Low-frequency vibration therapy enhances recovery in college football athletes after fatigue-induced exercise

Vibration therapy is known to help with muscle fatigue from daily activities. Research is ongoing, but early signs suggest it might be a promising tool for health promotion via faster recovery after streneous exercise. This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of low-frequency vibration therapy (LFVT) on recovery of lower back muscles after induced fatigue. Recovery-related parameters, including pressure pain threshold (PPT), visual analog scales (VAS) of perceived fatigue, sit-and-reach (SAR), and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured before the session of induced fatigue, immediately after receiving either the LFVT or the rest, and 24-hour follow-up period. Seventy participants were allocated to either LFVT group (received a 10-minute session of LFVT) or control group (rested under the same environment). Results showed that participants in LFVT group significantly improved VAS and PPT after intervention. The between-group comparison revealed that the improvement in the average heartbeat (AHB), VAS, SAR, and PPT were greater in LFVT group than in control group immediately after the treatment. Moreover, improvements in SAR and PPT were also greater in the LFVT group than in the control at 24-hour follow-up. The findings revealed that LFVT can be used as a recovery-health care method for football athletes

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Court-Type Traditional Thai Massage versus Amitriptyline in Patients with Chronic Tension-Type Headache

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the court-type traditional Thai massage (CTTM) to treat patients with chronic tension-type headaches (CTTHs) comparing with amitriptyline taking. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Sixty patients diagnosed with CTTH were equally divided into a treatment and a control group. The treatment group received a 45-minute course of CTTM twice per week lasting 4 weeks while the control group was prescribed 25 mg of amitriptyline once a day before bedtime lasting 4 weeks. Outcome measures were evaluated in week 2, week 4 and followed up in week 6 consisting of visual analog scale (VAS), tissue hardness, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and heart rate variability (HRV). The results demonstrated a significant decrease in VAS pain intensity for the CTTM group at different assessment time points while a significant difference occurred in within-group and between-group comparison (P < 0.05) for each evaluated measure. Moreover, the tissue hardness of the CTTM group was significantly lower than the control group at week 4 (P < 0.05). The PPT and HRV of the CTTM group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). CTTM could be an alternative therapy for treatment of patients with CTTHs

Pre-and post-treatment study of the application of a traditional Thai massage protocol for treating office syndrome

Office workers display a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, especially myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). The objective of the present study was to measure the effect of a single application of a traditional Thai massage (TTM) protocol designed to treat office syndrome. The protocol was applied to treat 33 office workers (average age 36.5 ± 10.5 years) who were experiencing shoulder pain. Each participant received one 90-min session of whole-body massage from one of 11 TTM therapists who had attended a week-long course. Pre-and post-treatment measurements were recorded for Pain (i.e., pain intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS) and pain sensitivity using pressure pain threshold (PPT)), flexibility (i.e., cervical range of motion (CROM) including left cervical lateral flexion (LCLF), right cervical lateral flexion (RCLF), cervical flexion (CF) and cervical extension (CE) and sit-and-reach box test (SRB)) and tissue hardness (TH). Results revealed there to be a significant difference between the pre-and post-treatment values (a modified ANOVA-type statistic (MATS) p< 0.001), and for the two categories of Pain and Flexibility (a wald-type statistic (WTS) p<0.001). Pain intensity and pain sensitivity were both reduced, as reflected by a decrease in VAS and increase in PPT and the Flexibility measures LCLF, RCLF, CF, CE and SRB were all increased. Furthermore, participants reported no serious side effects. The protocol will now be applied in clinical studies of office workers with MPS to compare with other treatments

Relationship between motor fitness, fundamental movement skills, and quality of movement patterns in primary school children.

Seefeldt`s classic motor development pyramid model recognizes the significance of fundamental movement skills (FMS) in physical activities and proposes a "proficiency barrier" between FMS and higher-level specific sports skills during middle childhood. However, the relationship between the layers of the conceptual model has not been empirically tested. This study investigated motor fitness (MF), FMS, and quality of movement patterns (QMP) in 7-10 years old children and evaluated the relationships among them. A total of 117 children were randomly selected to take tests of MF, the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2), and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS™). MF and FMS levels were classified according to percentile ranges. Two multiple (R×C) Chi-Square tests were applied to analyze the relationships between MF, FMS, and QMP. Post-hoc testing estimated the possibility of FMS and QMP to predict MF. The results showed that boys scored significantly higher on the object-control subtest and on the TGMD-2 compared to girls (p<0.001), while girls scored significantly higher on the FMS™ (p = 0.001). FMS score and QMP level were weakly correlated with MF (FMS: χ2 = 14.605, p = 0.006, Cramer`s V = 0.25; QMP: χ2 = 13.943, p = 0.007, Cramer`s V = 0.24). Thus, 60.5% of children with "excellent" FMS and 59.6% with "high" QMP were categorized as having a "good" MF. In contrast, only 23.1% of children with "poor" FMS and 24.3% with "low" QMP were classified as having a "good" MF. Our results confirm MF, FMS, and QMP are correlated with each other, although this relationship is weak. Further, a possible motor skill proficiency barrier exists already in children 7-10 years old. The study results support the promotion of physical activity and motor skill development in primary school children

Traditional Thai Massage Promoted Immunity in the Elderly via Attenuation of Senescent CD4+ T Cell Subsets: A Randomized Crossover Study

The beneficial physiological effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) have been previously documented. However, its effect on immune status, particularly in the elderly, has not been explored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of multiple rounds of TTM on senescent CD4+ T cell subsets in the elderly. The study recruited 12 volunteers (61–75 years), with senescent CD4+ T cell subsets, who received six weekly 1-h TTM sessions or rest, using a randomized controlled crossover study with a 30-day washout period. Flow cytometry analysis of surface markers and intracellular cytokine staining was performed. TTM could attenuate the senescent CD4+ T cell subsets, especially in CD4+28null NKG2D+ T cells (n = 12; p &lt; 0.001). The participants were allocated into two groups (low &lt; 2.75% or high ≥ 2.75%) depending on the number of CD4+28null NKG2D+ T cells. After receiving TTM over 6 sessions, the cell population of the high group had significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.001), but the low group had no significant changes. In conclusion, multiple rounds of TTM may promote immunity through the attenuation of aberrant CD4+ T subsets. TTM may be provided as a complementary therapy to improve the immune system in elderly populations

The short-term effect of gloving in combination with Traditional Thai Massage, heat, and stretching exercise to improve hand mobility in scleroderma patients

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic, multisystem connective tissue disorder characterized by autoimmune activation, microvascular endothelium damage, and excessive collagen proliferation. The most affected hand presents claw hand deformity and microvascular disease. Deformed hands can cause functional disability and decrease the quality of life. A daily home program can improve mobility of scleroderma patients. Objective: We sought to determine the effect of a daily home exercise program on hand mobility among scleroderma patients. Materials and Methods: This was a randomized control trial. Twenty-eight participants were divided into two groups, both of which received the same daily home treatment: Group 1 with gloves (n = 14) and Group 2 without gloves (n = 14). The 2-week daily home program combined traditional Thai massage (TTM) with stretching exercises and heat. Hand mobility was assessed using hand mobility in scleroderma (HAMIS). The study was conducted in patients who were already on vasodilator drugs. Results: Both groups showed a significant improvement in hand mobility after 2 weeks of daily home exercise program (P < 0.05). Wearing the glove, however, resulted in better thumb mobility. Conclusions: A daily home exercise program improved hand mobility among patients with scleroderma and wearing gloves may improve thumb mobility

Short-Term Pulmonary Rehabilitation for a Female Patient with Chronic Scleroderma under a Single-Case Research Design

Although previously proposed that chronic scleroderma should be cared for clinically and early rehabilitation should be performed in hospital by a chest physical therapist, little evidence is currently available on its benefits. Therefore, this study demonstrated the benefits of short-term pulmonary rehabilitation during hospitalization in a female patient with chronic scleroderma. The aim of rehabilitation was to improve ventilation and gas exchange by using airway clearance, chest mobilization, and breathing-relearning techniques, including strengthening the respiratory system and the muscles of the limbs by using the Breath Max® device and elastic bands. Gross motor function and activities of daily life were regained by balancing, sitting, and standing practices. Data on minimal chest expansion, high dyspnea, high respiratory rate, and low maximal inspiratory mouth pressure were recorded seven days before rehabilitation or at the baseline period. But there was a clinically significant improvement in dyspnea, chest expansion, maximal inspiratory mouth pressure, and respiratory rate, when compared to baseline data, which were recorded by a chest physical therapist during seven days of rehabilitation. Furthermore, physicians decided to stop using a mechanical ventilator, and improvement in functional capacity was noted. Therefore, in the case of chronic and stable scleroderma, short-term rehabilitation during hospitalization for chest physical therapy possibly shows clinical benefits by improving both pulmonary function and physical performance