A clinical single blind study to investigate the immediate effects of plantar vibration on balance in patients after stroke

Summary

Balance disorder is a very common cause of disability in patients after a stroke. Vibration therapy is one of the physiotherapeutic modalities used to improve balance.

A comparison between different modes of real-time sonoelastography in visualizing myofascial trigger points in low back muscles

Objective: Currently, there is a lack of objective means to quantify myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) and their core features. Our research compares (1) MTrPs and surrounding myofascial tissue using two-dimensional grayscale ultrasound (2DGSUS) and vibration sonoelastography (VSE); (2) the accuracy of both modes in visualizing MTrPs; (3) ‘active’ and ‘latent’ MTrPs, using VSE; and (4) the accuracy of both modes in visualizing deep and superficially located MTrPs.

Methods: Fifty participants with more than two MTrPs in their quadratus lumborum, longissimus thoracis, piriformis, and gluteus medius muscles were assigned to an active MTrP (low back pain) group or a latent (currently pain free) MTrP group. MTrP identification was based on their essential criteria. An electronic algometer measured repeatedly the tenderness of MTrPs with reference to pressure pain threshold values. A handheld vibrator was applied over MTrPs, while VSE and 2DGSUS readings were taken using an EUB-7500 ultrasound scanner.

Results: There was a significant difference between MTrP strain and that of the immediately surrounding myofascial tissue, as measured using VSE (P?=?0·001). VSE visualized all superficial and deep MTrPs with an accuracy of 100% (for both groups); the blinded results obtained using 2DGSUS achieved 33% and 35% accuracy, respectively. There was no significant difference found between the tissue strain ratios of active and latent MTrPs (P?=?0·929).

Discussion: Sonoelastography can visualize superficial and deep MTrPs, and differentiate them from surrounding myofascial structure through tissue stiffness and echogenicity. VSE was more accurate than 2DGSUS in visualizing and imaging MTrPs.     

两种体动感知方式频率适应性起搏器的频率适应特点

通过运动试验和干扰试验，比较两种体动感知频率适应性起搏器（ＲＡＰＭ）的频率适应特点。结果显示：平板运动时，体动振动感知和体动加速度感知两种ＲＡＰＭ的起搏频率分别增加２３和２１ｐｐｍ（Ｐ均＜０．０５）；体动加速度感知ＲＡＰＭ的起搏频率随运动负荷增加而显著加快（例如踏车运动负荷为２５，５０和７５Ｗ时，起搏频率分别为８３±７，９７±２１，１１３±２３ｐｐｍ，与前一负荷相比Ｐ均＜０．０５），体动振动感知ＲＡＰＭ的起搏频率则因外界干扰误增２３～３２ｐｐｍ（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结果表明体动加速度感知ＲＡＰＭ的频率适应程度与运动负荷的相关性以及频率适应特异性均好于体动振动感知ＲＡＰＭ。