Comparison of Core Stabilisation Exercise and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Training on Pain-related and Neuromuscular Response Outcomes for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomised Controlled Trial

@#Background: Existing literature offers little guidance for therapists who provide core stabilisation exercise (CSE) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) training to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP). Studies conducting a head-to-head comparison of CSE and PNF training for CLBP are needed. Objective: To compare the effects of CSE and PNF training on pain-related outcomes and trunk muscle activity in CLBP patients. Methods: Forty-five CLBP patients, ranging from 18 to 50 years of age, were randomly divided and assigned to either a four-week CSE, four-week PNF training, or control group. Painrelated outcomes, including pain intensity, functional disability and patient satisfaction, as well as superficial and deep trunk muscle activity were assessed before and after the four-week intervention, and at a three-month follow-up. Results: Compared to the control group, those in the CSE and PNF training groups showed significant improvements in all pain-related outcomes after the four-week intervention and at three-month follow-up (P < 0.01). Following the four-week intervention, both CSE and PNF training groups demonstrated significant improvement in deep trunk muscle activity, including the transversus abdominis (TrA) and superficial fibres of lumbar multifidus (LM), compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Four-week CSE and PNF training provided short-term and long-term effects on pain-related outcomes, along with increased deep trunk muscle activity in CLBP patients.

Effects of Shoulder Taping on Discomfort and Electromyographic Responses of the Neck While Texting on a Touchscreen Smartphone

BACKGROUND: Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use is known as a factor of neck pain and alteration of neck muscle activity. Studies on the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort and neck muscle responses while texting on a smartphone are still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort using a numerical rating scale, and neck muscle activity and fatigue using a surface electromyography during a texting task on a touchscreen smartphone. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy adolescents used the dominant hand to perform a 30-minute texting task using a touchscreen smartphone at two separate times under one of the following two conditions: taping across the upper trapezius muscle and no taping. Neck discomfort, normalized root mean square, and normalized median frequency slopes for upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. RESULTS: The results revealed that shoulder taping provided significantly lower neck discomfort than no taping (p < 0.001). However, shoulder taping did not significantly alter normalized root mean square and normalized median frequency slope values of all muscles when compared with no taping controls. CONCLUSION: Shoulder taping reduces neck discomfort but does not affect neck muscle activity and fatigue while texting on a touchscreen smartphone.

Reliability and Validity of the Cross- Culturally Adapted Thai Version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a cross-culturally adapted Thai version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and investigate its reliability and validity among patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: The TSK was translated into Thai language and culturally adapted in line with the international standards. The Thai TSK questionnaire was then tested for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity by comparing it with the visual analogue scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Timed Up and Go Test. Results: Eighty patients with knee osteoarthritis were included in the study. The Thai version of the TSK was easily comprehended and completed within 6 minutes. The questionnaire showed a good internal consistency (α = 0.90) and high test-retest reliability {ICC (2,1) = 0.934}. Convergent validity showed high correlations with the visual analogue scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (r = 0.741, 0.856, and 0.817, respectively). However, there was no significant correlation between the Thai version of the TSK scores and the Timed Up and Go Test results. Conclusion: The Thai version of the TSK has satisfactory reliability and validity for the evaluation of pain-related fear of movement/(re)injury in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Neurodynamic Sliders on Hamstring Responses in Footballers with Hamstring Tightness

Background: Neurodynamics intervention is known to increase apparent muscle extensibility, but information regarding hamstring responses after a neurodynamic sliders (NS) technique is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of NS on apparent hamstring extensibility and activity in footballers with hamstring tightness. Methods: Forty eligible healthy male footballers with hamstring tightness were each randomly allocated to either a 4-week NS technique or a control group (CG) receiving placebo shortwave intervention. Knee extension angles were measured with the passive knee extension test, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of hamstrings was measured by a surface electromyography at baseline and after intervention sessions. Results: The results showed that NS produced a statistically and clinically significant increase in knee extension angle compared to CG (P < 0.001); however, there was no difference between the groups receiving MVIC of hamstrings. Within group comparison, NS also provided a significant increase in knee extension angle (P < 0.001), whereas the control group did not. There was no change in hamstring MVIC in either group after intervention. Conclusions: The findings of this study reveal that four weeks of NS technique improved apparent hamstring extensibility but did not change the hamstring activity in footballers with hamstring tightness.

Reliability of surface electromyography measurement on lumbar multifidus muscles and internal oblique muscles during sub-maximal voluntary muscle contraction in healthy Thai participants

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a non-invasive method with high accuracy to investigate the muscleactivation. The common outcome measurement of this method is sub-maximal voluntary muscle contraction(sub-MVC). sEMG has been shown high reliability in measuring trunk muscle. However, no study reports thereliability of sub-MVC measurement of sEMG in trunk muscles of Thai population. The aim of this study was toinvestigate the reliability of sEMG measurement for lumbar multifidus muscles (LM) and internal oblique muscles(IO) during sub-maximal voluntary muscle contraction. Subjects were 10 healthy Thai participants (5 males, 5females). sEMG of each LM and IO muscle was measured 3 times on both sides. Intraclass correlation coefficients(ICC) and standard error of measurement as a percentage of grand mean (% SEM) were estimated. The resultsshowed that there were very high reliability of left lumbar multifidus muscle (ICC mean 0.99; ICC range 0.98-1.00;% SEM = 1.06), right lumbar multifidus muscle (ICC mean 0.99; ICC range 0.98-1.00; % SEM = 1.07), leftinternal oblique muscle (ICC mean 0.96; ICC range 0.93-0.98; % SEM = 3.42) and right internal oblique muscle(ICC mean 0.99; ICC range 0.98-1.00; % SEM = 2.33). We conclude that surface electromyography is a reliabledevice that can be used to investigate the lumbar multifidus muscles and internal oblique muscles duringsub-maximal voluntary muscle contraction.