The Relationship Between Postural Torticollis Abnormalities and Plagiocephaly on the Early Motor Development Milestones of Lying and Rolling Activities in Infants: A Retrospective Study.

The study examined how neck muscle imbalance and plagiocephaly affect the lying and rolling activities in 118 infants aged 4 to 6 months with postural torticollis. Outcome measures included age, sex, cervical movement, and plagiocephaly severity. Neck muscle function was assessed with the Muscle Function Scale (MFS), and infant motor abilities in lying and rolling were evaluated through the corresponding dimensions of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Multiple regression analysis showed that a better MFS score of the affected neck was significantly associated with improved lying and rolling activities in the GMFM (p < .01), and importantly, the interaction between the plagiocephaly and the MFS scores of the affected neck muscle in these activities was found to be significant (p < .05). These results highlight the need for early intervention in infants with torticollis to address muscle imbalance and plagiocephaly, crucial for early motor development (KCT0008367).

Factors Mediating or Moderating the Effects of Obesity on Walking: Targeting Areas for Rehabilitation.

Increased physical activity, such as walking, is often prescribed to address obesity. Several factors that may influence the connection between obesity and walking include the biomechanics of gait, pain, depressive symptoms, physical health, and activity. The objective of this study was to assess the moderation and mediation effects of knee pain and buckling, depressive symptoms, physical activity, and physical health on spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with obesity. Forty participants with obesity performed a task in which they walked on flat ground and crossed an obstacle. Measures of knee pain and buckling, depressive symptoms, physical activity, and physical health were collected. We conducted mediation analyses with knee buckling and pain as mediators of the effect of the BMI on spatiotemporal gait parameters. Moderation analyses were performed with depressive symptoms, physical activity, and physical health as moderators of the effect of BMI on spatiotemporal gait parameters. We found that depressive symptoms and physical health moderated the relationship between BMI and Step Width in people with obesity. These effects were pronounced when participants crossed an obstacle. In conclusion, depressed mood and physical health influence the relationship between obesity and walking. These factors present potential avenues for rehabilitation interventions to aid individuals with obesity.

Factors contributing to whether or not people with obesity undergo bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery has been suggested as a safe and effective way to treat obesity by facilitating weight loss, but factors that predict the likelihood of bariatric surgery are unknown. The objective of this study was to describe factors associated with individuals with obesity that influence their decision to undergo bariatric surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study design was a cross-sectional study and participants were recruited via a survey link posted on the Obesity Action Coalition website. Demographic data, medical data, weight loss program data, and reports of personal experiences were gathered via an online survey. A multivariate logistic regression model was conducted to examine predictors associated with bariatric surgery (N = 4192). RESULTS: Participants who took phentermine (OR=2.983), Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia) (OR=2.863), Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave) (OR=3.246), or Liraglutide (Saxenda) (OR=2.144) had a higher likelihood of undergoing bariatric surgery for weight loss. Participants with type 2 diabetes (OR=1.728), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (OR=1.489), or COVID-19 (OR=3.852) had a higher likelihood of undergoing bariatric surgery while sleep apnea (OR=0.760) was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving surgery. Those who used MyFitnessPal™ (OR=2.232), Noom™ (OR=1.400), Jenny Craig™ (OR=1.533), or Keto (OR=1.664) for weight loss had a higher likelihood of obtaining bariatric surgery. Personal trauma experiences of sexual abuse (OR=1.982) and physical abuse (OR=1.490) were more associated with participants who underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A variety of characteristics were associated with decisions to undergo bariatric surgery. These findings may help to determine ways to support individuals who are considering bariatric surgery.

An electromyographical comparison of torso muscle activity and ratio during modified side bridge exercises.

BACKGROUND: Individualized exercise programs based on personal impairment could lead to successful rehabilitation. An effective way to train spine stability is to find exercises that take advantage of the synergistic relation between local and global stabilization systems. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate synergistic relationship between the muscles of the local and global systems during three modified side bridge exercises compared with traditional side bridge (TSB). METHODS: Twenty healthy participants performed TSB, both leg lift while side-lying (BLLS), torso lift on a 45∘ bench while side-lying (TLBS), and pelvic lift on side-lying (PLS) in random order. Surface electromyography data were analyzed. RESULTS: The results indicate that PLS was effective as TSB on trunk muscle activity. However, BLLS and TLBS demonstrated significantly less rectus abdominal (RA) muscle activity compared to TSB (p< .001). Additionally, BLLS and TLBS had a higher internal oblique (IO)/RA muscle activity ratio than TSB (p< .001). CONCLUSIONS: PLS could be a suitable alternative exercise for individuals who are unable to perform TSB, as it can effectively activate trunk muscles. BLLS and TLBS may be appropriate for training the local stability system, while limiting activation of the RA.

Comparison of Trunk Muscle Activity During Modified Side-Bridge Exercises and Traditional Side Bridge Exercise.

CONTEXT: The modified side-bridge exercise is designed for some special situations in which it is impossible to tolerate the compressive load on the side supported during the side bridge, such as in the older people with a hip or knee replacement and even in athletes with shoulder pain. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of 3 modified side-bridge exercises on the spinal stability muscles compared with traditional side-bridge (TSB) exercises for healthy men. DESIGN: The effects of different exercises on the muscle activities of the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and quadratus lumborum (QL) during TSB exercise, both legs lift on side lying (BLLS), torso lift on a 45° bench while side lying (TLBS), and wall side bridge (WSB) were analyzed with the 1-way repeated-measures analysis of variance. SETTING: This study was conducted in a university hospital laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 20 healthy men were recruited for this study. INTERVENTIONS: The participants performed TSB, BLLS, TLBS, and WSB in a random order. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surface electromyography measured the muscle activity of the EO, IO, and QL. A 1-way repeated-measures analysis of variance assessed the statistical significance of the EO, IO, and QL muscle activity. When there was a significant difference, a Bonferroni adjustment was performed. RESULTS: BLLS and TLBS showed similar effects to TSB in the EO, IO, and QL muscle activity, whereas WSB showed significantly less QL muscle activity than TSB (P < .05). Moreover, TLBS was significantly greater in the muscle activity of QL and EO than WSB (P < .05). CONCLUSION: BLLS and TLBS may be effective rehabilitation techniques to activate EO, IO, and QL in patients who are unable to perform TSB as spine stability exercises.