Physical therapy
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Blood flow changes in the trapezius muscle and overlying skin following transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
Various researchers have studied the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on hemodynamics. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of TENS on local blood flow in the trapezius muscle and overlying skin. ⋯ Muscle contractions induced by motor-level 2-Hz TENS appear to be a prerequisite for increasing blood flow in the trapezius muscle. However, high stimulation intensity may prevent increased blood flow in the overlying skin.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of neck exercise on sitting posture in patients with chronic neck pain.
Poor sitting posture has been implicated in the development and perpetuation of neck pain symptoms. This study had 2 purposes: (1) to compare change in cervical and thoracic posture during a distracting task between subjects with chronic neck pain and control subjects and (2) to compare the effects of 2 different neck exercise regimens on the ability of people with neck pain to maintain an upright cervical and thoracic posture during this task. ⋯ This study showed that people with chronic neck pain demonstrate a reduced ability to maintain an upright posture when distracted. Following intervention with an exercise program targeted at training the craniocervical flexor muscles, subjects with neck pain demonstrated an improved ability to maintain a neutral cervical posture during prolonged sitting.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Short-term effects of thrust versus nonthrust mobilization/manipulation directed at the thoracic spine in patients with neck pain: a randomized clinical trial.
Evidence supports the use of manual physical therapy interventions directed at the thoracic spine in patients with neck pain. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of thoracic spine thrust mobilization/manipulation with that of nonthrust mobilization/manipulation in patients with a primary complaint of mechanical neck pain. The authors also sought to compare the frequencies, durations, and types of side effects between the groups. ⋯ The results suggest that thoracic spine thrust mobilization/manipulation results in significantly greater short-term reductions in pain and disability than does thoracic nonthrust mobilization/manipulation in people with neck pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A pilot study of the effects of high-intensity aerobic exercise versus passive interventions on pain, disability, psychological strain, and serum cortisol concentrations in people with chronic low back pain.
Given the complex nature of chronic pain, the effects of high-intensity aerobic exercise on pain, disability, psychological strain, and serum cortisol concentrations in people with chronic low back pain were investigated. ⋯ Regular high-intensity aerobic exercise alleviated pain, disability, and psychological strain in subjects with chronic low back pain but did not improve serum cortisol concentrations.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of high-grade and low-grade mobilization techniques in the management of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: randomized controlled trial.
In many physical therapy programs for subjects with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder, mobilization techniques are an important part of the intervention. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of high-grade mobilization techniques (HGMT) with that of low-grade mobilization techniques (LGMT) in subjects with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. ⋯ In subjects with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder, HGMTs appear to be more effective in improving glenohumeral joint mobility and reducing disability than LGMTs, with the overall differences between the 2 interventions being small.