Reliability, agreement, and diagnostic accuracy of the modified lateral scapular slide test

The Lateral Scapular Slide Test is a static test used in clinical settings to assess medio-lateral inferior angle displacement and scapular asymmetry at three different degrees of shoulder abduction. However, there is no evidence in the literature about the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of a modified LSST (arm elevation in the scapular plane with loading) in a symptomatic populationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effect of Hand Positions on the Vibration Platform on Shoulder Muscle: Strength and Proprioception

Introduction: To compare the short-term effect of one session of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) in two positions of hand on the vibration platform on isokinetic strength of Rotator cuff and shoulder proprioception. Method and Materials: A total of 60 young healthy students participated in the present study completing three positions of control (no vibration), push up with straight elbow, and push up with semi flexed elbow (two vibration positions) running for two minutes with 30-minute rest between the positions. After control position, vibration positions were tested randomly on the Power Plate device (F: 30Hz and low amp). The isokinetic strength of Rotator Cuff and the absolute angular error in joint repositioning test in 3 target angles of 0°, 45°, and 90° were measured using Kin-Com dynamometer before and after each position. Then, the results of the three positions were compared together. Results: Despite decrease in dynamic strength of medial rotators after three positions, this decrease was observed to be significantly less in push up with straight elbow compared with that in control position (P=0.03). Also, there was a significant difference in Concentric MPT of Lateral Rotators between the three positions with control position revealing the greatest decline in lateral rotators strength (P=0.01) and push up with straight elbow was found to be more effective than semi flexed elbow (P=0.03). Moreover, There was a significant improvement in angle repositioning for the three positions; however, it was considerably more only in zero degree in the push up with semi flexed elbow position as compared with that in the control position (P=0.03). No significant changes were found between push up with straight elbow and semi flexed elbow positions, either. Conclusions: The two different hand positions did not alter the effect of vibration on neuromuscular system in young and healthy individuals. Although a single session of WBV had a positive effect on the neuromuscular system of the young healthy participants, the two positioning did not make a significant difference.Key words: Whole body vibration training, shoulder muscle strength, proprioceptio

Inter-and Intrarater Reliability of Modified Lateral Scapular Slide Test in Healthy Athletic Men

Objective. The reliability of lateral scapular slide test (LSST) at 90 degrees of abduction is controversial; therefore, in order to achieve more reliability it may be necessary to make changes in this particular position. Methods. Modified lateral scapular slide test (MLSST) was done on thirty male basketball players with two examiners in one session and for the retest with one examiner in the next week. The test was done in 7 positions: arm relaxed at the side (P1), 90 degrees of abduction (P2), 90 degrees of scaption without having a weight in hands (P3), 90 degrees of scaption with having 3 different weights (1, 2, and 4 kg) in hands (P4, P5, and P6, resp.), and 180 degrees of scaption without having a weight in hands (P7). Results. In P1 and P6, the ICC scores indicated the highest level of intrarater reliability. In P2, the ICC scores showed a fair level of intrarater reliability, as the minimum reliability. The maximum and minimum interrater reliability were P1 and P4, respectively. Conclusion. Scaption with loading, as a functional position in the overhead athletes, is a reliable positioning and may be replaced with the third position of the traditional LSST

Dry Needling Effects of the Upper Trapezius Muscle on the Angles and Range of Motion of the Neck in Individuals with Forward Head Posture

Introduction: Forward head posture (FHP) is one of the most common positional deviations. Frequent users often exhibit incorrect posture because of the rising popularity of media devices, such as smartphones and computers. This posture leads to changes in muscle activity in cervical flexion and extension. It is defined by hyperextension of the upper cervical vertebrae and forward translation of the cervical vertebrae. This study evaluates the effect of dry needles as a new method in the upper trapezius muscle on the neck’s angles and range of motion (ROM) in individuals with FHP. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental interventional study, 18 women with FHP underwent a dry needle session. The photogrammetry of the cranio-vertebral angle measured the degree of FHP. Visual analog scale (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), cranio-vertebral angle (CVA) and cranio-horizontal angles (CHA), ROM, scapular index (SI), and forward shoulder translation (FST) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The results demonstrated that after the intervention, right and left PPT, flexion, and proper neck rotation, right and left SI, CVA, and CHA were significantly improved (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that one session of dry needling with stretching exercises intervention could improve PPT, ROM, SI, CVA, and CHA and consequently improve FHP

EFFECTS OF CYCLIC STATIC STRETCH ON FATIGUE RECOVERY OF TRICEPS SURAE IN FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Static stretch is a safe and feasible method which usually is used before exercise to avoid muscle injury and to improve muscle performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cyclic static stretch (CSS) on fatigue recovery of triceps surae (TS) in female basketball players.Nine athlete volunteers between 20 and 30 years participated in this study containing two sessions. After warm-up a pressure cuff was fastened above the knee joint and its pressure was increased to 140 mmHg. The subjects were asked to perform one maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) followed by a fatigue test including maximum isometric fatiguing contraction of TS. These steps were similar in both sessions. Then, a two-minute rest was included in the first session while 4 static stretches were performed to TS in the second session. After interventions, one MVC was done and the pressure cuff was released. During these steps, peak torque (PT) and electromyography (EMG) were recorded. The amount of lower leg pain was determined by the visual analogue scale (VAS). The value of PT increased significantly after CSS but its increase was not significant after rest. It seems that the effects of rest and CSS on the EMG parameters, PT and pain are similar

Comparison of Immediate Effect of High-Power Pain Threshold Ultrasound and Deep Transverse Friction Massage on Active Myofascial Trigger Points

Introduction: The study was conducted to compare the immediate effect of high-power pain threshold ultrasound (HPPTUS) and deep transverse friction massage (DTFM) as a traditional technique on the treatment of upper trapezius active myofascial trigger points in male patients with mechanical neck pain. Materials and Methods: In this parallel single-blind randomized clinical trial study, 60 men with mechanical neck pain (mean age: 30.57±6.19 years) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly assigned to HPPTUS and DTFM as the control group. A visual analog scale (VAS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), and range of motion (ROM) of cervical lateral flexion (CLF) were assessed before and after treatment. Results: Analysis of pre- and post-treatment findings showed that the VAS (P<0.01), PPT (P<0.01), and ROM of CLF (P<0.01) improved significantly in both groups while ROM of CLF increased significantly more in the HPPTUS group. An indirect correlation was found between the pre-treatment ROM of CLF and ROM of CLF improvement in both groups. A significant indirect correlation was observed between pre-treatment VAS and ROM of CLF improvement in the HPPTUS group. In the DTFM group a significant indirect correlation was found between pre-treatment ROM of CLF and VAS improvement. Conclusion: The results showed that HPPTUS can be used as an effective treatment for active trigger points (TP). It seems that this method is more effective than deep transverse friction massage

The Effect of the Loading on Dynamic Stability and Scapular Asymmetry

Background: Scapular stabilization and neuromuscular control provide an important parameter to characterize shoulder function during dynamic activities. Many studies have confirmed the effect of the loading on scapular position and scapulohumeral rhythm. Therefore, the evaluation of stabilizer muscles involvement in scapular asymmetry may assist in the development of clinical examination and rehabilitation program. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of loading on dynamic stability and scapular asymmetry in basketball players. Methods: Thirty healthy male basketball players aged between 20 to 31 years old were tested. The linear distance between scapular inferior angle and T7 spinous process was measured using a caliper in 90 degrees of unloaded scaption and with 1, 2 and 4 kg loading. The difference of distances of two sides in the above 4 positions was analyzed. Results: The amount of distances difference in two sides with 1 kg loading was minimal (9.36 mm). This difference increased to 10.19 mm and 12.22 mm, with increasing the loading to 2 and 4 kg respectively; although the 4 positions of the test did not show significant differences in distances difference (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that dynamic stability of the scapula is dependent on the role of muscles, so that with increasing load on the muscles, the scapular asymmetry is more pronounced

The Effects of Active Straight Leg Raising on Tonicity and Activity of Pelvic Stabilizer Muscles

Objective: Active straight leg raising (SLR) test is advocated as a valid diagnostic method in diagnosis of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction that can assess the quality of load transfer between trunk and lower limb. The aim of this study is Comparison of changes in tonicity and activity of pelvic stabilizer muscles during active SLR, between healthy individuals and patients with sacroiliac joint pain. Materials & Methods: A case – control study was designed in 26 women (19-50 years old). With use of simple sampling, surface electromyography from rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, adductor longus, erector spine, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris was recorded in 26 subjects (15 healthy females and 11 females with sacroiliac pain) in resting position and during active SLR test. Resting muscle tonicity and rms during ramp time and hold time in active SLR test were assessed by non parametric-two independent sample test. Results: Biceps femoris activity in resting position was significantly larger in patients group (P<0.05). During the active SLR, the women with sacroiliac joint pain used much less activity in some pelvic stabilizer muscles compared to the healthy subjects (P<0.05). Conclusion: The increased resting tonicity of biceps femoris and decreased activity of pelvic stabilizer muscles in subjects with sacroiliac joint pain, suggests an alteration in the strategy for lumbopelvic stabilization that may disrupt load transference through the pelvis