Abstract. [Purpose] To determine the therapeutic effects of core stabilization exercise in the treatment of patients with clinical lumbar instability.[Methods] Twenty subjects with clinical lumbar instability were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The treatment group received 10 weeks of core stabilization exercise (CSE), while the control group (CG) received 10 weeks of hydrocollator therapy and trunk stretching exercises. Pain intensity of the instability catch sign (ICS), functional disability, and trunk muscle activation patterns were measured before and at one day after 10 weeks of intervention.[Results] Both groups showed a significant reduction in pain intensity of ICS and reduced functional disability after 10 weeks of intervention; however, a significant improvement in the ratio activation of the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscle relative to the rectus abdominis was only seen in CSE. In the comparison between groups, CSE showed significantly greater improvement in reduction of pain intensity during the ICS, significantly reduced functional disability, and significantly increased deep abdominal muscle activation after 10 weeks of intervention compared to CG.[Conclusion] The 10 weeks of CSE provided better therapeutic effects for pain intensity of ICS, reduced functional disability, and facilitated deep abdominal muscle activation of patients with clinical lumbar instability.
We have used control‐homozygous weaver mutant, and ‐heterozygous weaver mutant mice in order to explore the basic molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration and the neuroprotective potential of coenzyme Q10. Homozygous weaver mutant mice exhibited progressive neurodegeneration in the hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum, and a reduction in the striatal levels of dopamine and coenzyme Qs (Q9 and Q10) without any significant changes in norepinephrine and serotonin. Mitochondrial complex‐1 was down regulated; whereas nuclear factor‐kappa B was up regulated in homozygous weaver mutant mice. Rotenone inhibited complex‐1, enhanced nuclear factor‐kappa B, and caused apoptosis in human dopaminergic (SK‐N‐SH) neurons; whereas nuclear factor‐kappa B antibody suppressed rotenone‐induced apoptosis, suggesting that enhancing coenzyme Q10 synthesis and suppressing the induction of NF‐kappa B, may provide neuroprotection.
The purpose of this study was to assess trunk muscle fatigue in seated handicraft tasks using surface electromyography (sEMG) and visual analogue scale (VAS) ratings for trunk discomfort, and to assess the relationship of these responses. Twenty-three participants were randomly assigned to assumed crossed-leg and heel sitting postures for 30 min. Normalised median frequency (NMF) slopes for lumbar multifidus (LM) and internal oblique (IO) muscles and VAS ratings were recorded. Results revealed that the crossed-leg posture produced significantly steeper NMF slopes for both sides of the LM and IO muscles than heel sitting. Greater VAS ratings were found in crossed-leg sitting posture than the heel sitting posture. The NMF slopes and the VAS ratings had significant negative correlations for both postures. Findings support heel sitting in handicraft tasks over crossed-leg sitting due to greater trunk muscle fatigue and discomfort during the latter posture. Results support VAS ratings as a complementary method to sEMG for identifying trunk muscle fatigue. Practitioner Summary: Trunk muscle fatigue in handicraft work is a potential risk for low back pain. Based on EMG and discomfort analyses, heel sitting is preferred to crossed-leg posture. Discomfort ratings are consistent with EMG measures in identifying trunk muscle fatigue in such postures.
Background: Patients with low back pain (LBP) have poorly coordinated neuromuscular control, which may alter the normal postural stability of the spine. Altered movement control may occur at any stage of LBP. Purpose: (1) To identify differences in balance control and proprioceptive sense between subacute non-specific LBP (NSLBP) patients with and without lumbar instability (LI) and healthy subjects and (2) to investigate the correlation between factors of motor control deficits and balance. Patients and Methods: Thirty-six participants matched by gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) were allocated into three groups of 12: subacute NSLBP patients with LI, subacute NSLBP patients without LI, and healthy subjects. Balance, proprioceptive sense, pain, functional disability, and fear of movement were evaluated. Results: Subacute NSLBP patients with LI exhibited greater impairments in balance control, proprioceptive sense, and functional ability than patients without LI (p<0.05). Subacute NSLBP patients showed more impairments in balance control, proprioceptive sense, and fear of movement than healthy subjects (p<0.001), with the following effect sizes (partial η 2) for static balance on stable and unstable surface: 0.597 and 0.560, anticipatory balance: 0.417, and dynamic balance: 0.536; proprioceptive sense: 0.676; and fear of movement: 0.379. Significant fair correlations were found between (1) static balance and proprioceptive sense, functional disability, and fear of movement; (2) functional reach test (FRT) and pain; and (3) the five times sit to stand test (FTSTS) and functional disability. Conclusion: Subacute NSLBP patients with LI showed greater impairment in balance control than patients without LI. Reduced proprioceptive sense, increased pain, functional disability, and fear of movement were fairly related to impaired balance.
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