The effects of upper cervical spine manual therapy on central sensitization and brainstem auditory evoked potentials in subjects with migraine and neck pain.

Background: Migraine is an important disease due to its impact on global health. Due to association of neck pain with migraine, manual therapy (MT) often used in management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of upper cervical spine MT on specific mechanisms including central sensitization (CS) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in subjects with migraine and neck pain.

Correlation Between Muscle Strength, Swing Speed, Batting Statistics, and Body Composition Parameters in High School Baseball Players: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Suzuki, K, Mizoguchi, Y, Kimura, F, Fujisaki, K, Yokoyama, D, Hall, T, and Akasaka, K. Correlation between muscle strength, swing speed, batting statistics, and body composition parameters in high school baseball players: a retrospective observational study. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Body composition has emerged as a pivotal factor influencing baseball player performance.

Evaluation of somatosensory bedside testing and neurodynamics of the trigeminal nerve in craniofacial pain: A matched case-control study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether trigeminal somatosensory function and mechanosensitivity differ between groups with craniofacial neuropathic pain (CNP), non-neuropathic craniofacial pain (NNP), and healthy controls (HC).

Methods: Thirty-three participants were categorized into these groups, matched for age and sex. The study evaluated pain intensity, the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS), and various trigeminal somatosensory tests, including vibration, pressure pain, thermal detection, cold pain, and neurodynamic tests of the trigeminal nerve.

In people with shoulder pain, mobilisation with movement and exercise improves function and pain more than sham mobilisation with movement and exercise: a randomised trial.

Question: In people with shoulder pain, what is the effect of adding mobilisation with movement (MWM) to a standard exercise program on function and pain compared with sham MWM and the same exercise program?

Design: A randomised trial with concealed allocation, blinded outcome assessment and intention-to-treat analysis.

Participants: Seventy people with chronic atraumatic rotator cuff related pain, with a mean age 48 years (SD 10).

Interventions: The experimental group received MWM plus exercise and the control group received sham MWM plus exercise.

Predicting the occurrence of in-season groin pain in male high school soccer players: a cohort study.

[Purpose] This study investigated whether pre-season HAGOS (Japanese Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Scores) and eccentric muscle strength of the hip muscles predict in-season groin pain incidences in high school soccer players. [Participants and Methods] This study had a cohort design. The participants were male high school players under 18 years playing in the Japan Soccer League, which is an elite-level soccer league of that age category in Japan.

Mulligan manual therapy added to exercise improves headache frequency, intensity and disability more than exercise alone in people with cervicogenic headache: a randomised trial.

Question: What is the effect of a 4-week regimen of Mulligan manual therapy (MMT) plus exercise compared with exercise alone for managing cervicogenic headache? Is MMT plus exercise more effective than sham MMT plus exercise? Are any benefits maintained at 26 weeks of follow-up?

Design: A three-armed, parallel-group, randomised clinical trial with concealed allocation, blinded assessment of some outcomes and intention-to-treat analysis.

Participants: Ninety-nine people with cervicogenic headache as per International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3).

Interventions: Participants were randomly allocated to 4 weeks of: MMT with exercise, sham MMT with exercise or exercise alone.

Does combining oro-facial manual therapy with bruxism neuroscience education affect pain and function in cases of awake bruxism? A pilot study.

Background: Although awake bruxism is associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) as well as head and neck pain, the effects of physical therapy and bruxism education to address these factors have not been investigated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oro-facial manual therapy and bruxism neuroscience education (BNE) on awake bruxism over a 3-week period with an open-ended follow-up questionnaire after 3 months.

Methods: Subjects (n = 28) were randomly allocated to one of two groups, an intervention group and a control group.

Psychometric evaluation of the Japanese neck disability index by exploratory factor analysis in preoperative patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: impact of pain and numbness.

Background Context: The Neck Disability Index (NDI), a common Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) for neck pain, lacks sufficient study on its psychometric properties in preoperative patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Purpose: This study aims to address these gaps by conducting an exploratory factor analysis of the Japanese NDI. The objectives are 2-fold: (1) to scrutinize the psychometric properties and internal consistency of the Japanese NDI, and (2) to explore the specific regions of pain and numbness influencing the NDI.

Golfers' Performance Is Improved More by Combining Foam Rolling and Dynamic Stretch to the Lead Hip Than Practice Golf Swinging.

Hamada, Y, Akasaka, K, Otsudo, T, Sawada, Y, Hattori, H, Kikuchi, Y, and Hall, T. Golfers' performance is improved more by combining foam rolling and dynamic stretch to the lead hip than practice golf swinging. J Strength Cond Res 38(7): e391-e397, 2024-Warming up is considered effective in improving performance and preventing injury.

Weakening and factors of medial elbow dynamic stabilizers against elbow valgus laxity after repetitive pitching in high school baseball players.

Background: Overhead throwing activity induces elbow valgus loading. The medial elbow dynamic stabilizers are thought important for medial elbow joint protection, but the effects of repetitive pitching on stabilizing function are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate changes in the dynamic stabilizers during repetitive pitching, as well as factors related to dynamic stabilizing ability.

Validating the preoperative Japanese Core Outcome Measures Index for the Neck and comparing quality of life in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament by the patient-reported outcome measures.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study serves two main purposes. Firstly, it aims to validate the preoperative Japanese Core Outcome Measures Index for the Neck (COMI-Neck) in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Secondly, it seeks to elucidate differences in preoperative quality of life (QOL) between these two cervical pathologies using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Can upper cervical manual therapy affect the blink reflex in subjects with migraine and neck pain?

Background: Neck pain is a common complaint among migraineurs possibly due to the anatomic connections between cervical and trigeminal afferents in the trigeminocervical complex (TCC). Manual therapy (MT) is used in the management of headache disorders, with demonstrable neurophysiological effects. The blink reflex (BR) is one method of analyzing neurophysiological effects in headache patients.

Reliability and measurement properties of upper cervical flexion-extension range of motion testing in people with cervicogenic headache and asymptomatic controls.

Objective: The objective was to determine reliability of sagittal plane range of motion (ROM) assessment in a healthy population and in people with cervicogenic headache (CGH).

Methods: Upper cervical flexion/extension ROM was measured using an iPhone magnetometer sensor and retraction/protraction ROM measured by linear displacement. Two independent raters evaluated these movements in 33 subjects with CGH and 33 age and gender matched asymptomatic healthy controls on two occasions.

Immediate Effects of Foam Roller and Stretching to the Lead Hip on Golfers Swing: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Golfers with decreased range of motion (ROM) of their leading hip internal rotation (IR) have increased lumbar rotation ROM and load. This study investigated the effects of foam roller (FR) applied to their leading hip muscles combined with stretching to the leading hip together with lumbar rotation ROM during the golf swing. The study design was a crossover design.

Therapeutic Exercise Parameters, Considerations, and Recommendations for Migraine Treatment: An International Delphi Study.

Objective: The goal of this study was to reach consensus about the best exercise prescription parameters, the most relevant considerations, and other recommendations that could be useful for prescribing exercise to patients with migraine.

Methods: This was an international study conducted between April 9, 2022 and June 30, 2022. An expert panel of health care and exercise professionals was assembled, and a 3-round Delphi survey was performed.

Comparison of elbow valgus laxity and medial elbow stabilizer parameters during repetitive pitching between high school baseball players with and without a history of medial elbow injury.

Background: Adolescent baseball players with a history of medial elbow injury are often reinjured during demanding practice sessions or games. The physical characteristics of baseball players with a history of medial elbow injury have been reported in several previous studies, but the nature of their medial elbow stabilizers is unknown. This study investigated the difference in characteristics of elbow valgus laxity and medial elbow stabilizer parameters between baseball players with and without a history of medial elbow injury, prior to and during repetitive pitching.

Effects of a Groin Pain Prevention Program in Male High School Soccer Players: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Groin pain is frequently reported by soccer players. A prevention program incorporating the Copenhagen adduction exercise (CAE) has been shown effective in decreasing adductor muscle injury in semi-professional soccer players. However, the effect of such programs on groin pain in high school soccer players is unknown.

Effects of cross-training on motor function and length of stay after total hip arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: There is no consensus about which training methods will give better early outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Objective: To investigate the short-term effects of cross trainer exercise on physical function and walking ability following THA.

Methods: Fifty patients who underwent THA were randomly allocated into two groups.

Classification criteria for cervical radiculopathy: An international e-Delphi study.

Background: Establishing a set of uniform classification criteria (CC) for cervical radiculopathy (CR) is required to aid future recruitment of homogenous populations to clinical trials.

Objectives: To establish expert informed consensus on CC for CR.

Design: A pre-defined four round e-Delphi study in accordance with the guidance on Conducting and Reporting Delphi Studies.