Effect of Tai Chi Exercise Combined with Mental Imagery Theory in Improving Balance in a Diabetic and Elderly Population

BACKGROUND: One of the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM), peripheral neuropathy, affects the sensation in the feet and can increase the chance of falling. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of Tai Chi (TC) training combined with mental imagery (MI) on improving balance in people with diabetes and an age matched control group.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen healthy subjects and 12 diabetic sedentary subjects ranging from 40–80 years of age were recruited. All subjects in both groups attended a Yang style of TC class using MI strategies, 2 sessions a week for 8 weeks. Each session was one hour long. Measures were taken using a balance platform test, an Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, a one leg standing test (OLS), functional reach test (FRT) and hemoglobin A1C. These measures were taken twice, pre and post-study, for both groups.RESULTS: Both groups experienced significant improvements in ABC, OLS, FRT (P\u3c0.01) after completing 8 weeks of TC exercise with no significant improvement between groups. Subjects using the balance platform test demonstrated improvement in balance in all different tasks with no significant change between groups. There was no significant change in HbA1C for the diabetic group.CONCLUSIONS: All results showed an improvement in balance in the diabetic and the control groups; however, no significant difference between the groups was observed. Since the DM group had more problems with balance impairment at baseline than the control, the diabetic group showed the most benefit from the TC exercise

17β-Estradiol Induced Effects on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Laxness and Neuromuscular Activation Patterns in Female Runners

Background: To investigate the effects of 17β-Estradiol across phases of menstrual cycle on the laxness of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the neuromuscular control around the knee joint in female runners. Methods: Twelve healthy female runners, who reported normal menstrual cycles for the previous 6 months were tested twice across one complete menstrual cycle for serum levels of 17β Estradiol (E), and knee joint laxity (KJL). Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles was also recorded during running on a treadmill. The changes in the EMG activity, KJL, and hormonal concentrations were recorded for each subject during the follicular and the ovulatory phases across the menstrual cycle. Results: An observed increased in KJL in response to peak E during the ovulatory phase, was associated with increased preactivity of the hamstring muscle before foot impact (p \u3c 0.001). A consistent pattern was also observed in the firing of the quadriceps muscle recruitment pattern throughout the follicular phase associated with decreased hamstring recruitment pattern during weight acceptance phase of running (p = 0.02). Additionally, low ratio of medial to lateral quadriceps recruitment was associated with a significant reduction of the quadriceps to hamstring cocontraction ratio during the follicular phase. Conclusions: Changes in KJL during the menstrual cycle in response to 17β-Estradiol fluctuations changes the neuromuscular control around the knee during running. Female runners utilize different neuromuscular control strategies during different phases of the menstrual cycle which may contribute to increase ACL injury risk

ケンジョウジン ニオケル GAZE STABILITY EXERCISE ノ コウカ ジュウシン ドウヨウ ト ドウタイ シリョク デノ ケントウ

INTRODUCTION AND METHODS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of gaze stability exercises on healthy young subjects. Subjects were randomly divided into experimental （n=28） and control groups （n=13）. The experimental group performed gaze stability exercise for three weeks and the control group did not. Pre and post body sway during quiet standing, standing with neck rotation, and dynamic visual acuity were measured on both groups. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in body sway during standing with neck rotation and dynamic visual acuity in the experimental group （p<0.01. No significant differences were found in body sway and dynamic visual acuity in the control group.） DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These improvements in postural stability and dynamic visual acuity after three weeks of gaze stability exercises suggest improved neural adaptation of the vestibular nuclear complex and cerebellum, as well as enhanced central pre-programming. These results of this study suggest that gaze stability exercises may be beneficial for healthy young adults, and these data may be adapted to elderly or sports fields in further study

Effect of Monophasic Pulsed Current on Heel Pain and Functional Activities Caused by Plantar Fasciitis

Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a soft tissue disorder considered to be one of the most common causes of inferior heel pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of monophasic pulsed current (MPC) and MPC coupled with plantar fascia-specific stretching exercises (SE) on the treatment of PF. Material and Methods: Forty-four participants (22 women and 22 men, with a mean age of 49 years) diagnosed with PF were randomly assigned to receive MPC (n=22) or MPC coupled with plantar fascia-specific SE (n=22). Prior to and after 4 weeks of treatment, participants underwent baseline evaluation; heel pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS), heel tenderness threshold was quantified using a handheld pressure algometer (PA), and functional activities level was assessed using the Activities of Daily Living subscale of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (ADL/FAAM). Results: Heel pain scores showed a significant reduction in both groups compared to baseline VAS scores (P Conclusions: This trial showed that MPC is useful in treating inferior heel symptoms caused by PF

The Feigned Annoyance and Frustration Test to Activate the Sympathoadrenal Medullary System

When perceived as threatening, social interactions have been shown to trigger the sympathoadrenal medullary system as well as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis resulting in a physiologic stress response. The allostatic load placed on human health and physiology in the context of acute and chronic stress can have profound health consequences. The purpose of this study was to develop a protocol for a lab-based stress stimulus using social-evaluative threat. While several valid, stress-stimulating protocols exist, we sought to develop one that triggered a physiologic response, did not require significant lab resources, and could be completed in around 10 min. We included 53 participants (29 men and 24 women) and exposed them to a modified version of the Stroop Color-Word Interference Task during which the participants were made to feel they were performing the task poorly while the lead researcher feigned annoyance and frustration. After exposure to this Feigned Annoyance and Frustration (FAF) Test, both the men and women in this study demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful increase in subjective stress on the visual analog scale. Additionally, the men in this study demonstrated a statistically significant increase in heart rate and salivary α-amylase concentrations after exposure to the test. The women in this study did not demonstrate a statistically significant increase in the physiologic stress biomarkers. This protocol for the FAF Test shows promise to researchers with limited time and resources who are interested in experimentally activating the sympathoadrenal medullary system

ジャクネンシャ ト コウレイシャ ノ シセイ セイギョジ ニ オケル クウカンテキ シンタイ ドウヨウ ノ ケントウ

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation using electromyography （EMG）, postural control using computerized dynamic posturography （CDP） and spatioal body movements using accelerometery in different conditions in healthy young and older adults. METHOD: Nine healthy young adults and eight healthy older adults without history of neurological disease or falls participated in this study. Postural control was measured using the NeuroCom Equi-test CDP in 6 different conditions. Spatial body movements were measured by an accelerometer placed on the top of subject\u27s head, sacrum and lateral knee joint. RESULTS: Compared to the young adults, healthy older adults had lower postural control scores in conditions 2, 5 and 6; spatial body movements were larger in forward-backward direction during condition 5 and in vertical direction during condition 6. EMG of Tibialis Anterior, Stenocreidmastoid and Rectus Abdominals in the older adults were more activated. CONCLUSION: Young adults were able to maintain better postural control with lower muscle activation compared to older adults

Metatarsophalangeal joint extension changes ultrasound measurements for plantar fascia thickness

Abstract Background Ultrasound is an inexpensive method for quantifying plantar fascia thickness, especially in those with plantar fasciitis. Ultrasound has also been used to assess the effectiveness of various treatments for plantar fasciitis by comparing plantar fascia thickness before and after an intervention period. While a plantar fascia thickness over 4 mm via ultrasound has been proposed to be consistent with plantar fasciitis, some researchers believe the 4 mm plantar fascia thickness level to be a dubious guideline for diagnosing plantar fasciitis due to the lack of standardization of the measurement process for plantar fascia thickness. In particular, no universal guidelines exist on the positioning of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints during the procedure and the literature also has inconsistent protocols. The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the influence of MTP joint extension on plantar fascia thickness in healthy participants and those with unilateral plantar fasciitis. Methods The plantar fascia thickness of forty participants (20 with unilateral plantar fasciitis and 20 control) was measured via ultrasound three times at three different MTP joint positions: 1) at rest, 2) 30° of extension from the plantar surface, and 3) maximal extension possible. Results The plantar fascia became significantly thinner as MTP joint extension increased in both the plantar fasciitis group (p < 0.001) and the control group (p < 0.001). In the plantar fasciitis group, the involved plantar fascia was 1.2 to 1.3 mm thicker (p < 0.001) than the uninvolved side depending on the MTP joint position. In the control group, the difference in plantar fascia thickness between the two sides was less than 0.1 mm (p < 0.92) at any MTP joint position. Conclusions MTP joint position can influence the ultrasound measurement of plantar fascia thickness. It is recommended that plantar fascia thickness measurements be performed with the toes at rest. If MTP joints must be extended, then the toes should be extended maximally and then noted to ensure subsequent ultrasound procedures are repeated. Standardizing the position of the MTP joints is not only important for attaining the most accurate thickness measurement of the plantar fascia, but is also important to researchers who use plantar fascia thickness to determine the effectiveness of various plantar fasciitis interventions