Effects of deep thermotherapy on chest wall mobility of healthy elderly women.

Chest wall mobility decreases with age in community-dwelling women aged 65 years or older. Thermotherapy is used to improve soft-tissue extensibility. However, its effects on chest wall mobility are unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of thermotherapy on chest wall mobility in healthy elderly women. Twenty-eight elderly women participated in this study. Chest wall mobility at three levels (axillary, xiphoid, and tenth rib), respiratory function (forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume), and tissue temperature (skin temperature (ST)) and deep temperature (DT) with 10 mm and 20 mm depth from the skin (10 mm DT and 20 mm DT)) were measured before and after 15 minutes of thermotherapy. The subjects randomly received one of the three interventions (capacitive and resistive electric transfer (CRet), hot pack (HP), and sham CRet (sham)). Chest wall mobility at all levels significantly increased after CRet intervention. Hot pack significantly increased tenth rib excursion; it also significantly increased ST, 10 mm DT, and 20 mm DT, whereas CRet significantly increased 10 mm DT and 20 mm DT. There were significant differences between CRet, HP, and sham in ST, 10 mm DT, and 20 mm DT. Furthermore, 20 mm DT had increased more in CRet than in HP. CRet improved chest wall mobility at all levels and HP improved at the tenth rib level. This implies that CRet can be one of the approaches to improve chest wall mobility.

Risk factors of low back pain and the relationship with sagittal vertebral alignment in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: LBP is a common and serious problem affecting vast populations of the world. However, only few studies on LBP in sub-Saharan Africa have been conducted. Studies report that LBP and pelvic angle are interrelated, and African residents have a high pelvic tilt. The strategy to prevent LBP should focus on activities that promote holistic health. For that purpose, it is important to grasp the state of LBP and how it affects people's lifestyle in Tanzania to clarify the direction of implementation of physiotherapy treatment and reduce the incidences of LBP among adults. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and presentation of low back pain (LBP) and the relationship between anthropometric measurements and LBP among people in Moshi city, Kilimanjaro region Tanzania. METHODS: Following signing consent forms, participants were given questionnaires regarding LBP and then grouped accordingly into either asymptomatic or symptomatic cohorts. Anthropometric measurements of participants' height, weight, curvature of the spine, and pelvic angle were obtained. RESULTS: A Mann-Whitney U test analysis showed a significant difference in pelvic angle, body mass index (BMI), and thoracic kyphosis angle between the asymptomatic group and the symptomatic group. No significant differences in lumbar lordosis angle or abdominal muscle strength were found between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A person with symptomatic LBP in Tanzania has a large anteversion of the pelvic tilt and a thoracic kyphotic posture. This study shows a relationship between sagittal spinal alignment and LBP in Tanzania, which could allow for prospective identification of subjects prone to developing LBP in the future.