ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the morphological changes of the deep lumbar multifidus (DM) during rest and movement among persons with chronic low back pain (cLBP) using ultrasound imaging.Methods:Twenty-one cLBP patients and 30 pain-free healthy controls were studied. The resting thickness of the DM muscle was measured, and then its cross-sectional area and thickness during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). The results were correlated with pain intensity and duration.Results:The cLBP patients showed significant reductions in the DM′s resting thickness, and in its cross-sectional area and thickness during a MVIC compared with the healthy controls. The resting thickness of the DM was positively correlated with pain duration, but not with pain intensity.Conclusions:These results suggest that cLBP patients have atrophy and less thickness change during an MVIC. This should be considered in planning clinical rehabilitation training.
ABSTRACT
Objective Using surface electromyography (sEMG) techniques to investigate the patterns of frequency domain indexes of sEMC signals recorded from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients' paraspinal muscles. Methods Twenty-five AIS patients were enrolled. All the patients undertook the Biering Sorensen test ( BST) ,the object-lifting test and a semi-bridge test, the ME3000P sEMG instrument was applied to record the electric activities of paraspinal muscles (convex/concave) of all subjects, and the time domain indexes such as averaged EMG(AEMG)and spectrum area(SPA) were analyzed, values in three tests were compared with one way ANOVA. Results The differences of AEMGs and SPAs on both convex and concave sides among the three tests showed no statistical significances (P = 0. 10,0.23, 0. 24 and 0. 45, respectively). Conclusions Any of the Biering Sorensen test( BST) , the object-lifting test or the semi-bridge test can be used to test the electric activities of paraspinal muscles (convex/concave) of AIS patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of Cheneau orthosis with different pressure areas on the patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Methods Thirty patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who had apex vertebraes below T6 were included, and randomly divided into group A in which patients wore orthosis spanning across 3 vertebra, and group B in which patients wore orthosis spanning across 5-6 vertebra. All patients were assessed with regard to Cobb degree, apex vertebrae rotary degree and pain index after wearing the orthosis. Results The rectified ratio of Cobb degree were 17% and 29% in groups A and B, respectively. There was a statistical difference between the 2 groups(P<0.05). No statistical difference was found between the 2 groups in terms of apex vertebrae rotary degrees(P>0.05). Pain index was 5.00 in group A, and 2.07 in group B, which was statistically different (P<0.05). Conclusions Increasing pressure points' areas of Cheneau orthosis properly can improve more effectively the lateral curvature angle of the patients with adolescent idiopathic seoliosis.