Abstract.[Purpose] Myofascial release is a manual soft tissue technique that is frequently used in physical therapy, but few reports on the effectiveness of myofascial release are available. We compared the effects of myofascial release and stretching on range of motion, muscle stiffness, and reaction time. [Subjects and Methods] Forty healthy individuals were randomly allocated to four groups: myofascial release for quadriceps; myofascial release for hamstrings; stretch for quadriceps; and controls.[Results] Active range of motion was significantly increased in the two myofascial release groups and the stretch group. Passive range of motion was significantly increased by myofascial release in the quadriceps and stretching groups. No significant differences in muscle stiffness were seen between before and after the interventions. However, premotor time was significantly reduced by myofascial release in the quadriceps and hamstrings groups, with significant differences observed in this parameter between both the quadriceps and hamstrings groups and controls after the interventions. Compared to controls, reaction time was significantly lower after the interventions in the quadriceps and hamstrings groups.[Conclusion] Myofascial release improves not only range of motion, but also ease of movement.
We aimed to analyze parameters of pulmonary function and physiological, psychological, and physical factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receiving pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and music therapy (MT). [Participants and Methods] This randomized crossover comparative study included in-patients diagnosed with COPD and a ratio of forced expiratory volume measured at the first second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) of <70% after administration of a bronchodilator. Patients were randomly divided into two groups that received either PR only or MT and PR (n=13 each). The PR program included conditioning, respiratory muscle training, and endurance training, whereas the MT program included vocal, singing, and breathing exercises using a keyboard harmonica. The programs lasted 8 weeks, in which pre-and post-intervention data were compared every 4 weeks. [Results] The FEV1/FVC in the MT group improved after the intervention. Expiratory volume control was obtained better with feedback by sound than with expiration practice. In the MT and PR program, it was easier to adjust the timing and volume of breathing, obtain expiratory volume control, and, thus, improve FEV1/FVC than in conventional practice. [Conclusion] Combining MT with PR improves parameters of pulmonary function in patients with COPD. Music therapy is a novel approach that, in combination with PR, may be used in COPD management.
[Purpose] The initial cardiopulmonary response to exercise is hypothesized to be a useful predictor of aerobic threshold in patients with heart failure. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between aerobic threshold and cardiopulmonary responses to exercise onset by comparing patients with heart failure using preserved (≥50%) and reduced (<50%) left ventricular ejection fractions. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-eight males (age, 36–82 years; 12 with preserved and 16 with reduced left ventricular ejection fractions) underwent a progressive submaximal cardiopulmonary exercise test using a cycle ergometer. The aerobic threshold, time constant, and area under the oxygen uptake curve for the first 4 min (V̇O2AUC) were determined. [Results] A significant association was observed between aerobic threshold and V̇O2AUC in the reduced group but not in the preserved group. No significant correlations were found between time constant and V̇O2AUC or between aerobic threshold and time constant in either group. [Conclusion] The results suggest that V̇O2AUC measured from exercise onset to an initial 4-min period could provide an easily and safely obtained predictor to assess aerobic capacity in people with reduced left ventricular ejection fractions.
index (BMI) was measured as an indicator of obesity and the risk was classified according to international benchmarks. We compared the cardiorespiratory fitness by 6-min walk test (6'WT), oxygen consumption by VO( 2 )max, distance and the number of steps such as indicators of fitness. Results: We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study in 40 patients with HF (age 66.8 AE 11.4 years, BMI 27.4 AE 4.8 kg$m -1 , LVEF 40.5 AE 8.3%). In subjects with BMI â&U 26 kg$m -1 negative correlations were observed in the distance by 6'WT (rho Spearman ¼ -0.50), number of steps (rho Spearman ¼ -0.45), VO( 2 )max (rho ¼ -0.49) and LVEF (rho ¼ -0.32). Conclusion: This study suggests that "obesity paradox" is not related to a higher standard cardiopulmonary by VO( 2 )max.
Pelvic floor muscle training has been reported to be effective in preventing and improving urinary incontinence. Patients must learn to perform pelvic floor muscle contractions without pushing down the pelvic floor by contracting other muscle groups. This study aimed to determine the effect of maximal-effort contraction of the hip adductor and abductor muscles on the pelvic floor of young, healthy women. For these experiments, 23 healthy nulliparous women performed unilateral maximal-effort isometric contractions of the abductor and adductor hip muscles in a supine position. Simultaneously, the movement of the bladder's posterior surface was measured using an ultrasonic imaging device. The displacement of the bladder base during maximal-effort contraction of the hip adductor/abductor muscles was calculated based on changes in the distance between the abdominal wall and the bladder base at rest. The results demonstrated that the bladder base significantly descended during maximal-effort isometric contraction of hip adduction/abduction. The maximal-effort isometric hip adduction/abduction muscle strength positively correlated with bladder base descent. These results indicated that isometric contraction of the hip adduction/abduction muscles under maximum effort pushed the pelvic floor downward. In pelvic floor muscle training, when the adductor and abductor muscles of the hip joint are contracted with maximum effort, the pelvic floor muscles cannot learn contraction and may inhibit movement.
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