Objectives: Anxiety is a negative emotion that acts as a mediator between stress stimuli and emotional (physiological) reaction patterns. The myofascial system is particularly sensitive to stress. The aim of this study was to determine which of the 2 popular methods used to reduce psychophysical tension, i.e., soft tissue manipulation and Jacobson's progressive relaxation, is more effective. Material and Methods: This study was conducted at Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sports in the sports psychology laboratory and the manual therapy room. After performing specialist consultations and interviews to exclude potential participants with contraindications to any of the interventions, the final sample included 90 people who were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. In group I, soft tissue techniques were applied, including the techniques of post-isometric muscle relaxation, elements of myofascial relaxation of tissues, and elastic tissue deformation using the Swedish massage limited to the cervicothoracic complex. In group II, Jacobson's progressive relaxation was performed. The training consisted of tightening and relaxing specific muscle groups. The experiment was conducted under an ambulatory condition, consisting of a single physiotherapeutic session (group I) or a single progressive relaxation session using the Jacobson method (group II). The level of anxiety was assessed twice, i.e., immediately before and after the therapy. Results: According to a repeated-measures ANOVA, each therapeutic impact was effective in reducing the level of perceived anxiety. Furthermore, the level of perceived anxiety in group I decreased significantly more than that in group II. Conclusions: In conclusion, both the soft tissue manipulation and Jacobson's progressive relaxation techniques were efficient methods of minimizing the negative effects of stress.
Background: The objective of the study was to assess the efficiency of visualization training based on motivating instructions of a general character in order to increase the knee joint mobility, reduce pain and increase the quadriceps muscle mass of the thigh in patients after the knee joint arthroscopy. Material/Methods: F10 outpatient clinic patients after arthroscopy of the knee joint (average age 35 yrs) were subject to research. Physiotherapeutic treatment comprised an improvement program to increase the range of flexion in the knee joint (full ROM), align limbs circumference and reduce pain. The research group was divided into 2 subgroups. In group I, the control group, improving exercises and physical treatment were applied, while in group II, the experimental one, improvement and physical treatment program was expanded with visualization. The sample selection was random. Results: The research showed that, irrespective of the time after operation, the experimental group felt less pain than the control one, when the latter used classical methods of joint improvement. It was also stated that regardless of the time after operation, the group using visualization achieved greater improvement in the knee flexion than the standard group. The scientists also claimed that the increase in post-operative limb circumference depended on the applied therapeutic method. In the group with a visualization program a linear growth of limb circumference with the passage of time was observed. The experimental group achieved greater improvement in the post-operative leg circumference than the control group. Conclusions: The study shows that visualization may be an effective supplement of a therapeutic procedure; however, deeper evaluation of its efficacy at different stages of patient’s improvement requires further research and observations.
Coach workshops based on seven principles (inspiration, explanation, expectation, support, reward, appreciation, growth and winning) enhance the sport experience of adult athletes. Therefore, we have investigated the effects of such workshops with coaches of child athletes. Study participants were coaches of 57 9- to 12-year old girls (practicing gymnastics) and boys (practicing football). Three coaches of 28 children attended three workshops over 12 weeks, while a control group of 5 coaches of 29 children attended no workshops. Measures of well-being and psychomotor performance were taken on the children before and after the intervention; differences in mean changes between intervention and control groups were adjusted for baseline, standardized, and assessed with a conservative magnitude-based decision method. There were clear substantial effects of the workshop on motivation averaged across several dimensions (girls, large, most likely beneficial), on a decision test (boys, small-moderate, very likely beneficial), on state anxiety self-reflection (girls, moderate, likely harmful), and on reaction time (boys, small, possibly harmful). The beneficial effects of the workshop in this pilot study are encouraging, but the unclear and potentially harmful effects and the roles of presenter- and coach-specific effects need to be investigated further with a representative sample of coaches and more children before the workshop is recommended for implementation.
Podczarska-Głowacka M, Łysak A. Use of combined therapy (TENS+UD) and postisometric relaxation (PIR) of muscles in seniors with degenerative disease of the hip joint. J Pre-Clin Clin Res. 2016; 10(2): 95-99. AbstractObjective. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of a combined therapy (TENS+UD) and postisometric relaxation of muscles in a 3-week therapeutic programme directed to seniors with diagnosed degenerative disease of the hip joint (OA). Materials and method. The study involved patients with diagnosed degenerative disease of the hip joint. A total of 60 people -11 men and 49 women (mean age -68 years) were examined. The therapy was applied for a period of 3 weeks. Seniors were randomly divided into 2 equal groups. In Group I, the treatment programme included a combined therapy (TENS+UD) and individual exercises, i.e. postisometric relaxation of muscles (PIR) at the hip joint; in Group II, seniors were treated with individual exercises, i.e. postisometric relaxation of muscles (PIR). Results. The study showed that the applied therapeutic programme had a significant effect. In both groups an improvement in mobility after the therapy was shown in all planes of movement. It was also found that the therapy proved effective in fighting pain syndromes. However, it should be noted that after assessing pain twice (VAS, Laitinen Scale) in Group I, the therapy proved to be more effective in fighting pain in comparison to Group II. Conclusions. In non-invasive treatment, in order to increase the analgesic activity in patients with degenerative changes of the hip joint, it is also recommended to include a physical stimulus in the form of combined therapy in the physiotherapeutic procedure, comprising techniques of energising muscles.
Background: The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of a 2-week therapeutic programme consisting of combination therapy and postisometric relaxation and its effect on the mobility of joints and the level of perception of pain in patients with osteoarthritis of hip joints. Material/Methods:The research was carried out on subjects clinically and radiologically diagnosed as patients with osteoarthritis of hip joints. 30 subjects, including 7 men and 23 women (average age of 67.8 yrs), underwent the examinations. The therapy lasted 2 weeks and consisted of 10 treatment sessions. The medical program included a combination therapy and individual exercises, i.e. postisometric relaxation of the hip joint. In the combination therapy conventional TENS and ultrasounds were applied. Moreover, tailored exercises were performed systematically every day at home. Results: The study proved that an individually prepared therapeutic program including postisometric relaxation and combination therapy improves ROM in all planes of hip joins in osteoarthritis. It was also stated that after 2 pain assessment tests (the VAS and Laitinen scales) the therapy was confirmed to be a successful method in pain relief. The researchers also noticed that systematically conducted therapy led to reducing the incidence of pain which is manifested by limitation of pharmacotherapy. Conclusions: The research shows that combination therapy together with postisometric relaxation is an effective form of conservative treatment for degenerative changes in the hip joint.
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