Comparing the effects of 30 minutes exergaming versus brisk walking on physiological and psychological measurements of older adults.

BACKGROUND: Active video games can make physical activity more appealing and enjoyable for older people. This study compared the effects of 30 min of Exergaming versus walking on the physiological and psychological measures of asymptomatic older adults. METHODS: Forty eligible participants (mean age = 69.60 ± 4.16 y/o) were randomly divided into two groups of 20 in a crossover design, who either performed Brisk Walking or Exergaming, one week apart. Before each session, each participant's blood pressure was measured, and the subjects were encouraged to play/walk continuously for 30 min using a self-selected intensity. During both sessions, average and peak heart rate, time spent in each of the heart rate zones, blood pressure, and double product were assessed through a Polar H10 heart rate monitor. Participants also filled out the modified Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) questionnaire and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. RESULTS: Findings indicated a significantly higher average (P = 0.003) and peak heart rate (P < 0.001) and double product (P = 0.002) during Exergaming compared to Brisk Walking. Also, the RPE score was significantly lower and PACES score was significantly higher (P < 0.001) during the Exergaming session. The analyses of blood pressure showed significant changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures following each session, while no statistically significant difference was reported between the two exercise modalities (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study showed that Exergaming can be a good alternative to traditional exercises like walking for older adults, providing physiological benefits while being less exhausting and more enjoyable.

Electromyographic comparison of vastus medialis obliquus facilitatory versus vastus lateralis inhibitory kinesio taping in athletes with patellofemoral pain: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is among the most common orthopedic complications afflicting active young people. Diminished coordination of the vastii, delayed activation of the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), and decreased VMO-to-vastus lateralis (VL) activity ratio are well documented as underlying causes of PFP. This study compares the effects of VMO facilitatory kinesio tape (KT) versus VL inhibitory KT on electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastii, balance, and pain in athletes with PFP. METHODS: In this single-blind randomized clinical trial, thirty-two female athletes with PFP (mean age 26.33 ± 5.93 years) were randomly assigned to VMO facilitatory KT (n = 16) or VL inhibitory KT (n = 16) groups. In the facilitatory group, a Y-shaped strip of KT at 25% of its available tension was attached from the origin of the VMO to its insertion and in the inhibitory group, an insertion-to-origin Y-shaped strip of KT at 15% of its available tension was applied on the VL. Pain intensity, dynamic balance, and EMG data were assessed respectively with a visual analogue scale, the modified Star Excursion Balance Test, and an EMG telemetry system, before and immediately after KT application. RESULTS: Pain intensity decreased and dynamic balance improved significantly after taping in both groups, and VMO: VL activity ratio increased significantly in the VL group. However, none of the parameters differed significantly between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both VMO facilitatory and VL inhibitory KT can improve pain and balance, while the inhibitory technique might be more effective in regulating the VMO to VL activity ratio in athletes with PFP.

Comparison of postural control in older adults under different dual-task conditions: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: and purpose: Performing a cognitive task while maintaining postural stability, known as "dual-task" condition, can increase the cognitive demand and reduce the postural control capacity. The inability to allocate attention to postural control under dual-task conditions may lead to balance impairments, particularly in older adults. The present study aimed to compare the effects of different dual-task conditions of backward counting (BC) and visual attention (VA) on older adults' postural balance performance. METHODS: Twenty asymptomatic volunteers (mean age: 70.4 ± 4.1 years) were recruited. Participants stood on a foam surface placed over a force plate, and displacement and sway velocity of their center of pressure (COP) in anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions were recorded under three conditions: BC dual-task, VA dual-task (control of center of mass with a laser pointer), and quiet stance as the control task (CT). RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference in AP and ML sway velocities between conditions with p-values of 0.039 and 0.042, respectively. The LSD post-hoc test revealed that the BC task significantly increased AP sway velocity compared to the CT (p = 0.013), and the VA task significantly increased ML sway velocity compared to the CT (p = 0.034) and the BC tasks (p = 0.026). There were no statistically significant differences between conditions for ML (p = 0.058) and AP (p = 0.350) displacements and total sway velocity (p = 0.051). CONCLUSION: Older adults' postural stability can be impaired under dual-task conditions and the present study revealed that various dual tasks increase postural sway in different directions.

Comparison of Upper Trapezius and Infraspinatus Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy by Dry Needling in Overhead Athletes With Unilateral Shoulder Impingement Syndrome.

CONTEXT: Chronic musculoskeletal disorders in the shoulder joint are often associated with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), particularly in the upper trapezius (UT) muscle. Dry needling (DN) is a treatment of choice for myofascial pain syndrome. However, local lesions and severe postneedle soreness sometimes hamper the direct application of DN in the UT. Therefore, finding an alternative point of treatment seems useful in this regard. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of UT versus infraspinatus (ISP) DN on pain and disability of subjects with shoulder pain. The authors hypothesized that ISP DN could be as effective as the direct application of DN in UT MTrP. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Sports medicine physical therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 40 overhead athletes (age = 36 [16] y; 20 females and 20 males) with unilateral shoulder impingement syndrome were randomly assigned to the UT DN (n = 21) and ISP DN (n = 19) groups. INTERVENTION: An acupuncture needle was directly inserted into the trigger point of UT muscle in the UT DN group and of ISP muscle in the ISP DN group. DN was applied in 3 sessions (2-day interval between each sessions) for each group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain intensity (visual analog scale), pain pressure threshold, and disability in the arm, shoulder, and hand were assessed before and after the interventions. RESULTS: Pain and disability decreased significantly in both groups (P < .001) and pain pressure threshold increased significantly only in the ISP group (P = .02). However, none of the outcome measures showed a significant intergroup difference after treatments (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Application of DN for active MTrPs in the ISP can be as effective as direct DN of active MTrPs in the UT in improving pain and disability in athletes with shoulder pain, and may be preferred due to greater patient comfort in comparison with direct UT needling.

Comparing spinal manipulation with and without Kinesio Taping® in the treatment of chronic low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP) is a prevalent problem among athletes that can cause long-lasting disability and time lost from sporting activities. Thus far, a variety of methods have been suggested to address this problem, including spinal manipulation (SM) and Kinesio Tape® (KT). The aim of this study was to investigate whether adding KT to SM can provide any extra effect in athletes with CNLBP or not. METHOD: Forty-two athletes (21males, 21females) with CNLBP were randomized into two groups of SM (n = 21) and SM plus KT (n = 21). Pain intensity, functional disability level and trunk flexor-extensor muscles endurance were assessed by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry pain and disability index (ODI), McQuade test, and unsupported trunk holding test, respectively. The tests were done before and immediately, one day, one week, and one month after the interventions and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatments, pain intensity and disability level decreased and endurance of trunk flexor-extensor muscles increased significantly in both groups. Repeated measures analysis, however, showed that there was no significant difference between the groups in any of the evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study showed that adding KT to SM does not appear to have a significant extra effect on pain, disability and muscle endurance in athletes with CNLBP. However, more studies are needed to examine the therapeutic effects of KT in treating these patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER (IRCT.IR): IRCT2016020624149N5.

The immediate effect of talocrural joint manipulation on functional performance of 15-40 years old athletes with chronic ankle instability: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate effect of talocrural joint manipulation (TCJM) on functional performance of athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI). PARTICIPANTS: Forty athletes (18males, 22females) with CAI divided into TCJM group (n = 20) and sham manipulation group (n = 20). INTERVENTION: TCJM was performed as a quick thrust on the involved talus, in the posterior direction. Sham manipulation was maintaining the same position, without any thrust. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional performance of athletes was assessed with single leg hop; speed and Y balance tests, before and after the interventions. RESULTS: All functional tests evaluated in this study improved significantly after TCJM (p-value<0.05). These findings were not seen in the control group. Between-group comparisons also showed significant changes for all the measurements after the interventions (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TCJM can significantly increase the functional performance of athletes with CIA and can be an effective supplementary treatment for these subjects. However, this was a pre-post study and future studies with long-term follow-ups may provide more reliable results about the long-term effectiveness of this type of treatment.

Effects of Kinesio Taping® on knee function and pain in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the knee performance and pain in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) before and after applying Kinesio Tape® (KT) on vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) muscle. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen participants (10 females, five males) with unilateral PFPS were examined and compared under taped and untaped conditions. INTERVENTION: VMO of the involved leg was taped from origin to insertion, with 75% of KT's maximal length tension. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maximal eccentric and concentric peak torques of quadriceps were measured at 60 and 180°/s angular velocities by an isokinetic dynamometer. Functional performance and pain were evaluated by functional tests (step-down and bilateral squat) and visual analog scale, respectively. RESULTS: Paired t-test showed statistically significant increase in VMO peak torque and also repetition of step-down test and bilateral squat after using KT. Pain intensity was also decreased significantly following KT application (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: KT application over VMO can decrease pain and improve the functional performance, generally and quadriceps muscle strength, particularly, in athletes with PFPS. However, more research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of this therapeutic procedure.