Purpose. The study was to assess the effectiveness of strain-counterstrain (SCS) techniques, after treatment and after a 6-week follow-up, on pain, range of motion (ROM), and disability in patients with acute nonspecific low back pain with mobility deficits. Methods. Overall, 84 patients diagnosed with nonspecific low back pain with mobility deficits were divided into 2 groups; 42 received SCS techniques (group A) and 42 (group B, control group) were advised to be active. The pressure pain threshold (PPT), lumbar flexion ROM, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used for assessment. All patients were assessed before treatment, after treatment, and after a 6-week follow-up. The treatment program was applied for 2 weeks, 2 sessions per week. Results. Statistical analysis revealed that there were significant increases in PPT on both sides of L5 and lumbar flexion ROM. In addition, a significant reduction in ODI scores was observed (p < 0.05) in the pre-vs. post-treatment evaluation, in the pre-treatment vs. post-6-week evaluation, and in the post-treatment vs. post-6-week evaluation with regard to both groups. As for between-group effects, multiple pairwise comparisons revealed significant increases in PPT on both sides of L5 and lumbar flexion ROM, in addition to a significant reduction in ODI scores (p < 0.05) in favour of group A as compared with group B after treatment and after the 6-week follow-up. Conclusions. SCS is preferable to be advised in the treatment of acute nonspecific low back pain with mobility deficits.
Background/Aims Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation have been studied repeatedly to reduce diabetic neuropathic pain. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of aerobic training plus one of the treatment therapies on decreasing pain severity in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods A total of 30 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were randomly assigned into two equal groups: group A and group B. Both groups received aerobic training exercises. Group A received repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and Group B received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for 5 consecutive days in 1 week. Outcome measures included pain severity assessment using the Visual Analogue Scale and the serum β-endorphin levels. Results There was a non-significant difference in pre-treatment (P=0.061) and post-treatment (P=0.652) in the Visual Analogue Scale scores between groups. However, β-endorphin levels were significantly different between groups in post- (P=0.015) rather than pre-treatment (P=0.459) levels. A significant moderate correlation between β-endorphin levels and Visual Analogue Scale scores was found in group A (r=−0.6783) at (P=0.008), while it was not significant in group B (r=0.043) at (P=0.883). Conclusions Adding transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapies to aerobic training showed similar effects in reducing pain severity in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Background. Balance dysfunction and high dual-task costs are eminent features in multiple sclerosis (MS). Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) proved to promote functional outcomes; yet, its influence on dynamic balance and dual-task cost of walking (DTCW) in MS needs further research. Objective. To investigate the effect of adding VRT to aerobic training on dynamic balance and DTCW in people with MS. Design. Single blinded, parallel randomized controlled trial. Settings. Out-Patient Clinic at Faculty of Physical Therapy and Kasr Al-Ainy Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Cairo University, Egypt. Participants. 40 patients with remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis. Intervention. Patients were randomized to a control (n = 20) and intervention (n = 20) groups. Over four successive weeks, all patients received stationary bicycle aerobic training. Intervention group received an additional VRT program. Outcomes measures. Berg Balance Scale (BBS), walking speed tested by the 10 meters timed walk test (10 m-TWT), (DTCW), and overall stability index (SI). Results. Intervention group showed a remarkable improvement in BBS (p = 0.02), SI at levels four (p = 0.002) and seven (p = 0.03), and DTCW (p = 0.03) compared with control group. Walking speed did not show significant changes post-treatment within or between groups comparison (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Adding VRT to aerobic training has a positive effect on dynamic balance and dual-task cost of walking in MS.
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