A core stabilization exercise program significantly increased multifidus muscle CSAs in both healthy women and women with chronic LBP.
The purpose of this investigation was to estimate the test-retest cross-reliability of peripheral and central changes with respect to nonlinear and linear measures of a surface electromyography (EMG) signal measured during isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) combined with superimposed electrical stimulation during a brief and fatiguing task involving the ankle plantar flexors over 2 follicular phases of menstrual cycle. Ten healthy female adults underwent 1 familiarization session and 5 identical test-retest sessions. The results showed that the decrease in plantar flexor EMG components (root mean square [RMS], mean frequency [MnF], wavelet packet entropy [WPE]) for soleus and gastrocnemius muscles, central activation ratio (CAR) and MVC, and contractile properties (P20, P100, PTT-100, and half-relaxation time) of the plantar flexor muscles at the end of 2-minute MVC were similar (time effect; p < 0.001, η(p)² > 0.7, statistical power [SP] > 99%) and exhibited high stability over 5 trials (trial effect; p > 0.05; η(p)² < 0.2, SP < 30%). High reliability between trials was found for 5-second MVC (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] > 0.82, p < 0.001) and meaningful reliability for 2-minute MVC (ICC > 0.66, p < 0.01). In conclusion, in young healthy women, measurements of neuromuscular function, such as RMS, MnF, and WPE of a surface EMG signal, MVC, and CAR from a brief and sustained MVC of the ankle plantar flexors, are reliable, and multidimensional stability was found with respect to both high and low correlation outcomes across the 5 identical test-retest trials of any 2 properties measured during brief and sustained MVC.
The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in extraocular muscle thickness and to assess its correlation with the degree of proptosis in patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO). Material and methods. A total of 242 patients (207 females and 35 males) with Graves’ ophthalmopathy were enrolled into the study (GO group). Their mean age was 53.83±14.49 years. In addition, we examined an age-matched (53.51±12.79 years) control group of 40 healthy persons. All the participants underwent ophthalmological examination, including eye protrusion measurement and ultrasonographic evaluation of extraocular muscles thickness. Results. The mean exophthalmos in the GO and control groups was 17.84±2.79 mm and 16.0±1.58 mm, respectively. The enlargement of inferior rectus muscle was recorded in 92.1% of patients, lateral rectus muscle in 81.2%, and medial rectus muscle in 50.8% (P<0.001). A significant correlation between exophthalmos and muscle thickness sum was found in the GO group (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.515; P<0.0001). Conclusions. Graves’ ophthalmopathy is more frequent in medium-aged women than men. A significant enlargement of inferior, lateral, and medial straight muscles was noticed in the GO group. With increasing proptosis, the sum of the muscle thickness was increasing, and exophthalmos moderately correlated with muscle thickness sum.
Research background and hypothesis. Our research novelty was the validation of the use of the method of Ultrasound Imaging to measure the changes in the size of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the multifidus muscle, performing exercises for lumbar stability. Stabilization exercises have been designed in order to enhance the neuromuscular control system correct the dysfunction.Research aim. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of core stability exercise for cross-sectional area of lumbar multifidus muscle and physical capacity for elderly women.Research methods. The elderly women (n = 22) were in occupations involving light or no manual work and did not take part in sports. CSA of the multifidus muscle was measured from L2 to L5 vertebral segments. These measures were taken with ultrasound „TITAN TM ” (SonoSite, USA). For the assessment of physical capacity we estimated the women’s static strength endurance of back muscles and dynamic strength endurance of abdominal muscles. The tests were done three times: the first testing occurred before exercises for training lumbar stability, the second – after four months, and the third – after eight months of applying exercises for training lumbar stability.Research results. The results of study showed that after eight months of stability exercises, the subjects had significantly larger right side multifidus CSA than before practice – 9.01 ± 1.1, the left side of the lumbar multifidus muscle was 8.23 ± 0.9 (p < 0.05). After the evaluation of physical capacity we revealed that after eight moths it was 97.6 ± 2.8 s (very good), compared to the values before the research (25.4 ± 9.2) (p < 0.05).Discussion and conclusions. After the core stabilization exercise program multifidus CSA values were significantly larger than before practice, multifidus muscle asymmetry decreased. Physical activity programs adapted to the elderly women increased their physical capacities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.