Correction: The influence of cervical spine rehabilitation on bioelectrical activity (sEMG) of cervical and masticatory system muscles.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250746.].

Composite Score of Readiness (CSR) as Holistic Profiling of Functional Deficits in Footballers Following ACL Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The decision to return to sport (RTS) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is difficult; thus, coaching staff require a readable, easy-to-use, and holistic indication of an athlete's readiness to play. PURPOSE: To present the Composite Score of Readiness (CSR) as a method providing a single score for RTS tests after ACL reconstruction. METHODS: The study comprised 65 male football players (age 18-25 years), divided into three groups: ACL group-subjects after ACL rupture and reconstruction, Mild Injury (MI) group-subjects after mild lower limb injuries, and Control (C) group-subjects without injuries. The CSR was calculated based on three performed tests (Y-balance test, Functional Movement Screen, and Tuck Jump Assessment) and expressed as the sum of z-scores. The CSR index allows highlighting an athlete's functional deficits across tests relative to the evaluated group. RESULTS: The CSR indicated that relative to the group of athletes under the study, similar functional deficits were present. Comparing athletes following ACL reconstruction to both the MI and C groups, in the majority of subjects, the CSR index was below zero. The correlation between CSR and raw tests results indicated that the CSR is most strongly determined by YBT. CONCLUSION: The CSR is a simple way to differentiate people after serious injuries (with large functional deficits) from people without injuries or with only small deficits. Because the CSR is a single number, it allows us to more easily interpret the value of functional deficits in athletes, compared to rating those deficits based on raw tests results.

The influence of cervical spine rehabilitation on bioelectrical activity (sEMG) of cervical and masticatory system muscles.

BACKGROUND: Coexistence of temporomandibular joint discomfort along with cervical spine disorders is quite common, and is associated with many limitations and adverse symptoms for the patient. Both diagnostics and treatment of these ailments are difficult, and in many cases, the effects of therapy are not satisfactory. This study assessed the impact of a 3-week neck-only rehabilitation programme without direct intervention in the craniofacial area on the bioelectric activity of both the cervical spine and muscles in the craniofacial area among patients with idiopathic neck pain who do not report TMJ pain. DESIGN: A parallel group trial with follow-up; Setting: Rehabilitation Clinic. METHODS: Twenty five patients experiencing idiopathic neck pain underwent the 3-week rehabilitation programme. Thirty five age-matched subjects with no cervical spine and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunctions were control group. At baseline and after 3 weeks the cervical and craniofacial area muscles' bioelectrical activity (sEMG) was evaluated. RESULTS: In the experimental group during cervical flexion, a significant decrease of sEMG amplitude was noted in the right (mean 25.1 µV; 95% CI: 21.5-28.6 vs mean 16.8 µV; 95% CI: 13.8-19.7) and left (mean 25.9 µV; 95% CI: 21.7-30.0 vs mean 17.2 µV; 95% CI: 13.6-20.7) Sternocleidomastoid as well as a significant increase in sEMG amplitude of the right (mean 11.1 µV; 95% CI: 7.9-14.2 vs mean 15.7 µV; 95% CI: 12.1-19.2) and left (mean 15.3 µV; 95% CI: 11.9-18.6 vs mean 20.2 µV; 95% CI: 15.7-24.2) Upper Trapezius muscles. In the experimental group, after therapy right and left Sternocleidomastoid, Temporalis Anterior and Masseter muscles presented lower fatigue levels. CONCLUSIONS: Three weeks of rehabilitation without any therapeutic intervention in temporomandibular joint significantly decreased the bioelectrical activity of the neck and craniofacial muscles while improving the muscle pattern of coactivation in participants with idiopathic neck pain who do not report temporomandibular joint pain. These observations could be helpful in the physiotherapeutic treatment of neck and craniofacial area dysfunctions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ID ISRCTN14511735-retrospectively registered.

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: This study compared the effects of inpatient-based rehabilitation program of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using non-immersive virtual reality (VR) training with a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program. The aims of this study were to determine 1) whether rehabilitation featuring both VR as well as exercise training provides benefits over exercise training (ET) alone and 2) whether rehabilitation featuring VR training instead of exercise training provides equivalent benefits. Patients and Methods: The study recruited 106 patients with COPD to a 2-week high-intensity, five times a week intervention. Randomized into three groups, 34 patients participated in a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program including endurance exercise training (ET), 38 patients participated in traditional pulmonary rehabilitation, including both endurance exercise training and virtual reality training (ET+VR) and 34 patients participated in pulmonary rehabilitation program including virtual reality training but no endurance exercise training (VR). The traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program consisted of fitness exercises, resistance respiratory muscle and relaxation training. Xbox 360® and Kinect® Adventures software were used for the VR training of lower and upper body strength, endurance, trunk control and dynamic balance. Comparison of the changes in the Senior Fitness Test was the primary outcome. Analysis was performed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: The comparison between ET and ET+VR groups showed that ET+VR group was superior to ET group in Arm Curl (p<0.003), Chair stand (p<0.008), Back scratch (p<0.002), Chair sit and reach (p<0.001), Up and go (p<0.000), 6-min walk test (p<0.011). Whereas, the comparison between ET and VR groups showed that VR group was superior to ET group in Arm Curl (p<0.000), Chair stand (p<0.001), 6-min walk test (p<0.031). Conclusion: Results suggest that pulmonary rehabilitation program supplemented with VR training is beneficial intervention to improve physical fitness in patients with COPD.

Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation on Physical Fitness in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the Kinect system during stationary rehabilitation. The study included 68 patients with COPD (35 men, 33 women, mean age 61.3 ± 3.7). The subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental groups described below. Group I included 34 patients - non-participants in Kinect training. Group II included 34 patients - participants in Kinect training. In all patients before and after rehabilitation physical fitness was assessed using the Senior Fitness Test (SFT). The Xbox 360 and Kinect motion sensor were used to carry out virtual reality training. In group I, statistically significant improvements in SFT performance were observed. Patients in group II also showed statistically significant improvement in physical fitness in all attempts of the SFT. Virtual rehabilitation training in patients with COPD seems to be a practical and beneficial intervention capable of enhancing mobility and physical fitness.

Reliability of histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry of a single biopsy for evaluation of endometrial health in Icelandic mares.

INTRODUCTION: Endometritis and endometrosis have been and still are the major reasons for infertility in mares. The diagnosis of endometritis can be based on cytology and microbiology, but endometrial biopsy is still the only way to diagnose endometrosis in the mare. Our study attempted to determine if a single biopsy using his-topathology and immunohistochemistry is sufficient to ascertain reasons for infertility in Icelandic mares. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between deviations in endometrial biopsies in terms of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 (PTGS-2) and fibronectin expression and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) infiltration, as well as scoring degeneration in two endometrial biopsies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Materials were collected from 53 Icelandic breed mares, from whom two endometrial biopsies were collected and they were used for histopathology and for immunohistochemistry for PTGS-2 and fibronectin. RESULTS: In our study, twenty-six of 53 mares (49%) showed differences in the biopsy score between the left and the right uterine horns (p = 0.002). There were statistically significant differences in fibronectin expression (p = 0.001), as well as in PTGS-2 expression in the superficial epithelium (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in the biopsy score, and fibronectin and PTGS-2 expression, between two endometrial biopsies obtained from individual mares demonstrated that a single biopsy could be insufficient for diagnosing uterine health status in Icelandic mares.