Scapular position and orientation during abduction, flexion and scapular plane elevation phase

The purpose of this study was to compare scapular kinematics during elevation phase of abduction, flexion, and scapular plane elevation phase between fifteen persons with shoulder impingement syndrome [SIS] and thirteen persons without it. Values of scapular kinematics include scapular superior and lateral translations, upward rotation, external rotation, and posterior tipping were statistically tested with mixed model analysis of variance. Scapular upward rotation during 30°, 60°, and 90° of abduction, and initial angle of scapular plane elevation were significantly different between groups [P < 0.05]. Posterior tipping was significantly decreased in patients with SIS at the initial angle of flexion [P =0.015]. Lateral translation at 90°, and 110° of abduction [P =0.015, and P=0.012, respectively] were lesser in patients. It seems that scapular kinematics during arm elevation in different movement planes is different, especially upward rotation between persons with and without SIS

Balance recovery reactions in recurrent non specific low back pain patients

Altered movement strategy and postural control has been observed in Low Back Pain [LBP] patients. Objective of this study was to determine postural response following support surface translation, also correlations between postural response related measures and disability caused by LBP. 20 healthy subjects and 20 patients with recurrent non specific LBP participated in this study. They were instructed to stand on a moveable platform with each foot placed on a separate force plate. Platform was translated backward. Center of pressure [CoP] displacement data was derived and used for calculation of postural parameters. Reaction time, Latency, mean initial Velocity and peak displacement were used as measures of postural stability. Disability was assessed by the Oswestry Disability index [ODI] and Roland-Morris disability questionnaire [RMDQ]. Correlation between balance and disability measures were assesed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Subjects with LBP had delayed reaction time, prolonged Latency and slower velocity compared to healthy subjects. Also, correlation between CoP measurments and physical function were poor. This study reveald altered postural response against purturbation in patients with LBP and no association between CoP measures and disability

[ role of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction in subjects with fecal incontinence and efficacy of pelvic floor muscle retraining in treatment: a literature review]

Fecal incontinence is defined as the involuntary loss of fecal material. Fecal incontinence is a particularly embarrassing and distressing condition with significant medical, social and economic implications. The purpose of this article is to review the relevant the role of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction in fecal incontinence. We performed a literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Ovid, CINAHL, Science Direct, ProQuest, Google Scholar, Thompson, EMBASE and Medline databases for the period of 1985-2013. The following keywords were used: puborectalis muscle, anal incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic floor muscles, biofeedback, pelvic floor exercise, electrical stimulation. Out of 56 papers, 23 met the criteria for this study. We divided these studies into three categories: 1] the role of pelvic floor muscles in the maintenance of anal continence, 2] the role of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction in fecal incontinence, and 3] the role of pelvic floor muscle retraining in management of fecal incontinence. The results indicate there is adequate evidence to support the role of the pelvic floor muscles in the maintenance of anal continence and any damage or dysfunction to these muscles can affect proper disposal and may lead to incontinence. Prevention of incontinence should attempt at preserving the pelvic floor musculature, particularly in patients with impaired defecatory maneuver, which may play a pathophysiological role in the process. The pelvic floor muscles should be considered a goal of treatment in incontinence and improvement in their function should be included as a key outcome in the evaluation of treatment

effects of consecutive supervised functional lumbar stabilizing exercises on the postural balance and functional disability in low back pain

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of consecutively supervised core stability training on postural control and functional disability in female patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Twenty nine female participants with non-specific chronic low back pain participated in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group [10 days consecutively core stability exercises under physical therapist's supervision] and control group [without intervention]. Before and after the intervention, stability situations, pain intensity and functional disability were assessed with Biodex, visual Analogue Scale, Oswestry and Quebec questionnaire scales respectively. Data were analyzed by using statistical methods, independent T test and ANCOVA. The study results indicated no statistically significant differences in all variables except age between two groups before intervention. Analysis by ANCOVA showed a significant difference in disability, pain intensity, Overall Stability Index with Double Leg Eyes Closed, Anterior-Posterior Stability Index with Double Leg Eyes Closed and Medio-Lateral Stability Index with Double Leg Eyes Closed scores between two groups after intervention. However, other variable differences were not significant while these changes were greater in the intervention group. The present study indicates that consecutively supervised core stability training is an effective approach in pain relief and improving postural control in female patients with non-specific chronic low back pain

Effects of Active Therapeutic exercises on the Electromyographic activity of Lumbopelvic muscles during prone hip extension in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain

Purpose: LBP is one of the most common health issues throughout the world and has multiple causes which one of them is the defect in motor patterns. This study compared the effectiveness of stability, general and mixed exercises on the electromyographic activity of ipsilateral erector spinae muscle [IES], contralateral erector spinae muscle [CES], gluteus maximus [GM] and medial hamstring [MH] during prone hip extension [PHE] in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain [NSCLBP]

Methods: The study used an interventional quasi-experimental design. Thirty patients with NSCLBP between the ages of 20 to 40 years were randomly divided into 3 groups [each with ten patients] including stability, general and mixed groups. The study was conducted in Spring and Summer of 2014 in Amir Physical Clinic in Isfahan. MVEA of the muscles was measured using surface electromyography [EMG] prior and after exercises during PHE. Exercises were done for 10 sessions and 3 times per week. The obtained data by SPSS [version 22] and using the Kolmogorov- Smirnov test, Independent t-test Paired t test and ANCOVA were analyzed

Results: MVEA of GM [P=0.036] significantly increased in the group who practiced with mixed4exercises. Also‚ the exercises decreased MVEA of IES‚ MH and CES. Besides, this decrease for IES [P=0.024] was significant but for MH [P=0.973] and CES [P=0.111] were not. However, the4statistical results did not show any significance among any two and or all three groups

Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that mixed exercises are more effective than stability and general exercises on the EMG activity of lumbo- pelvic muscles and could alter the electrical activity pattern of these muscles

effects of consecutive supervised stabilitytraining on postural balance in patients with chronic low back pain

To examine the effects of consecutive supervised stability training on postural control of Chronic Low Back Pain [CLBP] population. Thirty-eight subjects with Chronic Low Back Pain [CLBP] were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Concise Supervised Stability Training [CSST] group [n=20] and electrotherapy [E] group [n=18]. Bilateral and unilateral stance ability with eyes open or closed was assessed by using Biodex Balance System. Postural indices including overall, anterior/posterior, medial/lateral stability indices and limit of stability parameters as time to complete and functional performance of subjects were recorded. Qualitative and quantitative variables were not significant between groups before treatment. Most postural indices showed significant decrease after stability training comparing with E group. CSST may improve postural balance in patients with Chronic Low Back Pain [CLBP] because of facilitating feed forward mechanism, proprioception and postural strategies. Nevertheless, more investigations are needed to evaluate the effects of CSST in Chronic Low Back Pain [CLBP] patients