Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (MHSc--Health Science) -- Auckland University of Technology, 2004. / Also held in print (199 leaves, col. ill., 30 cm.) in Akoranga Theses Collection. (T 615.82 SIM)

The purpose of this study is to investigate, empirically, the response of the severely mentally retarded to different types of music, tonic and sedative, as well as responses during "quiet" periods.

Neck manipulation is commonly used in the management of some musculoskeletal disorders to reduce pain and improve movement. There is, however, little understanding about the underlying mechanism. Recent research has alluded to a neurophysiological mechanism mediated through supraspinal pathways in the central nervous system, that may alter motor activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of neck manipulation on the excitability of cortical motoneurons by means of activating corticospinal pathways to the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle in an active motor system using the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technique.Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were elicited by TMS and recorded in 20 normal subjects using established procedures. The peak-to-peak amplitude of MEPs were measured both before and after C6/7 manipulation and before and after neck positioning. Both interventions were applied to the normal subjects in random order on two different days. MEPs were recorded immediately after the intervention, then seven minutes and 14 minutes later to assess the time course of the effect. Five neck pain subjects participated in the manipulation experiments. The effects of manipulation, resulting in joint cavitation, were also explored. Two trials were undertaken before the intervention and these served as control measures. MEP data was represented in two ways. Firstly, 40 MEPs were averaged over 120 seconds; secondly, 15 MEPs were average over 60 seconds. A percentage change calculation was used to express the data relative to the baseline. Alterations in cortical excitability before and after manipulation were analysed by repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) on the MEP data, and percentage change scores.Cortical neurons projecting to FCR were significantly facilitated up to 60 seconds after the manipulation of the non-painful segment, relative to baseline values and the positioning control. A small but significant latent increase in excitability was also observed 15 minutes after manipulation. The response to manipulation of the painful cervical segment was significantly different from that of the non-painful segment. When manipulation of the painful segment did not result in joint cavitation, an inhibitory effect was observed. In contrast, however, cortical motoneurons were facilitated when joint cavitation was associated with manipulation.In conclusion, motor activity is enhanced with neck manipulation when cortical motoneuron excitability is measured by TMS in human subjects performing a voluntary contraction. This may explain the clinically observed improvement in spinal motion and motor control with spinal manipulation. Further, joint cavitation may be important in signifying the success of the joint manipulation. The excitatory effect on cortical motoneurons is probably mediated through a transcortical pathway by means of the activation of muscle afferents with the manipulative thrust.These findings assist in understanding the neurophysiological mechanism underlying the effect of spinal manipulation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-112).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / "December 2003." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-165). Also issued on the Internet.

Neck manipulation is commonly used in the management of some musculoskeletal disorders to reduce pain and improve movement. There is, however, little understanding about the underlying mechanism. Recent research has alluded to a neurophysiological mechanism mediated through supraspinal pathways in the central nervous system, that may alter motor activity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of neck manipulation on the excitability of cortical motoneurons by means of activating corticospinal pathways to the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscle in an active motor system using the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technique.Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were elicited by TMS and recorded in 20 normal subjects using established procedures. The peak-to-peak amplitude of MEPs were measured both before and after C6/7 manipulation and before and after neck positioning. Both interventions were applied to the normal subjects in random order on two different days. MEPs were recorded immediately after the intervention, then seven minutes and 14 minutes later to assess the time course of the effect. Five neck pain subjects participated in the manipulation experiments. The effects of manipulation, resulting in joint cavitation, were also explored. Two trials were undertaken before the intervention and these served as control measures. MEP data was represented in two ways. Firstly, 40 MEPs were averaged over 120 seconds; secondly, 15 MEPs were average over 60 seconds. A percentage change calculation was used to express the data relative to the baseline. Alterations in cortical excitability before and after manipulation were analysed by repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) on the MEP data, and percentage change scores.Cortical neurons projecting to FCR were significantly facilitated up to 60 seconds after the manipulation of the non-painful segment, relative to baseline values and the positioning control. A small but significant latent increase in excitability was also observed 15 minutes after manipulation. The response to manipulation of the painful cervical segment was significantly different from that of the non-painful segment. When manipulation of the painful segment did not result in joint cavitation, an inhibitory effect was observed. In contrast, however, cortical motoneurons were facilitated when joint cavitation was associated with manipulation.In conclusion, motor activity is enhanced with neck manipulation when cortical motoneuron excitability is measured by TMS in human subjects performing a voluntary contraction. This may explain the clinically observed improvement in spinal motion and motor control with spinal manipulation. Further, joint cavitation may be important in signifying the success of the joint manipulation. The excitatory effect on cortical motoneurons is probably mediated through a transcortical pathway by means of the activation of muscle afferents with the manipulative thrust.These findings assist in understanding the neurophysiological mechanism underlying the effect of spinal manipulation.

Lic.-avh. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 2 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-157).

Orientador: Suely Regina Mogami Bomfim / Banca: Paulo Cesar Ciarlini / Banca: Breno Fernando Martins de Almeida / Resumo: Há evidências que a prática regular de atividade física potencializa a memória, diminui o estresse oxidativo plasmático e hipocampal e a ansiedade na senescência. Neste trabalho foram utilizadas 40 ratas (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar), com 13 meses de idade ao início do experimento, divididas em quatro grupos: um grupo controle (GC) e três grupos tratamento (GT1, GT2 e GT3), sendo 10 animais em cada grupo. O grupo controle foi mantido apenas sob observação. Aos grupos tratamento foram aplicados exercícios físicos e de memória, sendo que ao GT1, apenas exercícios de memória; ao GT2 escalada em escada, e ao GT3 ambos os exercícios. Os animais que foram submetidos à escalada em escada três vezes por semana durante três meses consecutivos e aos testes de memória, apresentaram melhor desempenho nas memórias de curto e longo prazo e de habituação, bem como menor ansiedade em teste de campo aberto. A baixa concentração de malonaldeído (MDA), o equilíbrio da superóxido dismutase (SOD) e o aumento da capacidade antioxidante total (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power- FRAP, foram observados nas amostras plasmáticas e hipocampais de ratas submetidas aos tratamentos. Concluiu-se que a prática de exercício físico regular associado a exercícios de memória melhorou as capacidades mnemônicas, diminuiu o estresse oxidativo e a ansiedade de ratas na senescência / Abstract: There is evidence that regular physical activity enhances memory, decreases plasma and hippocampal oxidative stress, and anxiety in senescence. In this work, 40 rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar), 13 months old at the start of the experiment, were divided into four groups: one control group (CG) and three treatment groups (GT1, GT2 and GT3), 10 animals in each group. The control group was kept under observation only. In the treatment groups, physical and memory exercises were applied, and to GT1, only memory exercises; to GT2 climbing stairs, and to GT3 both exercises. Animals that underwent ladder climbing three times a week for three consecutive months and memory tests showed better performance in short and long term memory and habituation as well as lower anxiety in the open field test. The low concentration of malonaldehyde (MDA), the balance of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the increase in total antioxidant capacity (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power - FRAP) were observed in the plasma and hippocampal samples of rats submitted to treatments. Regular exercise practice associated with memory exercises improved mnemonic abilities, decreased oxidative stress and anxiety of rats in senescence / Mestre