Reduction In Muscle Stiffness Research Articles

Effect of the Application of Vibration Foam Rollers Before and After Resistance Exercise on Blood Muscle Injury Markers and Muscle Stiffness

Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of applying a vibrating foam roller before resistance exercise versus after resistance exercise on changes in serum muscle damage markers, muscle stiffness, and range of motion. This study also aimed to provide foundational data for optimizing the timing of vibrating foam roller application to enhance recovery after resistance exercise in practical settings.Methods: Twelve healthy adult males were recruited as participants. Each participant was subjected to three interventions in a random order with a washout period of at least 5 days: vibration foam rolling before resistance exercise, vibration foam rolling after resistance exercise, and resistance exercise without vibration foam rolling. Blood creatine kinase, knee flexion range of motion, and muscle stiffness were measured before, immediately after, 24 hours after, and 48 hours after exercise and foam rolling protocols.Results: Creatine kinase levels in vibration foam rolling after resistance exercise were significantly lower than those in vibration foam rolling before resistance exercise at 24 and 48 hours post-exercise. Muscle stiffness was significantly lower immediately and 24 hours post-exercise in vibration foam rolling after resistance exercise than in vibration foam rolling before resistance exercise and resistance exercise without vibration foam rolling. Knee flexion range of motion was significantly lower in resistance exercise without vibration foam rolling than in vibration foam rolling after resistance exercise at 24 and 48 hours post-exercise.Conclusions: The application of vibration foam rolling after resistance exercise was more effective than that before exercise in decreasing muscle damage markers, reducing muscle stiffness, and improving the range of motion.

Fatiguing exercise reduces cellular passive Young's modulus in human vastus lateralis muscle.

Previous studies demonstrated that acute fatiguing exercise transiently reduces whole-muscle stiffness, which might contribute to increased risk of injury and impaired contractile performance. We sought to elucidate potential intracellular mechanisms underlying these reductions. To that end, the cellular passive Young's modulus was measured in muscle fibres from healthy, young males and females. Eight volunteers (four male and four female) completed unilateral, repeated maximal voluntary knee extensions until task failure, immediately followed by bilateral percutaneous needle muscle biopsy of the post-fatigued followed by the non-fatigued control vastus lateralis. Muscle samples were processed for mechanical assessment and separately for imaging and phosphoproteomics. Fibres were passively (pCa 8.0) stretched incrementally to 156% of initial sarcomere length to assess Young's modulus, calculated as the slope of the resulting stress-strain curve at short (sarcomere length=2.4-3.0µm) and long (sarcomere length=3.2-3.8µm) lengths. Titin phosphorylation was assessed by liquid chromatography followed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The passive modulus was significantly reduced in post-fatigued versus control fibres from male, but not female, participants. Post-fatigued samples showed altered phosphorylation of five serine residues (four located within the elastic region of titin) but did not exhibit altered active tension or sarcomere ultrastructure. Collectively, these results suggest that acute fatigue is sufficient to alter phosphorylation of skeletal titin in multiple locations. We also found reductions in the passive modulus, consistent with prior reports in the literature investigating striated muscle stiffness. These results provide mechanistic insight contributing to the understanding of dynamic regulation of whole-muscle tissue mechanics in vivo. HIGHLIGHTS: What is the central question of this study? Previous studies have shown that skeletal muscle stiffness is reduced following a single bout of fatiguing exercise in whole muscle, but it is not known whether these changes manifest at the cellular level, and their potential mechanisms remain unexplored. What is the main finding and its importance? Fatiguing exercise reducescellular stiffnessin skeletal muscle from males but not females, suggesting thatfatigue alters tissue compliance in asex-dependent manner. The phosphorylation status of titin, a potential mediator of skeletal muscle cellular stiffness, is modified by fatiguing exercise. Previous studies have shown that passive skeletal muscle stiffness is reduced following a single bout of fatiguing exercise. Lower muscle passive stiffness following fatiguing exercise might increase risk for soft-tissue injury; however, the underlying mechanisms of this change are unclear. Our findings show that fatiguing exercise reduces the passive Young's modulus in skeletal muscle cells from males but not females, suggesting that intracellular proteins contribute to reduced muscle stiffness following repeated loading to task failure in a sex-dependent manner. The phosphorylation status of the intracellular protein titin is modified by fatiguing exercise in a way that might contribute to altered muscle stiffness after fatiguing exercise. These results provide important mechanistic insight that might help to explain why biological sex impacts the risk for soft-tissue injury with repeated or high-intensity mechanical loading in athletes and the risk of falls in older adults.

Non-Surgical Electromagnetic and Thermal Therapies for Chronic Lower Back Pain

Objective: The objective of this review article is to analyze the efficacy and safety of non-surgical electromagnetic and thermal therapies in managing chronic lower back pain. The review will focus on modalities such as short-wave therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and diathermy, assessing their clinical outcomes and practical implications in treating this prevalent condition. Theoretical Framework: Electromagnetic and thermal therapies represent non-invasive alternatives for treating chronic lower back pain. Diathermy, using electric currents, generates heat that improves circulation and reduces muscle stiffness. Therapeutic ultrasound and short-wave therapy penetrate deep tissues, increasing blood flow and stimulating healing. These modalities are promising options for patients who avoid surgery, reducing pain and enhancing functionality without significant risks. Method: A systematic review was conducted by consulting major scientific databases to identify studies on non-surgical electromagnetic and thermal therapies applied to the treatment of chronic lower back pain. Using specific keywords, recent articles exploring these techniques were collected. This analysis allowed for the consolidation of information on the efficacy of these therapies and highlighted areas needing further investigation, reinforcing evidence-based clinical practice. Results and Discussion: The systematic review shows that non-surgical electromagnetic and thermal therapies are effective in relieving chronic lower back pain, with studies highlighting improvements in pain and functionality. However, variability in treatment protocols underscores the need for standardization to enhance comparability and replicability of results. Further research is essential to elucidate underlying mechanisms and improve clinical practices.

What is the effectiveness of the combination of massage therapy and heat therapy on joint range of motion? Experimental study in patients with shoulder pain

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of massage therapy and heat therapy on improving joint range of motion in patients with shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is often accompanied by limited range of motion, which can affect daily activities and quality of life. Massage therapy is known to relieve muscle tension and improve blood circulation, while heat therapy has the effect of reducing muscle stiffness and increasing tissue elasticity. The combination of these two therapies is expected to provide synergistic benefits in overcoming shoulder pain problems and improving joint range of motion. This research method is pre-experimental with a one group pretest and posttest design approach. The study involved giving a combination of masage therapy and heat therapy regularly to a group of patients with shoulder pain. Joint range of motion was evaluated before and after the intervention using a pretest-posttest design. Statistical analysis, including t-test and significance test, was used to assess the difference between the mean pretest and posttest. The results showed a significant increase in the mean posttest compared to the pretest. The results of the significance test also showed that the effect that occurred was significant (0.001 <0.05), indicating the effectiveness of the combination of massage therapy and heat therapy in increasing joint range of motion in patients with shoulder pain.These findings provide strong support for the implementation of a combination of massage therapy and heat therapy as an effective approach in shoulder pain rehabilitation by improving joint range of motion limitations. This study contributes to the scientific understanding of the synergistic benefits of both therapies and provides a basis for the development of improved treatment guidelines for individuals with similar conditions. Keywords: Massage therapy, heat therapy, joint range of motion, shoulder pain.

Acute Whole-Body Vibration Does Not Alter Passive Muscle Stiffness in Physically Active Males

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a widely used training method to increase muscle strength and power. However, its working mechanisms are still poorly understood, and studies investigating the effects of WBV on muscle stiffness are scant. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the acute effects of WBV on stiffness and countermovement jump (CMJ). Twenty-four recreationally active males, on separate days and in random order, performed a static squat under two different conditions: with WBV (WBV) or without vibration (CC). Muscle stiffness was assessed through the Wartenberg pendulum test, and CMJ was recorded. RM-ANOVA was employed to test differences between conditions in the above-mentioned variables. In the CC condition, stiffness was significantly lower after the exposure to the static squat (p = 0.006), whereas no difference was observed after the exposure to WBV. WBV and CC did not affect CMJ. No significant correlation was observed between changes in CMJ and changes in stiffness. Our results show that WBV may mitigate the reduction in muscle stiffness observed after static squats. However, current results do not support the notion that WBV exposure may account for an increase in CMJ performance.

Relationship between changes in muscle stiffness after a comfortable massage and the massage pressure

IntroductionThis study aimed to determine whether massage pressure on the target muscles (biceps brachii muscle [BB] and the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle [MG]) is related to the massage effect (reducing muscle stiffness). MethodNine healthy participants participated in this study. A physiotherapist massaged the upper arms and lower legs of participants on a rigid desk in a laboratory. Massage was delivered for 10 min with a 3-min rest. The shear modulus (i.e., the muscle stiffness), assessed by shear wave elastography, was measured at various time points (before [PRE], immediately after [POST], and 5 [POST-5], 10, 15, and 20 min after the massage). The massage pressure data (N) were obtained only during massage by force plate sensors. ResultsThe BB shear modulus was significantly reduced POST massage. The MG shear modulus significantly reduced POST massage and remained clearly reduced until POST-5. There was a negative correlation between the total massage pressure and the % change in the shear modulus in both muscles. DiscussionSince the spindle (BB) and pennate (MG) muscles have structural differences, our results suggest that these differences may affect the pattern of changes in the shear modulus in response to massage. ConclusionMassage pressure is related to the massage effect (reducing muscle stiffness), and its relationships to POST are not related to the differences in the morphologies of the spindle (BB) and pennate muscles (MG). However, differences in the morphologies of the spindle and pennate muscles may cause differences in the duration of the massage effects.

Acute Effects of Short-Term Massage Procedures on Neuromechanical Contractile Properties of Rectus Femoris Muscle.

Background and Objectives: In many sports, maintaining muscle work at an optimal level despite fatigue is crucial. Therefore, it is essential to discover the most efficient way of recovery. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the acute effects of four different recovery methods on muscle neuromechanical properties. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted using a randomized, quasi-experimental, repeated-measures design. Fourteen healthy and active male students of the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education (age 25.1 ± 3.9 years) were included in this study. The tensiomyography was used to evaluate muscle responses after four different types of short-term recovery methods (passive rest, percussive mechanical, vibro-mechanical, and manual massage) on the rectus femoris muscle on four occasions: baseline, post fatigue, post recovery and prolonged recovery. Results: The ANOVA revealed that muscle fatigue decreased maximal vertical muscle displacement (Dm) and muscle contraction time (Tc) in post fatigue compared to the baseline. The most important finding shows that only the vibro-mechanical massage resulted in an increase in Tc in the prolonged recovery compared to the post fatigue (p = 0.028), whereas only manual massage showed no differences in Dm from the baseline in post-recovery (p = 0.148). Moreover, both manual and vibro-mechanical massages increased Dm and Tc in prolonged recovery, indicating no differences from the baseline (all p > 0.05), thus showing signs of muscle recovery. Percussion mechanical massage and passive rest did not show indices of muscle recovery. Conclusions: Manual massage could induce immediate positive changes in Dm by reducing muscle stiffness. In addition, vibro-mechanical and manual massage improved muscle tissue by rapidly returning Dm and Tc values to baseline at prolonged recovery measurement (5 min after the fatigue protocol). These findings can benefit sports practitioners, and physical therapists in developing the best recovery method after muscle fatigue.

Differential Effects of Classical vs. Sports Massage on Erector Spinae and Upper Trapezius Muscle Stiffness: A Shear-Wave Elastography Study in Young Women.

Classical and sports massages are commonly used interventions, but their comparative effects on muscle stiffness remain unclear. Classical massage is more general and uses light to moderate pressure, and its main purpose is relaxation. Sports massage, on the other hand, is more specialized and targets the unique needs of massaged individuals using moderate to firm pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of classical and sports massages on the stiffness of the erector spinae (ES) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles. Fifteen recreationally active young women, aged 22.9 ± 1.2 years, underwent a randomized cross-over study (with three conditions). Participants received either a five-minute classical or sports massage or a passive rest as a control on distinct days. Muscle stiffness was assessed using shear-wave elastography. The ES shear modulus displayed a significant time effect (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.515) without noticeable differences between the conditions, and the time × massage-type interactions approached statistical significance (F = 2.014; p = 0.073). There was also a large and statistically significant effect of the time on the UT (F = 11.127; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.443). We could not prove that classical and sports massages reduced muscle stiffness. The absence of significant differences might be attributed to the specific intervention parameters (massage duration of 5 min) and the small, only young women sample size. Given some tendencies towards significant effects, larger sample sizes are needed to further investigate this research question.

Right Hemifacial Paralysis in a 6-Year-Old Boy: An Overlooked Case Report of Bell’s Palsy in Children

This study focuses on a case of Bell's Palsy in a 6-year-old boy. Bell's Palsy is the most common type of facial nerve paralysis in children. The causes can be either congenital factors (traumatic malformations, symptomatic, non-syndromic, or hereditary conditions) or acquired factors (infections, inflammations, neoplastic, or traumatic factors). Bell's Palsy is commonly caused by viral infections, especially the herpes simplex virus. In this case, a child experienced rapid-onset right hemifacial paralysis, and he had no history of trauma or other systemic symptoms. A diagnosis of Bell's Palsy was made, and the child received treatment with corticosteroids and a rehabilitation program. The results of this study indicate that treatment with methylprednisolone for 3 days and a rehabilitation program involving relaxation exercises and massages to reduce muscle stiffness yielded a good response. Proper clinical observation and evaluation are crucial in diagnosing Bell's Palsy in children. A multidisciplinary approach through collaboration between pediatricians and physiotherapists plays a significant role in managing such cases. Good follow-up is necessary to reduce the risk of prolonged facial nerve paralysis in the future.

A Review of various Analytical Methods Developed for Estimation of Paracetamol, Diclofenac sodium, and Chlorzoxazone in Single-component and Multi-component Dosage Form

Painful muco-skeletal joint disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis are typically treated with a combination of paracetamol, diclofenac sodium, and chlorzoxazone. Paracetamol and diclofenac sodium are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, while chlorzoxazone is a muscle relaxant. It acts on the central nervous system and the spinal cord to reduce muscle stiffness and spasms as well as increase muscle mobility. The most commonly used pharmaceutical medicine is paracetamol, which comes in a variety of dosage forms such as injection, tablet, capsule, drops, elixirs, suspensions, and suppositories. However, due to toxicity, it may cause mortality in large dosages with extended intake. As a result, more efficient analytical approaches aimed at providing quality control of routinely used medications are required. Numerous analytical methods, both spectroscopic and chromatographic such as high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, and high-performance thin-layer chromatography have been established to estimate paracetamol diclofenac sodium and chlorzoxazone in their single-component dosage form. The simultaneous estimation of paracetamol, diclofenac sodium, and chlorzoxazone in combined dosage forms has been performed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance thin-layer chromatography techniques. In contrast, there are very few techniques available to estimate paracetamol, diclofenac sodium, and chlorzoxazone in combination pharmaceutical dose form till date. This article is an attempt to jut out all the methods developed to estimate the above-mentioned drugs in the single or multi-component dosage form.

Influence of smartphone game play on head flexion angle, muscle activity, and load at C7 among adolescents.

Smartphones cause physiological problems due to inappropriate postures and extensive usage. India, being the second leading country with the highest number of smartphone users (492 million in 2021), has witnessed a significant rise in smartphone-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). This study compared the effects of 60-min smartphone gameplay on head flexion angle, muscle activity, and loads at C7 on Indian adolescents. A subjective assessment was conducted on 1659 participants, of which, 40 young male adults aged between 20-28 years performed the experimental trial. Muscle (Sternocleidomastoid) activity, head flexion angle, and load acting at the neck (C7) were analyzed through postural assessment, pre-and post-subjective analysis. Participants maintained an average of 28.46°±4.04° head flexion angle for more than 43 min (71%) in an hour while performing the task. The muscle activity increased to 23% (p < 0.001) of MVC at the end of the task compared to the beginning. The results indicated a significant increase in muscle activity (1.61 times), spinal loads (4.6 times) and subjective discomfort (2.9 times) after prolonged smartphone usage. It is evident that various aspects (duration, posture, content) play a vital role in smartphone-related MSD and there is a potential risk of cervical spine problems. The increased loads reduce muscle stiffness and increase intervertebral disc pressure.

Impact of marathon performance on muscles stiffness in runners over 50 years old.

The research examines the relationship between marathon performance and muscle stiffness changes from pre to marathon in recreational runners aged 50+ years. Thirty-one male long-distance runners aged 50-73 years participated in the experiment. The muscle stiffness of quadriceps and calves was measured in two independent sessions: the day before the marathon and 30 min after the completed marathon run using a Myoton device. The 42.195-km run was completed in 4.30,05 h ± 35.12 min, which indicates an intensity of 79.3% ± 7.1% of HRmax. The long-term, low-intensity running exercise (marathon) in older recreational runners and the low level of HRmax and VO2max showed no statistically significant changes in muscle stiffness (quadriceps and calves). There was reduced muscle stiffness (p = 0.016), but only in the triceps of the calf in the dominant (left) leg. Moreover, to optimally evaluate the marathon and adequately prepare for the performance training program, we need to consider the direct and indirect analyses of the running economy, running technique, and HRmax and VO2max variables. These variables significantly affect marathon exercise.

Effect of Thermotherapies Associated with Hamstring Stretching in Peak Torque: Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Stretching is an effective strategy used mainly to reduce muscle stiffness, and increase both flexibility and Range of Motion. Aim: To compare the effects of different thermotherapy modalities associated with static stretching on peak torque (PT) of knee flexor muscles. Methods: This study compared a sample of 34 healthy men, aged between 20 and 30 years, with active knee range of motion (ROM) ≤160 degrees. They were subjected to three sessions of static stretching of the hamstrings, either with or without a thermotherapy modality. The order of interventions was randomized for one of the groups: isolated stretching (IS), stretching with heat (SH), and stretching with cold (SC). The concentric and eccentric PTs were assessed pre and post-intervention. Results: In the comparison of PT among different measures, there was a significant decrease in eccentric and concentric PT of knee flexor muscles in IS, in eccentric PT of knee flexor muscles in SH, and in eccentric and concentric PT of knee flexors in SC groups. Conclusion: Regardless of the use of thermotherapy, one single session of static stretching resulted in decreased PT of knee flexor muscles. This is probably due to the effects of stretching, such as the immediate change of the elastic component of the muscle-tendon unit, which leads to a deficit in acute force production.

Effect of durations and pressures of cupping therapy on muscle stiffness of triceps.

Cupping therapy has been used for the alleviation of muscle soreness in athletes. However, clinical studies of cupping therapy show conflicting results. Lack of standardized guidelines of the dose-response relationship of cupping therapy, such as appropriate cupping duration and negative pressure, limits the adoption of cupping therapy in clinical practice. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of various pressures and durations of cupping therapy on reducing muscle stiffness. The 2 × 2 factorial design with the repeated measures and counterbalanced design was used to test four cupping protocols, including two negative pressures at -225 and -300mmHg and two durations at 5 and 10min, in 12 healthy young people. B-mode and elastographic ultrasound was used to assess muscle stiffness of the triceps before and after cupping therapy. The region of interest of elastographic image was divided into the superficial and deep layers for assessing the effect of cupping therapy on stiffness of various depths of the triceps. Normalized stiffness was calculated as a ratio of pre-cupping stiffness divided by post-cupping stiffness of each participant. The two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the main effects of the pressure and duration factors and the interaction effect between the pressure and duration factors. The results showed that there were no interactions between the pressure and duration factors (overall layer p = 0.149, superficial layer p = 0.632, and deep layer p = 0.491). The main effects of duration of the overall, superficial and deep layers were p = 0.538, p = 0.097 and p = 0.018, respectively. The results showed that 10-min cupping at -300mmHg is more effective on reducing stiffness of the deep layer of the triceps compared to 5-min cupping (p = 0.031). This study provides the first evidence that the dose of cupping therapy could significantly affect changes of triceps stiffness and the deep layer of the muscle is more sensitive to cupping therapy compared to the superficial and overall layers.

The effect of vibration training on delayed muscle soreness: A meta-analysis.

Background:Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is caused by unaccustomed exercise, especially eccentric exercise, and is highly likely to cause skeletal muscle injury. It mainly manifests as ultrastructural changes in skeletal muscle, as well as decreased muscle strength, muscle soreness, swelling, and elevated levels of creatine kinase (CK). Vibration training (VT) has been attracting increasing attention as a new type of rehabilitation therapy. It can effectively minimize the occurrence and relieve the symptoms of DOMS, reduce muscle stiffness and soreness, and reduce serum concentrations of CK and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This article systematically assessed the impact of VT on the mitigation of DOMS through a meta-analysis to provide updated evidence-based information.Methods:Electronic databases such as China Knowledge Network, VIP Electronics, PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science were searched to identify randomized controlled trials of VT on DOMS. Searches were performed from database creation to November 2021. The quality of the literature was assessed using the Cochrane Manual for the Systematic Review of Interventions, and meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4 software.Results:VT intervention in DOMS was shown to effectively reduce subjective pain, improve pain tolerance, and accelerate the reduction of serum CK and LDH concentrations. Subgroup analysis of different test time periods showed that subjective pain decreased more significantly after 48 hours than after the other 2 time periods, and pain tolerance increased more significantly after 72 hours than the other 2 time periods; serum CK was significantly increased after 24 and 48 hours of intervention, but showed no significant change compared with the control group after 72 hours. Serum LDH decreased significantly after 24 hours of intervention, but there was no significant difference compared with the control group after 48 hours or 72 hours.Conclusion:VT effectively reduced the subjective pain sensation after DOMS, increased the pain threshold, reduced serum LDH and CK concentrations, and accelerated muscle damage repair compared with control interventions. However, the effect of improving the range of motion of the joints is not clear and should be studied further.Registrationnumber: INPLASY2021120115.

Evaluation of symptomatic peripheral artery disease with media sclerosis using shear wave elastography of the lower limb muscle

Abstract Background Symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) is challenging to diagnose in the presence of media sclerosis with incompressible arteries since standard ankle-brachial index (ABI) cannot be applied. Shear wave elastography (SWE) provides a novel ultrasound technique to measure muscle stiffness and to visualize muscle deficits at rest and during contraction. Furthermore, reduced muscle stiffness correlates with a possible hypoperfusion in the affected area. It is fast, non-invasive and associated with peripheral muscle weakness in chronic heart failure patients. Purpose SWE presents an important diagnostic tool for patients with PAD and concomitant media sclerosis. In this prospective observation study we evaluated the alterations of muscle stiffness (measured in kPa) at rest and during controlled activity. Methods Fifteen patients with peripheral artery disease and media sclerosis were included in this pilot study. Thirteen patients were symptomatic in different stages of PAD as a result of significant arterial stenosis/occlusions of the lower legs as assessed by oscillography and duplex sonography. ABI was invalid due to media sclerosis in all 15 patients. The examination was performed at rest and during contraction depicted by active dorsal flexion of the foot on both sides. The medial gastrocnemius muscle was used as a region of interest. Results Mean SWE measurements of medial gastrocnemius muscles showed significant muscle weakness at maximum exercise (103.4±25.9 kPa on the asymptomatic vs. 62.5±21.9 kPa in the symptomatic lower leg (p&amp;lt;0.001). Oscillography confirmed the SWE results by a decreased signal on the clinically symptomatic side. Conclusion SWE is suitable to detect muscle weakness during exercise in the symptomatic leg of mediasclerotic PAD patients. Since ABI measurements are usually invalid these patients with media sclerosis, shear wave elastography of lower limb muscles may contribute for a non-invasive diagnosis of symptomatic PAD. Larger randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm our results. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Effects of combined hip exercise and passive stretching on muscle stiffness, pain perception and painrelated disability, and physical function in older adults with low back pain.

This study aimed to examine the effects of combined hip exercise and passive stretching as a novel treatment method for low back pain (LBP) in older adults. Altogether, 20 Koreans with LBP aged 60-79 years (67.3 ± 5.92 years) were randomly assigned to undertake combined exercise (CE; n = 10) or lumbar stabilization exercise (LSE; n = 10). All participants performed their respective exercise program for 25-30 min with an OMNI scale of 6-8 for 8 weeks, three times a week. Body composition, muscle stiffness, pain-visual analog scale (P-VAS), Oswestry disability index, and physical function were evaluated before and after the exercise intervention. The CE group demonstrated greater improvements in lean body mass (η2 = 0.402, p = 0.003) and percent body fat (η2 = 0.222, p = 0.036) than the LSE group. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in muscle stiffness, P-VAS scores, and Oswestry disability index scores, although no significant differences were observed between the interventions. All physical function parameters demonstrated a significant improvement in both groups, and the CE group demonstrated greater improvement in the YMCA sit-and-reach (η2 = 0.338, p = 0.007) and straight leg raise tests (η2 = 0.283, p = 0.016) than the LSE group. CE is comparable to LSE as an effective and successful exercise intervention that reduces muscle stiffness and P-VAS scores. Moreover, CE is more effective than LSE in enhancing the physical function of older adults with LBP.

Effects of a seat-integrated mobilization system on long-haul truck drivers motion activity, muscle stiffness and discomfort during a 4.5-h simulated driving task

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a seat-integrated mobilization system on motion activity, muscle stiffness and discomfort during prolonged driving. MethodDuring a 4.5-h driving task, motion activity, muscle stiffness and discomfort (measured subjectively and objectively) of long-haul truck drivers were determined and compared intra-individually in a test condition with mobilization (seat-integrated stimulation) and a control condition under standardized conditions in a simulated driving study (N = 16). ResultsIn the experimental condition, participants showed a significantly increased motion activity and a reduced muscle stiffness compared to the control condition. Furthermore, discomfort occurred significantly more frequently in the control condition. ConclusionThe mobilization system increased motion activity and reduced discomfort as well as muscle stiffness. Therefore, it provides considerable potential to counteract negative effects of prolonged sitting and to promote truck driver's health.

Changes in stiffness of the specific regions of knee extensor mechanism after static stretching.

Decreased muscle stiffness could reduce musculotendinous injury risk in sports and rehabilitation settings. Static stretching (SS) has been used to increase the flexibility of muscles and reduce muscle stiffness, but the effects of SS on the stiffness of specific regions of the knee extensor mechanism are unclear. The quadriceps femoris and patellar tendon are essential components of the knee extensor mechanism and play an important role in knee motion. Therefore, we explored the acute and prolonged effects of SS on the stiffness of the quadriceps femoris and patellar tendon and knee flexion range of motion (ROM). Thirty healthy male subjects participated in the study. Three 60-s SS with 30-s intervals were conducted in right knee flexion with 30° hip extension. We measured the ROM and stiffness of the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) and the proximal-(PPT), middle-(MPT), and distal-(DPT) region stiffness of the patellar tendon before and immediately after SS intervention, or 5 and 10 min after SS. The stiffness of the quadriceps muscle and patellar tendon were measured using MyotonPRO, and the knee flexion ROM was evaluated using a medical goniometer. Our outcomes showed that the ROM was increased after SS intervention in all-time conditions (p < 0.01). Additionally, the results showed that the stiffness of RF (p < 0.01) and PPT (p = 0.03) were decreased immediately after SS intervention. These results suggested that SS intervention could be useful to increase knee flexion ROM and temporarily reduce the stiffness of specific regions of the knee extensor mechanism.

Improving The Management of Non-dystrophic Myotonia to Benefit Care Delivery and Improve Patient Outcomes

Non-dystrophic myotonias (NDM) are rare muscle disorders caused by mutations in skeletal voltage-gated muscle channels leading to delayed muscle relaxation after voluntary contraction. They are subdivided into sodium channelopathies, when the mutation is in the SCN4A gene, and chloride channelopathies, when the mutation is in the CLCN1 gene. Symptoms, which may differ according to subtype, exacerbating factors, and over disease course, can include muscle stiffness, pain, fatigue, muscle hypertrophy, myalgia, and weakness. The severity of NDM symptoms varies widely, from being barely noticeable to causing considerable disability that impacts health-related quality of life. People with NDM may remain undiagnosed for several years, potentially due to a lack of awareness of NDM among many healthcare professionals. The symptomatic treatment for NDM predominantly involves sodium channel blockers, such as mexiletine. Randomised, placebo-controlled trials have shown mexiletine can reduce muscle stiffness and pain, and improve health-related quality of life. Patient and clinician surveys, as well as national guidelines, place this medication as one of the first choices for pharmaceutical treatment of myotonia. Other choices include lamotrigine, carbamazepine, acetazolamide, ranolazine, and flecainide, though clinical evidence is limited, and all are used on an off-label basis. Herein, the challenges in recognising and treating myotonia symptoms in people with NDM are reviewed, along with strategies to increase awareness of the disease and its potential treatment.