Clinical and radiological effects of Corticosteroid injection combined with deep transverse friction massage and Mill's manipulation in lateral epicondylalgia-A prospective, randomized, single-blinded, sham controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge about the effective implementation of corticosteroid injection (CS) with deep transverse friction massage (DTFM) and Mill's manipulation (MM) on clinical and radiological changes (Magnetic resonance imaging-MRI and Ultra sound) in lateral epicondylalgia (LE) is lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study is proposed to find and compare the effects of corticosteroid injection (CS) DTFM and Mill's manipulation on clinical and radiological changes in lateral epicondylalgia. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Randomized, single-blinded, controlled study was conducted on 60 LE participants at university hospital. The active MM group (n = 30) received corticosteroid injection with DTFM and active Mill's manipulation (MM) three sessions a week for 4 weeks and the sham MM group received corticosteroid injection with sham manipulation. The primary outcome was pain intensity, measured with the visual analog scale. The other outcome measures were percentage of injury measured by MRI and ultrasound, functional disability, handgrip strength, patient perception, kinesiophobia, depression status and quality of life which were measured at 4 weeks, 8weeks and at 6 months follow up. RESULTS: The between-group difference in pain intensity at 4 weeks was 1.6 (CI 95% 0.97 to 2.22), which shows improvement in the active group than sham group. The similar effects have been noted after 8 weeks and at 6 months 2.0 (CI 95% 1.66 to 2.33) follow up in pain intensity. Similar improvements were also found on percentage of injury, functional disability, handgrip strength, patient perception, kinesiophobia, depression status and quality of life (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Corticosteroid injection with DTFM and Mill's manipulation was superior to sham group for improving pain, percentage of injury, functional disability, handgrip strength, patient perception, kinesiophobia, depression status and quality of life in people with lateral epicondylalgia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial registration: CTRI/2020/05/025135 trial registered prospectively on 12/05/2020. https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=CTRI/2020/05/025135.

Effects of Virtual Reality Exercises versus Isokinetic Exercises in comparison with Conventional Exercises on the Imaging Findings and Inflammatory Biomarker Changes in Soccer Players with Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) is the most common musculoskeletal problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of advanced physiotherapeutic exercise programs on imaging findings and inflammatory biomarkers in soccer players with CNLBP. In total, 60 CNLBP participants were divided into virtual reality exercise (VRE; n = 20), isokinetic exercise (IKE; n = 20), and conventional exercise (n = 20) groups. Pain intensity, imaging findings (muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and muscle thickness), and changes in inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6) were measured at baseline and after four weeks. After four weeks of intervention, there was a significant improvement (p = 0.001) in pain intensity for the VRE vs. IKE (0.7; CI 95% 0.38 to 1.07) and VRE vs. conventional (3.0 CI 95% 2.68 to 3.31) groups. The IKE group showed a greater number of significant changes in muscle CSA and muscle thickness than the other two groups (p < 0.001). Moreover, the VRE group showed significant improvement in inflammatory biomarker measures compared with the other two groups (p < 0.001). In CNLBP, virtual and isokinetic exercises had equal effects on reducing pain intensity. Isokinetic exercise is beneficial in increasing the muscle CSA and thickness, and virtual exercises are helpful for attenuating the inflammation process in soccer players with CNLBP.

Effects of Postoperative Rehabilitation on Gait Parameters and Electromyography Variables in Acute and Chronic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery in Football Players.

RESULTS: The results of the a-ACLR, c-ACLR, and control groups were compared. At 8 weeks following postoperative rehabilitation, the a-ACLR group shows more significant changes than the c-ACLR group (p < 0.001). At 6 and 12 months, there are normal values of kinematic and kinetic values in a-ACLR compared with the results of the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study showed that postoperative rehabilitation provides significant effects in the kinematic, kinetic, and EMG gait parameters in acute ACLR than chronic ACLR subjects. Early surgical intervention and postrehabilitation are mandatory to get the significant effects in the clinical parameters in acute and chronic ACL injury.