Hot-pack therapy increased gliding function of the iliotibial band during passive knee motion: An exploratory study.

INTRODUCTION: Quantifying soft tissue dynamics during joint motion is important for the valid assessment and development of effective therapeutic interventions for the soft tissues. This study aimed to examine the immediate effect of thermotherapy on gliding of the iliotibial band (ITB), including the subcutaneous tissue, and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle during passive knee joint motion. METHODS: Ten participants (age, 20.4 ± 0.7 years; height, 172.0 ± 8.9 cm; weight, 64.1 ± 9.7 kg; BMI, 21.6 ± 1.7 kg/m2) with no history of lower extremity surgery or neuromuscular disease participated in the study. An electrothermal hot pack with an internal temperature of 65 °C was applied to one of the lateral thighs, followed by measuring its stiffness using a durometer. Movements of both the ITB and VL were recorded using ultrasound imaging during isokinetic knee motion. The Farneback method and optical flow algorithm analysis software were adapted to create the movement velocity from ultrasound imaging. Gliding coefficient was calculated using the coefficient of correlation for each velocity in the proximal-distal direction during knee motion. The mean velocity during knee motion was calculated using absolute values. The differences between the pre-intervention values and between the pre- and post-intervention values were examined. RESULTS: After applying the hot pack, the stiffness significantly decreased (p = 0.01), and the mean velocity of the ITB significantly increased (p = 0.03). The gliding coefficient and VL mean velocity did not significant differ (p = 0.65 and p = 0.80, respectively) between pre- and post-hot-pack applications. CONCLUSIONS: Hot-pack therapy might increase gliding function of the ITB during passive knee motion.

[Experience using the isocenter verification device in proton therapy equipment].

In this study, we developed an isocenter verification device for use in proton therapy. Radiation and mechanical isocenters were verified for treatment equipment including room lasers, a digital radiography system and the beam axis of a rotational gantry. The special feature of this device is its ability to correlate the position of the three isocenters in one measurement and thus improve accuracy compared to the conventional method using three separate devices. The reproducibility of the method and the fluctuation of the position of the beam axis isocenter were both investigated using this device for almost a year. Monthly measurements of the isocenter position were acquired for two gantries and it was found that the fluctuation was +/- 0.10mm for the up-to-down direction and +/- 0.16mm for the right-to-left direction in Gantry 1 and was +/-0.14mm for the up-to-down direction and +/-0.18mm for the right-to-left direction in Gantry 2. We could be measured with a repeatability of +/-0.18 mm or less by using developed device for the relative positional relationship between each isocenters. Because we can confirm results in approximately 30 minutes, we can perform a quality control after a clinical practice.