[Purpose] This study compared the effects of a short-term conservative physiotherapy program versus those of occlusive splinting on pain and range of motion in cases of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. [Participants and Methods] This study included 112 male and female participants with ages ranging from 15–27 years. Outcome measures were pain assessed by the visual analogue scale and Temporomandibular Joint Range of Motion measured with the Temporomandibular joint opening index. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Conservative physiotherapy was provided to one group 3 days weekly while the other group received standard occlusive splinting. Splinting was used daily for the total period of treatment. Any adjustments for splints were done by the treating dentist. Both groups were treated for a total period of 6 weeks. [Results] Between group statistical analysis revealed a significant reduction in pain intensity and Temporomandibular joint opening index in favor of the conservative physiotherapy group. [Conclusion] Over a treatment period of 6 consecutive weeks, conservative physiotherapy could be a better initial treatment than occlusive splint in relieving pain and improving range of motion in cases of myogenic temporomandibular dysfunction.

Background: The use of smart phones has become increasingly popular and almost indispensable in contemporary life, but many studies have addressed that excessive use negatively affects the various developmental domains. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of prolonged smartphone use on the forward neck translation, neck flexion angle and handgrip power for duration of 8 weeks. Materials and Methods: Ninety students from nine different international schools in Sharjah, UAE, with age ranging between 13-17 years. Participated in this study. Subjects were divided into two groups based on their daily frequency of smartphone use. Group (I) using smart phones less than 4 hours/day and Group (II) using more than 4 hours/day. The Neck flexion angle and forward neck translation were measured by the posture assessment mobile application (PostureCo, Inc), during their normal straight upright postural standing position. Handgrip power was measured with a Handheld Dynamometer (HHD) for both dominant and non-dominant hands, with arms abducted 30 degrees and wrist slightly extended (10 degrees). Measures were repeated 3 times and the average was considered for data analysis. Results: After 8 weeks of smart phone usage, statistical analyses revealed significant increase and decrease in the forward neck translation and neck flexion angles respectively. On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences in handgrip power in both groups. Conclusion: Our results revealed the significant effect of the prolonged use of smartphones on the neck flexion angle, forward head translation without affecting handgrip power.

Although current lumbar stabilization exercises are beneficial for chronic mechanical low back pain, further research is recommended focusing on global spinal alignment normalization. This randomized, controlled, blinded trial was conducted to determine the effects of adding cervical posture correction to lumber stabilization on chronic mechanical low back pain. Fifty adult patients (24 males) with chronic mechanical low back pain and forward head posture received 12 weeks treatment of either both programs (group A) or lumbar stabilization (group B). The primary outcome was back pain. The secondary outcomes included the craniovertebral angle, Oswestry Disability Index, C7-S1 sagittal vertical axis, and sagittal intervertebral movements. The multivariate analysis of variance indicated a significant group-by-time interaction (P = .001, partial η2 = .609). Pain, disability, C7-S1 sagittal vertical axis, and l2-l3 intervertebral rotation were reduced in group A more than B (P = .008, .001, .025, and .001). Craniovertebral angle was increased in A when compared to B (P = .001). However, there were no significant group-by-time interactions for other intervertebral movements. Within-group comparisons were significant for all outcomes except for craniovertebral angle within patients in the control group. Adding cervical posture correction with lumber stabilization for management of chronic low back pain seemed to have better effects than the application of a stabilization program only.

IntroductionAnkle instability is a common injury in athletes affecting the quality of life, functional limitation, as well as static and dynamic balance. Aim: To compare the efficacy of virtual reality and Biodex balance training in the treatment of ankle instability in adolescent athletes.Material and methodsParticipants and Methodology: Ninety football players were enrolled in this study after the assessment of their eligibility. Their age ranged from 12-16years. They were randomly allocated into three groups of equal numbers. Group 1 received a guideline protocol, group 2 received the same guideline protocol in addition to Wii Sport Training, and group 3 received the same guideline protocol in addition to Biodex balance training. All groups received treatment protocols three times / week for three months. Outcome measures included the stability indices (overall stability, anteroposterior stability, and mediolateral) measured by the Biodex balance system as well as ankle instability measured by the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool. Measurements were collected at the baseline and post 3 months of treatment.ResultsPost-treatment findings, revealed a statistically significant decrease in the overall, anteroposterior, and mediolateral stability indices, as well as significant increase in Cumberland Ankle Instability outcomes of all groups (P< 0.05). On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences between the virtual reality and Biodex balance training groups.ConclusionsVirtual Reality has a significant effect which appears to be similar to the Biodex Balance Training in adolescent athletes with chronic ankle instability

Background: Haemophilia is a hereditary coagulopathy disease affecting males. It is characterized by musculoskeletal bleeding, leading to chronic synovitis and severe joint hemarthrosis. Objective: To determine the impact of pulsed electro-magnetic field on swelling, range of motion and muscle strength of hemarthrotic knee joints of haemophilic adolescents. Participants and Methodology: Thirty haemophilic adolescent males ranging in age between thirteen and sixteen years who fulfilled the inclusion criteria participated in this study. They were assigned randomly into two groups of equal numbers A (control) and B (study). Groups A and B received a specific program of physical therapy for sixty minutes, in addition, group A received a placebo pulsed electromagnetic field for twenty minutes, while group B received pulsed electromagnetic field for twenty minutes. The treatment program was applied three days/week for three successive months. Evaluation of knee swelling using tape measurement, range of motion using electronic goniometer and muscle strength using isokinetic dynamometer was conducted for each patient of groups A and B before and after treatment. Results: Significant improvement was observed in the post-treatment mean values of the measuring variables of groups A and B when compared with their pre-treatment results (p < .05). High significant improvement was observed in group B when comparing the post-treatment results of groups, A and B (p < .05). Conclusions: Pulsed electromagnetic field is an effective modality which can be used with the traditional methods for treatment of knee hemarthrosis in haemophilic adolescents.