Abstract: The 2D PEAK Motus motion analysis system was used to measure the sagittal lumbofemoral rhythm during active hip (knee) flexion in standing in 34 healthy older adults whose movement may be influenced by age-related changes in the neuromusculoskeletal system. When the thigh was raised, the lumbar spine moved concurrently with the hip joint throughout the movement. Approximately 5° of initial hip flexion occurred before 1° of lumbar flexion. Overall, the lumbar spine contributed 26.6% (29.3°) of the total thigh movement (pelvis+hip joint) during the upward (110.2°) movement phase. Compared to children and young adults, older adults demonstrated some age-related differences in sagittal lumbofemoral rhythm, including decreased hip flexion and a large variation in the hip-to-lumbar…

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This study investigated effects of physical exercise on musculoskeletal pain symptoms in all regions of the body, as well as on other musculoskeletal pain in association with neck pain. A single blind randomized controlled trial testing a one-year exercise intervention was performed among 549 office workers; specific neck/shoulder resistance training, all-round physical exercise, or a reference intervention. Pain symptoms were determined by questionnaire screening of twelve selected body regions. Case individuals were identified for each body region as those reporting pain intensities at baseline of 3 or more (scale of 0–9) during the last three months. For neck cases specifically, the additional number of pain regions was counted. Intensity of pain decreased significantly more in the ne…

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Abstract: Neuromuscular fatigue of the trunk musculature, particularly lumbar paraspinal and abdominal muscles, is important in when evaluating motor control of the trunk. Activation of agonists and antagonists trunk muscles was hypothesized to change during sub-maximal isometric trunk extension efforts. Thirteen women were positioned in 30° of trunk flexion and performed maximal voluntary isometric contraction in trunk extension against an isokinetic dynamometer. One of two sub-maximal efforts (50% and 70%) was performed to induce neuromuscular fatigue on two different days. Surface electromyography of the lumbar paraspinal (LP), rectus abdominis, and external oblique muscles was recorded during each session. Torque output, median frequency of the power density spectrum, and normalized i…

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This study was conducted within the framework of a randomised clinical trial comparing two types of conservative therapy in 146 patients with sub-acute neck pain. Multilevel techniques were used for data-analysis.The short and long term results for the three outcomes were very diverse. The sub-scales of the used questionnaires, i.e. the Pain Coping and Cognition List (PCCL), and the 4 Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ), did not contribute significantly to all of the multilevel models. Only the factor ‘fear of movement’ was consistently and significantly present in the univariable analysis for all outcomes at both follow-up measurements. The explained variance in the short term ranged from 16% to 30%, and from 6% to 34% in the long term. This can be considered to be low.We conclud…

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This study aimed to investigate changes in the deep abductor muscles, gluteus medius (GMED), piriformis (PIRI), and gluteus minimus (GMIN), occurring in association with differing stages of unilateral degenerative hip joint pathology (mild: n=6, and advanced: n=6). Muscle volume assessed via magnetic resonance imaging was compared for each muscle between sides, and between groups (mild, advanced, control (n=12)). GMED and PIRI muscle volume was smaller around the affected hip in subjects with advanced pathology (p (Source: Manual Therapy)

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A.I. Kapandji has published three volumes on the Physiology of Joints. From the first edition on they have been a great success and the work has since then been translated into six languages, including Japanese. A quick search through the new third volume on the spine indicates that it classically covers the pelvic girdle and lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine. However, this sixth edition has a completely new color lay-out and is printed on a larger paper size which makes the work more attractive and improves the clearness of the drawings and schemes. This new edition also includes new items and chapters. Besides some new drawings in most of the chapters the chapter on the pelvis includes a new section on the pelvic floor muscles and their functions. The chapter on the cervical spine is e…

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This multi-author book covers those aspects of neuropathic medicine which are not pharmacological or mind-body by nature. I did ask myself whether there is a physical medicine that is not neuropathic. The answer was, I thought, no. So perhaps this book is about physical medicine and, having been a professor of physical medicine once, I thought this is right up my street. (Source: Manual Therapy)

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This study investigated whether specific training affected neuromuscular control of BF and GM during Prone Hip Extension (PHE). Twenty healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to the intervention or the control group. Mean onset times for BF and GM during PHE were recorded via surface electromyography (sEMG). The intervention group performed a 10min exercise with focus on proximal to distal muscle activation involving abdominal hollowing and active GM contraction prior to PHE. The control group undertook an exercise which included only PHE. Post exercise descriptive analysis indicated that the intervention exercise reduced the delay of GM firing relative to BF, however, when baseline differences between the two groups are taken into account as a covariant, the difference attributable to …

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Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate mechanical sensitivity responses at the lateral elbow to repeated weekly bouts of low load exercise in healthy subjects. Thirteen young men (n=6) and women participated in 4 weeks of exercise. Arms were randomly allocated to an eccentric-only exercise protocol (ECC: 5 sets of 20 contractions) or to a concentric–eccentric protocol (CON-ECC: 5 sets of 10 eccentric/10 concentric contractions) performed at 30% maximal wrist extension force. Arms were exercised consecutively within each supervised weekly session. Quantitative measures of pressure pain threshold (PPT) recorded at three sites and maximal force for grip and wrist extension were assessed at baseline, and immediately pre/post exercise at each session. Muscle endurance during 100 m…

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This study demonstrates that the force and displacement induced by any individual practitioner on a simulator can vary by up to 50% during a toggle-recoil thrust. Furthermore, different practitioners may vary in their force by as much 100% and in displacement by 50% when the toggle-recoil spinal manipulative procedure is performed. (Source: Manual Therapy)

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