Task-related differences in distribution of electromyographic activity within peroneus longus muscle of spontaneously moving cats

Summary In the hindlimb muscle peroneus longus (PerL) of cats, electromyographic activity (EMG) was recorded from anterior and posterior regions during voluntary motor behaviour. In spite of the fact that this muscle is composed of units that all exert their forces in the same direction, the intra-muscular EMG distribution differed in a marked and reproducible way between different types of motor behaviour. Anterior as well as posterior regions were both strongly active in relation to the swing-phase of stepping. In comparison to this stepping-activity, there was a marked predominance of posterior PerL activity during hindlimb standing (or take-off for a jump) and an equally pronounced predominance of anterior PerL activity when the cat was preparing to land from being lifted (or at the end of a jump). It is suggested that these task-associated differences in EMG distribution reflect topographical aspects of the intraspinal organization of motor tasks.     

肌内效贴治疗对脑卒中后肩手综合征患者上肢静脉的影响

目的 观察肌内效贴治疗对脑卒中后肩手综合征(SHS)患者上肢静脉的影响.方法 选择脑卒中后并发SHS患者50例,随机分为观察组及对照组各25例.两组患者均采用常规治疗,观察组在常规治疗的基础上配合肌内效贴治疗.采用彩色多普勒超声检测两组治疗前后后肘正中静脉的血管内径、血管壁厚度及最大血流速度,并观察患肢静脉频谱图和血管二维声像图的变化.结果 治疗后,彩色多普勒超声检测可见患者血管走行恢复平直,静脉瓣活动柔软,随心动周期、呼吸周期变化可见不同程度的起伏.观察组静脉血管内径均较治疗前缩小,静脉回流速度提升(P<0.05),但对照组治疗前后比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);与对照组比较,治疗后观察组静脉血管内径较小,静脉回流速度较快(P<0.05).结论 肌内效贴能明显增加上肢静脉血流量,加快局部血流的速度,促进静脉回流,从而缓解疼痛消除水肿,有利于患肢的神经营养和功能改善.     

耳穴贴压在缓解第一产程宫缩痛中的应用

目的:观察耳穴贴压在缓解孕妇第一产程宫缩痛中的应用效果。方法:将200例待产妇随机分为观察组、对照组各100例。对照组采用常规产前一般护理,包括入院宣教、心理护理、饮食指导、用药指导等;观察组在对照组常规护理基础上耳穴贴压。观察2组第一产程宫缩疼痛评分、产程、产后出血量、新生儿Apgar评分及满意度评分。结果:第一产程各阶段疼痛评分、产程、产后出血量、新生儿Apgar评分及满意度评分等2组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:耳穴贴压能够缓解孕妇第一产程宫缩痛,减少出血量,提高新生儿Apgar评分及自然分娩率,增加住院期间满意度。     

Arch taping as a symptomatic treatment in patients with Sever's disease: A multiple case series

BackgroundSever's disease, is a musculoskeletal condition occurring in adolescence that symptomatically manifests as posterior heel pain during ambulation. Often participation in physical activity is severely limited resulting in frustration for children and parents alike. Conservative treatment options have included rest, abstinence from athletic activity, heel lifts, foot orthotic devices, ice, and calf-stretching exercise. The authors are proposing arch taping as an additional viable treatment option for controlling heel pain during athletic and other weight-bearing activities in patients with Sever's disease.ObjectiveTo assess the immediate impact of arch taping in controlling heel pain during ambulation in a group of subjects with Sever's disease and to discuss possible biomechanical explanations.Methods and measuresEleven subjects diagnosed with Sever's disease with a history of posterior heel pain were evaluated and treated by three different therapists in three different regions in the USA. Level of perceived pain during ambulation was reported before and immediately after arch tape application. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was utilized to assess pain reduction with significance set at p < 0.05 level and effect size was determined with Cliff's delta statistic.OutcomesEach subject reported an immediate reduction in heel pain during ambulation with arch taping. The median reduction in pain was 5 levels. Wilcoxon's statistic was significant with p = 0.001 and Cliff's delta revealed a value of 0.97 indicating a large pain reduction effect with arch taping.ConclusionsThe arch taping technique applied in this case series was effective in the immediate reduction of posterior heel pain during ambulation and allowed an early return to sports activities for those involved in athletics. This technique could be considered an additional treatment option for others with similar clinical presentations. Possible biomechanical explanations may relate to a windlass effect provided through the taping technique.     

A Combined Approach to Treatment of Learning Difficulties

The scope of problems covered by the term “Learning Difficulties” is reviewed. The requirement to match individual needs with specific treatment is stressed. The traditional role of Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy in helping children, and some of the author's reasons for using Applied Kinesiology (A.K) within his osteopathic approach to children is discussed. The contribution of the Irlen Technique for Scotopic Sensitivity (a visual problem) and Audio Integration Training for auditory perceptual problems is raised. It is argued that combined with A.K. techniques which assess structural, mental and chemical elements of the problem, these therapies can contribute additional benefit to the educationally challenged child. Such an approach enables children to obtain the greatest benefits from the special teaching that they receive. Some results of a survey completed by 44 parents of children treated at the practice are summarised.     

THE EFFECT OF KINESIO? TAPE ON VERTICAL JUMP AND DYNAMIC POSTURAL CONTROL

Introduction and Background:

Ankle injuries are one of the most common injuries among physically active individuals. The role of prophylactic ankle taping and bracing has been studied extensively. Kinesio^® Tape (KT) is a somewhat new type of taping technique gaining popularity as both treatment and performance enhancement tool. However, there is limited research on the effect of KT on functional performance.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the application of Kinesio Tex^® Tape had an effect on vertical jump and dynamic postural control in healthy young individuals.

Methods:

52 healthy subjects free of ankle or lower extremity problems (28 males and 24 females; age: 22.12±2.08 years; height: 170.77±8.69 cm; weight: 69.90±12.03 kg) participated in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (KT with tension) or the control group (KT without tension). Vertical jump was measured using the VertiMetric device and dynamic postural control was assessed using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) under three conditions: (1) without taping; (2) immediately after taping; (3) 24 hours after taping with the taping remaining in situ.

Results:

Three-way repeated measure ANOVA was conducted in order to identify differences between the experimental and the control group during the three conditions. Overall, there were no differences between groups in vertical jump maximum height, vertical jump average height, or the SEBT scores for the three time periods (pre-test, post-test, 24hrs-post-test). However, the main effect of KT was moderated by a significant gender interaction, resulting in a statistically significant effect of KT for the SEBT scores in the posterior-medial direction, F(1.72, 82.57) = 4.50, p = 0.018 and the medial direction, F(1.75, 83.81) = 4.27, p = 0.021. Follow-up analyses indicated that female subjects in the KT group had increased SEBT scores between three time periods when compared to the placebo group.

Discussion:

KT application on the ankle neither decreased nor increased vertical jump height in healthy non-injured young individuals, but did increase dynamic postural control in females for certain directions. Additional study is warranted using different measures of balance to further investigate the effect of KT on dynamic postural control.

Level of Evidence:

2b     

针刺配合耳穴贴压治疗精神发育迟缓患儿睡眠障碍30例

目的:观察针刺配合耳穴贴压治疗精神发育迟缓患儿睡眠障碍的临床疗效.方法:30例有睡眠障碍的精神发育迟缓患儿,采用针刺配合耳穴贴压治疗,针刺主穴取四神针、脑三针、智三针、颞三针、手智针等,并随症、辨证配穴,耳穴贴压取神门、皮质下、交感、心、肾、脾,均每周治疗3次,36次为一疗程,共治疗2个疗程.采用儿童睡眠习惯量表(CSHQ),观察患儿治疗后睡眠状况改善情况和疗效.结果:治疗后30例患儿,显效11例,有效16例,无效3例,总有效率为90.0％;治疗后患儿在睡眠总时长、上床睡觉时间、睡眠习惯、睡眠行为、夜醒情况、晨起情况、白天睡眠情况及总分各方面较治疗前均明显改善(P＜0.01,P＜0.001).结论:针刺配合耳穴贴压治疗精神发育迟缓患儿睡眠障碍疗效确切,能不同程度地提高患儿的睡眠质量.     

Patellar taping, patellofemoral pain syndrome, lower extremity kinematics, and dynamic postural control

CONTEXT: Patellar taping has been a part of intervention for treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). However, research on the efficacy of patellar taping on lower extremity kinematics and dynamic postural control is limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of patellar taping on sagittal-plane hip and knee kinematics, reach distance, and perceived pain level during the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) in individuals with and without PFPS. DESIGN: Repeated-measures design with 2 within-subjects factors and 1 between-subjects factor. SETTING: The University of Toledo Athletic Training Research Laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Twenty participants with PFPS and 20 healthy participants between the ages of 18 and 29 years. INTERVENTION(S): The participants performed 3 reaches of the SEBT in the anterior direction under tape and no-tape conditions on both legs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The participants' hip and knee sagittal-plane kinematics were measured using the electromagnetic tracking system. Reach distance was recorded by hand and was normalized by dividing the distance by the participants' leg length (%MAXD). After each taping condition on each leg, the participants rated the perceived pain level using the 10-cm visual analog scale. RESULTS: The participants with PFPS had a reduction in pain level with patellar tape application compared with the no-tape condition (P = .005). Additionally, participants with PFPS demonstrated increased %MAXD under the tape condition compared with the no-tape condition, whereas the healthy participants demonstrated decreased %MAXD with tape versus no tape (P = .028). No statistically significant differences were noted in hip flexion and knee flexion angles. CONCLUSIONS: Although patellar taping seemed to reduce pain and improve SEBT performance of participants with PFPS, the exact mechanisms of these phenomena cannot be explained in this study. Further research is warranted to investigate the effect of patellar taping on neuromuscular control during dynamic postural control.