The Acute Effect of Talocrural Joint Mobilization on Dorsiflexor Muscle Strength in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Single-Blind Study

The efficacy of taping on elbow proprioception in healthy individuals: A single-blinded randomized placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND

Taping stimulates the mechanoreceptors, increases sensory information to the central nervous system, and improves sensorimotor synchronization, resulting in improved motor control. However, the efficacy of taping on elbow proprioception is not clear.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of taping on elbow proprioception in healthy individuals.

STUDY DESIGN

This study was a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized, controlled, single-blinded study with a sham application.

METHODS

Fifty six healthy adults were randomized 1:1 to kinesio taping (n = 27) or sham taping (n = 29). Active joint position sense error (JPSE) was used to quantify proprioception using a universal goniometer at three-time points: baseline (BS), immediately after taping (IA), and 30 minutes after taping (30MA), with the tape still in place at 70° and 110° of elbow flexion. Participants were blinded to group assignments. The Friedman analysis assessed differences between evaluations within groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test determined differences between groups.

RESULTS

The study was completed with 56 participants and there were no dropouts. No skin reaction or adverse effect was observed in the participants and no test trial was excluded. The baseline scores of the groups were similar (p > 0.05). A significant difference was detected in the study group after kinesio taping at 70° (MD = -1.22; CI = (-2.33: -0.10; p < 0.005; d = 0.653) and 110° of elbow flexion (MD = -1.34; CI = 2,47: -0,21; p < 0.005; d = 0.73). This statistically significant difference was observed even at the 30MA evaluations at 70° (p < 0.05). Also, there was a statistically insignificant tendency to decrease in JPSE of both groups at both degrees following taping.

CONCLUSIONS

Elbow proprioception may be enhanced by kinesio taping, and this effect could last up to 30 minutes at 70° of elbow flexion. In contrast, sham taping did not produce such an improvement. Based on the differences in JPSE, kinesio taping proved more effective and had a longer-lasting impact than the sham application. The statistically insignificant tendency to decrease in JPSE may indicate that the 30-minute application period is inadequate to create a statistically significant effect on elbow proprioception. Longer usage periods can better reveal the effects of orthoses on proprioception.

Effects of joint mobilization combined with acupuncture on pain, physical function, and depression in stroke patients with chronic neuropathic pain: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of joint mobilization (JM) combined with acupuncture (AC) for the treatment of pain, physical function and depression in poststroke patients.

METHODS

A total of 69 poststroke patients were randomly assigned to the JM+AC group (n = 23), the JM group (n = 23), and the control group (n = 23). Patients in the JM+AC group and the JM group received JM for 30 minutes, twice a week for 12 weeks, and the JM+AC group received AC for 30 minutes separately once a week. The control group did not receive JM or AC. Pain (visual analog scale, shoulder pain and disability index, Western Ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis index), physical function (range of motion, 10-m walking speed test, functional gait assessment, manual function test, activities of daily living scale, instrumental activities of daily living scale), and depression (center for epidemiologic studies depression scale, Beck depression inventory) were assessed for each patient before and after the 12 weeks of intervention.

RESULTS

Pain and physical function were improved significantly in the JM+AC group compared with the JM and control groups. Physical function and depression were improved significantly in the JM+AC and JM groups compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of JM combined with AC improved pain, depression, and physical function of poststroke patients with chronic neuropathic pain in this study. This valuable finding provides empirical evidence for the designing therapeutic interventions and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Manual therapy should not be on the sideline in the game of treating tendinopathy

Tendinopathy is a common but difficult condition to manage in the orthopedic and sports settings. Despite strong evidence supporting exercise and load-management, a substantial proportion of individuals with the condition do not achieve a satisfactory long-term outcome. Tendinopathy can be associated with a number of impairments, including mobility deficits, muscle performance impairments, pain, and possible altered central pain processing - all of which are indications for manual therapy. Manual therapy has not been well described in the management of tendinopathy, even though its indications match the impairments associated with the condition. In this clinical perspective, the role of manual therapy in the management of tendinopathy is explored, with the intention of expanding possible treatment strategies for this challenging condition.

Changes in Ankle Range of Motion, Gait Function and Standing Balance in Children with Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy after Ankle Mobilization by Manual Therapy

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ankle joint mobilization in children with cerebral palsy (CP) to ankle range of motion (ROM), gait, and standing balance. We recruited 32 children (spastic diplegia) diagnosed with CP and categorized them in two groups: the ankle joint mobilization (n = 16) group and sham joint mobilization (n = 16) group. Thus, following a six-week ankle joint mobilization, we examined measures such as passive ROM in ankle dorsiflexion in the sitting and supine position, center of pressure (COP) displacements (sway length, area) with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC), and a gait function test (timed up and go test (TUG) and 10-m walk test). The dorsiflexion ROM, TUG, and 10-m walk test significantly increased in the mobilization group compared to the control group. Ankle joint mobilization can be regarded as a promising method to increase dorsiflexion and improve gait in CP-suffering children.

Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) Plus Upper Cervical Spine Mobilization on Forward Head Posture and Swallowing Function in Stroke Patients with Dysphagia

After a stroke, forward head posture occurs, resulting in swallowing dysfunction. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) combined with upper cervical spine mobilization has demonstrated enhanced recovery of the swallowing function in stroke patients. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of NMES in conjunction with upper cervical mobilization in stroke patients with dysphagia. Thirty-four stroke patients were recruited (in a randomized controlled clinical trial) and divided into an experimental group (n = 17; NMES plus upper cervical spine mobilization) and a control group (n = 17; NMES plus sham mobilization). Forward head posture was measured by craniocervical flexion test (CCFT) and craniovertebral angle (CVA). Swallowing function was measured by variations in video fluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) and penetration–aspiration scale (PAS) scores using the video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). All measurements were done at baseline and after four weeks of NMES plus mobilization. A significant increase was observed in CCFT, CVA, VDS (total VDS score, oral stage score, pharyngeal stage score), and PAS score in all variations in the experimental group. The CCFT, CVA, pharyngeal stage score, total VDS, and PAS score were significantly higher in the experimental group when compared to the control group. NMES plus upper cervical spine mobilization can be regarded as a promising method to improve swallowing function and forward head posture changes in stroke patients with dysphagia.