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Background: Flexion-relaxation response of the lumbar erector spinae has been previously studied after different interventions such as exercise programs or spinal manipulation, in subjects with chronic low back pain. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of an isolated myofascial release protocol on erector spinae myoelectric activity and lumbar spine kinematics in chronic low back pain., Methods: Thirty-six participants, with nonspecific chronic low back pain, were randomized to myofascial release group (n = 18) receiving four sessions of myofascial treatment, each lasting 40 min, and to control group (n = 18) receiving a sham myofascial release. Electromyographic and kinematic variables as well as pain and disability questionnaires were analyzed., Findings: There was a bilateral reduction of the flexion relaxation ratio in individuals receiving myofascial release and who did not show myoelectric silence at baseline (right difference M = 0.34, 95% CI [0.16, 0.33], p ≤ .05 and left difference M = 0.45, 95% CI [0.16, 0.73], p ≤ .05). There was also a significant reduction in pain in the myofascial release group (difference M = -9.1, 95% CI [-16.3, -1.8], p ≤ .05) and disability (difference M = -5.6, 95% CI [-9.1, -2.1], p ≤ .05), compared with control group. No significant differences between groups were found for the kinematic variables., Interpretation: The myofascial release protocol contributed to the normalization of the flexion- relaxation response in individuals who did not show myoelectric silence before the intervention, and also showed a significant reduction in pain and disability compared with the sham group., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Unstable shoes were developed as a walking device to strengthen the lower extremity muscles and reduce joint loading. Many studies have reported increased muscle activity throughout the gait cycle in most of the lower limb muscles in healthy adults using these shoes. However, no previous studies have explored the effects of wearing unstable shoes on trunk muscle activity in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the activity of selected trunk muscles in patients with CLBP during a gait test while walking wearing unstable shoes or conventional flat shoes (control)., Methods: Thirty-five CLBP patients (51.1 ± 12.4 y; 26 ± 3.8 kg/m2; 9.3 ± 5.2 Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire score) were recruited from the Orthopedic Surgery Service at the Hospital to participate in this cross-sectional study. All the participants underwent gait analysis by simultaneously collecting surface electromyography (EMG) data from erector spinae (ES), rectus abdominis (RA), obliquus internus (OI), and obliquus externus (OE) muscles, while walking on a treadmill with flat control shoes or experimental unstable shoes., Results: The results showed significantly higher %EMG activity in the ES (mean difference: 1.8%; 95% CI: 1.3-2.2), RA (mean difference: 1.5%; 95% CI: 0.3-2.7), and OI (mean difference: 1.5%; 95% CI: 0.2-2.8) in the unstable versus the flat-shoe condition, with a large effect size for the ES (Cohen's d = 1.27)., Conclusions: Based on these findings, the use of unstable shoes may be implicated in promoting spine stability, particularly in improving neuromuscular control of the trunk muscles in CLBP treatment., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate the short-term effects of a video-supported group-based Otago exercise programme (OEP) on physical performance variables in independent community-dwelling older adults., Design: Preliminary randomized controlled trial., Setting: Local senior centre., Participants: Fifty-one adults aged 65 and older with no cognitive impairment., Intervention: Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (IG) or to the control group (CG). During 4 months, IG participants performed the exercise routine., Measurements: The primary outcome measure was the Timed 'Up-and-Go' test (TUG). Secondary outcome measurements included functional balance, one-leg balance, lower-limb function and aerobic endurance. All data were collected before and after intervention., Results: TUG scores showed a significant reduction in the performance time in the IG compared to CG after intervention [IG 7.5 (2.0) vs CG 8.8 (1.9), mean difference -1.3seconds, 95% confidence interval (CI) of the difference -2.3 to -0.1; P=0.03]. Secondary outcomes also showed a significant improvement in the performance of the functional balance [IG 54.9 (2.5) vs CG 51.4 (5.3), mean difference 3.5 points, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.8; P=0.003], one-leg balance [IG 39.1 (21.6) vs CG 15.6 (12.1), mean difference 23.5seconds, 95% CI 13.3 to 33.7; P<0.001] and lower extremity strength [IG 8.7 (3.8) vs CG 10.9 (3.3), mean difference -2.2seconds, 95% CI -4.2 to -0.1; P=0.035] in the IG compared to CG., Conclusion: This study shows that, from a short-term perspective, a video-supported group-based OEP programme can significantly improve the levels of mobility, functional balance, one-leg balance and lower extremity strength in community-dwelling older adults., Trial Registration: ClincicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02218411., (Copyright © 2015 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To examine the effect of KT on gastrocnemius surface electromyography (SEMG) activity and ankle range of motion during walking in healthy subjects., Design: Randomized controlled trial, with concealed allocation and assessor blinding., Setting: University Biomechanics Laboratory., Participants: Thirty six healthy physiotherapy students were randomized to KT or control group., Outcome Measures: At baseline and immediately after 72 h with the tape in situ: amplitude of LG SEMG activity during the stance phase, duration of the LG activity, onset and offset times of LG activity, ankle plantar- and dorsiflexion peaks, and the cadence of gait., Results: ANOVA revealed a significant time × intervention interaction effect across two variables: duration of LG activation, F(1, 33) = 4.71, p = .037, η = .015; and onset F(1, 33) = 7.92, p = .008, η = .037. KT group showed significantly shorter duration of the LG activity as compared with control, and similar results were observed when comparing the onset of LG activation. No statistically significant differences between both groups were noted in the rest of the outcomes., Conclusion: KT does significantly shorten the duration of the LG activity during gait when applied 72 h in healthy adults. However, this result was not accompanied by a significant reduction in the amplitude of LG SEMG activity., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine whether 24 weeks resistance training during hemodialysis could improve exercise capacity, muscle strength, physical functioning and health-related quality of life compared to a low intensity aerobic program., Material and Methods: 27 patients (55.6 +/- 17.6 years) were recruited from two hemodialysis clinics in Valencia (Spain). Patients were randomized to resistance training (n = 19) or low-intensity aerobic training (n = 8). Resistance training consisted of three sets of 4 exercises at an intensity of 12 - 15 out of 20 at the rate of perceived exertion scale (Borg scale measuring self-rated exercise intensity) using weights and elastic bands on every session during 24 weeks. Primary outcomes included physical performance tests, evaluated by the "sit-to-stand-to-sit tests" and the 6 minutes walking test, and knee extensor muscles strength, evaluated by isometric dynamometry. Secondary outcomes included cardiorespiratory fitness, measured by time and METs (measure of energy expenditure as ml of oxygen per kg of weight and per minute; 1 MET is equal to 3.5 ml O(2)/kg/min) achieved on a graded exercise test, and quality of life, measured by the SF-36 questionnaire., Results: No differences were noted in change-over-time between the two groups in any of the physical performance tests. However, a significant change was found in change-over-time in right knee extensor muscles dynamometry, and intragroup analysis showed a significant improvement in resistance training groups in the physical performance tests and METs., Conclusions: These findings suggest that resistance training during hemodialysis improves patient's physical functioning.

Unlabelled: During the last decades, aerobic exercise programs have shown beneficial effects on quality of life of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients, but there is still little evidence on the benefits of resistance training programmes. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a short strengthening exercise program for ESRD during hemodialysis on exercise and functional capacity and on quality of life., Methods: 16 hemodialysis patients were assigned, according to their own election, to exercise (N>or=8) or control group (N>or=8). The experimental group performed a 6-month duration intradialytic exercise program supervised by a physiotherapist, consisting of a battery of isometric and isotonic exercises for the lower limbs. Control group remained sedentary. A graded exercise test (Naughton protocol), functional measurements (<<6 minutes walking test>> 6MWT and 'sit to stand to sit tests' STS-10 and STS-60), and the SF-36, to assess quality of life were measured pre and post intervention in the experimental group, while the control group only completed the SF-36 questionnaire., Results: Considering the experimental group, both time and METS increased after the intervention, although it was not significant. Meters measured in the 6MWT significantly increased after the intervention (399.57+/-39.56 meters pre-intervention; 471.71+/-70.63 meters post-intervention p<0.01). Both time on the STS-10 (22.52+/-4.77 seconds pre-intervention; 17.71+/-1.79 seconds post-intervention p<0.05) and repetitions on the STS-60 (28.57+/-5.12 repetitions pre-intervention; 31.42+/-2.443 repetitions post-intervention p<0.05) significantly improved after the intervention. After training, the mental component scale of the SF-36 significantly increased in the experimental group compared to baseline (41.74+/-9.25 before; 50.61+/-12.13 after, p<0.05), while the control group showed a significant decrease (48.19 +/- 16.1 before; 33.7+/- 13.8 after, p<0.05). Comparison between groups also showed a significant difference in the mental component scale after the intervention (p<0.05)., Conclusion: It is concluded that a strengthening exercise program during hemodialysis improves the functional capacity of ESRD patients (walking and standing from a seat) and improves the mental component of quality of life perceived by dialysis patients.