19 research outputs found
Reductions in co-contraction following neuromuscular re-education in people with knee osteoarthritis
Background
Both increased knee muscle co-contraction and alterations in central pain processing
have been suggested to play a role in knee osteoarthritis pain. However, current
interventions do not target either of these mechanisms. The Alexander Technique
provides neuromuscular re-education and may also influence anticipation of pain. This
study therefore sought to investigate the potential clinical effectiveness of the AT
intervention in the management of knee osteoarthritis and also to identify a possible
mechanism of action.
Methods
A cohort of 21 participants with confirmed knee osteoarthritis were given 20 lessons of
instruction in the Alexander Technique. In addition to clinical outcomes EMG data,
quantifying knee muscle co-contraction and EEG data, characterising brain activity
during anticipation of pain, were collected. All data were compared between baseline
and post-intervention time points with a further 15-month clinical follow up. In addition,
biomechanical data were collected from a healthy control group and compared with the
data from the osteoarthritis subjects.
Results:
Following AT instruction the mean WOMAC pain score reduced by 56% from 9.6 to 4.2
(P<0.01) and this reduction was maintained at 15 month follow up. There was a clear
decrease in medial co-contraction at the end of the intervention, towards the levels
observed in the healthy control group, both during a pre-contact phase of gait (p<0.05)
and during early stance (p<0.01). However, no changes in pain-anticipatory brain
activity were observed. Interestingly, decreases in WOMAC pain were associated with
reductions in medial co-contraction during the pre-contact phase of gait.
Conclusions:
This is the first study to investigate the potential effectiveness of an intervention aimed
at increasing awareness of muscle behaviour in the clinical management of knee
osteoarthritis. These data suggest a complex relationship between muscle contraction,
joint loading and pain and support the idea that excessive muscle co-contraction may
be a maladaptive response in this patient group. Furthermore, these data provide
evidence that, if the activation of certain muscles can be reduced during gait, this may
lead to positive long-term clinical outcomes. This finding challenges clinical
management models of knee osteoarthritis which focus primarily on muscle
strengthening
Ireland: Submerged Prehistoric Sites and Landscapes
Evidence of Ireland's drowned landscapes and settlements presently comprises 50 sites spread across the entire island. These comprise mainly intertidal find spots or small collections of flint artefacts. A handful of fully subtidal sites are known, generally from nearshore regions and consisting, with one exception, of isolated single finds. Evidence of organic remains is also sparse, with the exception of Mesolithic and Neolithic wooden fish traps buried in estuarine sediments under Dublin. The relatively small number of sites is probably due to lack of research as much as taphonomic issues, and thus the current evidence hints at the potential archaeological record which may be found underwater. Such evidence could contribute to knowledge of the coastal adaptations and seafaring abilities of Ireland's earliest inhabitants. Nonetheless, taphonomic considerations, specifically relating to Ireland's history of glaciation, sea-level change and also modern oceanographic conditions likely limit the preservation of submerged landscapes and their associated archaeology. Realistically, the Irish shelf is likely characterised by pockets of preservation, which makes detection and study of submerged landscapes difficult but not impossible. A range of potential routes of investigation are identifiable, including site-scale archaeological survey, landscape-scale seabed mapping, archival research and community engagement