published_or_final_version / Orthopaedics and Traumatology / Master / Master of Philosophy

The purpose of the study was to quantify the relative contribution of low back flexibility and hamstring flexibility in the sit and reach test item of the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test in order to examine the validity of the sit and reach test. Subjects were 100 female students, 13 to 15 years of age in physical education classes. Hamstring flexibility was measured using the Leighton flexometer. Spinal mobility was measured using a tape measure. The sit and reach test was performed according to instructions given in the AAHPERD Test Manual. Data were analyzed using correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression. Conclusions of the investigation were (1) hamstring flexibility is moderately related to the sit and reach test, (2) low back flexibility has a very small relationship to the sit and reach test, and (3) the sit and reach test is an inadequate measure of low back and hamstring flexibility.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem that contributes to the high cost of health care. Improvement in trunk range of motion has been considered to be an important factor in ameliorating the symptoms of LBP. Kinesio® taping is a prominent therapeutic modality commonly used in the variety of populations for treating musculoskeletal conditions. However, previous research on the efficacy of Kinesio® taping for LBP is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate and short-term effects of Kinesio® taping with the muscle inhibition technique on active trunk flexion range of motion. Twenty-five subjects with no history of LBP in the past 6 months or LBP lasting over six weeks at any point in past were recruited from a Division I athlete population. Each subject underwent two Kinesio® taping trials in a cross-over design with a 7-10 day washout period (placebo application and inhibition technique application), during which several trunk flexion range of motion measurements were made. Subjects wore the tape for 48 hours, and active trunk flexion range of motion was measured at baseline, immediate post-tape application, and 48 hours post-tape application. A significant trial by time interaction was found (F = 9.629; p = 0.002), and follow-up analysis of the inhibition technique trial revealed a significant increase in active trunk range of motion between baseline and 48-hours post-tape. No significant differences were noted in the placebo trial. The findings suggest that the inhibition Kinesio® taping technique may eventually prove to be a beneficial therapeutic modality for improving active trunk flexion range of motion in patients with LBP.

Temos aktualumas: Nugaros skausmas – dažna vidutinio amžiaus žmonių problema, kuri pastebimai didėja. Pagrindinis gydymo tikslas – stiprinti liemens raumenis. Tyrimo objektas: 22 – 45 metų amžiaus moterų bei vyrų nugaros skausmas. Tyrimo tikslas: Nustatyti kineziterapijos poveikį suaugusiųjų nugaros skausmui. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti tiriamųjų nugaros skausmo intensyvumą prieš kineziterapiją ir po jos. 2. Palyginti tiriamųjų vyrų bei moterų nugaros skausmą prieš ir po kineziterapijos užsiėmimų. 3. Įvertinti tiriamųjų gyvenseną. Tyrime dalyvavo 10 tiriamųjų, iš jų 5 vyrai ir 5 moterys. Tris mėnesius keturis kartus per savaitę buvo pravedami kineziterapijos užsiėmimai žmonėms, jaučiantiems nugaros skausmą. Taikant specialias skausmo vertinimo skales buvo vertintas tiriamųjų nugaros skausmas prieš ir po kineziterapijos užsiėmimų. Išvados: 1. Po kineziterapijos užsiėmimų tiriamųjų nugaros skausmas reikšmingai sumažėjo (p<0,05). 2. Prieš ir po kineziterapijos užsiėmimų nugaros skausmas tarp vyrų ir moterų nereikšmingai skyrėsi. 3. Visi tiriamieji (100%) dirbo sėdimą darbą, laisvalaikį pasyviai leido 50% tiriamųjų, 70% tiriamųjų manė, kad per pastaruosius metus patiria streso daugiau nei kiti, 60% tiriamųjų miegui skyrė pakankamai laiko, tiek pat tiriamųjų ryte atsikeldavo nežvalūs. / Problem: Back pain – is the most popular problem in the middle age people, which is growing significantly. The main goal of treatment – to strengthen the trunk muscles. Research object: Low back pain in 22 − 45 years of age men and women. Aim: to evaluate the impact of physical therapy on back pain in adults. Tasks: 1. To evaluate intensity of back pain before and after physical therapy. 2. To compare intensity of back pain between men and women before and after physical therapy. 3. To evaluate life style of subjects. The study involved 10 subjects, including 5 men and 5 women. Physical therapy was applied for three months, four times a week for people experiencing back pain. Back pain intensity was evaluated by specific pain scales before and after the physical therapy sessions. Conclusions: 1. Intensity of back pain decreased significantly after physical therapy. 2. Before and after physical therapy intensity of back pain differed insignificantly between men and women. 3. All subjects (100%) worked a sedentary job, leisure time spent passively 50% of subjects, 70% of them felt that over the past year they experienced stress more than others, 60% of subjects had enough time to sleep, and the same amount of subjects woke up in the mornings feeling not well.

Darbo tikslas – įvertinti nugaros giliųjų ir paviršinių raumenų elektrinį aktyvumą atliekant pratimus atviroje kinetinėje grandinėje. Pasirinktam darbo tikslui įgyvendinti buvo iškelti šie uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti nugaros giliųjų ir paviršinių raumenų elektrinį aktyvumą atliekant pratimus atviroje kinetinėje grandinėje ant stabilios atramos. 2. Įvertinti nugaros giliųjų ir paviršinių raumenų elektrinį aktyvumą atliekant pratimus atviroje kinetinėje grandinėje ant nestabilios atramos. 3. Palyginti giliųjų raumenų elektrinį aktyvumą su paviršinių raumenų elektriniu aktyvumu kiekvieno pratimo metu. 4. Palyginti raumenų elektrinį aktyvumą tarp identiškų pratimų, atliekamų ant stabilios atramos, su atliekamais ant nestabilios atramos. 5. Palyginti raumenų elektrinį aktyvumą tarp identiškų pratimų, kurių atlikimas skiriasi judesyje dalyvaujančių apatinių galūnių skaičiumi. Tyrime dalyvavo 20 darbingo amžiaus vyrų, per tris mėnesius neturėjusių nusiskundimų dėl nugaros apatinės dalies skausmo. Tyrimą sudarė dvi dalys: 15 minučių trukmės tiriamųjų apšilimas (5 minutės veloergometro mynimui ir 10 minučių tempimo pratimams) ir tiriamųjų testavimas. Tiriamųjų testavimą sudarė 11 pratimų ir 2 testavimo padėtys maksimaliam valingam testuojamų raumenų susitraukimui išgauti. Išvados: 1. Dauginio raumens elektrinis aktyvumas buvo didesnis nuo 19,5 % iki 27,8 % nei tiesiamojo nugaros raumens krūtininės dalies elektrinis aktyvumas penkiuose iš septynių pratimų, atliekamų ant stabilios... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The purpose of this research: To evaluate electric activity of deep and superficial back muscles during open kinetic chain exercises. Goals of this research: 1. To evaluate electric activity of deep and superficial back muscles during open kinetic chain exercises performed on stable support. 2. To evaluate electric activity of deep and superficial back muscles during open kinetic chain exercises performed on labile support. 3. To compare electric activity of deep and superficial back muscles during each exercise. 4. To compare electric activity of back muscles between the same exercise pairs performed on different support type. 5. To compare electric activity of back muscles during exercise performed with one lower limb with exercise performed with both lower limbs. During this research 20 men, who had no recent complaints about low back pain (>3 months), were tested. The testing consisted of two parts: 15 min. for warm up exercises (5 min. – cardio respiratory warm up and 10 min. – stretching exercises) and the main testing. The main testing consisted of 11 exercises and 2 exercise to determine maximum voluntary contraction. Conclusion: 1. Electric activity of multifidus muscle was statistically significant higher than electric activity of thoracic part of erector spinae muscle during 5 from 7 exercises performed on stable support (p<0,05). 2. Electric activity of multifidus muscle was statistically significant higher than electric activity of thoracic part of erector spinae... [to full text]

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Purpose: The aim of this comparative study was to compare the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) versus myofascial dry needling of quadratus lumborum in the treatment of myofascial trigger points (TrPs), with regards to pain, disability and lumbar spine range of motion. Method: Thirty participants, male and female between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, with an active quadratus lumborum TrP were used in this study. The thirty participants were randomly divided into two groups consisting of fifteen individuals each, ensuring equal male to female and age ratios. Group 1 received treatment in the form of MET. Group 2 received treatment in the form of myofascial dry needling. The trial consisted of five visits over a treatment period of two weeks, of which the first four visits the participants received treatment and the fifth visit served the purpose of obtaining the final data. The data was gathered on the first, third and fifth visits. The data was gathered before the treatment was performed. Objective data consisted of measuring lumbar spine range of motion with a digital inclinometer and pain pressure threshold using an algometer. Subjective data was obtained by using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and Oswestry Disablity Index for Lower Back Pain (ODI). Results: The results were interpreted by STATKON at the University of Johannesburg. Both groups improved significantly in both the objective and subjective measurements over the two week trial period. This indicted that both treatment interventions were effective in the treatment of active quadratus lumborum TrPs. The results also indicated that group 2 (myofascial dry needling) was statistically superior to group 1 (MET) with regards to the subjective and lumbar spine range of motion measurements obtained during the study. There was no statistical superiority between the two treatment interventions with regards to the pain pressure threshold values obtained. These results indicate that dry needling is more effective than MET in decreasing pain and disability, while increasing lumbar spine range motion due to active quadratus lumborum TrPs. Conclusion: It was concluded, based on the results, that myofascial dry needling was more effective than MET with regards to the subjective pain, disability and lumbar spine range of motion. However with regards to pain pressure threshold values, there was no superiority of either treatment. This study suggests that myofascial dry needling is a preferential treatment option than MET in the case of active quadratus lumborum TrPs as it is possible that dry needling alone is more effective in reducing pain, disability and increasing lumbar spine range of motion. However this does not rule out MET as treatment for active TrPs as objectively MET reduces objective pain as effectively as dry needling.

Tyrimo objektas: sėdimą darbą dirbančių žmonių nugaros raumenų skausmas. Tyrimo problema: spartėjant šiuolaikinėms technologijoms atsiranda vis daugiau sėdimą darbą dirbančių žmonių. Ilgas sėdėjimas prie kompiuterio, dažni aplinkos stresoriai, mažas fizinis aktyvumas, netaisyklinga laikysena ir neergonomiški baldai neigiamai veikia sveikatą. Todėl vis daugiau žmonių skundžiasi su ilgalaike sėdima padėtimi susijusiais negalavimais. Vienas dažniausiai pasitaikančių negalavimų yra nugaros raumenų skausmas, dėl kurio mažėja darbingumas, nukenčia gyvenimo kokybė. Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti aplinkos stresorių, ergonomiškumo ir fizinių pratimų poveikį nugaros skausmui sėdimą darbą dirbantiems žmonėms. Hipotezė: manome, kad daugiau sveikatos sutrikimų turės žmonės, kurie dirba sėdimą darbą, patiria stresą ir jam šalinti pasirenka žalingus įpročius, nei tie, kurie dirba sėdimą darbą, bet renkasi fizinius pratimus. Išvados: sėdim���� darbą dirbantieji teigiamai darbo vietos ergonomiką vertina: privačiame sektoriuje 35%, valstybiniame – 16,25% ir dirbantys nevyriausybiniame sektoriuje – 1,3%. Net 60,6% tiriamųjų visą darbo laiką praleidžia toje pačioje padėtyje. Stresą patiria 77,5% tiriamųjų, o streso poveikis pasireiškia nuovargiu (32,5%), išsiblaškymu (21,3%) ir dėmesio stoka (17,5%). Raumenų skausmą jaučia 98,7% sėdimą darbą dirbančiųjų. Dažniausiai jaučiamas pečių juostos ir kaklo raumenų įtempimas bei nugaros skausmas, kurio dydis 4,8 balo. Fiziniai pratimai patikimai (p<0,05)... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Object of study: Back muscles’ pain of people, who perform sedentary jobs. Problem of study: As modern technologies speed up, more and more people start performing sedentary jobs. The health is negatively influenced by the sitting in front of the computer, by common stressors in surroundings, by decreased physical activity, by wrong posture and by unergonomic furniture. As a result, more and more people start complaining of the conditions, related to the long sitting position. One of the most common complaints is the pain of back muscles that decreases efficiency, affects the quality of life. Aim of study: Determine the impact of the surroundings’ stressors, ergonomicity and physical exercises on the back muscles’ pain of people who perform sedentary job. Hypothesis of study: We believe that the people who perform sedentary jobs, experience stress and choose addiction for its elimination have more health problems than people who perform sedentary jobs, but choose physical activity and exercises. Conclusions: People who perform sedentary jobs positively assess the ergonomics of work place: 35% in private sector, 16.25% in public sector, and 1.3% in non-governmental sector. Stress is experienced by 77.5% of participants, and the impact of stress is manifested by fatigue (32.5%), distraction (21.3%), and the lack of attention (17.5%). The pain of muscles is experienced by 98.7% of sedentary jobs performing people. Most commonly is experienced the pain of shoulder girdle and... [to full text]

Virtual reality (VR) has become an important tool in the study of human balance. It has also been used as a training tool for seated balance and assistive mobility devices. The objective was to design a system that can be used to investigate the effect of VR on trunk muscles during perturbed sitting and perform a preliminary study with two subjects. A spherical system was designed that rotated 26º in the pitch and roll plane at three speeds. The corresponding muscle activity was recorded using EMG in the presence and absence of VR during perturbed sitting. The design was capable of performing the required motions. The results showed a maximum of 31.8% and a minimum of 3.66% muscle activity, relative to maximum voluntary contraction. Our findings suggested that our developed system was successfully able to detect a noticeable effect of VR under perturbed sitting on the subjects’ EMG responses.