Intra-Rater Reliability of Ultrasound Measurements of Diaphragm Thickness and Contractility in Individuals with Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain.

Objective: This study aimed to determine within-day intra-rater reliability of ultrasound measurements of the right and left hemidiaphragm thickness and contractility (quantified by percentage thickness change) in supine position during deep breathing in individuals with nonspecific chronic neck pain. Methods: Seventeen volunteers (20-55 years of age) participated in this observational study. Bilateral diaphragm muscle thickness and contractility (percentage thickness change) were compared between 2 measurement sessions administered by a radiologist using B-mode real-time ultrasound (30 minutes apart). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC [3, 3]) as well as the standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC), and the coefficient of variation (CV) were used to determine the intra-rater reliability. Results: The right and left hemidiaphragm thickness showed good to excellent reliability at the end of deep inspiration (ICC, 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-0.96; and ICC, 0. 93; 95% CI, 0.81-0.97, respectively) as well as at the end of deep expiration (ICC, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.75-0.96; ICC, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.77-0.97; SEM, 0.19; MDC, 0.54; and CV, 7.84%, respectively) and the percentage thickness change (ICC, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.54-0.94; and ICC, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.82-0.97, respectively). Conclusion: This study found that diagnostic ultrasound measurements of the right and left hemidiaphragm thickness and contractility in supine position during deep breathing in individuals with nonspecific chronic neck pain was reliable. The SEM, MDC, and CV reported may allow for accurate interpretation of diaphragm assessment in a clinical research setting.

Intrarater Reliability of Diaphragm Excursion and Resting Thickness Using Ultrasound Imaging in Subjects With Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish within-day intrarater reliability values of ultrasound measurements (excursion and resting thickness). Methods: Seventeen volunteers met the inclusion criteria for this preliminary study. The right and left hemidiaphragm excursion and resting thickness were compared between 2 measurement sessions using M-mode and B-mode real-time ultrasound, respectively (30 min apart). Intraclass coefficients, coefficients of variation, standard errors of measurement, and minimal detectable changes were calculated to determine intrarater reliability. Results: The intraclass coefficients of right hemidiaphragm excursion were 0.91 and 0.94 during quiet and deep breathing, respectively. The intraclass coefficient of left hemidiaphragm excursion was 0.95 during quiet breathing. The intraclass coefficients of diaphragm resting thickness were 0.99 and 0.97 in the right and left hemidiaphragm, respectively, which showed high intrarater reliability for ultrasound measurements of both sides of the diaphragm. Conclusion: This preliminary study suggests that diagnostic ultrasonography could be used as a potential method for measuring the resting thickness and excursion of the right and left hemidiaphragm in people with chronic low back pain. Future research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings.

Diaphragm thickness, thickness change, and excursion in subjects with and without nonspecific low back pain using B-mode and M-mode ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that respiratory dysfunction has a potential association with low back pain (LBP). Despite the role of the diaphragm for respiration and spinal stability, knowledge of the function of both sides of the diaphragm in subjects with LBP is still limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the structural integrity and function of the right and left hemidiaphragm by ultrasonography (USG) in subjects with and without nonspecific chronic low back pain (NS-CLBP). METHODS: A total of 37 subjects with NS-CLBP and 34 healthy subjects participated in this case-control study. The thickness, thickness change, and excursion of the right and left hemidiaphragm were compared within and between the groups during quiet breathing (QB) and deep breathing (DB) through B-mode and M-mode ultrasound imaging. RESULTS: The LBP group had a significantly smaller degree of right hemidiaphragm thickness change (P = .001) compared with the healthy control group, with a strong effect size. Nevertheless, there was no significant change for diaphragm thickness and excursion between the two groups. The result showed that, in the healthy group, the right hemidiaphragm had a significantly smaller thickness at expiration and larger thickness change compared with the left hemidiaphragm, with a moderate effect size. Based on the multivariate prediction analysis, the right hemidiaphragm thickness change might significantly predict LBP. CONCLUSION: We found that participants with LBP had a smaller degree of right hemidiaphragm thickness change. Also, the right hemidiaphragm thickness change might significantly predict LBP.

Dry needling versus trigger point compression of the upper trapezius: a randomized clinical trial with two-week and three-month follow-up.

Objectives: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the long-term clinical effect of dry needling with two-week and three-month follow up, on individuals with myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. Methods: A sample of convenience (33 individuals) with a trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle, participated in this study. The individuals were randomly assigned to two groups: trigger point compression (N = 17) or dry needling (N = 16). Pain intensity, neck disability, and disability of the arm, hand, and shoulder (DASH) were assessed before treatment, after treatment sessions, and at two-week and three-month follow ups. Results: The result of repeated measures ANOVA showed significant group-measurement interaction effect for VAS (p = .02). No significant interaction was found for NPQ and DASH (p > .05). The main effect of measurements for VAS, NPQ, and DASH were statistically significant (p < .0001). The results showed a significant change in pain intensity, neck disability, and DASH after treatment sessions, after two weeks and three months when compared with before treatment scores in both groups.  There was no significant difference in the tested variables after two-week or three-month as compared to after treatment sessions between the two groups. However, pain intensity after treatment sessions was significantly different between the two groups (p = .02). Discussion: Dry needling and trigger point compression in individuals with myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle can lead to three-month improvement in pain intensity and disability.

Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Needling Immediately After Application on Myofascial Trigger Point in Upper Trapezius Muscle.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dry needling (DN) on pain intensity and pressure pain threshold (PPT) compared with ischemic compression (IC) immediately and 48 hours after each treatment session in individuals with myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle participated in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to a standard (N = 17) or experimental group (N = 14). The treatment protocol for the standard group consisted of IC, whereas the patients in the experimental group received DN. RESULTS: The results indicated that the effect size of the DN methods for pain intensity and PPT was considerably greater after 2 days compared with immediately after the treatment session. In contrast, the effect of the IC for PPT was greater immediately after treatment compared with the measures after 2 days. There was also no noticeable difference in the effect size for IC on pain intensity between the scores obtained immediately and 2 days after treatment. However, our data also revealed a greater effect size for DN on PPT after 2 days compared with the IC technique. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, DN improved the pain intensity and PPT after 2 days. However, it had no clinical improvement immediately after application because of muscle soreness. Thus, assessment of the effect of DN immediately after application can be criticized, and the results should be interpreted with caution.

The effect of dry needling on pain, pressure pain threshold and disability in patients with a myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle.

Dry needling (DN) has been used recently by physical therapists as a therapy of choice for patients with myofascial trigger points (TrP). The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of DN in the treatment of TrPs in the upper trapezius (UT) muscle. A sample of convenience of 33 patients with TrP in the UT muscle participated in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to a standard (N = 17) or experimental group (N = 16). The treatment protocol for the standard group consisted of trigger point compression technique (TCT) on MTP, while the patients in the experimental group received DN. Pain intensity and pressure pain thresholds were assessed for both groups before and after the treatment sessions. In addition, the Disability of Arm, Hand, and Shoulder (DASH) was administered. Statistical analysis (paired t-test) revealed a significant improvement in pain, PPT and DASH scores after treatment in the experimental (DN) and standard (TCT) group compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). The ANCOVA revealed significant differences between the DN and TCT groups on the post-measurement VAS score (P = 0.01). There was, however, no significant difference between the two groups on the post-measurement score of the PPT (P = 0.08) and DASH (P = 0.34). DN produces an improvement in pain intensity, PPT and DASH and may be prescribed for subjects with TrP in UT muscles especially when pain relief is the goal of the treatment.