The effectiveness of real time ultrasound as a biofeedback tool for muscle retraining

Background: Real time ultrasound (RTUS) is being used by physiotherapists as a tool for enhancing biofeedback. Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to summarise and evaluate the available literature on the effectiveness of RTUS as a biofeedback tool for muscle retraining. Method: A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify primary research examining the effect of RTUS muscle retraining. Studies were ranked according to the National Health and Medical Research Council hierarchy of evidence. The methodological quality of the randomised controlled trials was systematically assessed using the PEDro rating scale while a modified tool for case series studies was used. Results: Three RCTs, one case series and one case study were included. The methodological quality of the five studies was average to good, ranging from 55 to 82%. The studies used abdominal, multifidus and pelvic floor muscles to demonstrate the effects of RTUS biofeedback. The results varied depending on the purpose of the tool and the muscles re-trained. The effectiveness of RTUS as a teaching tool is moderate for multifidus, modest for abdominal muscles and weak for pelvic floor muscles. There was a paucity of available literature on the long term retention of muscle control following use of RTUS as a biofeedback tool. Conclusion: While research in this field is limited in quantity at the current time, the results warrant further investigation. However, future researchers must make an effort to ensure that their study design is of the highest quality and also demonstrate the long term effects of using RTUS to enhance muscle retraining

Muscle activity during lifting: examining the effect of core conditioning of multifidus and transversus abdominis

BACKGROUND: It is well accepted that both multifidus and transversus abdominis muscles have a v ital role in maintaining spinal stability. OBJECTIVE: To determine if multifidus and transversus abdominis c ould be strengthened by a si x-week conditi oning program and to establish if the amount of electromyographic (EMG) activity in external oblique differed in a lifting and holding task after the conditioning program. METHODS: EMG activity of external oblique during a lifting and holding task was obtained. Multifidus cross-sectional area and transversus abdominis width were measured using real time ultrasound in six males and five females, with no back pain(mean age of 26.3 ( ± 5.4) years). The participants then performed a six-week muscle-conditioning program for multifidus and transversus abdominis, after which the EMG activity of extern al oblique and dimensions of multifi dus and transversus abdominis were re-measured. RESULTS: Both multifidus and transversus abdomin is significantly increased in size. There was significantly less activity in external oblique during a lifting task after the conditioning program, with no change in external oblique activity during a holding task. CONCLUSIONS: this study may indicate a link between the dimensional increase of multifidus and transversus abdominis, and the decrease in EMG activity in external oblique during lifting.J.F. MacKenzie, P.N.Grimshaw, C.D.S. Jones, K. Thoirs and J. Petko

Distractors: Do we need a policy safeguarding sonographers' working conditions during obstetric ultrasound examinations?

Introduction: Distraction during obstetric scanning is a concern to sonographers, impacting on the safety of ultrasound for the pregnant patient, observers, and themselves. Our objective was to survey obstetric ultrasound practitioners to determine the formulation of policy in this area to mitigate the potential negative impacts of distractors. Methods: An online survey was disseminated through professional bodies to study the views of Australian and New Zealand obstetric sonographers/sonologists on policy to combat distractors. Results: Seventy‐eight percent of the surveyed sonographers (n = 393) responded to the closed‐ended questions on policy, with ~1/3 offering qualitative data/comments on workplace policy. Current policy direction was aimed at: the number of observers, the presence of children, separation of the medical and social bonding components of the scan, use of electronic devices, and the concept of “sonographer discretion.” Predominantly, (~66% of responses) policy was not adhered to due to multiple factors including fear of patient complaints if the policy was enforced. Conclusion: The tension in obstetric sonography between medical diagnostics and social bonding is of concern to sonographers in our study. The way forward may involve a combination of patient education and a policy backed up by a professional authority, which is implemented and enforced by an employer

Ultrasound measurements of the masseter muscle as predictors of cephalometric indices in orthodontics: A pilot study

This study investigated the potential of ultrasound measurements of the masseter muscle to accurately predict indices normally derived from cephalograms. Masseter muscle measurements on 11 adults (22 to 30 y) were made using lateral cephalometrics and extended field-of-view ultrasound. The ultrasound technique was validated in a simulation pilot study using 12 dry skulls and raw chicken breasts. Twenty cephalometric variables were analyzed against four ultrasound measurements of the masseter muscle. Highly significant correlations (r = 0.81–0.85, p = 0.001–0.002) between ultrasound measurements of the masseter muscle and cephalometric measurements representing the length of the superficial masseter muscle, the length and shape of the mandible and vertical facial proportions were demonstrated. Predictive equations from regression analyses were constructed to deduce ramus length and shape from the ultrasound measurements. The results provide pilot data suggesting that ultrasound is a potential clinical tool for sequential evaluation of masseter muscle length in orthodontics and facial muscle growth studies.S. Naser-Ud-Din, W.J. Sampson, C.W. Dreyer and K. Thoir

Muscle activity during lifting: effect of core conditioning on the external oblique abdominal

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Does a conditioning program for multifidus and transversus abdominus alter paraspinal and abdominal electromyographic activity during an everyday lifting task in healthy subjects?

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Adults with a history of illicit amphetamine use exhibit abnormal substantia nigra morphology and parkinsonism

Accepted 18 February 2016Abstract not availableGabrielle Todd, Verity Pearson-Dennett, Robert A. Wilcox, Minh T. Chau, Kerry Thoirs, Dominic Thewlis, Adam P. Vogel, Jason M. Whit