sample of 126 adults participated.

Association of disturbances in the thoracic outlet in subjects with carpal tunnel syndrome: a case-control study.

Introduction: A limited amount of research has investigated the potential relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and thoracic outlet dysfunction.

Purpose Of The Study: To compare the prevalence of positive clinical tests suggestive of disputed neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) in subjects with CTS (CTS+) with that of subjects without CTS (control).

Study Design: Case-control study.

Change in spine height measurements following sustained mid-range and end-range flexion of the lumbar spine.

Workers lose height during the day. Flexion-based exercises and body positions are commonly prescribed to unload the spine and prevent back pain. Lumbar extension positions have been researched and result in an increase in spine height.

Changes in transversus abdominis thickness with use of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver during a functional task.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine an individual's ability to produce an increase in transversus abdominis (TrA) thickness during the performance of a functional task with the use of the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM).

Design: Within-subject repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine the effects of the ADIM and a loaded forward-reaching activity on the dependent variable of TrA thickness.

Setting: Laboratory.

Changes in spinal height following sustained lumbar flexion and extension postures: a clinical measure of intervertebral disc hydration using stadiometry.

Background: Decreased intervertebral disc height can result in diminished load carrying capacity of the spinal segment. Clinical means of assessing postures able to rehydrate the discs were investigated.

Objective: The purposes of this study were 3-fold: (1) to determine if our test protocol using a commercially available stadiometer demonstrated findings consistent with prior laboratory-based protocols; (2) to determine if hyperextension in the prone position and trunk flexion in the supine position caused increased spine height after sustained loading; and (3) to compare the effects of hyperextension in the prone position and trunk flexion in the supine position on spine height changes after a period of sustained loading.

Immunohistochemical and histological study of human uncovertebral joints: a preliminary investigation.

Study Design: A descriptive cadaveric study.

Objective: To investigate the anatomy and innervation of the uncovertebral joint to determine if it is synovial in nature and capable of generating pain.

Summary Of Background Data: There is controversy with regard to the anatomic and histological makeup of the uncovertebral interface with some authors considering it a joint and others disc tissue.

Effect of sex hormones on neuromuscular control patterns during landing.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of sex hormones across menstrual cycle phases on lower extremity neuromuscular control patterns during the landing phase of a drop jump. A repeated-measures design was utilized to examine sex hormone effects in 26 recreationally active eumenorrheic women. Varus/valgus knee angle and EMG activity from six lower extremity muscles were recorded during three drop jumps from a 50 cm platform in each phase of the menstrual cycle.