Effects of the Short Foot Exercise With Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Navicular Height in Flexible Flatfoot in Thailand: A Randomized Controlled Trial / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Flatfoot, or low medial longitudinal arch, contributes to back and lower extremity injuries and is caused by weak abductor hallucis (AbdH) muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short foot exercise (SFE) alone or with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on navicular height, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the AbdH muscle, and AbdH muscle activity in flexible flatfoot. METHODS: Thirty-six otherwise healthy people with flexible flatfoot were randomly assigned to a group that received SFE with placebo NMES treatment (the control group) or a group that received both SFE and NMES treatment (the experimental group). Each group received 4 weeks of treatment (SFE alone or SFE with NMES). Navicular height, the CSA of the AbdH muscle, and AbdH muscle activity were assessed before and after the intervention. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in navicular height or the CSA of the AbdH muscle between the control and experimental groups, while AbdH muscle activity showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (SFE=73.9±11.0% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction [MVIC]; SFE with NMES=81.4±8.3% of MVIC; p<0.05). Moreover, the CSA of the AbdH muscle showed a statistically significant increase after treatment in the SFE with NMES group (pre-treatment=218.6±53.2 mm²; post-treatment=256.9±70.5 mm²; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SFE with NMES was more effective than SFE alone in increasing AbdH muscle activity. Therefore, SFE with NMES should be recommended to correct or prevent abnormalities in people with flexible flatfoot by a physiotherapist or medical care team.

Effects of the Short Foot Exercise With Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Navicular Height in Flexible Flatfoot in Thailand: A Randomized Controlled Trial / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES@#Flatfoot, or low medial longitudinal arch, contributes to back and lower extremity injuries and is caused by weak abductor hallucis (AbdH) muscles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of short foot exercise (SFE) alone or with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on navicular height, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the AbdH muscle, and AbdH muscle activity in flexible flatfoot.@*METHODS@#Thirty-six otherwise healthy people with flexible flatfoot were randomly assigned to a group that received SFE with placebo NMES treatment (the control group) or a group that received both SFE and NMES treatment (the experimental group). Each group received 4 weeks of treatment (SFE alone or SFE with NMES). Navicular height, the CSA of the AbdH muscle, and AbdH muscle activity were assessed before and after the intervention.@*RESULTS@#No significant differences were found in navicular height or the CSA of the AbdH muscle between the control and experimental groups, while AbdH muscle activity showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (SFE=73.9±11.0% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction [MVIC]; SFE with NMES=81.4±8.3% of MVIC; p<0.05). Moreover, the CSA of the AbdH muscle showed a statistically significant increase after treatment in the SFE with NMES group (pre-treatment=218.6±53.2 mm²; post-treatment=256.9±70.5 mm²; p<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#SFE with NMES was more effective than SFE alone in increasing AbdH muscle activity. Therefore, SFE with NMES should be recommended to correct or prevent abnormalities in people with flexible flatfoot by a physiotherapist or medical care team.

The comparison on physiological responses in skin temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate between application of heated rice grain and traditional Thai hot pack

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of heat rice grain (HRG) and traditional Thai (TT) hot pack on the changes of skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. Forty-four healthy women aged 25-45 years (40.96 + 1.98 years.) were randomized into 2 groups (22 subjects / group). The HRG and TT hot pack groups were treated as heated pack on the subjects’ back. The treatment time in each group was 20 minutes. The skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate of each subject were recorded before and after treatment. The results showed that the means of skin temperature before and after treatment of subjects in HRG and TT hot pack were 33.80 + 0.96 \& 38.94 + 0.81 oC and 33.89 + 0.96 \& 38.92 + 0.65 oC, respectively. The means of systolic-diastolic blood pressure before and after treatment of subjects in HRG and TT hot pack were 109.91 + 7.57 - 74.82 + 7.59 \& 105.91 + 5.78 - 72.50 + 5.27 mmHg and 107.77 + 8.47 - 74.14 + 6.70 \& 103.82 + 6.70 -70.91 + 5.13 mmHg., respectively. The means of heart rate before and after treatment of subjects in HRG and TT hot pack were 71.00 + 7.16 \& 73.55 + 7.94 bpm. and 73.09 + 6.93 \& 76.23 + 7.52 bpm., respectively.  The skin temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate were significantly changed when compared before and after application of heated pack in each group (p \< 0.05). However, there were no difference in these parameters between the HRG and TT hot pack. In conclusion, both the HRG and TT hot pack can affect the changes in skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate.