EFFECT OF SEGMENTAL VIBRATION ON HAND AND PINCH GRIP STRENGTHS IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS

Handgrip and pinch strengths are important markers in many sports as well as in determining health status. Many interventions have been proposed for increasing hand muscle strength. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of segmental hand vibration on hand and pinch grip strengths. Ninety-two healthy university students were randomly assigned into two equal groups. By the end of the study, Group (A) and (B) consisted of 40 and 37 participants, respectively. The measurements consisted of the hand grip and pinch grip strengths using electronic dynamometer, measured in Kg, before, after three weeks, and after six weeks of training. Group (A) underwent isometric exercise training using hand gripper as follows: 4 seconds maximum grip, release for 2 seconds, repeated for 1 minute for three sets and with 3 minutes rest in between. Group (B) had the same exercise implemented in group (A) with the addition of five minutes of segmental vibration on both upper limb with 30Hz and amplitude of 2mm. The training was done two times per week for six weeks. Results revealed that both groups did demonstrate significant increase in hand and grip strengths after six weeks (p.05). It can be concluded that, segmental upper limb vibration does not have additional effect over isometric muscle training alone on hand grip and pinch grip strengths

Morphometric study of the lumbosacral spine and some of its related angles in Lebanese adult females

The present study was undertaken to examine the morphometric characteristics of lumbar vertebrae, lumbar intervertebral discs and some important related angles in Lebanese adult females. The subjects of this study were thirty Lebanese adult females aged between 18-22 years. The subjects were selected among students of the faculty of health sciences, Beirut Arab University. Two plain radiographic views for the lumbosacral spine were taken for each subject, an anteroposterior view and a lateral view. Measurements were made directly on the X-ray films using Vernier calliper and were recorded to the nearest tenth of a millimetre. The following measurements were taken for each lumbar vertebra: the anterior height of the body, the posterior height of the body, the horizontal diameter of the pedicle, the vertical diameter of the pedicle, the interpedicular distance, the width (transverse diameter) of the body. Also the anterior height, the posterior height and the anteroposterior diameter (disc depth) of the intervertebral disc were measured. In addition, the following angles were measured: the angle of lumbar lordosis, the lumbosacral angle and the angle of sacral inclination. The mean and standard deviation were calculated and recorded. The results offer a base line reference for normal Lebanese adult females and a guidance to clinicians for the evaluation and management of subjects complaining of low back pain, in order to propose specific preventive or rehabilitation protocols to prevent low back pain as a function of spinal alignment. Moreover, these normal figures could also be of forensic importance because of the observed racial, ethnic and regional variations

The effects of electrical stimulation parameters in managing spasticity after spinal cord injury: A systematic review

Bochkezanian, V ORCiD: 0000-0002-8637-6759Controversial findings about the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and functional electrical stimulation (FES) in managing spasticity have been raised after spinal cord injury (SCI). A systematic review was conducted to identify the range of the stimulation parameters that may alleviate spasticity. Three independent reviewers searched Medline (PubMed), web of knowledge, Scopus, Cochrane Central, Virtual Health Library and Physiotherapy Evidence Database until January 2018. Inclusion criteria were applications of NMES/FES on the lower extremity muscles, stimulation parameters (frequency, pulse duration and amplitude of current) and measures of spasticity after SCI. The primary outcome was spasticity as measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale and the secondary outcome was spasticity assessed by other indirect measures. Twenty-three clinical and non-clinical trials were included with 389 subjects. NMES/FES provided reductions in spasticity by 45-60% with decrease in electromyography activity and increase in range of motion after SCI. The identified stimulation parameters were frequency of 20-30Hz, pulse duration of 300-350 μs and amplitude of the current > 100 mA. NMES/FES provides an effective rehabilitation strategy in managing spasticity. However, a recommendation of the stimulation parameters cannot be accurately assumed due to high variability in the methodology, design and heterogeneity of the included studies