Muscle Tenderness Research Articles

Prevalence of priformis syndrome in sciatica patients: Predictability of specific tests and radiological findings for diagnosis.

The traditional approach for diagnosing piriformis syndrome (PS) is to rule out other causes of sciatica. This approach may lead to unnecessary radiological examinations and a waste of time. In contrast to the traditional approach, we aimed to first exclude PS and determine its prevalence by injecting patients with priformis tenderness. This observational cross-sectional study included patients diagnosed with PS who had sciatica and tenderness on palpation of the priformis muscle and whose pain was reduced by at least 50% with local injection. Age, sex, pain duration, presence of tenderness in the piriformis muscle, Freiberg test, PACE sign, FADIR, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4) score, and radiological findings were compared between patients who responded and those who did not respond to the priformis injection. A total of 110 patients with sciatica were evaluated, of whom 66 with tenderness on palpation of the primiformis muscle underwent local injection. In 27 of the 66 patients (40.9%), a decrease in the NRS score of >50% was observed after injection, and PS was diagnosed. There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, pain duration, Pace, FADIR test positivity, radiological findings, NRS, and DN4 scores, but Freiberg test positivity was statistically higher in patients diagnosed with PS. PS is more common than is thought to be a cause of sciatica. A positive Freiberg test is predictive for the diagnosis of PS, but it should be confirmed by tenderness of the priformis muscle and local injection. Many pathologies can be detected incidentally radiographically in PS; however, they are not predictive of the diagnosis.

Efficacy of TENS Therapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound and Stabilization Splint as an Adjuvant to Pharmacotherapy for Temporomandibular Disorders

INTRODUCTIONThis study aims to assess the effectiveness of adjunctive treatments like transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound (ThUs), and stabilization splint (SS) in combination with pharmacotherapy (PT) in enhancing pain relief, mouth opening, lateral excursion, joint sound reduction, muscle tenderness improvement, and jaw deflection in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), affecting the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles. MATERIAL AND METHODSThe study involved 90 patients divided into three groups. Pharmacotherapy (Tab. Myospaz) was prescribed to all patients, each group received either TENS, ThUs, or SS as adjunctive treatment. Outcomes were measured at baseline and various intervals post-treatment. RESULTSTMDs were more prevalent in younger age group (21-30 years) with female predilection (F:M =2.21:1). Significant differences were observed in pain scores, with TENS and ThUs groups showing greater reductions compared to SS. ThUs demonstrated superior results in mouth opening, while TENS showed better outcomes in lateral excursion and muscle tenderness reduction. CONCLUSIONThis study concluded that both TENS and therapeutic ultrasound effectively reduced pain with therapeutic ultrasound showing better results in improving mouth opening, and TENS demonstrating better results in lateral excursion and muscle tenderness reduction. No significant difference among three groups were found in reducing joint sounds and deviation/deflection.

Transcriptome Analysis Elucidates the Potential Key Genes Involved in Rib Development in bmp6-Deficient Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix).

Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) is a constituent of the TGF-β superfamily, known for its ability to stimulate bone and cartilage formation. The investigation of bmp6's involvement in the formation of intermuscular bones in fish has garnered significant attention in recent years. The rib cage is an important skeletal structure that plays a protective function for internal organs in fish. However, there has been limited research conducted on the effects of the bmp6 gene on rib development. Silver carp is one of four major fish in China, favoured for its affordability and tender muscle. Nevertheless, the presence of numerous intermuscular bones in silver carp significantly hinders the advancement of its palatability and suitability for processing. This study showcases the effective utilisation of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for the purpose of disrupting the bmp6 gene in silver carp, leading to the creation of chimeras in the P0 generation, marking the first instance of such an achievement. The chimeras exhibited complete viability, normal appearance, and partial intermuscular bones loss, with approximately 30% of them displaying rib bifurcation or bending. Subsequently, a transcriptome analysis on ribs of P0 chimeras and wild-type silver carp was conducted, leading to the identification of 934 genes exhibiting differential expression, of which 483 were found to be up-regulated and 451 were found to be down-regulated. The results of the KEGG analysis revealed that the "NF-kappa B signalling pathway", "Hippo signalling pathway", "osteoclast differentiation", and "haematopoietic cell lineage" exhibited enrichment and displayed a significant correlation with bone development. The up-regulated genes such as tnfα, fos, and ctgf in pathways may facilitate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoclasts, whereas the down-regulation of genes such as tgfb2 and tgfbr1 in pathways may hinder the formation and specialisation of osteoblasts, ultimately resulting in rib abnormalities. This study presents novel findings on the impact of bmp6 gene deletion on the rib development of silver carp, while simultaneously investigating the previously unexplored molecular mechanisms underlying rib defects in fish.

Mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways regulate tenderness of post-mortem chicken muscle

Apoptosis is closely associated with meat tenderization and calcium chloride (CaCl2) and tea polyphenols (TP) have been shown to have a positive effect on meat tenderness. To examine the mechanism by which apoptosis regulates meat tenderness, chicken breasts were treated with 50 mM CaCl2 and 5 mg/mL TP during 5 days of post-mortem ageing where corresponding tender indexes were measured. The results demonstrated that the shear force was highly reduced by 30.74% and 53.64% in chicken breasts treated with CaCl2 and TP, respectively, which promoted postmortem degradation of troponin-T and desmin as well as destruction of myofibrils. Western blot analysis demonstrated that CaCl2 and TP treatments resulted in the activation of calpain-1, caspase-12, -9 and -3, cleavage of PARP, increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and reduced Bcl-xL levels. In addition, BiP, p-IRE1, and XBP1 factors associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathway, were activated during apoptosis. This suggests that the mitochondrial and ER pathways were involved in the induction of apoptosis by CaCl2 and TP during post-mortem ageing. Moreover, ultrastructural damage occurring in mitochondria and nuclei was observed in the morphological features of apoptosis. Consequently, these results suggest that CaCl2 and TP promote meat rejuvenation during ageing process by activating apoptosis via mitochondrial and ER pathways.

Alexithymia Increases Pericranial and Cervical Muscle Tenderness in Women with Migraine.

Background/Objectives: Alexithymia is characterized by a deficit in identifying and communicating feelings. Emerging evidence suggests that alexithymia is highly prevalent in migraine, in a complex interplay with psychiatric comorbidity. Pericranial/cervical muscle tenderness is a remarkable clinical feature in a large proportion of migraine patients. This pilot study aimed at investigating the relationship between alexithymia and pericranial/cervical muscle tenderness in female migraineurs. Methods: A total of 42 female patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for migraine were enrolled into this pilot, observational, cross-sectional study after informed consent was obtained. Each patient underwent a psychological assessment to identify any alexithymia by means of TAS-20, anxiety/mood comorbidity (by means of STAI-Y1 STAI-Y2, BDI-II), and migraine-related disability (by means of HIT-6), and a physical cranial/cervical musculoskeletal examination. Palpation of pericranial and cervical muscles was carried out in the standardized manner. A Cumulative Muscle Tenderness (CUM) score (0-6) was calculated for each patient. A multivariate analysis was performed to investigate any association amongst the TAS-20 score, the CUM score, and the following covariates: BDI-II, STAI-Y1, STAI-Y2, and HIT-6 scores, age, disease duration, monthly migraine days, and average head pain intensity in the previous three months. Results: Overall, 35.6% of the sample had alexithymia. The multivariate analysis detected a linear and independent relationship between the TAS-20 and CUM scores, with a statistically significant (p = 0.017) association. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that alexithymia plays a role in increasing pericranial/cervical muscle tenderness in migraine, independently from psychiatric comorbidity. A novel therapeutical approach, targeting alexithymia, may well reduce muscular tenderness in female migraineurs.

Low-Level Laser and TENS Therapy Assessment for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder.

The most prevalent conditions in the population are temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), which are linked to a number of morbidities. A number of treatment options have been proposed, and some of the most successful ones include low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of two therapies-TENS treatment and LLLT-in the management of morbidities related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 50 patients who had been sent to the oral medicine outpatient department and had been pre-diagnosed with TMJ disorders were randomly assigned to two groups, with 25 patients in each: Group I received TENS therapy, while Group II received LLLT. The acquired data was assessed statistically. Both groups showed a substantial decrease in discomfort, an increase in mouth opening, and a decrease in muscular tenderness when compared to within groups. LLT was more effective than TENS for TMD treatment. While TENS and LLLT both had good results, LLLT appeared to outperform TENS therapy in terms of muscle tenderness factors.

Effect of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis-mediated endogenous enzyme activation on tenderness of beef muscle based on MCU modulators

The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) occupies a noteworthy position in the regulation of mitochondrial calcium uptake. This study investigated the effects of MCU modulator-mediated mitochondrial calcium on mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, endogenous enzyme activities, and tenderness during postmortem aging. Spermine, as an activator of MCU, resulted in an increase in mitochondrial calcium levels, not only disrupting mitochondrial morphology but also triggering mitochondrial oxidative stress and downregulation of antioxidant factors. Additionally, the spermine group underwent later activation of calpain and earlier activation of caspases, as well as the myofibril fragmentation index was initially lower and then higher compared with control group, indicating that endogenous enzymes played an indispensable role in different aging periods. Interestingly, the results of the Ru360 (an inhibitor of MCU) group were opposite to those aforementioned findings. Our data provide a novel perspective on the regulatory mechanism of mitochondrial calcium homeostasis mediated by MCU on tenderness.

Dental Attrition and its Association With the Signs and Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction and Radiographic Condylar Changes – An Observational Study

ABSTRACT To determine the level of dental attrition and its relation to signs of TMJ dysfunction adding to condylar alterations analyzed by conventional TMJ Tomography and to propose the correlation between dental attrition and signs of TMJ dysfunction and condylar changes. Patients for the study were selected from the regular outpatient Department of Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology, Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, with performed criteria. The radiographic examination of TMJ is performed by the PLANMECA OPG machine using the tomographic program. Statistical analysis was performed using a Chi-square test to determine the relation between attrition and temporomandidular disorders [TMD] signs and symptoms. The study group comprises 60 subjects who are having dental attrition, and they are divided into three groups according to their age: Group I, 20-40 age; Group II, 41-60 age; Group III, more than 60 age 80% of the samples had one or more tooth with significant attrition with grades of two or more on a 0-4 scale The prevalence of changes in condylar morphology was more in individuals above 40 yrs (33.33%) as compared to those below the age of 40 with a total prevalence of 41.67%. The most common symptom reported is tooth sensitivity, joint sounds, and muscle tenderness. The last reported are scalloped tongue, buccal mucosa ridging, referred pain, and limitation of mouth opening. Out of the 25 subjects who showed condylar changes, 10 subjects had symptoms of TMD. The symptoms reported are strain in the mouth opening, tenderness in jaw movements, and TMJ clicking sounds. Attrition is not a predictable sign of TMJ dysfunction, yet a finite association was defined between attrition and signs and symptoms of TMJ dysfunction. Studies involving larger samples compared with additional radiographic modalities are recommended.

Wunderlich syndrome as a rare complication of polyarteritis nodosa: a case report.

Spontaneous subcapsular and perirenal hemorrhage, known as Wunderlich syndrome (WS), is a rare clinical manifestation of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). We report a case of a 48-year-old male with a history of recurrent episodes of leg muscle tenderness and dysesthesia, bilateral flank pain, painful nodular skin lesions in the lower limbs, weight loss, and difficult-to-control arterial hypertension. The abdominopelvic computed tomography angiography showed a large left perirenal hematoma, leading to the patient's admission to the intensive care unit. After the exclusion of infectious or neoplastic foci, the patient was diagnosed with PAN and started intravenous methylprednisolone pulses with a good response. Since WS is a rare initial clinical manifestation of PAN, an early diagnosis and aggressive treatment will significantly improve clinical outcomes.

Potential Effects of NO-Induced Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α on Yak Meat Tenderness during Post-Mortem Aging.

The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism underlying nitric oxide (NO)-induced hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and its impact on yak muscle tenderness during post-mortem aging. The Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle of yak were incubated at 4 °C for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 72 h after treatment with 0.9% saline, NO activator, or a combination of the NO activator and an HIF-1α inhibitor. Results indicated that elevated NO levels could increase HIF-1α transcription to achieve stable expression of HIF-1α protein (P < 0.05). Additionally, elevated NO triggered HIF-1α S-nitrosylation, which further upregulated the activity of key glycolytic enzymes, increased glycogen consumption, accelerated lactic acid accumulation, and decreased pH (P < 0.05). These processes eventually improved the tenderness of yak muscle during post-mortem aging (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that NO-induced activation of HIF-1α S-nitrosylation enhanced glycolysis during post-mortem aging and provided a possible pathway for improving meat tenderness.

World Endometriosis Research Foundation Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonization Project: V. Physical examination standards in endometriosis research

The World Endometriosis Research Foundation established the Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project (EPHect) to create standardized documentation tools (with common data elements) to facilitate the comparison and combination of data across different research sites and studies. In 2014, 4 data research standards were published: clinician-reported surgical data, patient-reported clinical data, and fluid and tissue biospecimen collection. Our current objective is to create an EPHect standard for the clinician-reported physical examination (EPHect-PE) for research studies. An international consortium involving 26 clinical and academic experts and patient partners from 11 countries representing 25 institutions and organizations. Two virtual workshops, followed by the development of the physical examination standards underwent multiple rounds of iterations and revisions. N/A MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): N/A RESULT(S): The EPHect-PE tool provides standardized assessment of physical examination characteristics and pain phenotyping. Data elements involve examination of back and pelvic girdle; abdomen including allodynia and trigger points; vulva including provoked vestibulodynia; pelvic floor muscle tone and tenderness; tenderness on unidigital pelvic examination; presence of pelvic nodularity; uterine size and mobility; presence of adnexal masses; presence of incisional masses; speculum examination; tenderness and allodynia at an extra-pelvic site (e.g., forearm); and recording of anthropometrics. The EPHect-PE standards will facilitate the standardized documentation of the physical examination, including the assessment and documentation of examination phenotyping of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain.

Disclosure orthodontic and TMD-new study.

Cooperative analysis of participants and controls. Wiley Online Library, National Institute of Health, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar. Human clinical trials age 18-30 years old, a case-control study included 291 individuals, 192 TMDs and 99 controls. All patients underwent assessment based on a questionnaire and a clinical examination according to Axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Patients who underwent orthodontic treatment were compared to those who did not, regarding their trauma history, bruxism, aggressive teeth brushing, level of oral hygiene, pain scores, muscle tenderness scores and subjective sleep quality. Medical and/or dental emergencies, subjects with a history of drug, alcohol or medication abuse, fibromyalgia, being pregnant or lactating, having a coexisting mental, psychiatric, or physical disability, cancerous or significant medical problems and the consumption of drugs and/or medications that affect the nervous system including narcotics, TCA (tricyclic antidepressants), anticonvulsant, muscle relaxants and medication overuse headache. To identify differences between groups, categorical independent variables were analysed using the chi-square test or likelihood ratio, while numeric independent variables were analysed using independent t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). A two-tailed level of statistical significance (α) was established at 0.05. Analysis of multicollinearity was performed following the univariate analyses to examine the collinearity among the independent variables and select independent variables with minimal correlation. Among the highly correlated variables, only one was selected for inclusion in the multivariate model, with the specific variable chosen based on contextual considerations. The research comprised a total of 291 individuals, consisting of two distinct groups: the TMD group (192 participants, 66%) and the control group (99 participants, 34%). Within the TMD group, further subcategorization was conducted, including MMP (masticatory muscle pain) with 44 individuals (15%); TMJD with 26 individuals (9%); and TMP (both MMP and TMJ) with 122 individuals (42%). Using a "holistic" and a "collinearity statistical approach and the utilization of a multivariate model" the conclusion is that TMD is not associated with orthodontics.

Pericranial Muscle Stiffness, Pain Thresholds, and Tenderness during a Treatment Cycle of OnabotulinumtoxinA for Chronic Migraine Prevention

Background: Treatment with OnabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT-A) is effective as a preventive treatment for chronic migraine (CM). Preclinical studies suggest that the mechanism of action of BoNT-A in migraine is based on blocking unmyelinated C fibers. We aimed to investigate whether the muscle-relaxing effect of BoNT-A is associated with the preventive mechanism in patients with chronic migraine by measuring the stiffness, pain thresholds, and tenderness of the BoNT-A-applied muscles. Methods: A total of 22 patients with CM who were already in BoNT-A treatment participated in this longitudinal prospective study. Pericranial muscle stiffness was measured using ultrasound shear wave elastography, which measures the speed of shear waves propagating through the muscle. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were obtained via algometry, and muscle tenderness was measured via manual palpation. Measurements were made before BoNT-A injections and six weeks after the treatment. The measurements were performed while the muscles were maximally relaxed. The patients also completed daily diaries on headache and neck pain. Results: No change was observed in muscle stiffness (p = 0.737) or pericranial muscle tenderness (p = 0.400). The PPT over the trapezius muscles increased from 250 kPa before treatment to 304 kPa six weeks after treatment (p = 0.027). No change was observed on the temporalis muscles (p = 0.200) nor the non-dominant index finger (p = 0.067). BoNT-A decreased neck pain (p = 0.008) and headache (p = 0.007). Conclusions: The findings suggest that BoNT-A leads to the desensitization of cutaneous and muscle nociceptors in the head and neck regions, whereas muscle relaxation might not be an important part of the anti-migraine effect.

A Randomized Trial of Therapeutic Ultrasound on Pain, Tenderness, and Muscle Stiffness Using a High and Low Intensity Model of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

Purpose: This study evaluated ultrasound (US) effectiveness in an experimental model of soft tissue injury, and examined the model, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), as a variable in the outcome. Methods: One hundred and twenty females completed 30 repetitions (low-DOMS) or 70 repetitions (high-DOMS) of eccentric contractions of biceps brachii muscles and received one of four protocols: no US (control), placebo US, or 3 MHz US, pulsed 20% duty cycle, at either 0.6 W/cm2, spatial-average temporal-peak intensity (SATP) (0.12 W/cm2, spatial-average temporal-average intensity (SATA)) or 1.0 W/cm2, SATP (0.2 W/cm2 SATA). A further 60 females completed a low-DOMS protocol and received one of three protocols: placebo US, or continuous wave 3 MHz US at either 0.2 or 0.4 W/cm2, SATP/SATA. US was applied to biceps muscles for 5 minutes on days 1 to 3. Muscle soreness, tenderness, and stiffness were measured pre-DOMS induction and at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-induction. Results: Pulsed US, 20% duty cycle, at 0.6 W/cm2, SATP, (0.12 W/cm2, SATA) reduced muscle soreness in a low-DOMS but not in a high-DOMS protocol. Continuous wave US at 0.4 W/cm2, SATP/SATA reduced tenderness. Continuous US at 0.2 W/cm2, SATP/SATA was marginally effective on stiffness and tenderness. Conclusion: The results have implications for US management of acute soft tissue injury and the use of DOMS as an experimental model for soft tissue inflammation.

Patient-Reported Impact of Symptoms in Fibromyalgia (PRISM-FM).

To identify the frequency and relative importance of symptoms experienced by adults with fibromyalgia (FM) and determine factors associated with a higher disease burden. We conducted semistructured interviews with 15 participants with FM, collecting 1479 quotes regarding the symptomatic burden of FM. We then performed an international cross-sectional study involving 1085 participants with FM to determine the prevalence and relative importance (scale 0-4) of 149 symptoms representing 14 symptomatic themes. We performed subgroup analysis to determine how age, sex, disease duration, medication use, employment status, change in employment status, missing work due to FM, and ability level are related to symptomatic theme prevalence. The symptomatic themes with the highest prevalence in FM were pain (99.8%), muscle tenderness (99.8%), and fatigue (99.3%). The symptomatic themes that had the greatest effect on patients' lives were related to fatigue (2.88), pain (2.85), muscle tenderness (2.79), and impaired sleep and daytime sleepiness (2.70). Symptomatic theme prevalence was most strongly associated with the modified Rankin Scale level of disability, disability status, and change in employment status (on disability vs not on disability). Participants with FM identify a variety of symptoms that significantly affect their daily lives. Many of these symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, and activity limitation, are life-altering and not related to traditional diagnostic criteria. Symptom prevalence in this population varies across subgroups based on demographic categories and disability status.

Efeito do ultrassom no amaciamento do músculo Biceps femoris em bovinos Nelore

ABSTRACT: The effect of ultrasound on Biceps femoris muscle tenderness was investigated using a 22 Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) with triplicates at the central point. We evaluated the following independent variables: ultrasound intensity ranging from 11.30 to 33.90 W cm-2 and exposure time between 35 and 205 s. The ultrasound bath’s frequency (80 kHz) and temperature (10 ºC) were the fixed ones. To validate the model, the muscle was treated at the CCRD’s optimized condition (80 kHz, 22.60 W cm-2, 120 s, 10 ºC) evaluated, and compared with the muscle control sample (non-treated). A 22% shear force reduction was observed compared to the control sample (no ultrasound treatment) after 144 h, and stored at 5 ºC. Moreover, a sarcoplasmic calcium concentration increase was noted for ultrasound-treated muscle, probably activating the calpain enzyme system. In contrast, no significant influence (P &gt; 0.05) was observed for pH, color index, lipid oxidation, water holding capacity, and drip loss by ultrasound treatment at the optimized conditions. Therefore, ultrasound application is promising and suitable for improving muscle tenderness without losing meat quality. This study highlighted the ultrasound effect on the tenderness of a less studied muscle (Biceps femoris) by combining short ultrasound exposure (120 s) and an 80 kHz frequency.

A Case Series of May-Thurner Syndrome: An Anatomical Variation Leading to a Life-threatening Condition

May-Thurner syndrome is a rare clinical condition resulting from anatomical variation, where patients present with unilateral left lower limb swelling due to a thrombus in the left common iliac vein. This occurs as a result of compression of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery. The condition is more commonly observed in females and can lead to life-threatening pulmonary thromboembolism. Early diagnosis and interventional management, such as stenting and placement of an Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter, can help prevent pulmonary embolism. In the present case series, four patients were included. Two of them presented with the classical clinical history of unilateral left lower limb oedema and calf muscle tenderness. One of these patients underwent stenting of the left common iliac vein and placement of an IVC filter. In the other two patients, abdominal complaints prompted the performance of Multidetected Computed Tomography (MDCT), and incidentally, left common iliac vein thrombus secondary to May-Thurner syndrome was detected.

A Comparison of Myofascial Release and Positional Release in Conjunction with Static Stretching for Treatment of Upper Trapezius Trigger Points among University Students: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Myofascial trigger points are considered to be a major cause of neck pain and shoulder muscle tenderness among the working population. Aim: To investigate the efficacy of combining Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) and Positional Release Therapy (PRT) on pain intensity and pain tolerance for managing neck pain caused by Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) of the upper trapezius muscle. Materials and Methods: A pilot study was conducted in the Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India on a total of 16 participants were randomly assigned to Group A (MFR) and Group B (PRT), receiving treatment 3 days a week for two weeks. Both groups also received conventional treatment (such as static stretching of the upper trapezius along with a cold pack). The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT) were employed to compare the pre- and postintervention assessment of the participants. Results: As the baseline data were normally distributed, the statistical analysis used independent t-tests for between-group comparisons and paired t-tests for within-group analysis. For within-group analysis, both groups revealed highly significant improvement (p&lt;0.05) in all the outcome measures such as (NPRS and PPT). However, upon comparing both groups, the between-group analysis showed significant improvement across all parameters (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Both PRT and MFR combined with static stretching were found to be effective in reducing pain and raising the pain threshold; however, comparing patients who received MFR combined with static stretching had more significant results.

Efficacy of cervical mobilization with post-isometric relaxation in managing mechanical neck pain, ROM, and functional limitations associated with myofascial trigger points

Background: Sedentary lifestyle, age-related degenerative changes or traumatic injuries leads to cervical spine structural mal-alignment, which results in neck pain and other symptoms. Various therapeutic exercises and manual techniques have been proven to be beneficial in terms of managing these symptoms. This study aimed to determine the combined effects of cervical mobilization and post-isometric relaxation (PIR) technique on managing neck pain, cervical side flexion range of motion, and functional limitation in participants with mechanical neck pain linked with myofascial trigger points. Methods: This study followed a 2-arm, parallel-group, pretest-posttest randomized comparative design. Thirty participants with mechanical neck pain associated with myofascial trigger points aged 30.87 ± 4.45 years were randomly allocated to Groups 1 and 2. Group 1 received conventional intervention, PIR, and cervical mobilization techniques while Group 2 received conventional intervention and PIR technique only. Neck pain, muscle tenderness, cervical range of motion, and functional limitations were assessed using a visual analog scale, pressure pain threshold (PPT), goniometer, and neck disability index (NDI) questionnaire, respectively at baseline on day 1 and post-intervention on day 7, 14, and 21. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann–Whitney U test evaluated within-group and between-group analyses, respectively. Statistical significance was established at a 95% confidence interval, indicated by P &lt; .05. Results: Significant differences (95% confidence interval [CI], P &lt; .05) were observed within each group for all the outcomes scores when compared to the baselines across multiple time points. Significant variations were observed between the groups when comparing visual analog scale and NDI scores at weeks 1, 2, and 3 post-interventions. In contrast, insignificant differences (95% CI, P &gt; .05) were observed for side flexion range of motion and PPT compared at weeks 1, 2, and 3 post-interventions except for PPT at week 3 post-intervention (95% CI, P &lt; .05). Additionally, Cohen d test revealed the superiority of group 1 over group 2 in reducing pain and functional limitations and improving cervical side flexion range of motion and PPT. Conclusion: The combination of cervical mobilization and Post-isometric relaxation techniques was discovered to effectively alleviate neck pain and enhance functional abilities when contrasted with the application of post-isometric relaxation alone in patients with mechanical neck pain linked with myofascial trigger points.

Influence of Genotype on Meat Quality in Laying Hens after the Egg Production Season

The aim of this study was to compare the quality characteristics of the meat of two genotypes (Lohmann Brown and Lohmann White) of laying hens after the laying period. Studies were conducted on pectoral and leg muscles from 26 females, 13 of each genotype. Breast and leg muscles were evaluated in terms of their basic chemical composition, acidity (pH24), color attributes (L*, a*, b*), electrical conductivity (EC24) and macro- (K, P, Na, Mg, Ca) and microelements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr). Analysis of the texture of the pectoral muscle major and rheological properties (sum of viscosity modules and sum of elasticity modules) was also performed. Breast and leg meat were also subjected to sensory evaluation. The genotype of the birds significantly affected the percentage of intramuscular fat in the pectoral muscle and the percentage of protein, fat and water in the leg muscle. When analyzing pectoral and leg muscles for color attributes, we found no significant (p &gt; 0.05) differences between genotypes. Differences were shown, however, between genotypes in EC24 and phosphorus content in leg muscle. Breast muscles differed significantly (p &lt; 0.05) in iron and zinc content. Sensory analysis revealed significant differences between genotypes in leg muscle tenderness and juiciness, and breast muscle juiciness and aroma desirability. When analyzing the breast muscle in terms of texture, we did not observe any significant differences, nor did we find any differences in the assessment of rheological properties. Not depending on genotype, however, we noted significant differences between protein, fat, water and collagen content, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, acidity, color parameters (L*, a*, b*), EC24 and tastiness desirability between breast meat and leg meat. The results of this study showed that meat from old hens obtained after the laying period is a good material for further technological processing, due to its favorable basic chemical composition and high nutritional value expressed in the content of macro- and microelements, and is also characterized by relatively good sensory characteristics, which can be improved by marinating or adding enzymatic preparations during its processing.