Adding pulsed electromagnetic field to Conventional physical therapy Protocol yields superior clinical improvement in pain, functional disability, and lumbar ROM in patients with non-specific low back pain than Conventional physical therapy alone.

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Background: The muscle imbalances between upper and lower trapezius muscle activity are related to abnormal scapular motion in patients with frozen shoulder. This explains the importance of rehabilitation of the lower trapezius muscle in addition to common stretching and mobilizing treatment protocols for patients with frozen shoulder. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effect of additional strengthening exercises of lower fibers of trapezius muscle on the scapular tipping in patients with Diabetic Frozen Shoulder (DFS). Subjects and methods: Thirty patients with DFS were randomly assigned into two equal groups A and B. Both groups received a traditional physical therapy program, however group B additionally received strengthening exercises for lower fibers of trapezius. Baseline and post-treatment assessment for the scapular tipping were evaluated by using (A-T) distance test. Results: After treatment; mixed design MANOVA revealed significant improvement in scapular tipping (A-T) distance from supine position, supine position with scapula retraction, standing position, and standing position with scapula retraction, for group B more than group A (P<0.05). There were significant improvements in scapular tipping when comparing the post-treatment mean value with pretreatment in group B only (P<0.05). Conclusion: Strengthening of the lower trapezius fibers plus traditional physical therapy program yields improvement in scapular tipping in patients with DFS more than traditional physical therapy alone.

Foot pronation affects the postural stability at stability level four and not affects stability level eight compared with those in the control group.

[Purpose] This study was carried out to investigate the carryover effect of hip and knee exercises program on functional performance (single legged hop test as functional performance test and Kujala score for functional activities). [Subjects and Methods] Thirty patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Group (A) consisted of 15 patients undergoing hip strengthening exercises for four weeks then measuring all variables followed by additional four weeks of knee exercises program then measuring all variables again. Group (B): consisted of 15 patients undergoing knee exercises program for four weeks then measuring all variables followed by additional four weeks of hip strengthening exercises then measuring all variables. Functional abilities and knee muscles performance were assessed using Kujala questionnaire and single legged hop test respectively pre and after the completion of the first 4 weeks then after 8 weeks for both groups. [Results] Significantly increase in Kujala questionnaire in group A compared with group B was observed. While, there were significant increase in single legged hop performance test in group B compared with group A. [Conclusion] Starting with hip exercises improve the performance of subjects more than functional activities while starting with knee exercises improve the functional activities of subjects more than performance.

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.

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Background: Mechanical neck pain is the most common type of neck pain and commonly to accompany with radiculopathy. Patients of neck pain exhibit greater activation of accessory muscles, (sternocledomastoid, anterior scalene, and upper trapezius muscles) and may also show changed patterns of motor control of other posture muscles as pelvic muscles for reducing activation of painful muscles of neck.Aim of the study: To determine if there is an association between gluteus maximus inhibition and over activity of upper fibers of trapezius in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain with radiculopathy. Materials and Methods:Forty female patients participated in this study diagnosed as chronic mechanical neck pain with radiculopathy. Amplitude and onset of muscle activation were assessed by using the surface electromyograghy (EMG) during prone hip extension test. Results:The results of this study demonstrated that there is no correlation between the amplitude of EMG activity of right and left gluteus maximus and the amplitude of EMG activity of right and left upper trapezius (P<0.05). Conclusion:It can be concluded that the overactivity of the upper trapezius muscle in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain with radiculopathy is not related to the inhibition of the gluteus maximus muscle during prone hip extension test.