Surface Electromyographic Biofeedback and the Effortful Swallow Exercise for Stroke-Related Dysphagia and in Healthy Ageing.

Dysphagia is common after stroke, leading to adverse outcome. The Effortful Swallow (ES) is recommended to improve swallowing but it is not known if dysphagic patients can increase muscle activity during the exercise or if age affects performance. Providing surface electromyographic (sEMG) biofeedback during dysphagia therapy may enhance exercise completion, but this has not been investigated and the technique's acceptability to patients is not known.

Aircrew Conditioning Programme Impact on +Gz Tolerance.

Physical conditioning may improve aircrew performance during exposure to high +G acceleration, although few studies have directly assessed this. The present study investigated the effects of a 12-wk Aircrew Conditioning Programme (ACP) on markers of G tolerance. The ACP comprises aerobic and muscle strengthening exercise performed twice weekly and targets improved fitness and reduced injury risk.

Immediate effects of cervical mobilisations on neck muscle activity during active neck movements in patients with non-specific neck pain. A double blind placebo controlled trial.

Background: Cervical mobilisations are used to treat people with neck pain but their mechanisms of action are unclear. One theorised reason for induced analgesia is effect on neck muscle activity.

Objectives: To assess the effects of cervical mobilisations on muscle activity during active neck movements and whether changes in muscle activity are associated with changes in symptoms.

Association between sympathoexcitatory changes and symptomatic improvement following cervical mobilisations in participants with neck pain. A double blind placebo controlled trial.

Background: sympathoexcitation observed with passive cervical mobilisations may imply activation of an endogenous pain inhibition system resulting in hypoalgesia. However, research is mostly in asymptomatic participants and there is very limited evidence of a relationship between sympathoexcitation and symptomatic improvement in people with clinical pain.

Objective: to investigate the effects of cervical mobilisations on the sympathetic nervous system in participants with neck pain, and to explore the relationship between symptomatic improvement and sympathoexcitation.

Effect of patellofemoral pain on foot posture and walking kinematics.

Background Excessive pronation has been implicated in patellofemoral pain (PFP) aetiology and foot orthoses are commonly prescribed for PFP patients. Pronation can be assessed using foot posture tests, however, the utility of such tests depends on their association with foot and lower-limb kinematics. Research questions Do PFP participants compared with healthy participants (1) have a more pronated foot measured with static foot tests and a kinematic multi-segmental foot model and (2) is there an association between static foot posture and foot and lower limb kinematics during walking? Methods A case-control study including 22 participants (n = 11 PFP, 5 females per group, aged 24 ± 3 (mean ± SD) years) was conducted.

Lower Body Acceleration and Muscular Responses to Rotational and Vertical Whole-Body Vibration at Different Frequencies and Amplitudes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to characterize acceleration transmission and neuromuscular responses to rotational vibration (RV) and vertical vibration (VV) at different frequencies and amplitudes.

Methods: Twelve healthy males completed 2 experimental trials (RV vs VV) during which vibration was delivered during either squatting (30°; RV vs VV) or standing (RV only) with 20, 25, and 30 Hz, at 1.5 and 3.

Immediate effects of cervical mobilisations on global perceived effect, movement associated pain and neck kinematics in patients with non-specific neck pain. A double blind placebo randomised controlled trial.

Background: Neck pain is prevalent, costly and disabling. Cervical mobilisations are frequently used to treat it but their effectiveness has been questioned by several systematic reviews. Evidence suggests that better outcomes are achieved with mobilisations when they are applied to specific patient subgroups.

Content Validity of Level Two of the Royal Air Force Aircrew Conditioning Programme.

Introduction: The prevalence of flight-related neck pain in all Royal Air Force (RAF) aircrew is 66% and 70% in UK fast-jet aircrew. The RAF Aircrew Conditioning Programme (ACP) has been designed to enhance pilot performance through reducing fatigue and strain injuries, particularly to the neck. Content validity of the ACP was assessed to determine the appropriateness for delivery to aircrew.

Reliability of a Method to Measure Neck Surface Electromyography, Kinematics, and Pain Occurrence in Participants With Neck Pain.

Objective: To investigate the reliability of a novel method to measure neck surface electromyography (SEMG), kinematics, and pain during active movements in participants with neck pain.

Methods: This test-retest study evaluated 23 participants with chronic neck pain. Each was measured twice within a single session.

Differences in neck surface electromyography, kinematics and pain occurrence during physiological neck movements between neck pain and asymptomatic participants. A cross-sectional study.

Background: Neck pain has been associated with altered muscle activity and impaired kinematics. Patients frequently report pain during physiological neck movements. Previously, the average muscle activity during these movements has been measured.

The effect of minimalist footwear and instruction on running: an observational study.

Background: It is not known whether the effects on altered running style which are attributed to minimalist footwear can be achieved by verbal instructions in standard running shoes (SRS).

Aim: To explore the effect of Vibram FiveFingers (VFF) versus SRS plus running instruction on lower extremity spatiotemporal parameters and lower limb joint kinematics.

Methods: 35 healthy subjects (mean=30 years, 18 females) were assessed on two occasions with 3D motion analysis.

Incidence of G-Induced Loss of Consciousness and Almost Loss of Consciousness in the Royal Air Force.

Introduction: Exposure to sustained +Gz acceleration with inadequate G protection can result in G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) or almost loss of consciousness (A-LOC). The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) last conducted a survey of G-LOC within their military aircrew in 2005 with interventions subsequently introduced. The aim of this study was to repeat the 2005 survey in order to evaluate the impact of those interventions.

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor sequence learning and upper limb function after stroke.

Objective: To assess the impact of electrode arrangement on the efficacy of tDCS in stroke survivors and determine whether changes in transcallosal inhibition (TCI) underlie improvements.

Methods: 24 stroke survivors (3-124months post-stroke) with upper limb impairment participated. They received blinded tDCS during a motor sequence learning task, requiring the paretic arm to direct a cursor to illuminating targets on a monitor.

Reliability of Transcallosal Inhibition in Healthy Adults.

Transcallosal inhibition (TCI), assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation, can provide insight into the neurophysiology of aging and of neurological disorders such as stroke. However, the reliability of TCI using the ipsilateral silent period (iSP) has not been formally assessed, despite its use in longitudinal studies. This study aimed to determine the reliability of iSP onset latency, duration and depth in healthy young and older adults.

Explicit motor sequence learning with the paretic arm after stroke.

Purpose: Motor sequence learning is important for stroke recovery, but experimental tasks require dexterous movements, which are impossible for people with upper limb impairment. This makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the impact of stroke on learning motor sequences. We aimed to test a paradigm requiring gross arm movements to determine whether stroke survivors with upper limb impairment were capable of learning a movement sequence as effectively as age-matched controls.

Non-invasive brain stimulation for the lower limb after stroke: what do we know so far and what should we be doing next?

Background: Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is promising as an adjuvant to rehabilitation of motor function after stroke. Despite numerous studies and reviews for the upper limb, NIBS targeting the lower limb and gait recovery after stroke is a newly emerging field of research.

Purpose: To summarize findings from studies using NIBS to target the lower limb in stroke survivors.

Mechanism of Action of Spinal Mobilizations: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objective: To review the evidence regarding the mechanism of action of mobilizations.

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal mobilizations-low velocity passive oscillatory movements-reduce spinal pain in some patient subgroups.

The effect of combined somatosensory stimulation and task-specific training on upper limb function in chronic stroke: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Somatosensory stimulation (SS) is a potential adjuvant to stroke rehabilitation, but the effect on function needs further investigation.

Objective: To explore the effect of combining SS with task-specific training (TST) on upper limb function and arm use in chronic stroke survivors and determine underlying mechanisms.

Methods: In this double-blinded randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN 05542931), 33 patients (mean 37.

Self-perceived utilization of the paretic arm in chronic stroke requires high upper limb functional ability.

Objective: To explore potential predictors of self-reported paretic arm use at baseline and after task-specific training (TST) in survivors of stroke.

Design: Data were obtained from a randomized controlled trial of somatosensory stimulation and upper limb TST in chronic stroke.

Setting: University laboratory.

Dysphagia therapy in stroke: a survey of speech and language therapists.

Background: Dysphagia is common after stroke, leading to adverse outcome. There is a paucity of high-quality evidence for dysphagia therapy, thus making it difficult to determine the best approaches to treatment. Clinical decisions are often based on usual practice, however no formal method of monitoring practice patterns exists.

The effect of coil type and navigation on the reliability of transcranial magnetic stimulation.

The objective of this study was to investigate reliability of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) parameters for three coil systems; hand-held circular and figure-of-eight and navigated figure-of-eight coils. Stimulus response curves, intracortical inhibition (SICI) and facilitation (ICF) were studied in the right first dorsal interosseus muscle of 10 healthy adults. Each coil system was tested twice per subject.

Whole-body vibration in addition to strength and balance exercise for falls-related functional mobility of frail older adults: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of whole-body vibration in addition to an exercise programme on functional mobility and related outcomes for frail older fallers.

Design: Single-blind randomized parallel group trial.

Setting: UK; National Health Service assessment and rehabilitation facility for older people.

Effects of whole body vibration on motor unit recruitment and threshold.

Whole body vibration (WBV) has been suggested to elicit reflex muscle contractions but this has never been verified. We recorded from 32 single motor units (MU) in the vastus lateralis of 7 healthy subjects (34 ± 15.4 yr) during five 1-min bouts of WBV (30 Hz, 3 mm peak to peak), and the vibration waveform was also recorded.

The effects of whole body vibration on balance, joint position sense and cutaneous sensation.

Whole body vibration (WBV) may enhance muscular strength and power but little is known about its influence on sensory-motor function. Vibration of a single muscle or tendon affects the afferent system in a manner that depends on amplitude and frequency. WBV stimulates many muscle groups simultaneously and the frequencies and amplitudes used are different from many of the studies on single musculotendinous units.