Somatosensory and Motor Research最新文献

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and myofascial release technique in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome on pain, range of motion, muscle strength, quality of life, functionality and disability.

Methods: Thirty patients were randomly divided into two groups: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation group (n = 15) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation combined with myofascial release technique group (n = 15). Both treatment methods were performed 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Pain severity was assessed by Visuel Analog Scale, range of motion by a goniometer, muscle strength by digital hand dynamometer, quality of life by Nottingham health profile, functionality by arm, shoulder and hand problems questionnaire, disability by shoulder pain and disability index. All measurements were used before and after treatments. Pain severity, range of motion and muscle strength were also evaluated after the first session.

Results: After the treatment, shoulder pain, range of motion, muscle strength, functionality and disability were improved in two groups (p < 0.05). Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation showed improvement in pain, whereas myofascial release technique improved pain, physical activity, emotional state, sleep and total dimensions of life quality (p < 0.05). Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation was more effective in reducing activity pain, whereas myofascial release technique was more effective in increasing flexion, external and internal rotation range of motion, flexion and abduction muscle strength after the first session (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The combined application of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and myofascial release technique has a more acute and cumulative positive effect on pain, range of motion, muscle strength, functionality, disability and quality of life in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome.

Background: Ankle-foot deformities play a critical role in functional capacity and therefore activities of daily living in stroke patients.

Aim: This is the first study to evaluate all foot deformities in stroke patients together. The primary aim of this study is to determine the frequency of ankle-foot deformities in stroke patients. The secondary aim is to investigate the relationships between ankle-foot deformities and ambulation, postural control, balance, spasticity, and activities of daily living.

Material and methods: The Functional Ambulation Classification was used to assess ambulation status, Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients was used to assess postural control and balance. Lower extremity spasticity was evaluated with Modified Ashworth Scale. Activities of daily living were evaluated with Barthel Index.

Results: Ankle-foot deformity was detected in 77 (42%) of 184 cases. The incidence of pes equinovarus was 48%, pes equinus was seen in 22%, claw toe in 19.5%, and pes varus in 10.4%. Pes equinovarus and claw toe were seen together in 8 cases. In the group with ankle-foot deformity, the disease duration was longer and the rate of spasticity in the lower extremity was statistically higher (p = 0.29, p = 0.023). There was no difference in Functional Ambulation Classification, Barthel Index, and Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients scores between patients with or without ankle-foot deformity (p = 0.811, 0.321, 0.385).

Conclusion: It is important to detect ankle-foot deformities in stroke patients. Ankle-foot deformities are associated with spasticity in patients with stroke and are an important factor to be considered when determining the rehabilitation program.

Background: Even though the prevalence of restless leg syndrome in multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to vary between 12.5% and 60%, the underlying pathophysiological mechanism remains unclear.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the relationship between spinal cord lesions and restless leg syndrome in MS.

Materials and methods: In total, 959 persons with MS were enrolled in this study. Demographic and clinical data of persons with MS were recorded by interviewing and medical records. Neurologists blind to the presence of restless leg syndrome evaluated MRI scans for the presence of demyelinating lesions in the brainstem and spinal cord.

Results: The restless leg syndrome was detected in 222 participants (23.15%). Restless leg syndrome was not significantly linked to mean age, body mass index, gender, and MS duration, but persons with MS with restless leg syndrome have a higher disability level (p = 0.044). In addition, no difference in the brainstem and thoracic cord was found between persons with MS with and without restless leg syndrome, while there is a significant relationship between the presence of cervical cord lesion and restless leg syndrome.

Conclusion: Higher disability scores and characteristics of lesion patterns in the spinal cord could explain higher rates of restless leg syndrome in persons with MS. Considering the negative effects of restless leg syndrome, the increased awareness and treatment of restless leg syndrome among persons with MS is essential for better managing.

Background: Useless Hand Syndrome (UHS) is a rare clinical manifestation of an upper cervical cord lesion, which is most commonly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). The pathophysiological mechanism underlying UHS remains unclear.

Case: We report a 25-year-old woman, who described numbness in her left upper extremity. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging revealed a posterior upper cervical cord lesion. There was no cortical lesion that could explain the clinical findings. We measured (1) short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) by obtaining motor evoked potentials as an indicator of sensorimotor integration and (2) somatosensorial temporal discrimination threshold (STDT) to display central somatosensory pathway function. In the right cerebral hemisphere, we found an excessive increase in STDT and no inhibition in the SAI paradigm.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that impairment of sensorimotor integration and central processing of sensory stimuli cause useless hand syndrome.

Aims: Spontaneous sensations (SPS) are sensations that are felt in the body in the absence of external stimulation. The literature on SPS has used explicit measures, such as questionnaires to explore SPS, while no studies to date have examined SPS on an implicit level. This study was conducted to collect representative stimuli that can be used to build such a task, for example, an Implicit Association Test.

Methods: An online survey was completed by 18 participants to identify the most frequent words used to describe our limbs in the presence or absence of SPS.

Results: Individuals who perceive and those who do not perceive SPS in their limbs describe their limbs as normal, while the most frequently described SPS were itching and tingling.

Conclusions: Thus, we use the same words/adjectives to describe how we perceive our limbs. However, the way we experience SPS varies as we experience more SPS in hands than feet.

Purpose/aim: To investigate the effect of muscle selection for botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) treatment on spasticity in patients with post-stroke elbow flexor muscle over-activity.

Materials and methods: Chronic stroke patients with a deforming spastic paresis in the upper limb (elbow flexion with forearm pronation) who were injected BoNT-A into at least one of elbow flexor muscles (brachialis, brachioradialis, and biceps brachii) were included in this prospective observational study. The main outcome measure was spasticity angle by Tardieu Scale recorded at pre-treatment and week 4 after treatment.

Results: Three muscle selection groups with sufficient sample size for statistical analysis were able to be created; brachialis (n = 14), biceps brachii (n = 21), and brachialis plus brachioradialis (n = 11). Although there was a significant improvement in spasticity angle within all groups over time (p < 0.05), the change in spasticity angle was not different between the groups (p > 0.05 for each pairwise comparison). However, the magnitude of the change in spasticity angle was larger in the groups in which brachialis was preferred.

Conclusions: In stroke patients with a spontaneous spastic posture of elbow flexion and forearm pronation, targeting brachialis for BoNT-A injection seems more effective in reducing the severity of spasticity.

Clinical trial registration no: NCT04036981.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of corrective kinesio taping applied on patellofemoral and foot joint in addition to a progressive neuromuscular exercise program in women with Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) on knee pain and muscle strength.

Methods: Thirty females (20-45 years), diagnosed with unilateral PFP were randomly divided into two groups: the exercise (n = 15) and the exercise and taping (n = 15). Both groups performed three-stage progressive neuromuscular exercises for 12 weeks as home exercises. Plantar and knee corrective taping was additionally applied to the exercise and taping group. The knee pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during stair ascending and descending. Isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate the isokinetic muscle strength of the hamstring and quadriceps femoris muscles. All assessments were conducted before the treatment, at the end of the 6th-week treatment, and at the end of the 12th week of the treatment.

Results: After intervention, pain, and muscles peak torque were improved in all groups (p ˂ 0.05). The decrease in pain and the increase in quadriceps and hamstring muscle peak tork were found to be significant for both groups (p < 0.05). In the taping group, the decrease in pain during stair descending and the increase in hamstring muscle tork were higher than that of the exercise group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: In order to reduce pain in a short time and control it in the long term, it will be beneficial to tape the knee and foot in addition to neuromuscular exercises.

Purpose: To compare the ischaemic compression (IC) and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) in the treatment of MTrPs in addition to standard rehabilitation program in patients with rotator cuff tears.

Methods: Participants with rotator cuff tears were included the study (n = 46). Patients were randomly divided into two groups; which were Group 1 (IC + standard rehabilitation program (n = 23)), and Group 2 (IASTM + standard rehabilitation program (n = 23)) groups. Pain were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS). Range of motion (ROM) was assessed by a universal goniometer. Active MTrPs were assessed according to the Travel and Simons criteria. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) were assessed by a digital algometer. Function were evaluated by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH) and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardised Shoulder Assessment (ASES) Form. Anxiety and depression were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Satisfaction was assessed by the Global Rating of Change scale after 6 weeks treatment.

Results: After the treatment, pain, ROM and the DASH, ASES, HAD scores improved in both groups (p < 0.05). The active MTrPs of 2 muscles, PPT of 4 muscles and DASH in Group 1 significantly improved compared to Group 2 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Although patients with low functionality accumulated in the IC group, the IC is more effective than the IASTM in increasing the PPT and functional improvement according to the results of the DASH score.

Aim: This study aims to examine the effect of motor imagery (MI) training on MI abilities, functional mobility, and lower extremity muscle activity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP).

Method: 34 UCP and 17 typically developing participants were included. UCP was randomised into 2 groups as UCP MI and UCP control. Participants typically developing were included for baseline comparisons. UCP MI group received 8 weeks of physiotherapy and MI training, the UCP control group 8 weeks of physiotherapy training. The MI abilities, functional mobility, and lower extremity muscle activation were assessed in all groups.

Results: It was found that MI training made a significant difference in favour of the UCP MI group in terms of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-For Children (MIQ-C), mental chronometry, functional mobility, and resting muscle activation (p < 0.05). There was no such significant change in the UCP control group.

Conclusion: This current approach in UCP is a feasible method, beneficial to include it in the rehabilitation process.

Aim: This study explores interoceptive attentiveness (IA) influence on autonomic reactivity related to pain and self-regulation during situations evoking physiological mirroring for pain.Methods: 20 participants observed face/hand, painful/non-painful stimuli in an individual versus social condition while the autonomic response was measured [Electrodermal activity, Pulse Volume Amplitude (PVA), and Heart Rate (HR)] was measured. The sample was divided into experimental (EXP) subjects, required to focus on their interoceptive correlates while observing the stimuli, and the control (CNT) group. HR inter-beat interval (IBI), and HR Variability (HRV) were calculated.Results: Results showed high accuracy to painful and non-painful stimuli recognition. Regarding autonomic indices, higher PVA values were detected for hand painful versus non-painful stimuli, whereas for the EXP group a significant activation of IBI was found for face painful vs non-painful stimuli.Conclusion: In the context of observation of pain in others, PVA and IBI could be respectively markers of mirroring mechanisms and autonomic self-regulation mediated by IA.