Back Pain in Pregnant Women: Its Origins, Peculiarities of Pathogenesis and Biomechanics

The problem of the back pain in pregnant women is one of the most important in modern medicine. 65–90 % of pregnant women complain of the back pain. The women may have the back pain from the early stages of pregnancy, or it may occur with the growth of the fetus.The causes of the pain during pregnancy are late reproductive age, high body mass index, physical strain, pain during previous pregnancies. Vertebrogenic and pelvic pain in pregnant women can first appear at the beginning of the gestational period. According to various authors, the frequency of such pain is 30–35 %. As a rule, painful neurologic manifestations begin in the third trimester, on average at the 18 th –22 nd week of pregnancy. About a half of women with early manifestation of lumbosacral pain during the pregnancy keep suffering from pain for a year after giving birth. In 20 % of cases, symptomatic pain is felt for 3 years after the delivery. The primary factors causing the pain syndrome is the shift in the centre of gravity due to enlargement of the pregnant uterus of the postural balance. The localization of the pain depending on the peculiarities of the posture can be different. In most of cases the lower back, thoracolumbar passage, sacrum, with the occasional radiation to buttock or pelvic joint, are affected. One of the most common pain syndromes in gynecology is the myofascial syndrome characterized by hyper tonus of the muscles and fasciae and ligaments of the pelvic minor

EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON THE FUNCTION OF THE VISUAL SYSTEM IN PATIENTS OF GLAUCOMA

At present, significant advances have been made in the surgical and conservative treatment of glaucoma. However, in patients with a prolonged course of the disease, even against the background of normalized intraocular pressure, progressive deterioration of visual functions occurs with the transition of the disease to a more severe stage. Effects directed solely at lowering the intraocular pressure are not able to fully ensure the preservation of visual functions, so its normalization cannot ensure the stabilization of the glaucoma process. Dysfunction of the nervous system and vascular disorders play a significant role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. In this regard, the treatment of this disease should be comprehensive and include neuroprotective therapy aimed at correction of metabolic disorders that occur in glaucoma in the optic nerve head, improvement of local microcirculation and trophism of tissues, normalization the rheological properties of the blood. Conventional conservative therapy does not provide adequate blood supply to the optic nerve and prevent the deterioration of visual functions in more than half of patients. The purpose of this study was to study the effectiveness of reflexotherapy in patients with glaucoma after surgery and normalization of intraocular pressure. In the study, 18 patients with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma were treated. It has been established that reflexotherapy improves significantly the functions of the visual system and the general condition, normalizes arterial pressure and psycho-emotional state of patients

Clinical case of acupuncture treatment of hemicrania continua with ophthalmic symptoms

A clinical case of successful treatment of hemicrania continua with ophthalmic symptoms using acupuncture is presented.Chronic headache (CH) is an important medical and social problem. The fact is that CH is treated mainly medication-based. About 63 % of patients have to take analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for a long time, while in most cases there are signs of drug overdose, which increases the risk of complications and side effects.The presented clinical case showed the acupuncture effectiveness in hemicrania continua with ophthalmic symptoms in a 23-year-old patient.Since the age of 13, the patient has been observed and repeatedly treated with complaints of persistent headaches on the left, pain in the left eye and decreased vision, accompanied by nausea, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbance. In 2019, against the background of constant daily intake of indomethacin, at a dosage of 9 tablets (225 mg) and a short course of glucocorticosteroids, positive dynamics of the left eye side and relative remission on the part of the pain syndrome were achieved. At the same time, choroidal ischemia with retinal edema persisted, headaches periodically occurred. Acupuncture had been performed during 6 months, 1–2 times every 14–28 days, depending on the patient’s condition, against the background of a gradual reduction in the dose of indomethacin. Complete remission has been achieved. After the end of treatment and complete withdrawal of the drug the patient has been under control for more than 3 months. The patient’s condition is satisfactory, no complaints

The effect of acupuncture on the correction of post-stroke dysphagia compared to methods of physical influence

Background. Dysphagia is a problematic field in the clinical work of neurologists, resuscitation experts and therapists due to the high percentage of secondary complications caused by aspiration pneumonia, nutritional deficiency, which affect the recovery process. This ultimately affects the main socio-medical indicators such as mortality, lethality, disability in structure of cerebrovascular diseases. Neurogenic dysphagia occurs in 25–65 % of patients with stroke, while mortality among patients with post-stroke dysphagia receiving tube feeding varies from 20 to 24 %.The aim. To evaluate the impact of reflexology in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia in comparison with the methods of physical impact. Materials and methods. An open clinical comparative study was conducted in two clinical bases: Republican Hospital named after N.A. Semashko (Ulan-Ude) and Bokhan District Hospital.In this clinical trial, 53 patients with swallowing disorders during the acute period of ischemic stroke were tested. When diagnosing dysphagia, a point scale of the Clinic of the Institute of the Brain was used, which assesses the degree of swallowing disorders before and after treatment. The comparative group receiving standard therapy in combination with physiotherapy (VOCASTIM) included 27 patients, the study group was comprised of 26 patients, who underwent basic therapy in combination with acupuncture (1 course – 10 sessions). In the course of the comparative clinical trial, statistical data were obtained that indicate the positive role of acupuncture in restoring the function of swallowing in patients with acute impairment of cerebral circulation.Results. During the current clinical study, on the background of a 10-day course of reflexology with an exposure of 10–15 minutes and VOCASTIM physiotherapy for 10–15 minutes, the majority of patients experienced regression of post-stroke dysphagia.Conclusion. According to the results of this study, the method of reflexology as a result of physiotherapy showed a faster recovery of swallowing function in the correction of neurogenic swallowing diseases, which causes cerebral infarction

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries. The autonomy-supportive message decreased feelings of defying social distancing recommendations relative to the controlling message, and the controlling message increased controlled motivation, a less effective form of motivation, relative to no message. Message type did not impact intentions to socially distance, but people’s existing motivations were related to intentions. Findings were generalizable across a geographically diverse sample and may inform public health communication strategies in this and future global health emergencies. Abstract Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e. a controlling message) compared to no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly-internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared to the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly-internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing: Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

In COVID-19 health messaging, loss framing increases anxiety with little-to-no concomitant benefits: Experimental evidence from 84 countries

The COVID-19 pandemic (and its aftermath) highlights a critical need to communicate health information effectively to the global public. Given that subtle differences in information framing can have meaningful effects on behavior, behavioral science research highlights a pressing question: Is it more effective to frame COVID-19 health messages in terms of potential losses (e.g., “If you do not practice these steps, you can endanger yourself and others”) or potential gains (e.g., “If you practice these steps, you can protect yourself and others”)? Collecting data in 48 languages from 15,929 participants in 84 countries, we experimentally tested the effects of message framing on COVID-19-related judgments, intentions, and feelings. Loss- (vs. gain-) framed messages increased self-reported anxiety among participants cross-nationally with little-to-no impact on policy attitudes, behavioral intentions, or information seeking relevant to pandemic risks. These results were consistent across 84 countries, three variations of the message framing wording, and 560 data processing and analytic choices. Thus, results provide an empirical answer to a global communication question and highlight the emotional toll of loss-framed messages. Critically, this work demonstrates the importance of considering unintended affective consequences when evaluating nudge-style interventions