This study suggests that in asymptomatic subjects a systemic hypoalgesic response is caused by lumbar mobilisation regardless of amplitude. (Source: Manual Therapy)

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Abstract: There are no published data on the prevalence of Achilles tendinopathy in gymnasts. 40 elite gymnasts and 41 controls of mean (SD) age 16.3 (2.1) years had bilateral AT thickness (at 3 points along the tendon in longitudinal and transverse views) and abnormality measured using ultrasound (US). Data on a history of AT symptoms were gathered using a questionnaire.Among female gymnasts there were 17.5% of Achilles tendons (ATs) with current symptoms, compared with none of the controls (χ2=6.2, p (Source: Manual Therapy)

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Abstract: To date the influence that specific sitting posture has on the head/neck posture and cervico-thoracic muscle activity has been insufficiently investigated. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate whether three different thoraco-lumbar sitting postures affect head/neck posture and cervico-thoracic muscle activity.Twenty (10 men, 10 women) asymptomatic subjects were placed in 3 standardized thoraco-lumbar sitting postures (lumbo-pelvic, thoracic upright and slump) to investigate their influence on cervico-thoracic muscle activity and head/neck posture.There were significant differences in lumbar and thoracic curvatures in the 3 different sitting postures (P (Source: Manual Therapy)

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Abstract: Pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain has varying clinical presentations and effects among subgroups. Different lumbopelvic pain subgroups require different specific management approaches which require the differentiation between lumbar and pelvic girdle pain (PGP).Thirty-one consecutive pregnant women with non-specific lumbopelvic pain were evaluated by two examiners and classified into lumbar pain, PGP, or combined pelvic girdle and lumbar pain. A standard history about different positions/activities of daily life such as bending, sitting, standing, walking, and lying, was followed by a standardised mechanical assessment of the lumbar spine (Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy), including tests of repeated end-range movements to standing and lying, pelvic pain provocation tests (dist…

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Abstract: Purpose: To determine if real-time feedback enables students to apply mobilisation forces to the cervical spine that are similar to an expert physiotherapist.Methods: An instrumented treatment table collected mobilisation force data with feedback about forces displayed on a computer screen. An expert physiotherapist performed posteroanterior mobilisation of C7 on 21 asymptomatic subjects while forces were recorded. These data were used as force targets for 51 students who mobilised one of the asymptomatic subjects on two occasions. Students’ forces were recorded before and after practice either with (experimental group) or without real-time feedback (control group). Improved performance was defined as a smaller difference between expert and student forces, comparing groups with n…

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The objective of this study was to compare changes in hamstrings flexibility, peak torque angle and stretch tolerance after two training programs: stretching and strengthening in a lengthened position. Forty-five subjects with tight hamstrings were randomly assigned into three groups: control, stretching and strength training in lengthened position. The interventions were performed three times a week for eight weeks. The subjects were assessed before and after the end of the programs. Data provided by an isokinetic dynamometer were used to assess hamstrings flexibility, peak torque angle, and stretch tolerance. The data analysis demonstrated that strengthening in lengthened position changed peak torque angle in the direction of knee extension (p=0.001). No change in flexibility was observe…

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Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the use of manipulation and mobilisation by the Chartered Physiotherapists (CMPT) in Manipulative Therapy Ireland and to describe adverse effects associated with the use of these techniques. A 44 item postal survey was sent to all 259 members of the CPMT (response rate 49%, n=127). All 127 respondents used non-High Velocity Thrust Techniques (HVTT) and 27% (n=34) used HVTT. Nine percent (n=12) used HVTT on the upper cervical spine. Twenty six percent (n=33) reported an adverse effect in the previous 2 years. The adverse effects were associated with the use of HVTT (4%, n=5), non-HVTT (20%, n=26) and cervical traction (2%, n=2). The most serious adverse effects were associated with non-HVTT and included 1 drop attack, 1 fainting episode a…

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This study illustrates that qualitative methods have an added value when developing self-report questionnaires because some of the problems that were highlighted that cannot be identified using quantitative methods only. Therefore, we recommend that a full qualitative study should be an integral part of the development of questionnaires. The TSTI method is very useful for this purpose. (Source: Manual Therapy)

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This study compared the somatosensory phenotype of whiplash and idiopathic neck pain. Comprehensive Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) including both detection and pain thresholds as well as psychological distress were measured in 50 participants with chronic WAD, 28 participants with chronic idiopathic neck pain and 31 healthy controls. The whiplash group demonstrated lowered pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at all sites compared to the controls (p0.05) except at the tibialis anterior site (p=0.02). The whiplash group demonstrated lowered cold pain thresholds compared to idiopathic and control groups (p (Source: Manual Therapy)

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Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of inertial sensors for motion analysis research. Inertial sensors (Xsens Technologies, Netherlands) consisting of 3D gyroscopes, accelerometers and a magnetometer were compared against an electromagnetic motion tracking system (Fastrak, Polhemus, USA) for measuring motions of an artificial hinge joint and random 3D motions. Subsequently, to assess the feasibility of using inertial sensors for human motion analysis, the movements of the hip joint during walking were recorded in 20 normal asymptomatic subjects. The comparative study demonstrated good agreement between the inertial and electromagnetic systems. Measurements obtained for hip joint movement during walking (flexion, extension and step length) were similar to those …

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