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It seems that the static and dynamic balance performance under dual task conditions (excluding the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test) was impaired in each group. Dual tasking did not differ between nonspecific chronic low back pain participants with low level of pain and disability compared with healthy participants.

ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the effects of stretching and combined therapy (stretching and massage) on postural balance in people aged 50 to 65 years.MethodsTwenty-three subjects participated in this nonrandomized clinical trial study. Each participant randomly received plantar flexor muscle stretching (3 cycles of 45 seconds with a 30-second recovery period between cycles) alone and in combination with deep stroking massage (an interval of at least 30 minutes separated the two interventions). The data were recorded with a force platform immediately after each condition with eyes open and closed. The center of pressure displacement and velocity along the mediolateral and anteroposterior axes were calculated under each condition. The data were analyzed with multiple-pair t-tests.ResultsThe center of pressure displacement and velocity along the mediolateral axis increased after both stretching and the combined intervention. There were significant differences in both values between participants in the stretching and combined interventions (p<0.05).ConclusionPlantar flexor muscle stretching (for 45 seconds) combined with deep stroking massage may have more detrimental effects on postural balance than stretching alone because each intervention can intensify the effects of the other.

The impaired ankle muscle activities during a cognitive task suggest that postural control recovery following external perturbation requires attentional resources in patients with nonspecific CLBP. This may increase the risk of re-injury in people with nonspecific CLBP while they perform an attentionally demanding task in more difficult circumstances.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of scapulothoracic (ST) mobilization plus physical therapy (PT) with PT alone in patients with mechanical neck pain. Methods: This double-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted at Shiraz School of Rehabilitation Sciences and involved 46 patients with mechanical neck pain and scapular dyskinesia. The patients were randomly assigned to the ST mobilization + PT group (scapulothoracic mobilization and physical therapy) or the PT group (physical therapy treatment) by a computer-generated randomized table of numbers. Both groups received 5 sessions of treatment during 1 week. Pain intensity and grip strength were evaluated 3 times: baseline, after the first session, and after the fifth session. Furthermore, functional disability of the upper limbs and the neck were evaluated before and at the fifth session. Results: The results showed that the pain intensity was reduced and grip strength increased significantly after the first session (P = .01) and at the end of the treatment (P = .01) in the ST mobilization + PT group in comparison with the PT group. Also, the mean difference of upper limb (P = .01) and neck disability (P = .02) decreased significantly in the ST mobilization + PT group in comparison with the PT group. Conclusion: Scapulothoracic mobilization in combination with physical therapy may be superior to physical therapy alone in reducing pain intensity, maximizing grip strength, and reducing upper limb and neck disability in mechanical neck pain.