Comparison of manual therapy and exercise therapy for postural hyperkyphosis: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of a manual therapy and an exercise therapy program in improving postural hyperkyphosis among young adults. METHODS: Forty-six women between the ages of 18 to 30 years with thoracic kyphosis diagnosed by flexicurve ruler were randomly assigned to either an exercise therapy or a manual therapy group. The exercise therapy program focused on stretching and strengthening exercises in 15 sessions over 5 weeks. The manual therapy group received 15 sessions of manual techniques including massage, mobilization, muscle energy and myofascial release. Kyphosis angle and back extensor muscle strength were measured with a motion analysis system and a dynamometer at the baseline and after treatment. The data were analyzed with paired and independent t-tests. RESULTS: After treatment, the angle of thoracic kyphosis was smaller and back extensor muscle strength was significantly greater in both the exercise and manual therapy groups (p < 0.001). We found no significant differences between groups in the changes in kyphosis angle or muscle strength after treatment (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Manual therapy was as effective as exercise therapy in reducing kyphosis angle and increasing back extensor muscle strength in young women with postural hyperkyphosis.

Prevention of synkinesis by biofeedback therapy: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of present study was to find a better procedure to prevent synkinesis in facial nerve palsy. DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Clinical rehabilitation faculty and general rehabilitation centers. SUBJECTS: Twenty- nine patients with facial nerve palsy were selected via electrodiagnosis tests. INTERVENTION: The experimental group (n = 16) was treated with biofeedback electromyography, whereas the control group (n = 13) received common physiotherapy. All patients received 1-year treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of facial grading scale before and after treatment and severity of synkinesia. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, there was a rise in facial grading system in both groups compared with baseline (p < 0.05, paired t test). There were significant differences in the facial grading system between 2 groups at the end of the study, but the experimental group showed better result than the other one. The number of patients with synkinesis and the severity of their synkinesis in the experimental group were lesser than those of the control group. CONCLUSION: Biofeedback therapy is more efficient than common physiotherapy. By using this approach, controlling and reducing synkinesis is more feasible.