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BACKGROUND: Prolonged use of the smartphone causes neck and shoulder pain. However, no study has yet evaluated the effects of sitting upright, combined with frequent breaks, eye rest and self-stretching on pain and EMG during smartphone use. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to compare pain and muscle activity between the control group (rest only) and the intervention group (rest combined with correct posture, eye rest and self-stretching) in smartphone use for 41.30 minutes. METHOD: Forty-four healthy females aged 18–25 years old were recruited and randomly divided into two groups. The body pain chart and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were used to evaluate pain. Electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activity of Cervical Erector Spinae (CES) and Upper Trapezius (UT) muscles. RESULTS: The results showed that overall pain and neck pain in the control group increased significantly after smartphone use for 20 min and continually increased to 41.30 minutes (p < 0.05). Overall pain and neck pain in the intervention group was significantly lesser than control group after smartphone use for 41.30 minutes (p < 0.05). In the control group, EMG of CES at 41.30 minute was significantly higher than that of at 0 min (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in EMG of UT between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Conclusion smartphone user in the interventional group reported less pain when compared to control group after Smartphone use for 41.30 minutes. Therefore, the user aged 18–25 years should have a rest combined with correct posture, eye rest and self-stretching to prevent neck pain during prolonged smartphone use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The benefits of spinal realignment and stabilization in scoliosis need to be examined. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the long-term effect of a neuromuscular stabilization technique (NST) on Cobb's angle in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: Twenty females recruited from two hospitals participated in this study. On the basis of convenience of location, participants were allocated to either the experimental group (EG) that underwent the NST, or the control group (CG) that received education for a home exercise program. The NST for the EG was performed for an average of 30 min per session, three times a week for six months, and consisted of spinal realignment and stabilization. Then, 12- and 18-month measurements for long-term follow-ups were conducted for the EG. The outcome measure was Cobb's angle. RESULTS: Between-group comparison revealed a statistically significant difference at post-test (t = - 3.26, p < 0.01) but not pre-test (t = - 1.36, p = 0.19). Participants of the EG (- 6.20 ± 2.49 ∘) showed greater differences between pre- and post-test scores compared to participants of the CG (- 1.40 ± 0.52 ∘) (p < 0.05). Within-group comparisons showed a significant difference in both groups (p < 0.05). In the EG, Cobb's angle significantly changed across the follow-up sessions (p < 0.05), indicating more improvements by the 12-month (8.50 ± 4.03 ∘) and 18-month (6.60 ± 3.89 ∘) follow-ups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the NST may be a beneficial option to correct spinal alignments in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated that the kinematics of the knee joint affect the trunk and pelvis during gait. However, the factors that influence trunk movement in knee osteoarthritis patients during gait after surgery remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on trunk movement during gait by comparing knee osteoarthritis patients with healthy controls. METHODS: Fourteen medial knee osteoarthritis patients who underwent initial unilateral TKA and 11 controls participated in this study. Knee and hip joint flexion and trunk and pelvic tilts during gait were acquired using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Knee joint range of motion, pain, and kinematic data were collected preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively for knee osteoarthritis patients. RESULTS: Knee extension limitation and pain significantly improved postoperatively compared with preoperative stages. Preoperatively, the peak anterior trunk tilt during the stance phase was significantly larger in osteoarthritis patients than in controls. The peak anterior trunk tilt during the stance phase was significantly smaller postoperatively than at preoperative stages. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that after TKA, the trunk movements of knee osteoarthritis patients were approximately equal to those of controls, with improvement in clinical outcomes such as knee extension limitation and pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study implements an algorithm for the autonomous control of spinal alignment during sleep by the active adjustment of mechanical bed characteristics according to the adopted sleep posture. Bed systems were used that allow active control of the mechanical stiffness in eight comfort zones by means of separately adjustable actuators. Mattress indentation measurements provide the input to detect body movement, recognize sleep posture, and - by combination with a subject specific human model - estimate spine shape. Comparison between the estimated spine shape and the desired shape results in new target values for the actuators. The control loop is repeated until the desired spine shape is reached. Results of overnight experiments revealed a significant improvement of spinal alignment during nights with active control of bed properties compared to a reference night without control. In addition, a significant improvement on subjectively perceived sleep quality was demonstrated after sleeping on the actively controlled systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper body support plays an import role in the recuperation of our body during sleep. Therefore, this study uses an automatically adapting bedding system that optimises spinal alignment throughout the night by altering the stiffness of eight comfort zones. The aim is to investigate the influence of such a dynamic sleep environment on objective and subjective sleep parameters. The bedding system contains 165 sensors that measure mattress indentation. It also includes eight actuators that control the comfort zones. Based on the measured mattress indentation, body movements and posture changes are detected. Control of spinal alignment is established by fitting personalized human models in the measured indentation. A total of 11 normal sleepers participated in this study. Sleep experiments were performed in a sleep laboratory where subjects slept three nights: a first night for adaptation, a reference night and an active support night (in counterbalanced order). Polysomnographic measurements were recorded during the nights, combined with questionnaires aiming at assessing subjective information. Subjective information on sleep quality, daytime quality and perceived number of awakenings shows significant improvements during the active support (ACS) night. Objective results showed a trend towards increased slow wave sleep. On the other hand, it was noticed that % N1-sleep was significantly increased during ACS night, while % N2-sleep was significantly decreased. No prolonged N1 periods were found during or immediately after steering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human bipedalism appears to be a prerequisite for the development of idiopathic scoliosis. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of different positions of the human spine on vertebral rotation in vivo. Thirty asymptomatic volunteers underwent MRI scanning of the spine in three different body positions; upright, quadrupedal-like and supine. Vertebral rotation in the local transverse plane was measured and compared at different spinal levels between the three body positions. It was shown that in all three positions the mid and lower thoracic vertebrae were predominantly rotated to the right. However, rotation was significantly less in certain areas of the spine in the quadrupedal-like position than in both the standing upright and supine positions. We hypothesize that the erect position of the human spine, but also the supine position, increases dorsally directed shear loads that may increase the tendency of certain spinal segments to rotate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite years of extensive research, the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis still has not been resolved. A hypothesis on the role of posteriorly directed shear loads was studied in several biomechanical and imaging studies. So far, it has been shown that: on the human erect spine these posteriorly directed shear loads act; these loads decrease the rotational stability of the spine vitro and in vivo; once rotation occurs, it logically follows an already built-in vertebral rotational pattern, that is pre-existent in the human spine; this pre-existent rotational pattern is related to organ anatomy, and not to handedness; certain areas in the female spine are more subject to posteriorly directed shear loads as certain areas in the female spine are more backwardly inclined. Although it is appreciated that the cause of idiopathic scoliosis is multi-factorial, we believe that the delicate upright spinal sagittal balance and the unique posteriorly directed shear loads acting on the erect human spine play a crucial role in the rotational stability of the human spine, and thus in the pathogenesis of idiopathic scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]