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To date, studies evaluating the reliability of shear wave elastography (SWE) measures of the lateral abdominal muscles (LAMs) in adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) have never been performed. The aim of the study was to assess the intrarater reliability of SWE and thickness of the LAMs at rest and during isometric contraction (10% of maximal voluntary contraction). This was a single-group, repeated-measures intrarater reliability study. Twenty-four patients with AIS between ages 10 and 17 years took part in the study. Two and 3 repeated SWE measurements were recorded in the supine resting position and during isometric contraction, respectively. Two sessions were performed with a 7-day interval. By using the mean of 2 measures in the supine, resting position, intraexaminer reliability point estimates (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 3.2) ranged from 0.75 to 0.84 for external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles. During the isometric contraction, the ICC 3.3 results ranged from 0.70 to 0.83. The ICC results for muscle thicknesses in both conditions ranged from 0.89 to 0.96. Measurements of LAM elasticity are reliable in patients with AIS. The superficial fat layer did not influence the measurement error between 2 sets of measurements in the examined adolescent population. The images extracted from SWE can successfully be used to assess LAM thicknesses with high reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability (intra and inter) of two-point discrimination (2PD) test in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. Participants: Eighty-six adults with unilateral right hand CTS. Methods: Two examiners performed measurements of 2PD sensation (using Dellon discriminator) on the first three fingers on both hands. The first examiner performed three series of measurements at 1-minute intervals. After 7 days, measurements were repeated by the same examiner (intra-rater). For inter-rater reliability, the examination (by second examiner) was also repeated after 7 days. Results: For the first measurement, inter-rater reliability (ICC2,1) at the affected site ranged from 0.96 to 0.97; values at the non-affected site ranged from 0.79 to 0.89. Analysis of the averages of two measurements (ICC2,2) yielded values at the affected site of 0.98; values at the non-affected site ranged from 0.92 to 0.94. The average of two measurements reduces the smallest detectable difference (SDD) value < 1 mm in all cases. Intra-rater reliability was at least good for all tested fingers for the first measurement, but to record SDD < 1 mm it is necessary to use an average of the first two measurements. Conclusions: The execution of two repeated measurements provides adequate reliability in measurements of 2PD test in CTS patients. For clinical trials, we recommend using at least the average of two measurements of 2PD, which reduce SDD (below 1 mm). This may be particularly important in assessing the effectiveness of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of manual therapy based on neurodynamic techniques in conservative treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Several medical outpatient clinics in the south of Poland. Participants: The study included 103 patients with mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (mean age = 53.95, SD = 9.5) years, who were randomly assigned to a neurodynamic techniques group (experimental group, n = 58) or a group without treatment (control group, n = 45). Intervention: Neurodynamic techniques were used in the experimental group. Treatment was conducted twice weekly (20 sessions). Control group did not receive treatment. Main measures: Nerve conduction study, pain, symptom severity and functional status of Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, and strength of cylindrical and pincer grips were assessed at baseline and immediately after treatment (nerve conduction study one month after treatment). Results: Baseline assessment revealed no group differences in any assessed parameters (P > 0.05). There were significant differences between groups after treatment, including nerve conduction (e.g. sensory conduction velocity: experimental group: 38.3 m/s, SD = 11.1 vs control group: 25.9 m/s, SD = 7.72, P < 0.01). Significant changes also occurred in pain (experimental group: 1.38, SD = 1.01 vs control group: 5.46, SD = 1.05, P < 0.01), symptom severity (experimental group: 1.08, SD = 0.46 vs control group: 2.87, SD = 0.68, P < 0.01), and functional status (experimental group: 1.96, SD = 0.64 vs control group: 2.87, SD = 1.12, P < 0.01). There were no group differences in strength (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The use of neurodynamic techniques in conservative treatment for mild to moderate forms of carpal tunnel syndrome has significant therapeutic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of manual therapy, including neurodynamic techniques, compared with no treatment on overall health status (OHS) in patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods The study included 189 patients with CTS who were randomly assigned to the manual therapy (MT) group (including the use of neurodynamic techniques) or to the control group (CG; without therapy). The CTS diagnosis was made on the basis of nerve conduction studies and clinical examinations. Overall health status was assessed using the RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Therapy in the MT group was conducted twice weekly (20 therapy sessions). The CG had no therapy. Results A baseline assessment revealed no group differences in the physical and mental components of OHS (in all cases P > 0.05).There were also no significant differences in the Physical Component Summary or Mental Component Summary on the RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (P > 0.05). Immediately after therapy, analysis of variance revealed differences in the physical and mental components in the MT group (in all cases P < 0.001) and no differences in the CG (in all cases P > 0.05). After therapy, analysis of variance also revealed differences in Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary in the MT group (in both cases P < 0.001) and no differences in the CG (in both cases P > 0.05). Conclusion Manual therapy, including neurodynamic techniques, had a positive effect on OHS in this group of individuals with CTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an analysis of the Polish À German scholarly and public debate of the last decades dedicated to the fate of the German population in Upper Silesia after the ending of the Second World War. In the introduction, three determining factors of the current discussion are mentioned: first, the public debate on this topic, which evolved especially after the turning point of the democratization in Poland in 1989, and which created a certain social climate for these scholarly debates; secondly, the history of the Polish-German conflict in Upper Silesia, which conditioned the post-war situation in the region; and thirdly, the main historiographical paradigms to the subject before 1989 in both countries, whose fixation and whose deficits weighed heavily upon the research direction chosen in this period. From among these three aspects—the camps built for the German population, their resettlement, and the politics of nationality towards former German citizens, who were then recognized as owners of Polish nationality and who could remain in their homes—the article concentrates on the first one. The last few years saw the most fundamental revision concerning the camps for the German population, and our knowledge is here relatively complete. It is worth underlining that most advances here have been achieved by Polish historians from various disciplinary directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]