The effects of KinesioTape on the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. INTRODUCTION: KinesioTape (KT) is a noninvasive method to treat pain and muscular dysfunction. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of KT with and without tension on pain intensity, pain pressure threshold, grip strength and disability in individuals with lateral epicondylitis, and myofacial trigger points in forearm muscles. METHODS: Thirty women with lateral epicondylitis and myofacial trigger point in forearm muscles were randomly assigned to KT with tension and placebo (KT without tension). The treatment was provided 3 times in one week, and outcome measures were assess pre-post treatment. RESULTS: The mean score of visual analogue scale (VAS) during activity decreased significantly from 6.4 and 6 pretest to 2.53 and 4.66 posttest, respectively, for the KT with and without tension groups. The mean score of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand decreased significantly from 16.82 and 22.79 pretest to 8.65 and 8.29 posttest, respectively, for the KT with and without tension groups. A paired t-test revealed a significant reduction in VAS during activity and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand before and after treatment in both groups (P < .05). Pain pressure threshold, grip strength, and VAS using an algometer revealed no significant differences. The study showed no significant difference in variables immediately after intervention. DISCUSSION: Improvements in functional disability were superior when KT was used with tension, than obtained with a placebo-no tension application. CONCLUSION: The application of KT produces an improvement in pain intensity and upper extremity disability in subjects with LE and MTP in forearm muscles, and KT with tension was more effective than placebo group. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 100-216.

Relationship between ultrasonography and electromyography measurement of abdominal muscles when activated with and without pelvis floor muscles contraction.

AIM: The importance of the abdominal musculature in spine stability, has promoted the development of a variety of studies. Ultrasound imaging (UI) is a valuable tool which, when applied appropriately, has the potential to provide significant insight into abdominal muscle contraction. Limited studies have been taken place regarding the relationship between ultrasound measures of muscle thickening and electromyography (EMG) measures of activation. Inconsistent results, however, have been reported. Based on previous studies association between abdominal muscle activation and thickening may be affected by contraction level. The aims of this study were to measure the relationship between abdominal muscle thickness and abdominal muscles amplitude in different levels of abdominal muscles contraction. METHODS: The research was carried on with a convenience sampling at the Physical Therapy Department of University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. Thirty healthy participants volunteered for this study. Muscle thickness right transversus abdominis (TrA) and obliqus internus (OI) muscles in abdominal hallowing maneuvers with and without pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction has been measured. Additionally, surface EMG of the right TrA/IO muscles was recorded. A hardware electrical part that acts as trigger system was used to record the activities of abdominal muscles in UI and EMG synchronously. Thickness change, normalized thickness and maximum amplitude abdominal muscles were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Correlations between the thickness change and amplitude measures were -0.03 -- 0.38 for TrA/IO. The Correlations between the normalized thickness and amplitude measures were -0.04--0.26 for TrA/IO. CONCLUSION: There is not clear relationship between increases in abdominal muscle activation and corresponding measures of thickening during abdominal muscle contraction. Changes in thickness of deep abdominal muscle cannot be used to indicate changes in the electrical activity in this muscle.

Ultrasound imaging transducer motion during standing postural tasks with and without using transducer fixator.

BACKGROUND: Changes in the orientation of ultrasound (US) transducer relative to the body surface during dynamic standing tests can affect US measurements. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate ultrasound imaging transducer motion while measuring the lateral abdominal muscle thickness during standing tasks with and without using transducer fixator (TF). DESIGN: Cross-sectional experimental study. METHODS: A digital optical motion analysis system was used to assess the motions of US transducer during double-leg stance in different levels of platform stability of Biodex Balance System (BBS) (static, levels 6 and 3) with and without using TF in 45 healthy individuals. In addition, lateral abdominal muscle thickness was evaluated by US imaging. RESULTS: The results indicated that the amount of angular and linear transducer motions during static and dynamic standing tasks significantly decreased by the use of TF as compared to the conditions without TF (P < 0.001, effect size> 0.84). CONCLUSION: TF can significantly control US transducer motions within acceptable threshold limits during standing postural task. This may improve the clinical application of US imaging.

A diet rich in leafy vegetable fiber improves cholesterol metabolism in high-cholesterol fed rats.

In the present study, the hypocholesterolemic effect of leaf vegetable (Jew's mallow) was studied in high-cholesterol fed rats. The animals were fed diets supplemented with cholesterol (0.25%) for 4 weeks. Leaf vegetable diet produced an important hypocholesterolemic action: it led to a significant lowering (p<0.05) of cholesterol in the plasma and liver, as well as of the atherogenic index and a significant increase (p<0.05) in cecal short chain fatty acids, with respect to the control group. Concurrently, total fecal neutral sterols in the excretion increased (p<0.05) and apparent absorption of dietary cholesterol was significantly depressed (-58%). The consumption of leaf vegetable (Jew's mallow) with a hypercholesterolemic diet improved the lipidemic profile and increased excretion of the total cholesterol end-products.