The Role of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises in Stress Urinary Incontinence Among Females Aged 18-40 Years.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is prevalent among females across various age groups, yet societal taboos and unawareness contribute to under-reporting and hinder effective management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) compared to traditional Kegel exercises in females with stress urinary incontinence, focusing on assessing the impact of DNS on pelvic floor strength and core musculature activation to provide valuable insights into urinary continence management. METHODOLOGY: This is a single-blinded, randomized trial with 90 females aged 18-40 years assessed perineometer readings, pelvic floor electromyography (EMG), and transverse abdominis activation via pressure biofeedback. RESULTS: Significant improvements in pelvic floor strength and core musculature activation were observed in the DNS group compared to the Kegel exercise group. Perineometer values, EMG measurements, and pressure biofeedback unit readings demonstrated substantial enhancements post-intervention in both groups. Effect sizes, including Cohen's D and point biserial correlation coefficient, indicated medium to large effects favoring the DNS intervention. CONCLUSION: DNS is superior to Kegel exercises for SUI management, emphasizing the importance of targeting core musculature. Future research should explore long-term outcomes and patient-reported measures for a comprehensive understanding.

Coexistence of Biopsychosocial Factors With Lumbopelvic Pain in Indian Women: A Systematic Review.

In general, women appear to report lumbopelvic pain (LPP) more frequently. In addition to the biomechanical risks, this systematic review aimed to identify the add-on biopsychosocial implications of LPP among women in the Indian community. PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PEDro, and Google Scholar were searched twice from inception to a final systematic literature search in December 2022. All studies addressing Indian women with LPP were selected. Studies on non-musculoskeletal LPP were excluded. Qualities of non-experimental and experimental research articles were assessed through the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist and Cochrane risk of bias criteria for Effective Practice and Organization of Care reviewsrespectively. Data synthesis was narrative as the selected studies differed substantially. Habitual squatting, kneeling, and continuous sitting were identified as ergonomic risks to LPP. Menopause, cesarean, and multiple deliveries influence the onset of LPP among women. There is a severe deficit in data about the musculoskeletal implications of LPP. There are insufficient data present to summarize the biopsychosocial risks of LPP. Even the exact anatomical sites of LPP were not described in most articles. Due to the severe scarcity of data, there is an alarming need to explore the musculoskeletal as well as psychosocial consequences of LPP in Indian women. Among rural women, LPP was common in those working as laborers; which are physically robust jobs with respect to strength and anthropometrics of women. Domestic chores in India involve a lot of manual work; placing unequal loads on the lumbar spine, eventually resulting in LPP. Therefore ergonomic strategies for women should be designed to meet the needs and demands of their respective occupations as well as domestic chores.

Comparing the Efficacy of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises and Kegel Exercises on Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Pilot Study.

Background and objective Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a prevalent condition affecting women of various age groups, significantly impacting their quality of life. To address this multifaceted issue, a comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional pelvic floor exercises is needed. Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) exercises, targeting the integrated spinal stabilization system, offer a promising alternative. Thus, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of DNS exercises and Kegel exercises in managing SUI among women. Methods This single-blinded, pilot study involved 24 women aged 18-40 years with mild to moderate SUI. Participants were divided into DNS and Kegel exercise groups. Outcome measures included perineometer readings, electromyography (EMG) data, and the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6). Statistical analysis compared baseline and 12-week data within and between groups, and rank-biserial correlation coefficient (r) as a measure of effect size in our study was calculated. Results At 12 weeks, the DNS group showed significant improvement in pelvic floor muscle strength compared to Kegel exercises (p = 0.005). Both groups had significantly enhanced pelvic floor muscle strength (p < 0.05). A significant change occurred for EMG average, EMG peak, and EMG maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at 12 weeks (average p = 0.005; peak p = 0.001; MVC p = 0.009), with significant improvements in both groups (p < 0.05). For UDI-6, a significant difference emerged between the two groups at 12 weeks (p < 0.05), with significant improvements in both groups individually from baseline to 12 weeks (p < 0.05). The effect size "r" for all variables indicated a medium to large effect size, underscoring the substantial and significant impact of DNS exercises in managing SUI among women compared to Kegel exercises. Conclusion This study suggests that DNS exercises, emphasizing the coordinated activation of the diaphragm, abdominals, multifidus, and pelvic floor, may provide a more effective approach for managing SUI in women compared to traditional Kegel exercises.

Effectiveness of structured exercises on motor skills, physical fitness and attention in children with ADHD compared to typically developing children-A pilot study.

PURPOSE: Children with ADHD exhibit decrements in fitness levels, motor skill ability and attention. The purpose was to evaluate the benefits of a structured, school-based exercise program on motor skill, physical fitness and attention in children with ADHD. METHOD: Ten 8-12 year old school boys with ADHD and ten typically developing (TD) were recruited. They underwent a six week structured exercise program which included aerobics, resistance exercises, motor skills and attention training. RESULTS: Following the 6 week, school -based exercise program significant improvements in physical fitness, motor skills and attention were observed in ADHD children compared to the TD children. Additionally, the exercise sessions were acceptable and enjoyable to all children. CONCLUSION: It is proposed that an exercise program be incorporated in school physical education curriculum. Exercises should be considered, in addition to other forms of intervention, as an essential treatment for improving problems associated with ADHD in school children.

Effect of physical exercises on attention, motor skill and physical fitness in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review.

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are educated in classrooms along with typically developing children. Those with ADHD, however, find it difficult to participate in routine educational and recreational activities as they encounter problems associated with behaviour, attention, motor skills and physical endurance. Traditionally, the management of children with ADHD has focussed primarily on problems with cognition and has been heavily dependent on pharmaceutical interventions and, to a lesser extent, on non-pharmaceutical measures. More recently, experts have increasingly advocated the use of exercises in alleviating symptoms associated with ADHD. The primary objective of this review was to summarize research that examined the role of exercises on deficits related to attention, motor skills and fitness in children with ADHD. A search of the available literature was conducted using a combination of relevant key words in the following databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Embase and Cochrane review. The search filtered 3016 studies of potential relevance, of which 2087 were excluded after screening titles and abstracts as per the inclusion criteria. Thirty-four (34) studies were analysed in greater depth, and 16 were excluded after detailed consideration as they did not match the inclusion (PEDro score > 4) and exclusion criteria. Three (3) additional studies were excluded as they lacked exercise prescription details such as intensity, duration and frequency of exercise. Finally, 15 studies were analysed with a focus on the effects of physical exercises on attention, hyperactive behaviour, motor skills and physical fitness in ADHD children. Overall, the studies reviewed were of moderate-to-high quality and reported benefits of a variety of exercise programmes in improving motor skills, physical fitness, attention and social behaviour in children with ADHD. However, there was limited information regarding school-based programmes, the effects of structured exercise programmes independently or in combination with cognitive-based therapies, and the long-term benefits of exercises in alleviating behavioural problems in these children.

Reliability of Electrodermal Activity: Quantifying Sensory Processing in Children With Autism.

OBJECTIVE: We established test-retest reliability of electrodermal markers used to quantify physiological response to sensation using the Sensory Challenge Protocol in children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHOD: Electrodermal activity (EDA) was measured during rest and in response to sensory inputs. Fourteen children with ASD and 18 typically developing children were tested and retested after 2-6 wk on skin conductance response, skin conductance level, nonspecific skin conductance response, and habituation. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability was evaluated with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Rest-phase coefficients for both groups were moderate (.65-.73). ICCs during response to sensation ranged from moderate to good for amplitude (.60-.81) and magnitude (.50-.75). In addition, moderate to excellent reliability (.51-.93) was observed for nonspecific response measures. CONCLUSION: EDA measures are reliable physiological markers that can quantify response to sensation in children with and without ASD.

Prevalence of burnout among doctors of chiropractic in the northeastern United States.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of burnout among doctors of chiropractic (DCs) in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania geographical region and compare these results with burnout data from other health care professions. METHODS: This exploratory study applied cross-sectional data collection methods. Using nonprobability convenience sampling, a New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania chiropractic governance body provided contact information of a randomized sample of licensed DCs from their membership directory. Participants included any DC licensed to practice chiropractic whose primary occupation encompassed the chiropractic profession. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and a demographic questionnaire were e-mailed to a randomized sample of licensed DCs. RESULTS: Of the 772 surveys deployed, 90 returned the survey with usable data. Nearly 40% of the DCs reported a moderate (24%) or high (18%) level of emotional exhaustion, whereas the majority of respondents scored a high (72%) level of personal accomplishment. In total, only 2 participants (2%) met the criteria for high burnout, whereas 42 participants (47%) were low. Statistically significant relationships (P < .001) were found between burnout subscales and the effect of time dedicated to administrative duties, the type of practice setting, the varying chiropractic philosophical perspectives, the public's opinion of chiropractic, and the effect of suffering from a work-related injury. When compared with data from previously published studies using the MBI-HSS for other health professions (ie, medical, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and dentistry), the values for DCs were significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS: The sample of DCs in this study fared more favorably on all 3 dimensions of burnout. They reported lower emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores and higher personal accomplishment scores than their medical, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and dentistry colleagues who have been evaluated using the MBI-HSS. However, the levels of emotional exhaustion remain a concern for this professional group.

Clinical measurement of mechanical ankle instability.

Clinicians commonly use the anterior draw test (ligament laxity) and distal fibular position (lateral malleolus displacement), to measure ankle instability. The purpose of this study was to establish intra-rater and inter-rater reliability for the anterior draw test and distal fibular position in a clinical setting. The anterior draw test (AD) was measured with a plastic Goniometer, and was defined as the linear displacement of the foot as it is drawn anteriorly with the ankle held in 20 degrees of plantar-flexion. Distal fibular position (DFP) was measured in standing using a digital vernier caliper and was the relative linear distance between the lateral and the medial malleoli. 20 participants aged 21-28 volunteered for the study and were measured on both ankles. It was found that Intra-tester reliability (ICC) ranged from 0.88 to 0.97 for AD and DFP; while inter-tester reliability (ICC) was 0.6 for AD and 0.77 for DFP. In addition for measures across trials, the standard error of the measurement (SEM) was, on average 0.66 mm for AD and 1.7 mm for DFP. While the limits of agreement (LOA) was ±0.17 mm for AD and ±4.03 mm for DFP. However, the SEM and LOA between testers was 2.27 mm and ±2.27 mm respectively for AD; and for 3.1 mm and ±10.4 mm for DFP. Overall the results suggest that both measures, as defined in this study exhibit moderate to good reliability and low standard error of measurement, suggesting a high degree of repeatability across trials.