Background: Migraine is a common neurological disorder, and it is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Manual techniques based on physical therapy have been proposed to improve migraine aspects; however, further research is needed on their effectiveness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a craniosacral therapy protocol on different features in migraine patients. Methods: Fifty individuals with migraine were randomly divided into two groups (n = 25 per group): (i) craniosacral therapy group (CTG), following a craniosacral therapy protocol, and (ii) sham control group (SCG), with a sham treatment. The analyzed variables were pain, migraine severity and frequency of episodes, functional, emotional, and overall disability, medication intake, and self-reported perceived changes, at baseline, after a 4 week intervention, and at 8 week follow-up. Results: After the intervention, the CTG significantly reduced pain (p = 0.01), frequency of episodes (p = 0.001), functional (p = 0.001) and overall disability (p = 0.02), and medication intake (p = 0.01), as well as led to a significantly higher self-reported perception of change (p = 0.01), when compared to SCG. In addition, the results were maintained at follow-up evaluation in all variables. Conclusions: A protocol based on craniosacral therapy is effective in improving pain, frequency of episodes, functional and overall disability, and medication intake in migraineurs. This protocol may be considered as a therapeutic approach in migraine patients.

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IntroductionSpecific functional assessments to determine the progression of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are important to slow down such progression and better plan rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore possible differences in the performance of different functional tasks included in a mobility test using sensors embedded in an Android device, in people at different PD stages.Materials and MethodsEighty-seven participants with PD agreed to participate in this cross-sectional study. They were assessed once using an inertial sensor and variables related to functional status were recorded (i.e., MLDisp, APDisp, DispA, Vrange, MLRange, PTurnSit, PStand, TTime, and RTime).ResultsThere was significant impairment of the vertical range during gait between stages I and II. Further, when stages II and III were compared, the sit-to-stand power was significantly impaired, and the total time required to complete the test increased significantly (p < 0.05). Even more significant differences were obtained when stages I and III were compared, in particular, dysfunction in postural control, vertical range, sit to stand power and total time. Finally, there were no significant differences between stages in the medial-lateral displacements and reaction time (p > 0.05).ConclusionFunctional mobility becomes more significantly impaired in the PD population as the PD stages progress. This implies impaired postural control, decreased ability to sit down or stand up from a chair, increased metabolic cost during walking, and overall slowing-down of motor function.

The aim of this study was to assess the physical activity level of health care professionals, as well as the differences by sex, age, academic background, and among different health care professions. This is an cross-sectional study. Health care settings in the Valencian Community, Spain. A total of 647 health care professionals. Physical activity was assessed with the European Health Interview Survey-Physical Activity Questionnaire (EHIS-PAQ) that includes the assessment of work-related physical activity, transport-related physical activity, health-enhancing physical activity, muscle-strengthening physical activity, and total physical activity. 93.51% of all health care professionals were physically active at work. Transport-related physical activity and health-enhancing physical activity were significantly lower in women (21.62% vs 41.86%, P < .001; and 50.19% vs 68.99%, P < .001, respectively). In addition, compliance with health-enhancing and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines were lower in older professionals (42.7% vs 61.84%, P < .001; and 47.57% vs 61.84%, P < .001, respectively). Those with higher education were more compliant with health-enhancing and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines (58.55% vs 45.69%, P = .002; and 60.24% vs 48.28%, P = .003, respectively). Moreover, 67.98% of physiotherapists performed health-enhancing physical activity and 67.54% muscle-strengthening physical activity regularly, and significant differences in all outcomes were observed compared to the rest of health care professionals ( P < .05). Technicians showed lower work-related and total physical activity than nurses and nursing assistants (74.55% vs 90.37%, P = .002; and 83.64% vs 95.72%, P < .001, respectively). Additionally, nursing assistants showed higher work-related physical activity compared to nurses (97.18% vs 90.37%, P = .008). Most health care professionals showed an appropriate level of physical activity. Men performed more transport-related and health-enhancing physical activity than women. Younger professionals and those with higher education were more compliant with health-enhancing and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines. Physiotherapists were more physically active when compared to the rest of health care professionals.

Objective To determine whether physical activity enjoyment mediated the association between motivation and physical activity in patients with heart failure. Design and setting A cross-sectional study at the cardiology clinic in the university hospital in Valencia, Spain Subjects A total of 134 patients with heart failure. Main measurements Physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, motivation was assessed with the Exercise Motivation Index and Physical Activity Enjoyment was assessed with the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale. Analysis Mediation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 4) for SPSS. Results The mean age of the sample was 70 ± 14 years, 47 patients were female (35%), and 87 patients were in New York Heart Association I/II (67%). A positive relationship was found between exercise motivation and physical activity ( t = 4.57, p < .01) and physical activity enjoyment ( t = 11.52, p < .01). Physical activity enjoyment was found to positively affect physical activity (t = 3.50, p < .01). After controlling for physical activity enjoyment, the effect of exercise motivation on physical activity changed from a significant to non-significant ( t = 1.33, p = .89), indicating that enjoyment completely mediated the relationship between motivation and physical activity. Overall, 25% of the variation in physical activity was explained by the mediation model. Conclusions Physical activity enjoyment mediates the relationship between exercise motivation and physical activity in patients with heart failure. This means that even highly motivated heart failure patients may not be physically active if they do not enjoy the physical activity.

Objective: To ascertain whether the combination of soft tissue and articulatory manual techniques is more effective than either one of these techniques alone for reducing migraine impact; Methods: Seventy-five participants with migraine were randomly divided into three groups (n = 25 per group): (i) soft tissue (STG), (ii) articulatory (AG), and (iii) combined treatment (STAG). Pain, frequency of occurrence, duration, disability and impact, depression and anxiety levels, and perception of change were analysed at baseline, post intervention (T2) and at four-week follow-up (T3); Results: STAG showed a significantly greater reduction in pain versus STG and AG at T2 (p < 0.001; p = 0.014) and at T3 (p < 0.001; p = 0.01). Furthermore, STAG achieved a significantly greater reduction in pain duration versus STG at T2 (p = 0.020) and T3 (p = 0.026) and a greater impression of change versus STG (p = 0.004) and AG (p = 0.037) at T3. Similar effects were observed in all groups for frequency of occurrence, migraine disability, impact, and depression and anxiety levels; Conclusions: A combined manual therapy protocol including soft tissue and articulatory techniques yields larger improvements on pain and perception of change than either technique alone, yet the three therapeutic approaches show similar benefits for reducing pain, disability and impact caused by the migraine, depression or anxiety levels.

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