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Medical Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of specific neck muscle training and general neck-shoulder exercises on neck proprioception, pain, and disability in... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of specific neck muscle training and general neck-shoulder exercises on neck proprioception, pain, and disability in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.
METHODS
Twenty-five patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were recruited into this preliminary single-blinded randomized clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to either a specific neck exercise (n = 13, mean aged 24 years) or a general neck exercise group (n = 12, mean aged 25 years). Specific neck exercises included eye-head coordination and isometric deep neck muscle exercises. General neck exercises included neck and shoulder free range of motion and shoulder shrug. Pain, disability, and neck proprioception, which was determined using the joint repositioning error, were measured at baseline and after eight weeks of training in both groups.
RESULTS
Both training groups showed significant improvements in joint repositioning error ( < 0.001, F = 24.144, ES = 0.8), pain ( < 0.001, F = 61.118, ES = 0.31), and disability ( = 0.015, F = 6.937, ES = 0.60). However, the specific neck exercise group showed larger variability in joint repositioning error ( = 0.006, F = 0.20, F critical = 0.36).
CONCLUSIONS
Either specific neck exercise or a general neck-shoulder range of motion exercise could be effective in improving neck proprioception. Therefore, exercises could be recommended based on patient comfort and patients' specific limitations.
Topics: Humans; Young Adult; Adult; Neck Pain; Neck; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Proprioception
PubMed: 37755160
DOI: 10.3390/medsci11030056 -
Journal of Neuroengineering and... May 2024Proprioceptive impairments are common after stroke and are associated with worse motor recovery and poor rehabilitation outcomes. Motor learning may also be an important...
BACKGROUND
Proprioceptive impairments are common after stroke and are associated with worse motor recovery and poor rehabilitation outcomes. Motor learning may also be an important factor in motor recovery, and some evidence in healthy adults suggests that reduced proprioceptive function is associated with reductions in motor learning. It is unclear how impairments in proprioception and motor learning relate after stroke. Here we used robotics and a traditional clinical assessment to examine the link between impairments in proprioception after stroke and a type of motor learning known as visuomotor adaptation.
METHODS
We recruited participants with first-time unilateral stroke and controls matched for overall age and sex. Proprioceptive impairments in the more affected arm were assessed using robotic arm position- (APM) and movement-matching (AMM) tasks. We also assessed proprioceptive impairments using a clinical scale (Thumb Localization Test; TLT). Visuomotor adaptation was assessed using a task that systematically rotated hand cursor feedback during reaching movements (VMR). We quantified how much participants adapted to the disturbance and how many trials they took to adapt to the same levels as controls. Spearman's rho was used to examine the relationship between proprioception, assessed using robotics and the TLT, and visuomotor adaptation. Data from healthy adults were used to identify participants with stroke who were impaired in proprioception and visuomotor adaptation. The independence of impairments in proprioception and adaptation were examined using Fisher's exact tests.
RESULTS
Impairments in proprioception (58.3%) and adaptation (52.1%) were common in participants with stroke (n = 48; 2.10% acute, 70.8% subacute, 27.1% chronic stroke). Performance on the APM task, AMM task, and TLT scores correlated weakly with measures of visuomotor adaptation. Fisher's exact tests demonstrated that impairments in proprioception, assessed using robotics and the TLT, were independent from impairments in visuomotor adaptation in our sample.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest impairments in proprioception may be independent from impairments in visuomotor adaptation after stroke. Further studies are needed to understand factors that influence the relationship between motor learning, proprioception and other rehabilitation outcomes throughout stroke recovery.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Proprioception; Middle Aged; Adaptation, Physiological; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Aged; Psychomotor Performance; Robotics; Adult
PubMed: 38762552
DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01360-7 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Jul 2023Afferent input from the sole affects postural stability. Cutaneous reflexes from the foot are important to posture and gait. Lower-limb afferents alone provide enough...
BACKGROUND & PURPOSE
Afferent input from the sole affects postural stability. Cutaneous reflexes from the foot are important to posture and gait. Lower-limb afferents alone provide enough information to maintain upright stance and are critical in perceiving postural sway. Altered feedback from propreoceptive receptors alters gait and patterns of muscle activation. The position and posture of the foot and ankle may also play an important role in proprioceptive input.Therefore, the current research aims to compare static balance and ankle and knee proprioception in people with and without flexible flatfeet.
METHODOLOGY
91 female students between the ages of 18 and 25 voluntarily participated in this study, of which 24 were in the flexible flatfoot group and 67 were in the regular foot group after evaluating the longitudinal arch of the foot. The position sense of ankle and knee joints were measured using the active reconstruction test of the ankle and knee angle; Static balance was measured using the Sharpened Romberg test. Data were non-normally distributed. Accordingly, non-parametric tests were applied. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare differences between groups in variables.
RESULT
Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant difference between two groups of flat feet and normal feet in the variables of static balance and position sense of ankle plantarflexion, ankle dorsiflexion, and knee flexion (p ≤ 0.05). A significant correlation was found between static balance and sense of ankle and knee position in the group with normal feet. The analysis of the regression line also showed that ankle and knee position sense could predict the static balance score in the regular foot group (ankle dorsiflexion position sense 17% (R = 0.17), ankle plantarflexion position sense 17% (R = 0.17) and knee flexion position sense 46% (R = 0.46) explain of changes in static balance).
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
Flexible flatfoot soles can cause loss of balance and sense of joint position; therefore, according to this preliminary study, clinicians must be aware and should take into account this possible deficit in the management of these patients.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Ankle; Cross-Sectional Studies; Flatfoot; Ankle Joint; Knee Joint; Proprioception; Posture; Postural Balance
PubMed: 37403076
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06678-2 -
Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia Jun 2023Commonly used methods for measuring proprioception have resulted in conflicting reports regarding knee proprioception with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture...
Commonly used methods for measuring proprioception have resulted in conflicting reports regarding knee proprioception with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and the influence of ACL reconstruction. One hundred subjects (50 patients with radiologically and arthroscopically confirmed unilateral ACL rupture and 50 normal controls) were assessed with regards to proprioception using dynamic single-leg stance postural stabilometry. Instrumented knee ligament laxity and knee outcome scores were also measured. Of the 50 patients in the ACL group, 34 underwent reconstruction and were reassessed postoperatively. There was a significant proprioceptive deficiency in the ACL group compared with their contralateral knee ( < 0.001) and to the control group ( = 0.01). There was a significant improvement in knee proprioception following ACL reconstruction compared to preoperative findings ( = 0.003). There was no correlation between ligament laxity measurements and outcome scores. A significant correlation was found preoperatively between outcome scores and proprioception measurements. This correlation was not found post-operatively. Pre-operative proprioception testing had a significant correlation (r = 0.46) with post-operative proprioception ( = 0.006). Patients with an ACL rupture had a proprioceptive deficit which improved following ligament reconstruction. Knee outcome scores had a better correlation with proprioception than ligament laxity. Proprioception may be a superior objective measure than ligament laxity in quantifying functional knee deficits and outcomes in patients with ACL ruptures.
PubMed: 37396073
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758360 -
Cortex; a Journal Devoted To the Study... Aug 2023Body ownership is the multisensory perception of a body as one's own. Recently, the emergence of body ownership illusions like the visuotactile rubber hand illusion has...
Body ownership is the multisensory perception of a body as one's own. Recently, the emergence of body ownership illusions like the visuotactile rubber hand illusion has been described by Bayesian causal inference models in which the observer computes the probability that visual and tactile signals come from a common source. Given the importance of proprioception for the perception of one's body, proprioceptive information and its relative reliability should impact this inferential process. We used a detection task based on the rubber hand illusion where participants had to report whether the rubber hand felt like their own or not. We manipulated the degree of asynchrony of visual and tactile stimuli delivered to the rubber hand and the real hand under two levels of proprioceptive noise using tendon vibration applied to the lower arm's antagonist extensor and flexor muscles. As hypothesized, the probability of the emergence of the rubber hand illusion increased with proprioceptive noise. Moreover, this result, well fitted by a Bayesian causal inference model, was best described by a change in the a priori probability of a common cause for vision and touch. These results offer new insights into how proprioceptive uncertainty shapes the multisensory perception of one's own body.
Topics: Humans; Illusions; Uncertainty; Visual Perception; Bayes Theorem; Reproducibility of Results; Touch Perception; Hand; Proprioception; Body Image
PubMed: 37269634
DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.04.005 -
European Journal of Pediatrics Aug 2023ASD patients include a variety of motor deficits; however, these issues have received less scientific attention than other ASD symptoms. Due to understanding and...
ASD patients include a variety of motor deficits; however, these issues have received less scientific attention than other ASD symptoms. Due to understanding and behavioral difficulties, it might be difficult to administer motor assessment measures to children and adolescents with ASD. To evaluate motor challenges in this population, including gait and dynamic balance issues, the timed up and go test (TUG) may be a simple, easy to apply, quick, and inexpensive tool. This test measures in seconds the time it takes for an individual to get up from a standard chair walk 3 m, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down again. The study purpose was to evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of TUG test in children and teenagers with ASD. A total of 50 children and teenagers with ASD (43 boys and 7 girls) between 6 and 18 years were included. Reliability was verified by the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimum detectable change. The agreement was analyzed by the Bland-Altman method. A good intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.79-0.93) and an excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0,99; 95% CI = 0.98 to 0.99) were observed. Additionally, Bland-Altman plots demonstrated that there was no evidence of bias in either the replicates or between examiners. Furthermore, the limits of agreement (LOAs) between the testers and test replicates were close, indicating that there was little variation between measurements. Conclusions: The test TUG showed strong intra- and inter-rater reliability values, low proportion of measurement errors, and lack of significant bias based on by test repetition in children and teenagers with ASD. These results could be clinically useful for assessing balance and the risk of falls in children and teenagers with ASD. However, the present study is not free of limitations, such as the use of a non-probabilistic sampling. What is Known: • People with ASD have a variety of motor deficits that have a prevalence rate almost as common as intellectual disability. In our knowledge, there are no studies that provide data on the reliability of the use of scales or assessment tests in children and adolescents with ASD to measure motor difficulties, such as gait and dynamic balance, in children and teenagers with ASD. • Timed up and go test (TUG) could be a possible tool to measure this motor skills. What is New: • The reliability and agreement of the Timed up and go test in 50 children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder showed strong intra- and inter-rater reliability values, low proportion of measurement errors, and lack of significant bias based on by test repetition.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Reproducibility of Results; Postural Balance; Time and Motion Studies; Walking
PubMed: 37227499
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05027-8 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Taichi is beneficial for functional mobility and balance in older adults. However, such benefits of Taichi when comparing to conventional exercise (CE) are not well... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis
The comparison between effects of Taichi and conventional exercise on functional mobility and balance in healthy older adults: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Taichi is beneficial for functional mobility and balance in older adults. However, such benefits of Taichi when comparing to conventional exercise (CE) are not well understood due to large variance in study protocols and observations.
METHODS
We reviewed publications in five databases. Eligible studies that examined the effects of Taichi on the outcomes of functional mobility and balance in healthy older adults as compared to CE were included. Subgroup analyses compared the effects of different types of CE (e.g., single and multiple-type exercise) and different intervention designs (e.g., Taichi types) on those outcomes (Registration number: CRD42022331956).
RESULTS
Twelve studies consisting of 2,901 participants were included. Generally, compared to CE, Taichi induced greater improvements in the performance of Timed-Up-and-Go (SMD = -0.18, [-0.33 to -0.03], = 0.040, I = 59.57%), 50-foot walking (MD = -1.84 s, [-2.62 to -1.07], < 0.001, I = 0%), one-leg stance with eyes open (MD = 6.00s, [2.97 to 9.02], < 0.001, I = 83.19%), one-leg stance with eyes closed (MD = 1.65 s, [1.35 to 1.96], < 0.001, I = 36.2%), and functional reach (SMD = 0.7, [0.32 to 1.08], < 0.001, I = 86.79%) tests. Subgroup analyses revealed that Taichi with relatively short duration (<20 weeks), low total time (≤24 h), and/or using Yang-style, can induce significantly greater benefits for functional mobility and balance as compared to CE. Uniquely, Taichi only induced significantly greater improvements in Timed-Up-and-Go compared to single- (SMD = -0.40, [-0.55 to -0.24], < 0.001, I = 6.14%), but not multiple-type exercise. A significant difference between the effects of Taichi was observed on the performance of one-leg stance with eyes open when compared to CE without balance (MD = 3.63 s, [1.02 to 6.24], = 0.006, I = 74.93%) and CE with balance (MD = 13.90s, [10.32 to 17.48], < 0.001, I = 6.1%). No other significant difference was shown between the influences of different CE types on the observations.
CONCLUSION
Taichi can induce greater improvement in functional mobility and balance in older adults compared to CE in a more efficient fashion, especially compared to single-type CE. Future studies with more rigorous design are needed to confirm the observations here.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Health Status; Lower Extremity; Postural Balance; Motor Activity; Tai Ji
PubMed: 38164444
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1281144 -
Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal... Jun 2024To verify the relationship between the indicators of components of lumbar motor control and determine the factors related to the indicators to each of these components.
OBJECTIVES
To verify the relationship between the indicators of components of lumbar motor control and determine the factors related to the indicators to each of these components.
METHODS
Twenty-five healthy university students were included in the study. The lumbar spine and hip kinematic parameters of posterior/anterior pelvic tilt (mobility and smoothness), ball catching (reactivity), and forward/backward rocking (adaptive stability) were measured as indicators of lumbar motor control. Lumbar proprioception, trunk muscle strength, and lower trunk muscle thickness were also measured. Kinematic parameters of the lumbar spine and hip were measured using a small accelerometer. The data verified the relevance of indicators of lumbar motor control and the relationship with relevant factors.
RESULTS
No significant correlations were found for most lumbar motor control indicators. Lumbar proprioception and rectus abdominis muscle thickness were identified as relevant indicators of lumbar motor control.
CONCLUSIONS
Each component of lumbar motor control is independent and must be evaluated for the component whose function is required. Additionally, some components of lumbar motor control are associated with lumbar proprioception and rectus abdominis muscle thickness; thus, evaluation of these components is necessary when evaluating lumbar motor control.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Young Adult; Proprioception; Lumbar Vertebrae; Biomechanical Phenomena; Adult; Muscle Strength; Postural Balance; Lumbosacral Region; Muscle, Skeletal
PubMed: 38825996
DOI: No ID Found -
Trials Nov 2023People who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction have an increased risk of osteoarthritis. Abnormality of lower limb kinematics will occur after the...
BACKGROUND
People who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction have an increased risk of osteoarthritis. Abnormality of lower limb kinematics will occur after the operation. This may be related to lower limb muscle strength, the co-excitation of hamstrings and quadriceps femoris, and the weakness of proprioception. Proprioceptive training can improve the proprioception of lower limbs and promote the recovery of lower limb kinematics. Our research objective is to observe whether proprioceptive training can improve the proprioception of lower limbs within 3 months after surgery and whether the recovery of proprioception can correct the abnormal lower limb kinematics. The secondary objective is to explore the underlying mechanism of postoperative lower limb gait abnormalities.
METHODS/DESIGN
This study is a prospective single-center randomized clinical trial to be conducted in the Sports Medicine and Orthopedics of Zhongda Hospital Southeast University. Forty participants aged 18-50, preparing to undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and initial anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring tendons as grafts will be randomly assigned to the intervention or comparator group. People in the intervention group will add proprioceptive training three times a week, 20 min each time. The intervention will be conducted on the first day after surgery. The researcher mainly collects the data of joint of sense, gait, and plantar pressure. The assessment will be divided into three stages: after signing the informed consent form (within 2 weeks before surgery), 6 weeks after surgery, and 12 weeks after surgery.
DISCUSSION
The main purpose of our study is to explore whether the proprioception of patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is weakened, whether the lower limb kinematics is abnormal and whether the lower limb kinematics can be corrected through proprioceptive training.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200065808. Registered on 15 November 2022; Version 1.
Topics: Humans; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Prospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; Gait; Proprioception; Knee Joint; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37946263
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07759-2 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Feb 2024: Improving extrapulmonary symptoms in COPD through respiratory muscle training can help alleviate the burden of respiratory symptoms, reduce fatigue, and improve...
: Improving extrapulmonary symptoms in COPD through respiratory muscle training can help alleviate the burden of respiratory symptoms, reduce fatigue, and improve exercise capacity in patients with COPD. This, in turn, can enhance physical activity, balance, and gait, ultimately improving the overall quality of life for individuals with COPD. This study aimed to investigate the effects of respiratory muscle training on balance and gait in patients with moderate to severe COPD. : We included 65 patients with moderate to severe COPD randomly assigned to either the pulmonary rehabilitation protocol group (PR) or the pulmonary rehabilitation and inspiratory muscle training group (PR + IMT) for three weeks. Patients performed a spirometry, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (MIP/MEP), 6 min walking test (6MWT), activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale questionnaire, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and single-leg stance test (SLS). : Rehabilitation had a notable impact on MIP in Group 2 (PR + IMT), with a highly significant difference between pre- and post-rehabilitation distributions ( < 0.0001). At the same time, Group 1 (PR-only) showed no significant changes ( = 0.27). In Group 1 (Control), pre- and post-rehabilitation comparisons reveal slight non-significant changes for SLS EO ( = 0.16), ABC ( = 0.07), TUG ( = 0.06), and BBS ( = 0.13). In contrast, in Group 2 (Cases), there are significant improvements in all variables after rehabilitation compared to the pre-rehabilitation values: SLS EO ( < 0.0001), ABC ( < 0.0001), TUG ( < 0.0001), and BBS ( < 0.0001). : Our research demonstrated that respiratory muscle training significantly positively impacts balance and gait performance among patients with moderate to severe COPD compared to a control group.
Topics: Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Postural Balance; Quality of Life; Time and Motion Studies; Breathing Exercises; Gait
PubMed: 38399544
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60020257