Comparing the Therapeutic Impact of Strain-Counterstrain and Exercise on Low Back Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Background: Strain-Counterstrain (SCS) therapy is a manual therapeutic technique used to treat myofascial pain by addressing tender points through passive positioning. Despite anecdotal evidence, limited peer-reviewed research supports its efficacy in chronic low back pain (LBP). This study evaluates the effects of SCS combined with exercise on pain severity, lumbar range of motion (ROM), and functional disability in patients with chronic LBP.

Comparison of Brain Activation Between Different Modes of Motor Acquisition: A Functional Near-Infrared Study.

Background: Different modes of motor acquisition, including motor execution (ME), motor imagery (MI), action observation (AO), and mirror visual feedback (MVF), are often used when learning new motor behavior and in clinical rehabilitation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in brain activation during different motor acquisition modes among healthy young adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 29 healthy young adults.

The Co-Occurrence of Vestibular/Ocular Motor Provocation and State Anxiety in Adolescents and Young Adults with Concussion.

Vestibular/ocular motor provocation and state anxiety are both independently linked to poor recovery outcomes following concussion. However, the relationship between these two clinical presentations and their co-occurring effects on concussion recovery outcomes is understudied. The purpose was to examine the co-occurring effects of vestibular/ocular motor provocation and state anxiety following concussion.

Hamstring activation deficits during Double-Leg Jump-Landing tasks in athletes with hamstring strain injuries using EMG Time-Frequency analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the hamstring activation in athletes with hamstring strain injuries in vertical jump tasks using an EMG time-frequency analysis. Fifteen injured athletes and 15 matched controls were recruited. The EMG signals of the lateral hamstring (LH) and medial hamstring (MH) were assessed during countermovement, squat, and drop vertical jump tasks.

Knee joint position sense and kinematic control in relation to motor competency in 13 to 14-year-old adolescents.

Background: Motor competence (MC) is a key component reflecting one's ability to execute motor tasks and is an important predictor of physical fitness. For adolescents, understanding the factors affecting MC is pertinent to their development of more sophisticated sporting skills. Previous studies considered the influence of poor proprioceptive ability on MC, however, the relationship between lower limb joint position sense, kinematic control, and MC is not well understood.

Radiofrequency vs Steroid Injections for Spinal Facet and Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Pain management for spinal facet joint (SFJ) and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is challenging, often requiring interventions like radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or corticosteroid injections (CI). This study aims to assess and compare the effectiveness of CI and RFA in treating SFJ and SIJ pain. We combine these treatments due to their shared pathophysiology, similar therapeutic interventions, and the necessity for an integrated approach to spinal pain management.

Predictors of Fatigue Among Patients on Hemodialysis: An Observational Study.

Background Hemodialysis is a chronic replacement therapy recommended during end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Post-dialysis fatigue (PDF) is one of the symptoms patients experience after the treatment. This multifactorial condition is subjective and characterized by a lack of physical and emotional energy.

Efficacy of Combining Acupuncture and Physical Therapy for the Management of Patients With Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Frozen shoulder, a debilitating condition causing pain and restricted joint mobility, often challenges conventional physical therapy methods. This study investigates the efficacy of combined acupuncture and physical therapy regimen, as opposed to physical therapy alone, for pain reduction and improvement of the clinical effective rate and the range of motion in patients with frozen shoulder.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Trial, and Web of Science databases was done for randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and nonrandomized studies, reporting data of adult (>18 years) patients with frozen shoulder who received physical therapy with or without acupuncture.

Documenting Compliance and Symptom Reactivity for Ambulatory Assessment Methodology Following Concussion in Adolescents and Young Adults: Feasibility of the Mobile Neurocognitive Health (MNCH) Project.

Objective: Evaluate compliance, symptom reactivity, and acceptability/experience ratings for an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol involving ultra-brief ambulatory cognitive assessments in adolescent and young adult patients with concussion.

Setting: Outpatient concussion clinic.

Participants: 116 patients aged 13 to 25 years with concussion.

Impact of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on cortical activity: a systematic review and meta-analysis utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy evaluation.

Background: Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could induce alterations in cortical excitability and promote neuroplasticity. To precisely quantify these effects, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), an optical neuroimaging modality adept at detecting changes in cortical hemodynamic responses, has been employed concurrently alongside rTMS to measure and tailor the impact of diverse rTMS protocols on the brain cortex.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the effects of rTMS on cortical hemodynamic responses over the primary motor cortex (M1) as detected by fNIRS.

The effects of combining repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with task-specific training on gait performance in individuals with Parkinson's disease: A review article.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairments, especially in the area of gait disturbances. Physiotherapy, with a focus on task-specific training, has demonstrated a level of efficacy as regards alleviating symptoms and enhancing functional capabilities in individuals with PD. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for improving motor functions in individuals with PD.

The evolution of augmented reality to augment physical therapy: A scoping review.

Augmented reality is increasingly used in health care, yet little is known about how AR is being used in physical therapy practice and what clinical outcomes could occur with technology use. In this scoping review, a broad literature review was conducted to gain an understanding of current knowledge of AR use and outcomes in physical therapy practice. A structured literature search of articles published between 2000 to September 2023 that examined the use of AR in a physical therapy context was conducted.

Voluntary Contraction of the Abdominal Muscles Increases Hip Muscle Activation During Lower-Extremity Exercises: A Critically Appraised Topic.

Clinical Scenario: Existing studies have posited that incorporating abdominal enhancement techniques during lower-extremity exercises might mitigate compensatory pelvic motions and enhance the engagement of specific hip muscles.

Clinical Question: Does performing lower-extremity exercises with abdominal enhancement techniques increase hip muscle activation levels in healthy individuals? Summary of Key Finding: After the literature review, 4 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this critically appraised topic.

Clinical Bottom Line: There is moderate evidence to support that prone hip extension with abdominal enhancement may increase gluteus maximus and hamstring muscle activity.

Virtual reality skateboarding training for balance and functional performance in degenerative lumbar spine disease.

Background: Degenerative lumbar spine disease (DLD) is a prevalent condition in middle-aged and elderly individuals. DLD frequently results in pain, muscle weakness, and motor impairment, which affect postural stability and functional performance in daily activities. Simulated skateboarding training could enable patients with DLD to engage in exercise with less pain and focus on single-leg weight-bearing.

Voluntary Contraction of the Abdominal Muscles During Shoulder Exercises Increases Scapular Muscle Activation: A Critically Appraised Topic.

Clinical Scenario: The fascial relationship between scapular muscles and abdominal muscles has been documented from previous studies. However, it is not yet clear whether voluntary abdominal contraction has a beneficial effect on scapular muscle activity during shoulder exercises.

Clinical Question: Do scapulothoracic muscle activation levels increase if shoulder exercises are performed with voluntary abdominal activation? Summary of Key Finding: After the literature review, 4 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this critically appraised topic.

Fatigue Affects Body Acceleration During Vertical Jumping and Agility Tasks in Elite Young Badminton Players.

Background: Badminton is a sport demanding both high aerobic and anaerobic fitness levels, and fatigue can significantly impact game performance. However, relevant studies are limited, and none have employed a wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) to investigate the effects of fatigue on athletic performance in the field.

Hypothesis: Overall performance and body acceleration in both time and frequency domains during the fundamental badminton skills of vertical jumping and changes of direction will be affected by fatigue.

Ultrasonographic measurement indicated patients with chronic neck pain had reduced diaphragm thickness and mobility along with declined respiratory functions.

Background: Chronic neck pain (CNP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition including notable impairments in respiratory function. The diaphragm, serving dual roles in respiration and spinal stability, is intricately linked to the cervical spine through fascial, neurophysiological, and biomechanical connections. However, to date, none has investigated the diaphragm function in patients with CNP.

Neural Oscillations and Functional Significances for Prioritizing Dual-Task Walking in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Task prioritization involves allocating brain resources in a dual-task scenario, but the mechanistic details of how prioritization strategies affect dual-task walking performance for Parkinson's disease (PD) are little understood.

Objective: We investigated the performance benefits and corresponding neural signatures for people with PD during dual-task walking, using gait-prioritization (GP) and manual-prioritization (MP) strategies.

Methods: Participants (N = 34) were asked to hold two inter-locking rings while walking and to prioritize either taking big steps (GP strategy) or separating the two rings (MP strategy).

Association of scoliosis with lower extremity alignments, muscle strengths, and foot characteristics and their alterations in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: The association between changes occurring in the spine and lower body parts is not well understood in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Objectives: The first aim of the study was to investigate the association of scoliosis with lower extremity (LE) alignments, foot characteristics, and muscle strengths in adolescents. Secondly, comparisons of the data among AIS with single and double curves and control groups were determined.