This study aimed to evaluate the degree to which transcutaneous electrical stimulation (ES) enhanced recovery following a simulated water rescue. Twenty-six lifeguards participated in this study. The rescue consisted of swimming 100 m with fins and rescue-tube: 50 m swim approach and 50 m tow-in a simulated victim. Blood lactate clearance, rated perceived effort (RPE), and muscle contractile properties were evaluated at baseline, after the water rescue, and after ES or passive-recovery control condition (PR) protocol. Tensiomiography, RPE, and blood lactate basal levels indicated equivalence between both groups. There was no change in tensiomiography from pre to post-recovery and no difference between recovery protocols. Overall-RPE, legs-RPE and arms-RPE after ES (mean ± SD; 2.7 ± 1.53, 2.65 ± 1.66, and 2.30 ± 1.84, respectively) were moderately lower than after PR (3.57 ± 2.4, 3.71 ± 2.43, and 3.29 ± 1.79, respectively) (p = 0.016, p = 0.010, p = 0.028, respectively). There was a significantly lower blood lactate level after recovery in ES than in PR (mean ± SD; 4.77 ± 1.86 mmol·L−1 vs. 6.27 ± 3.69 mmol·L−1; p = 0.045). Low-frequency ES immediately after a water rescue is an effective recovery strategy to clear out blood lactate concentration.

Background:Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is used to prevent venous stasis and thromboembolism. However, best electrostimulation parameters have yet to be established. The aim of the study was to compare the hemodynamic effects and the participants’ relative discomfort of 3 TENS sequences at the maximum tolerated intensity stimulus.Methods:Twenty-four healthy university students (50% male) participated in a cross-over, randomized study. Each participant received 2 TENS sequences on peroneal nerve at 1 and 5 Hz, and the third one on soleus muscle at 5 Hz. Popliteal flow volume (FV) and peak velocity (PV) were measured using Doppler ultrasound and the relative change from basal values was recorded. Discomfort questionnaires -visual analogue scale (VAS) and verbal rating scale (VRS)- were also administered to compare sensations among the three applications.Results:All interventions produced significant hemodynamic responses compared to baseline. Both 5 Hz applications obtained higher FV increments than 1 Hz TENS (P < .001). The muscle application resulted in the lowest PV increment (P < .001). TENS at 5 Hz on nerve location was the worst tolerated, with higher values in VRS (P = .056) and VAS (P = .11), although not significant.Conclusion:TENS at 5 Hz on soleus site may be the most appropriate protocol for enhancing venous return.

Although different types of currents, including bidirectional currents, have been used to promote healing, there is neither a summary about their effects nor consensus on best parameters to be used. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of current evidence on the effectiveness of bidirectional electrical stimulation on wound healing in accordance with the parameters used. Relevant articles were selected following a search of Medline, Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL, and PEDro for English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, or French articles published between 1980 and 2011. Ten trials and four case-series were found that deal with pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, skin flaps, and amputation. Eight trials were of low-quality. Five of ten controlled trials found a statistically significant difference on wound healing, and another four trials found positive trends. Both of the two skin flap trials, one of two diabetic trials, and two of five pressure ulcer trials found a significant difference in bidirectional stimulated groups. Both TENS and NMES types of currents were used, but many parameters were not specified. In general, bidirectional currents appear to increase wound healing rates and reduce size of wounds, above all in skin flaps. However, there is a lack of well-designed studies on biphasic and alternating stimulation, and there is a need for improvement in description of parameters and in uniformity of nomenclature.

Bayesian techniques, as an alternative method of statistical analysis in rehabilitation studies, have some advantages such as handling small sample sizes, allowing incorporation of previous experience of the researchers or clinicians, being suitable for different kinds of studies, and managing highly complex models. These characteristics are important in rehabilitation research. In the present article, the Bayesian approach is displayed through three examples in previously analyzed data with traditional or frequentist methods. The studies used as examples have small sample sizes and show that the Bayesian procedures enhance the statistical information of the results. The Bayesian credibility interval includes the true value of the corresponding parameter diminishing uncertainty about the treatment effect. In addition, the Bayes factor value quantifies the evidence provided by the data in favor of the alternative hypothesis as opposed to the null hypothesis. Bayesian inference could be an interesting and adaptable alternative statistical method for physical medicine and rehabilitation applications.

Context:Lack of extensibility of the hamstrings is manifested by a restricion of knee extension range of motion.Objective:To quantify the effect of a single pulsed shortwave diathermy treatment on extensibility of the hamstrings.Participants:Twenty volunteers with tight hamstrings (< 150° of active knee extension).Intervention:Subjects were randomly allocated to receive either a pulsed shortwave diathermy treatment (experimental group) or a simulated pulsed shortwave diathermy treatment that did not produce a deep tissue heating effect.Main Outcome Measurements:Measurements of active and passive range of movement were recorded before and after the treatment, as well as the subjective level of discomfort perceived during the passive stretching.Results:No statistically signifcant differences were found.Conclusion:A single pulsed shortwave diathermy treatment, without stretching, did not increase hamstring extensibility.

The variables most closely associated with resource utilization were hip-knee pain and the physical dimension of health-related quality of life, especially bodily pain.

Background: Activation of venous flow has been shown with different types of electrical stimulation. The aim of this study is to compare the hemodynamic effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and sham stimulation on healthy young people.Methods: This randomized crossover study was conducted during June 2018 in the Faculty of Physical Therapy of A Coruña (Spain). Twenty-four university students (50% male) received in a randomized order 5 Hz-TENS, NMES, and sham stimulation on soleus muscle. Flow volume (FV) and peak velocity (PV) from popliteal vein were recorded via Doppler ultrasound, and relative changes from baseline were determined. Discomfort among the 3 stimulations was also compared.Results: The differences among the 3 stimulations were assessed using the ANOVA for repeated measured, the Friedman test and the Kendall tau test, according to the type of measurement to be compared. FV (mL/min) and PV (cm/s) increased significantly after NMES (percentual increase 37.2 ± 62.0%, P = .002; 264.4 ± 152.2%, P < .001, respectively) and TENS (226.2 ± 190.3%, P < .001; 202.7 ± 144.6%, P < .001, respectively). These percentual changes from basal level in hemodynamics were statistically different to those after placebo, which was ineffective enhancing hemodynamics. The improvements in FV were statistically higher with TENS than with NMES (P < .001), but there was no statistical difference in PV (P = .531). Despite NMES was applied at a significantly lower amplitude than TENS (P < .001), NMES protocol was the worst tolerated, though the differences in discomfort were not statistically significant. Conclusion:Both active electrical protocols but not sham stimulation increased hemodynamics in healthy people. TENS obtained higher flow volume increase from baseline than NMES, considered globally at not only in its on-time.

Agricultural Engineer Degree students require a Graduation Project (GP) to complete the degree. The GP intends to be a real project that must be designed, described and solved, using the competences and skills acquired during the four years degree, by the student. Right now, the students wait to complete the four years degree to start thinking in the GP. Due to this reason after four years of engineer subjects, many of the students delay the presentation of the final Graduation project reducing the on time graduation index. The fear to face a complete engineering project, the need of time to think in their future and the offer of low quality jobs are some temptations to do not start the GP even during the last year of degree. In the other hand the Bologna process and the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), let to introduce project-based learning (PBL) activities at the degree subjects. The aim of the innovative education action presented is to incorporate the project-based learning methodology to work on real agricultural projects in which they will work during their studies. After the fourth degree year they could have plan and start to design the project that will become their personal GP. The development of the innovative education action includes the selection of the subjects in which PBL will be implemented, the organization of seminars to close the students to agricultural projects, the dissemination of the use of PBL for agricultural degree subjects and the assessment of the on time graduation index evolution. The results will be, i) to give sense to the degree subjects by their application to real agricultural projects and ii) to help the students to face on time the GP.