Welcome to this issue of Manual Therapy Journal. It is a delight and pleasure to announce that the impact factor of the Journal has risen to 2.319 which has ranked the Journal fifth of the 33 journals listed in the ISI Rehabilitation Journals category. (Source: Manual Therapy)

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

(Source: Manual Therapy)

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess changes in deep abdominal muscle function after 8 weeks of exercise in chronic low back pain patients. Patients (n = 109) were randomized to specific ultrasound guided, sling or general exercises. Contraction thickness ratio in transversus abdominis (TrA), obliquus internus (OI) and externus (OE), and TrA lateral slide were assessed during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver by b-mode ultrasound. Changes in abdominal muscle function were also regressed on changes in pain. Only modest effects in deep abdominal muscle function were observed, mainly due to reduced activation of OI (contraction thickness ratio: 1.42–1.22, p = 0.01) and reduced TrA lateral slide (1.26–1.01 cm, p = 0.02) in the ultrasound group on the left side. Reduced pain…

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

Abstract: The extent of cortical neuroplastic changes has been shown to be a key neurophysiological feature that correlates with the level of functional recovery. Therefore, rehabilitation efforts that attempt to maximize cortical reorganization provide the greatest potential for rehabilitation success. This paper reviews the evidence of cortical neuroplastic changes that have been shown to occur in association with experimental or chronic pain disorders. Further, the promising role of novel motor-skill training is discussed in order to best direct the clinician to optimize rehabilitation strategies for patients with musculoskeletal pain disorders. (Source: Manual Therapy)

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

Conclusions: Decreased motor performance was observed in chronic neck pain patients during the most challenging cervical pointing task condition. These results may imply that in order for a performance based outcome measure to yield observable differences conditions that meet or exceed the optimum challenge point of the population tested should be employed. (Source: Manual Therapy)

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

A disconnection between radiologists and clinicians is often cited as a hindrance in the contemporary medical model. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Orthopedic Sports Medicine endeavours to amalgamate these disciplines in a cooperative effort by leading experts in these respective fields. This point is made paramount in the preface where the editors state the impetus for their text as a practical reference that would integrate the basic needs of radiologists and clinicians alike. Numerous contributing authors (37) facilitate a text whose final product does a fair job of bridging the gap. Though lacking in chapter consistency, the final product is a commendable effort that is truly the first of its kind. (Source: Manual Therapy)

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

(Source: Manual Therapy)

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

Abstract: Manual therapy interventions are often used with or without physical medicine modalities to treat neck pain. This review assessed the effect of 1) manipulation and mobilisation, 2) manipulation, mobilisation and soft tissue work, and 3) manual therapy with physical medicine modalities on pain, function, patient satisfaction, quality of life (QoL), and global perceived effect (GPE) in adults with neck pain. A computerised search for randomised trials was performed up to July 2009. Two or more authors independently selected studies, abstracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Pooled relative risk (RR) and standardised mean differences (SMD) were calculated when possible. We included 19 trials, 37% of which had a low risk of bias. Moderate quality evidence (1 trial, 221 pa…

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

Abstract: The deepest muscle of the human ventro-lateral abdominal wall, the Transversus Abdominis (TrA), has been ascribed a specific role in spine stabilization, which has motivated special core stability exercises and hollowing instruction to specifically involve this muscle. The purpose here was to evaluate the levels of activation of the TrA and the superficial Rectus Abdominis (RA) muscles during five common stabilization exercises performed in supine, bridging and four-point kneeling positions, with and without instruction to hollow, i.e. to continuously pull the lower part of the abdomen towards the spine. Nine habitually active women participated and muscle activity was recorded bilaterally from TrA and RA with intramuscular fine-wire electrodes introduced under the guidance of ul…

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour

This study had two major aims: 1) to characterise ‘Strain–Counterstrain’ DTPs, using quantitative sensory testing (QST) in participants with low back pain (LBP); 2) to compare corresponding points at lumbar sites in participants with LBP to those without LBP. Fifteen participants with LBP (9 females), mean (SD) Oswestry scores 20.8 (10.1)) and 15 participants without LBP (6 females) were included. QST was undertaken by a single examiner blind to the location of DTPs and included measurement of electrical detection and electrical pain threshold, thermal (hot/cold) detection and thermal pain threshold, vibration detection threshold and pressure-pain threshold. In participants with LBP, DTPs demonstrated significantly lower electrical detection and electrical pain thresholds compared to…

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Written by: Manual Therapy

Original Article: http://www.medworm.com/rss/search.php?qu=Manual+Therapy&t=Manual+Therapy&s=Search&f=sour