Abdominal muscle activity during abdominal hollowing in four starting positions

The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), and transversus abdominis/internal abdominal oblique (TrA/IO) muscles during abdominal hollowing (AH) in four positions: crook lying, prone lying, four-point kneeling, and wall support standing. Thirty-two healthy participants, aged 21.3 ± 0.8 years were recruited. They were instructed to perform maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and AH. The electromyography (EMG) data of each muscle during AH were normalized as a percentage of MVC. During AH in all four starting positions, significant differences were found in the EMG activity of RA, EO, and TrA/IO (p < 0.001). The TrA/IO exhibited the highest while the RA exhibited the lowest EMG activity. Among the four different starting positions, only the TrA/IO showed significant difference in mean EMG activity (p < 0.001). The results suggest that all four starting positions can facilitate TrA/IO activity with minimal activity from RA and EO.     

Comparison of skin surface temperature during the application of various cryotherapy modalities

OBJECTIVE: To compare the skin surface temperature during the application of 4 cryotherapy modalities. DESIGN: A repeated-measures design. SETTING: Laboratory experiment. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of 50 women (age range, 20-23 y; mean, 20.6+/-0.8 y). INTERVENTIONS: Each of the 4 cryotherapy modalities (ice pack, gel pack, frozen peas, mixture of water and alcohol) was applied randomly to the skin overlying the right quadriceps femoris muscle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Skin surface temperature recorded every minute for 20 minutes. RESULTS Throughout 20 minutes of cryotherapy application, the ice pack and mixture of water and alcohol showed significantly lower skin surface temperatures than the gel pack or frozen peas (P < .001). The mean skin surface temperature at the 20th minute of application with the ice pack, gel pack, frozen peas, and mixture of water and alcohol was 10.2 degrees +/-3.5 degrees , 13.9 degrees +/-4.1 degrees , 14.4 degrees +/-3.0 degrees , and 10.0 degrees +/-4.5 degrees C, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ice pack and mixture of water and alcohol were significantly more efficient in reducing skin surface temperature than the gel pack and frozen peas.     

The Immediate Effects of Mobilization Technique on Pain and Range of Motion in Patients Presenting With Unilateral Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Kanlayanaphotporn R, Chiradejnant A, Vachalathiti R. The immediate effects of mobilization technique on pain and range of motion in patients presenting with unilateral neck pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective

To determine the immediate effects on both pain and active range of motion (ROM) of the unilateral posteroanterior (PA) mobilization technique on the painful side in mechanical neck pain patients presenting with unilateral symptoms.

Design

Triple-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Outpatient physical therapy, institutional clinic.

Participants

Patients (N=60), 2 physical therapists, and 1 assessor involved in this study.

Interventions

The patients were randomly allocated into either preferred or random mobilization group by using an opaque concealed envelope. The first therapist performed the screening, assessing, prescribing the spinal level(s), and the grade of mobilization. The second therapist performed the mobilization treatment according to their allocated group stated in an envelope. The assessor who was blind to the group allocation conducted the measurements of pain and active cervical ROM.

Main Outcome Measures

Pain intensity, active cervical ROM, and global perceived effect were measured at baseline and 5 minutes posttreatment.

Results

After mobilization, there were no apparent differences in pain and active cervical ROM between groups. However, within-group changes showed significant decreases in neck pain at rest and pain on most painful movement (P<0.001) with a significant increase in active cervical ROM after mobilization on most painful movement (P=0.002).

Conclusions

The results of this study did not provide support for the preference of the unilateral PA mobilization on the painful side to the random mobilization.     

Pneumonia surveillance in Thailand: current practice and future needs

We reviewed reported pneumonia cases and deaths in Thailand since 1975 to evaluate the pneumonia surveillance system. In Sa Kaeo Province, we analyzed 3 years in detail (1999--2001) from electronic surveillance data, and compared deaths reported through surveillance to death certificate data in 1999 and 2000. In addition, we interviewed surveillance personnel who collected the data from all 7 hospitals and from a 10% random sample of health centers. Since the mid-1980s, reported illnesses and deaths from pneumonia have been increasing. In Sa Kaeo, an average of 925 pneumonia cases were reported each year, for an estimated average annual incidence of 211 per 100,000. The age-specific incidence peaked at 1,418 per 100,000 in children less than 5 years. In 1999 and 2000, there were 7 and 6 pneumonia deaths, respectively, reported through the surveillance system, compared with 28 and 53, respectively, reported by death certificate. Sixty-two (82%) of the 72 surveillance personnel reported receiving some training, but most of this was informal. Although written criteria to diagnose pneumonia were established in 1996, those who report cases did not know these criteria. A combination of physician, nurse, and public health workers diagnoses were used. According to the written criteria, cases of suspect or rule out pneumonia should be reported, but when asked about specific examples only 79% of persons interviewed said they would report "tuberculosis with pneumonia" and 44% would report "bronchitis, rule out pneumonia." Seventy-four percent of persons interviewed completed the surveillance report within one day of patient admission.