No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Yes / There is no single, universally accepted method of measuring isometric neck strength to inform exercise prescription and injury risk prediction. This study aimed to establish the inter- and intra-rater reliability of a commercially available fixed frame dynamometer in measuring peak isometric neck strength. A convenience sample of male (n = 16) and female (n = 20) university students performed maximal isometric contractions for flexion (Flex), extension (Ext), left- (LSF) and right-side flexion (RSF) in a quadruped position over three sessions. The intra-rater reliability results were good-to-excellent for both males (ICC = 0.83–0.90) and females (ICC = 0.86–0.94) and acceptable (CV < 15%) across all directions for both males and females. The inter-rater reliability results were excellent (ICC = 0.96–0.97) and acceptable (CV < 11.1%) across all directions. Findings demonstrated a significant effect for sex (p ≤ 0.05): males were stronger in all four directions, and a significant effect for direction (p ≤ 0.05): Ext tested stronger (193 N) than Flex (176 N), LSF (130 N) and RSF (125 N). The findings show that the VALD fixed frame dynamometer can reliably assess isometric neck strength and can provides reference values for healthy males and females.

The purposes of this study were to: 1) determine absolute intrarater reliability of using the cervical range of motion device (CROM) for measuring cervical movements in older adults, and 2) determine the intrarater reliability and concurrent validity of the Candrive protocol, which uses a universal goniometer to measure rotation. Forty older adults (75.7 + 4.7 years of age) were tested in two sessions, one week apart, by two raters. Intrarater reliability scores were good for the CROM protocol (coefficient of variation (CV) values were 5.5% and 6.2 % for cervical rotation). The Candrive protocol values were higher (CV = 7.9 and 9.4%). Concordance analyses suggested that the Candrive protocol was less than good in terms of its validity, particularly when order effects were taken into consideration. In conclusion, the CROM protocol demonstrated good reliability for either group or individual analyses, whereas the Candrive protocol was less reliable and its validity marginal.

Tyrimo objektas: lazerio terapijos poveikis. Tyrimo problema: Šiuo metu auga tyrimų poreikis, kurie mažintų individualią bei socialinę naštą esant stuburo kaklines dalies radikulopatijai, todėl mums yra būtina surasti efektyviausią kaklinės stuburo dalies radikulopatijos gydymo programą, techniką ar metodą (Gross et al., 2007). Daugumoje mokslinių straipsnių, kuriuose vertinamas fizikinių veiksnių poveikis kaklinės stuburo dalies radikulopatijos gydymui, teigiama, kad trūksta tyrimų su placebo efektu, kurie pateiktų dar tikslesnių rezultatų gydymo programų efektyvumui įvertinti (Leaver et al., 2010). Hipotezė: Esant kaklinės stuburo dalies radikulopatijai, pacientams, kuriems taikyta lazerio terapija, reabilitacija turėtų būti efektyvesnė, nei pacientams, kuriems taikytas placebo efektas. Tyrimo tikslas: Įvertinti lazerio terapijos poveikį skausmo intensyvumui ir kaklinės stuburo dalies judėjimo funkcijai esant kaklinės stuburo dalies radikulopatijai. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti lazerio terapijos, kineziterapijos bei masažo poveikį skausmo intensyvumui ir kaklinės stuburo dalies judėjimo funkcijai esant kaklinės stuburo dalies radikulopatijai. 2. Įvertinti placebo efekto, kineziterapijos bei masažo poveikį skausmo intensyvumui ir kaklinės stuburo dalies judėjimo funkcijai esant kaklinės stuburo dalies radikulopatijai. 3. Palyginti lazerio terapijos ir placebo efekto poveikį skausmo intensyvumui ir kaklinės stuburo dalies judėjimo funkcijai esant kaklinės stuburo dalies... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The object of the research: laser therapy effect. Problem of the research: Demand for research to reduce individual and social burden in upper cervical spine radiculopathy is currently growing, so it is necessary for us to identify the most effective cervical spine radiculopathy treatment program, technique or method (Gross et al., 2007). In many scientific articles that evaluate physical factors effects on upper cervical spine radiculopathy treatment it is stated a lack of studies using placebo effect that would provide even more accurate results to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment programs (Leaver et al., 2010). Hypothesis: In upper cervical spine radiculopathy rehabilitation of the patients undergoing laser therapy should be more effective than rehabilitation of the patients treated with placebo effect. Aim of the research: To evaluate laser therapy effect on pain intensity and upper cervical spine motor function in upper cervical spine radiculopathy. Tasks of the research: 1. To evaluate effect of laser therapy, physical therapy and massage on pain intensity and upper cervical spine motor function in upper cervical spine radiculopathy. 2. To evaluate effect of placebo, physical therapy and massage on pain intensity and upper cervical spine motor function in upper cervical spine radiculopathy. 3. To compare effects of laser therapy and placebo on pain intensity and upper cervical spine motor function in upper cervical spine radiculopathy. Research organization and... [to full text]

The purposes of this study were to: 1) determine absolute intrarater reliability of using the cervical range of motion device (CROM) for measuring cervical movements in older adults, and 2) determine the intrarater reliability and concurrent validity of the Candrive protocol, which uses a universal goniometer to measure rotation. Forty older adults (75.7 + 4.7 years of age) were tested in two sessions, one week apart, by two raters. Intrarater reliability scores were good for the CROM protocol (coefficient of variation (CV) values were 5.5% and 6.2 % for cervical rotation). The Candrive protocol values were higher (CV = 7.9 and 9.4%). Concordance analyses suggested that the Candrive protocol was less than good in terms of its validity, particularly when order effects were taken into consideration. In conclusion, the CROM protocol demonstrated good reliability for either group or individual analyses, whereas the Candrive protocol was less reliable and its validity marginal.

Three-dimensional movement analysis was used to evaluate head and neck movement in patients with neck pain and matched controls. The aims were to further develop biomechanical models of head and neck kinematics, to investigate differences between subjects with non-specific neck pain and whiplash associated disorders (WAD), and to evaluate the potential of objective movement analysis as a decision support during diagnosis and follow-up of patients with neck pain. Fast, repetitive head movements (flexion, extension, rotation to the side) were studied in a group of 59 subjects with WAD and 56 controls. A back propagation artificial neural network classified vectors of collected movement variables from each individual according to group membership with a predictivity of 89%. The helical axis for head movement were analyzed in two groups of neck pain patients (21 with non-specific neck pain and 22 with WAD) and 24 matched controls. A moving time window with a cut-off angle of 4° was used to calculate finite helical axes. The centre of rotation of the finite axes (CR) was derived as the 3D intersection point of the finite axes. A downward migration of the axis during flexion/extension and a change of axis direction towards the end of the movements were observed. CR was at its most superior position during side rotations and at its most inferior during ball catching. This could relate to that side rotation was mainly done in the upper spine, while all cervical vertebrae were recruited to stabilize the head in the more complex catching task. Changes in movement strategy were observed in the neck pain groups: Neck pain subjects had lower mean velocities and ranges of movements as compared with controls during ball catching, which could relate to a stiffer body position in neck pain patients in order to stabilize the neck. In addition, the WAD group had a displaced axis position during head repositioning after flexion, while CR was displaced during fast side rotations in the non-specific neck pain group. Pain intensity correlated with axis and CR position, and may be one reason for the movement strategy changes. Increased amount of irregularities in the trajectory of the axis was found in the WAD group during head repositioning, fast repetitive head movements and catching. This together with an increased constant repositioning error during repositioning after flexion indicated motor control disturbances. A higher group standard deviation in neck pain groups indicated heterogeneity among subjects in this disturbance. Wireless motion sensors and electro-oculography was used simultaneously, as an initial step towards a portable system and towards a method to quantify head-eye co-ordination deficits in individuals with WAD. Twenty asymptomatic control subjects and six WAD subjects with eye disturbances (e.g. dizziness and double vision) were studied. The trial-to-trial repeatability was moderate to high for all evaluated variables (single intraclass correlation coefficients &gt;0.4 in 28 of 32 variables). The WAD subjects demonstrated decreased head velocity, decreased range of head movement during gaze fixation and lowered head stability during head-eye co-ordination as possible deficits. In conclusion, kinematical analyses have a potential to be used as a support for physicians and physiotherapists for diagnosis and follow-up of neck pain patients. Specifically, the helical axis method gives information about how the movement is performed. However, a flexible motion capture system (for example based on wireless motion sensors) is needed. Combined analysis of several variables is preferable, as patients with different neck pain disorders seem to be a heterogeneous group.

L'objectif du travail de thèse, dans le cadre du projet Européen DEMU2NECK, a été de contribuer à développer un modèle volumique déformable et personnalisable du cou, incluant la prise en compte de la capacité d'activation musculaire. Ce modèle vise à contribuer à une meilleure compréhension des liens entre pathologie, posture et activation musculaire pour aider les cliniciens et les fabricants de dispositifs médicaux dans leurs prises de décision. Pour atteindre cet objectif la thèse a été structurée en quatre grandes tâches : après une i) synthèse bibliographique, ii) un modèle générique a été développé et validé. La troisième étape a été iii) le développement d'un modèle de muscle actif et son intégration au modèle générique. L'implémentation de la fonction contractile des muscles lors de simulations musculo-squelettiques isométriques et dynamiques de tâches fonctionnelles simples du cou, a permis de mettre en avant des efforts transverses transmis par les muscles au rachis, allant dans le sens de l'hypothèse d'une contribution à sa stabilisation. La dernière tâche a été iv) la réalisation des premières applications de personnalisation, qui ont porté sur la déformation du modèle générique sur la base de données d'imagerie obtenues sur volontaires. Des comparaisons des réponses des modèles personnalisés et du modèle générique ont mis en avant l'intérêt scientifique de l'approche de personnalisation à travers l'obtention de différences significatives de résultats / The objective of this thesis, as part of the DEMU2NECK European project, was to contribute to develop a 3D, deformable model of the neck, with contractile muscles and including the possibility of patient-specific geometric personalisation. The aim of this model is to contribute to a better understanding of the links that exist between pathologies, cervical spine posture and muscular activation in order to help clinicians and medical devices manufacturers in their decision making process. To achieve this goal, the thesis work was divided into four main tasks: after a i) bibliographic synthesis, ii) a passive generic finite element model was developed and validated. The third step consisted in iii) the development of a finite element muscle model and its integration to the generic passive model. The contractile function of the muscles was implemented during isometric and dynamic simulations of simple functional tasks of the neck. The transverse forces that were transmitted from the muscles to the cervical spine are in good agreement with the hypothesis of a contribution of these forces to the cervical spine stability. The last task covered iv) the personalisation process of the generic model. The responses of subject-specific models based on volunteers were compared with the ones obtained from the generic model. They showed significant differences and, therefore, the scientific relevance of the personalization approach

Background: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common and costly problem often leading to chronic pain. There exists moderate evidence for physical therapy (PT) interventions in the management of TMD. A known relationship between TMD and the cervical spine exists with some evidence to support cervical intervention treatments. Cervical spine thrust joint manipulation (TJM) is an effective PT intervention explored in a limited fashion for this population. Objectives: To determine the immediate and short term (1 and 4 week) effects of cervical TJM on pain, dysfunction, and perception of change in individuals with a primary complaint of TMD. Methods: In this single blind randomized clinical trial, individuals with TMD (n=50) were randomly assigned to receive cervical TJM or sham manipulation in 4 PT visits over 4-weeks. All participants also received behavioral education, a home exercise program, and soft tissue mobilization. Primary outcomes included jaw range of motion (ROM), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), TMD Disability Index, Jaw Functional Limitation Scale (JFLS), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-TMD), and Global Rating of Change (GROC). Self-report and objective measurements (with blinded assessor) were taken at baseline, immediately after baseline treatment, 1-week, and 4-weeks. A 2 x 4 mixed model ANOVA was used with treatment group as the between-subjects factor and time as the within-subjects factor. Separate ANOVAs were performed for dependent variables and the hypothesis of interest was the group by time interaction. Results: Statistically significant 2-way interactions were noted in JFLS (p = .026) and TSK-TMD (p = .008), favoring the thrust manipulation group. Both groups showed statistically significant main effects in all measures over time. GROC and PASS favored the thrust manipulation group with statistically significant differences in successful outcomes noted immediately after baseline treatment (NNT = 5) and at 4-weeks (NNT = 4). Conclusion: Both groups received identical multi-modal treatments with the addition of the randomized intervention: cervical TJM or sham manipulation. Differences between groups were small, however, improvements favored the TJM on all measures. Cervical TJM may be beneficial in the treatment of TMD.