Immediate effects of a vibrating foam roller on dorsiflexion rom, balance, and gait in stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of vibration foam rolling on dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM), balance, and gait in stroke patients. Thirty stroke patients volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to the vibrating foam roller group (n=15) and the foam roller group (n=15). The vibrating foam roller group performed a 30-min foam roller exercise program, with participants subjected to vibration at 28 Hz. The foam roller group performed the same exercise program as the vibrating foam roller group, but without vibration. Dorsiflexion lunge test, limits of stability, and Timed Up and Go were used to evaluate dorsiflexion ROM, balance, and gait before and after each intervention. The results revealed that the vibration foam roller group showed significant differences in dorsiflexion ROM and gait after the intervention, while the foam roller group exhibited a significant difference only in dorsiflexion ROM (P<0.05). In comparisons between the vibration foam roller group and the foam roller group, significant differences were observed in dorsiflexion ROM and gait (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in balance, both before and after the intervention, as well as in the comparisons between the two groups (P>0.05). This study confirmed that a single-session vibrating foam roller exercise program improves dorsiflexion ROM and gait in stroke patients. Further studies with extended exercise program durations are needed to address limitations and explore long-term effects.

Effects of exercise therapy on pain and disability in patients with non-specific neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses have only focused on patients with chronic non-specific neck pain (NNP), analyzing exercise therapy (ET) only as therapeutic exercise. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively review the effects of ET through a meta-analysis comprising a wide range of ETs that are not limited to therapeutic exercise. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ET on pain and disability in patients with NNP. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHOD: The studies selected for this study were based on the PICO-SD tool as follows: P (patient)-acute, subacute, and chronic NNP patents, I (intervention)-ET, C (comparison)-control and other therapy groups, O (outcome)-pain and disability, and SD (study design)-randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included. The effects of ET on pain and disability in patients with chronic NNP were significantly different (pain: SMD -1.47, 95% CI: -1.89 to -1.06, I2: 94%; disability: SMD -1.79, 95% CI: -2.31 to -1.27, I2: 94%). The effects of ET on pain (ET vs control: SMD: -1.60, 95% CI: -2.09 to -1.11, I2: 94%; ET vs sham therapy: SMD: -8.75, 95% CI: -10.71 to -6.79) and disability (ET vs control: SMD: -2.16, 95% CI: -2.80 to -1.52, I2: 94%; ET vs sham therapy: SMD: -1.73, 95% CI: -2.42 to -1.05) in NNP patients were significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: This study verified the efficacy of ET in improving pain and disability in patients with chronic NNP. However, evidence supporting the efficacy of ET in patients with acute and subacute NNP is still lacking.

The effects of vibration foam roller applied to hamstring on the quadriceps electromyography activity and hamstring flexibility.

This study investigates the effect of vibration foam roller (VFR) applied to the hamstring, on the quadriceps electromyography (EMG) activity and hamstring flexibility. A total of 16 subjects were randomly assigned to either the VFR group (n=8) or the nonvibration foam roller group (NVFR, n=8). The two groups applied the foam roller or the VFR to the dominant hamstring, at a rate of 40 times per min, for a total of 200 times in 5 min. The primary outcome was to measure hamstring extensibility using the sit and reach test. The EMG activity of the dominant rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis (VM) was measured as the secondary outcome. Results indicate a significant increase in the sit and reach distance after the intervention in both groups, as compared to preintervention. The sit and reach difference between VFR and NVFR show no significant difference after the intervention. Significant increases were observed after intervention in the %maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) of VL, VM, and RF in the VFR group, and RF in the NVFR group, as compared to the preintervention values. Furthermore, %MVIC values of VL and RF, but not the VM muscle, were significantly different between the two groups. These findings suggest that regardless of vibration, the application of foam roller to hamstring may exert a positive effect on hamstring flexibility. Furthermore, these results indicate that the application of foam roller with vibrations causes more EMG activation in the antagonists.

The immediate effects of foam roller with vibration on hamstring flexibility and jump performance in healthy adults.

This study aimed to determine whether foam roller with vibration (FRV) can improve hamstring flexibility and jump performance in young adults. Twenty subjects were randomly allocated into either the FRV or the foam-roller with no vibration (FRNV) groups. The vibration of the vibration foam-roller was 32 Hz. All participants completed one 10-min session on the hamstring. Active straight leg raising (ASLR) test in supine position and active knee extension (AKE) test in sitting position were performed to measure hamstring flexibility, before and immediately after the session. ASLR, AKE, and vertical jump performance test were performed before the session and immediately after the session. Analysis of covariance was used to determine statistical significance. ASLR and AKE tests were significantly different between FRV and FRNV, except the right hamstring. There was significant improvement with respect to ASLR and AKE tests after the session in FRV group. The vertical jump performance test of both groups was not significantly different after the session. FRV is more effective than FRNV for improving hamstring flexibility.

The immediate effects of taping therapy on knee pain and depression in patients with degenerative arthritis.

[Purpose] This study aims to identify the immediate effects of taping therapy on knee pain and depression among patients with degenerative arthritis. [Subjects and Methods] In total, 32 patients with degenerative arthritis were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the experimental group that underwent taping therapy and the control group that underwent regular treatment (16 patients per group). In the experimental group, therapeutic tape was wrapped all around the knee joint. Pain and depression were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. [Results] The intra-group comparison showed significant differences in VAS and BDI for the experimental group. The intergroup comparison showed that the differences in VAS and BDI within the experimental group appeared significant relative to the control group. [Conclusion] It was observed that taping therapy showed an immediate effect in decreasing knee pain and depression among patients with degenerative arthritis.

The effect of actively induced vibration using shoulder joint on pain and dysfunction in patients with low back pain.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the effect of a Flexi-Bar exercise program with vibration stimulation on pain and dysfunction in patients with low back pain. [Subjects and Methods] This study included 30 patients with low back pain. The participants were divided into a control (n=15) group and an experimental group (n=15). General physical therapy was used in both groups. A Flexi-Bar exercise program with vibration stimulation was used in the experimental group. The Visual Analog Scale was used to measure pain severity. The Oswestry Disability Index was used to measure the extent of dysfunction due to low back pain. [Results] The VAS and ODI of the experimental group showed a significant difference compared to that of the control group. [Conclusion] The results show that a Flexi-Bar exercise program with vibration stimulation is effective in alleviating pain and dysfunction in patients with low back pain.

Effects of mechanical horseback riding velocity on spinal alignment in young adults.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine if the velocity of mechanical horseback-riding training can improve spinal alignment in young adults. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-six subjects were enrolled in this study. The subjects were randomly allocated into high-, moderate-, and low-velocity mechanical horseback-riding training groups. All participants completed one 20-minute session per day, 3 days per week, for 6 weeks. The evaluation was performed before and 6 weeks after the training intervention. The spinal alignment was measured by a Formetric III device. The measurement items were kyphotic angle, lordotic angle, trunk inclination, pelvic torsion, pelvic rotation, and lateral deviation. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance to determine the statistical significance. [Results] The kyphotic angle and trunk inclination were significantly different among the groups. The kyphotic angles of the high- and moderate-velocity groups were significantly lower than that of the low-velocity group after the intervention. The trunk inclination of the high-velocity group was significantly lower than that of the low-velocity group after intervention. [Conclusion] Higher-velocity mechanical horseback-riding training is more effective than lower-velocity mechanical horseback-riding training for improving spinal alignment.