Reliability and Validity of the KFORCE Sens Inertial Sensor for Measuring Cervical Spine Proprioception in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain.

Background/objectives: Patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP) exhibit sensorimotor disturbances, with proprioception impairment considered an important aspect. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a novel inertial sensor-based electrogoniometer (KFORCE Sens) for cervical spine (CS) proprioception measurement in patients with NSCNP.

Methods: The within-day intra-rater reliability of CS proprioception and its association with patient demographics and clinical status were examined in fifty-nine patients with NSCNP, aged between 25-65 years, recruited from primary care.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of the Greek Version of the Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire (FreNAQ-GR) in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain.

Background: Neck self-awareness, related to sensorimotor dysfunction, can be monitored with the Fremantle Neck Awareness Questionnaire (FreNAQ). The cross-cultural adaptation of the FreNAQ in Greek (FreNAQ-GR) and an assessment of its psychometric properties were conducted.

Methods: This study included 104 participants (65 female) with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP).

The effect of manual therapy on diaphragm function in adults with asthma: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Diaphragm dysfunction is prevalent among individuals with asthma due to lung hyperinflation and hyperventilation in asthma paroxysm. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the manual diaphragm release technique (MDRT) on diaphragm function in individuals with asthma.

Methods: Adults with diagnosed stable asthma (n = 24), will be recruited from the General Hospital of Kifissia "Agioi Anargyroi" in Athens, Greece.

Low-Medium and High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Mechanical ventilation is often used in intensive care units to assist patients' breathing. This often leads to respiratory muscle weakness and diaphragmatic dysfunction, causing weaning difficulties. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been found to be beneficial in increasing inspiratory muscle strength and facilitating weaning.

The Relationship between Heart Rate Variability, Pain Intensity, Pain Catastrophizing, Disability, Quality of Life and Range of Cervical Motion in Patients with Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and the range of cervical motion, disability, pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and quality of life in patients with chronic, non-specific neck pain. Thirty-five patients, aged 20-48 years, with chronic non-specific neck pain, completed validated questionnaires regarding neck pain intensity, pain-associated disability, catastrophic thoughts, and quality of life. The range of cervical motion was assessed using a digital goniometer.

Effect of Boxing Exercises on the Functional Ability and Quality of Life of Individuals with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra and characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. Boxing is a type of complementary therapy to improve symptoms in PD. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of boxing training on the functionality and quality of life of patients with PD.

Validity and Reliability of the Greek Version of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain Patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate psychometric properties of the Greek translation of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (GR-PSQI) in a Greek chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) sample, thus, providing insight on its clarity and acceptability as a widely used sleep assessment tool in clinical practice. Asymptomatic volunteers (n = 73) and CNSLBP volunteers (n = 47), participated in the study. For the assessment of construct validity, the known-groups method was used.

Effectiveness of a Web-Guided Self-Managed Telerehabilitation Program Enhanced with Outdoor Physical Activity on Physical Function, Physical Activity Levels and Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

: Telerehabilitation to guide self-management has been shown to be a feasible care strategy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a blended web-based rehabilitation program enhanced with outdoor physical activity (BWR-OPA) and consultation versus an OPA (usual care) program in KOA patients. : Forty-four KOA participants were prescribed to follow the programs five times/week for 6 weeks.

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Preliminary Insights into the Diagnostic Accuracy of the Modified Arm Care Screen Test for Overhead Athletes: An On-Field Tool for Injury Prevention.

Background: The Arm Care Screen was developed to detect musculoskeletal limitations that could affect performance or even increase the risk for shoulder injuries in overhead athletes. This study aimed to assess the discriminant validity of the modified Arm Care Screen in overhead athletes.

Methods: Sixty-two overhead athletes (mean age: 24.

The Effects of Core Stabilization Trunk Muscle Fatigue on Lower Limb Stiffness of Basketball Players.

Core stability is the ability to control the position and motion of the trunk over the pelvis and legs to allow the optimum production and transfer of force to the terminal segment in sporting activities. The effect of fatigue, especially core muscle fatigue, on stiffness as a performance index requires more study. This research aimed to investigate the effect of the core stabilization muscles' fatigue on lower limb stiffness during hopping.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of the Greek Version of the Fremantle Shoulder Awareness Questionnaire (FreSHAQ-GR) in Patients with Chronic Shoulder Pain.

Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pathologies. The association of shoulder pain with impaired proprioception and bodily self-awareness called for the cross-cultural adaptation of the Fremantle Shoulder Awareness Questionnaire (FreSHAQ) in Greek. The FreSHAQ is a relatively new self-assessment 9-item scale for impaired somatic awareness in patients with shoulder pain.

Benefits from Incorporating Virtual Reality in Pulmonary Rehabilitation of COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible airflow limitation. Patient participation in Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) programs has a beneficial effect on disease management, improving patients' functional capacity and quality of life. As an alternative to traditional programs or as a complementary activity, the inclusion of virtual reality (VR) games is proposed.

Greek Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of the Quick Foot and Ankle Ability Measure Questionnaire.

Context: An easy-to-administer, function-based questionnaire to assess patients with various foot problems was required for a Greek-speaking population. This study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Quick Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (Quick-FAAM) into Greek and evaluate its reliability and validity.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

The Effect of Schroth Method on Postural Control and Balance in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Literature Review.

The objective of this review was to offer new information on the effectiveness of Schroth method on postural control and balance in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). PubMed, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases were searched from June 2022 to August 2022 for prospective controlled trials and randomized controlled trials related to effects of Schroth exercises on postural control and balance in patients with AIS. The key words AIS, Schroth, balance, postural control, and proprioception were used.

Greek Adaptation and Validation of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Brace and the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Deformity.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a progressive condition responsible for spinal deformity in all three planes. Spinal deformity and how the rib hump affects the aesthetics, and the functionality of the trunk can be a cause of psychological distress as well. Bracing as a treatment can have a negative impact on QoL, cause pain, affect participation levels in physical activities, and cause isolation and depression.

Effects of Running-induced Fatigue on the Trunk-pelvis-hip Coordination Variability During Treadmill Running at Different Speeds.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of fatigue on the coordination variability between the trunk, pelvis, and hips during treadmill running.

Methods: The kinematics data were recorded during ten successive treadmill steps running at the preferred speed and at 80% and 120% of the preferred speed. The angle segment data obtained during the running cycles were normalized to 100 data points, and they were split into ten periods.

Is manual therapy of the diaphragm effective for people with obstructive lung diseases? A systematic review.

Background: Diaphragm dysfunction is common among people with obstructive lung disease (OLD). The effectiveness of manual therapy (MT) techniques specifically targeting this region remains unclear. The scope of this systematic review is to investigate the effectiveness of MT on the zone of apposition (ΖΟΑ) of the diaphragm in lung function, diaphragm excursion (DE), chest expansion, exercise capacity (EC), maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) and dyspnea in people suffering from OLD.

A Systematic Review of the Aerobic Exercise Program Variables for Patients with Non-Specific Neck Pain: Effectiveness and Clinical Applications.

Studies have shown that aerobic exercise (AE) may improve symptoms related to non-specific neck pain (NNP); however, the variables of the exercise programs and the overall effectiveness of AE have not been evaluated in a systematic review. Therefore, this review aimed to describe and discuss the variables of the AE programs used in clinical trials for patients with NNP. Included studies were analyzed for the selected AE variables such as intensity, frequency, duration, delivery, supervision, and adherence.

Reliability and Validity of the Double Inclinometer Method for Assessing Thoracolumbar Joint Position Sense and Range of Movement in Patients with a Recent History of Low Back Pain.

The study was aimed at examining the reliability of the Double Inclinometer (DI) method for the assessment of thoracolumbar Range of Movement (ROM) and Joint Position Sense (JPS) in patients with a recent history of Low Back Pain (LBP). Twenty patients with a history of LBP in the last three months participated. The thoracolumbar ROM and JPS were examined from a standing position by using both the DI and the tape measure method.

Exercised-Induced Hypoalgesia following An Elbow Flexion Low-Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial in Healthy Adults.

We aimed to evaluate the hypoalgesic effect of an elbow flexion low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (LLRE-BFR) when compared to high-load resistance exercise (HLRE) with sham-BFR in healthy individuals. Forty healthy young adults (17 women), with a mean age ± SD: 26.6 ± 6.

Can Exercise Affect the Pain Characteristics in Patients with Fibromyalgia? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Exercise is often recommended for fibromyalgia. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence and change in the pain characteristics of fibromyalgia patients when breathing exercises were added to their exercise program. A total of 106 patients were included and randomly divided into two groups.

The Effectiveness of Neuromobilization in Patients With Cervical Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Context: Neuromobilization exercises (NE) could be a useful therapeutic tool to induce analgesia and increase function and range of motion (ROM) in patients with musculoskeletal pathologies with neuropathic components; however, the effectiveness of this intervention in patients with cervical radiculopathy (CR) is unknown.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of NE in CR on pain, function, and ROM.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The Effectiveness of Manual Therapy in the Cervical Spine and Diaphragm, in Combination with Breathing Reeducation Exercises, in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain: Protocol for Development of Outcome Measures and a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Until now, non-specific chronic neck pain has mainly been considered as a musculoskeletal system dysfunction, with associated psychological involvement due to its prolonged or recurrent nature. However, patients with non-specific chronic neck pain frequently additionally exhibit respiratory dysfunction. Emerging evidence suggests that addressing the respiratory dysfunction in these patients will provide additional therapeutic benefits in musculoskeletal and respiratory-related outcomes for several reasons (biomechanical, biochemical, and psychological).