Efficacy of Baduanjin dance versus Thai boxing dance on clinical-related outcomes and balance ability among patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, single-blinded comparative trial

This study aimed at comparing the effects of Baduanjin dance (BD) and Thai boxing dance (TBD) on clinical-related outcomes in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. Fifty-six KOA participants were assigned to receive a six-week intervention in either BD or TBD group. Symptoms, balance ability, knee strength, and fear of movement were assessed before and after six weeks, and at three-month follow-up. Both groups showed improvements in symptoms and static balance with eyes closed at two follow-ups while better knee flexor and extensor strength were maintained in BD group. TBD increased dynamic balance and knee flexor and extensor strength at six weeks only. TBD showed greater improvements in symptoms, fear of movement and knee flexor strength at six weeks compared to BD; however, BD demonstrated a superior retention effect on knee flexor strength compared to TBD. In conclusion, BD and TBD improve symptoms, balance ability and knee strength, and could include them to classical therapeutic interventions for KOA rehabilitative program. As BD maintains knee strength in a long-term period, thus it might be a recommended complementary exercise for KOA patients in the communities

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the Northern Thai version of the Tampa scale of kinesiophobia-17 in community-dwelling individuals with knee osteoarthritis

This study was designed to determine the validity and reliability of the northern Thai version of the TSK-17 in community-dwelling people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Participants with knee osteoarthritis living in Chiang Rai province were invited to participate in this study and were asked to complete the northern Thai version of the questionnaire. TSK-17 northern Thai version was administered twice with a seven-day interval, as was the Thai version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Furthermore, the participants completed the Thai version of the medical outcomes study short-form survey version 2.0 (SF-36V2) and a timed-up and go test (TUGT). The findings revealed that 50 people took part in this study and completed the northern Thai version of the TSK-17 in five minutes. The TSK-17 northern Thai version demonstrated high internal consistency (α = 0.80) and test-retest reliability (ICC2,1 = 0.84). Convergent validity demonstrated a strong correlation with the Thai version of WOMAC (r = 0.70) and a weak correlation with the TUGT (r = 0.45). According to the findings of this study, the northern Thai version of the TSK-17 has acceptable validity and reliability for evaluating fear of movement in community-dwelling individuals with KOA

The influence of traditional Thai massage on recovery from gastrocnemius muscle fatigue: A single-blind randomised controlled trial

Objective: To determine the effects of traditional Thai massage (TTM) on improving fatigue recovery and fatigue-related parameters of the gastrocnemius muscle after a heel-raise exercise. Design: A single-blind randomised controlled trial. Setting: Mae Fah Luang University Hospital, Thailand. Participants: Fifty-four healthy participants were randomly assigned to two groups: TTM (n = 27; 51.85 % women; mean age 23.15 ± 4.90 years; number of exercises/week: 4.78 ± 1.58) and control (n = 27; 59.26 % women; mean age 22.63 ± 4.88 years; number of exercises/week: 4.48 ± 1.25). Interventions: After the participants performed a heel-raise exercise to induce fatigue of the gastrocnemius muscle, they received either 30 min of TTM to the gastrocnemius muscle or 30 min of control (29 min of rest and 1 min total gastrocnemius stretching). Outcome measures: The outcome measures were the median frequency (MDF) of the electromyography signal, muscle power (MP) and feelings of muscle fatigue (FMF). All the outcome measures were evaluated before (T1) and after (T2) the fatigue-inducement protocol as well as immediately (T3), 1 h (T4) and 2 h (T5) after the interventions. Results: The results show that MDF and MP were significantly increased and FMF significantly decreased in both groups immediately after the interventions and at 1 h and 2 h after the interventions (repeated measures ANOVA: p < .05). In the between-group comparisons, participants in the TTM group showed significantly greater improvement than those in the control group on all outcomes at all post-intervention assessment time points (T3, T4, T5), reflecting faster recovery from muscle fatigue (ANCOVA: p < .05). Conclusion: TTM proved an effective intervention for maximising recovery from fatigue of the gastrocnemius muscle

Effects of the combination of traditional Thai massage, scapular stabilization exercise, and chest mobilization in subjects with forward head posture: a single-blinded randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background Forward head posture (FHP) is  a common condition where the head appears to be positioned in front of the vertical midline of the body. FHP is associated with shortening of the neck extensors and pectoral muscles, and the deep neck flexors and shoulder retractors are weakened. FHP is also found to cause decreases in respiratory function. Few clinical trials have investigated the effects of combination treatments to alleviate these problems. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of combination of traditional Thai massage, scapular stabilization exercise, and chest mobilization on forward head angle (FHA), forced vital capacity (FVC), and cervical flexion in subjects with FHP. Methods Forty-eight subjects with FHP were randomly allocated to a treatment group receiving a Combination of Traditional Thai massage, Scapular stabilization exercise, and Chest mobilization (CTSC group) (n = 24) and a control group (relaxed by lying supine) (n = 24). FHA, FVC, and cervical flexion were measured before and after the four-week intervention (Week 4) and one month after the intervention period (Week 8). Results The CTSC group showed statistically significantly greater improvement in FHA and cervical flexion than the control group at Week 4 (FHA, mean difference − 6.05; 95% CI − 8.03, − 4.07; cervical flexion, mean difference 6.84; 95% CI 3.14, 10.55) and Week 8 (FHA, mean difference − 4.64; 95% CI ( − 6.71, − 2.58); cervical flexion, mean difference 5.21; 95% CI 0.84, 9.58). There were no significant between-group differences in FVC at week 4 (mean difference 0.09; 95% CI − 0.06, 0.23) and week 8 (mean difference 0.04; 95% CI − 0.11, 0.19). Conclusion This study showed that CTSC had a positive effect on FHA and cervical flexion in subjects with FHP. Trial registration: Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR) (Identification number: TCTR20211119001), registered 19 November 2021; https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20211119001

Effects of Shoulder Taping on Discomfort and Electromyographic Responses of the Neck While Texting on a Touchscreen Smartphone

Background: Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use is known as a factor of neck pain and alteration of neck muscle activity. Studies on the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort and neck muscle responses while texting on a smartphone are still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort using a numerical rating scale, and neck muscle activity and fatigue using a surface electromyography during a texting task on a touchscreen smartphone. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adolescents used the dominant hand to perform a 30-minute texting task using a touchscreen smartphone at two separate times under one of the following two conditions: taping across the upper trapezius muscle and no taping. Neck discomfort, normalized root mean square, and normalized median frequency slopes for upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. Results: The results revealed that shoulder taping provided significantly lower neck discomfort than no taping (p < 0.001). However, shoulder taping did not significantly alter normalized root mean square and normalized median frequency slope values of all muscles when compared with no taping controls. Conclusion: Shoulder taping reduces neck discomfort but does not affect neck muscle activity and fatigue while texting on a touchscreen smartphone. Keywords: Muscle activity, Muscle fatigue, Neck discomfort, Shoulder taping, Smartphon