Altered Alignment of the Shoulder Girdle and Cervical Spine in Patients With Insidious Onset Neck Pain and Whiplash-Associated Disorder

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harpa Helgadottir ◽  
Eythor Kristjansson ◽  
Sarah Mottram ◽  
Andrew Karduna ◽  
Halldor Jonsson

Clinical theory suggests that altered alignment of the shoulder girdle has the potential to create or sustain symptomatic mechanical dysfunction in the cervical and thoracic spine. The alignment of the shoulder girdle is described by two clavicle rotations, i.e, elevation and retraction, and by three scapular rotations, i.e., upward rotation, internal rotation, and anterior tilt. Elevation and retraction have until now been assessed only in patients with neck pain. The aim of the study was to determine whether there is a pattern of altered alignment of the shoulder girdle and the cervical and thoracic spine in patients with neck pain. A three-dimensional device measured clavicle and scapular orientation, and cervical and thoracic alignment in patients with insidious onset neck pain (IONP) and whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). An asymptomatic control group was selected for baseline measurements. The symptomatic groups revealed a significantly reduced clavicle retraction and scapular upward rotation as well as decreased cranial angle. A difference was found between the symptomatic groups on the left side, whereas the WAD group revealed an increased scapular anterior tilt and the IONP group a decreased clavicle elevation. These changes may be an important mechanism for maintenance and recurrence or exacerbation of symptoms in patients with neck pain.

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 784-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harpa Helgadottir ◽  
Eythor Kristjansson ◽  
Sarah Mottram ◽  
Andrew Karduna ◽  
Halldor Jonsson

Author(s):  
Kanwalpreet Kaur ◽  
Pooja Das ◽  
P. Lenka ◽  
Shahhawaz Anwer

Objectives: Aberrant activity of the trapezius muscle and associated postural abnormalities have been identified as potential factors for neck pain in computer users, thus postural correction is often advocated. The purpose of this trial was to examine the effect of specific scapular postural correction exercises on middle and lower trapezius activity. Methods: Sixty participants matched for the duration of daily computer use were included in the study. Twenty had no neck pain and exhibited “good” scapular posture (constituting Control group C), while forty reported pain (Neck Disability Index ≥ 15/100) for ≥ 3 months over 12 month period. The latter were randomly allocated to one of the two groups (A and B). Electromyographic recordings were taken from the middle and lower trapezius at rest and during typing. After 20-minutes of typing participants in group A (n=20) practiced scapular postural correction exercises while participants in group B (n=20) relaxed. Electromyographic recordings were repeated in a second typing task. Results: Following correction of the scapular posture in group A, middle trapezius activity became similar to the control group (P = 0.229) with no effect on lower trapezius activity (P < 0.001). Significant normalization did not occur after relaxation exercises (P = 0.004). Conclusion: Intermittent scapular postural correction exercises were effective in altering the middle and lower trapezius activity during computer use and may be advised for prevention of neck pain.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Maria Stella Valle ◽  
Antonino Casabona ◽  
Ilenia Sapienza ◽  
Luca Laudani ◽  
Alessandro Vagnini ◽  
...  

The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test quantifies physical mobility by measuring the total performance time. In this study, we quantified the single TUG subcomponents and, for the first time, explored the effects of gait cycle and pelvis asymmetries on them. Transfemoral (TF) and transtibial (TT) amputees were compared with a control group. A single wearable inertial sensor, applied to the back, captured kinematic data from the body and pelvis during the 10-m walk test and the TUG test. From these data, two categories of symmetry indexes (SI) were computed: One SI captured the differences between the antero-posterior accelerations of the two sides during the gait cycle, while another set of SI quantified the symmetry over the three-dimensional pelvis motions. Moreover, the total time of the TUG test, the time of each subcomponent, and the velocity of the turning subcomponents were measured. Only the TF amputees showed significant reductions in each SI category when compared to the controls. During the TUG test, the TF group showed a longer duration and velocity reduction mainly over the turning subtasks. However, for all the amputees there were significant correlations between the level of asymmetries and the velocity during the turning tasks. Overall, gait cycle and pelvis asymmetries had a specific detrimental effect on the turning performance instead of on linear walking.


2013 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakan El ◽  
Juan Martin Palomo

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate, by using cone beam computed tomography, the skeletal, dental, oropharyngeal (OP) airway volume, and nasal passage (NP) volume changes that occur after rapid maxillary expansion (RME). Materials and Methods: Two groups were selected, each with 35 patients (15 males, 20 females), an RME group (mean age, 14.02 ± 1.46 years) and a control group (mean age, 14.10 ± 1.44 years). The RME group consisted of patients with maxillary constriction who were treated with Hyrax palatal expanders, and the control group comprised age- and sex-matched patients who underwent comprehensive orthodontic treatment without the use of a rapid maxillary expander. Results: All of the transverse skeletal (medial orbital width, lateral nasal width, maxillary width, and mandibular width) and interdental (intermolar, interpremolar, and intercanine) parameters were significantly enlarged in the RME group. A statistically significant increase in airway variables was seen in both groups between pretreatment (T0) and final records (T1). The mean increase of NP airway volume for the RME group (1719.9 ± 1510.7 mm3) was twofold compared with the control group (813.6 ± 1006.7 mm3), and no intergroup significant difference was found for the OP volume. Conclusions: Rapid maxillary expansion creates a significant increase in nasal passage airway volume but no significant change in the oropharyngeal airway volume.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Zeeshan ◽  
Siddhartha Sen ◽  
Pooja Bhardwaj Dhawan

Introduction: Mechanical neck pain is a significant societal burden and may include symptoms in the neck and upper extremity. It has been reported that the lifetime and point prevalence of neck pain are almost as high as those of low back pain. It appears to run a chronic episodic course, which is characterised by episodes of persistent, recurrent, or fluctuating pain and disability. It has been found that an altered muscle activity in the Trapezius and the Serratus anterior muscles can be associated with the presence of pain in the neck during functional activities. Aim: To find out the effects of Kinesiotaping on the improvement of sensorimotor function and neck disability in patients with chronic neck pain. Materials and Methods: This was a pre-test, post-test control group design with 30 subjects randomly selected and divided into two groups, an experimental group (Group A) and a control group (Group B) with 15 subjects in each. Experimental group received Kinesio Tape (KT) for 1 week whereas control group received Sham tape. Measurements were taken on the first day and 1 week after the intervention for Cervical Joint Position Sense (CJPE), range of motion and neck disability using an inclinometer instrument, universal goniometer, Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire, respectively. The data was analysed using SPSS 17 software package. Independent t-test was done to find effect between the groups and paired t-test was done to find out the effect within the group. Results: The study clearly demonstrated a significant improvement in CJPE, Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) and NDI within group A (p<0.05) whereas improvement showed significance in CROM and NDI for group B. While comparing both the groups, significant improvement in proprioception and NDI was shown but not in CROM. Conclusion: The study concludes that patients with chronic mechanical neck pain can be benefitted by the use of Kinesiotaping with improvement of sensorimotor function.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 403-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taha Ibrahim Yildiz ◽  
Elif Turgut ◽  
Irem Duzgun

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of additional 6-week scapular stabilization training in patients with nonspecific neck pain (NNP).Materials and Methods:A total of 30 patients with NNP were randomly allocated to the study. Fifteen participants in the intervention group received neck-focused exercise and scapular stabilization training, whereas 15 participants in the control group received neck-focused exercise training. All groups were evaluated at baseline and after 6 weeks of rehabilitation. The pain intensity on the neck was measured with the visual analog scale (VAS). The self-reported disability status was measured with the neck disability index (NDI). Three-dimensional scapular kinematics were recorded during dynamic shoulder elevation trials using an electromagnetic tracking device, and data were further analyzed at 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120° of humerothoracic elevations.Results:Comparisons revealed that, regardless of the received treatment, after 6 weeks of training both groups showed significant improvements in VAS (P < .001) and NDI (P < .001) scores. Both VAS and NDI outcomes have a large effect size (r = .618 andr = .619, respectively). For scapular kinematics, there were no group differences, especially for scapular upward–downward rotation and anterior–posterior tilt (P > .05). However, in the intervention group, the scapula was more externally rotated at 120° humerothoracic elevation (P = .04).Conclusion:Findings of this study showed that both manual therapy and active interventions, including neck-focused exercise and scapular stabilization training, are effective in decreasing pain and disability level in patients with NNP. More comprehensive studies with longer follow-up durations are needed to better understand the potential effects of scapular stabilization training in patients with NNP.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Branco ◽  
Rita Santos-Rocha ◽  
Liliana Aguiar ◽  
Filomena Vieira ◽  
António Veloso

The kinematic analysis of gait during pregnancy provides more information about the anatomical changes and contributes to exercise and rehabilitation prescription. The purposes were to quantify the lower limb kinematics of gait and to compare it between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and with a control group. A three-dimensional analysis was performed in twenty-two pregnant women and twelve nonpregnant. Repeated Measures and Manova tests were performed for comparisons between trimesters and between pregnant and controls. The walking speed, stride width, right-/left-step time, cycle time and time of support, and flight phases remain unchanged between trimesters and between pregnant and controls. Stride and right-/left-step lengths decreased between trimesters. Double limb support time increased between trimesters, and it increased when compared with controls. Joint kinematics showed a significant decrease of right-hip extension and adduction during stance phase between trimesters and when compared with controls. Also, an increase in left-knee flexion and a decrease in right-ankle plantarflexion were found between trimesters. The results suggested that pregnant women need to maintain greater stability of body and to become more efficient in locomotion. Further data from the beginning of pregnancy anthropometric data may contribute to the analysis.


According to the Tambovagrochemcenter data, zinc deficiency in animal rations exceeds 33%. To de-termine the efficiency of ration additives 3 groups of calves were formed, one of which was control and received regular feed, first test group received additional Zinc Sulphate, and second test group received additional Zinc Bioplex. To assess the results, we take into account the following values: chemical com-position and nutritional values of the feed, body mass value, amount of immunoglobulins in blood, bio-chemical and hematological values of blood, morphological values of fur and skin. Noticeable results were achieved in 4 months, with first and second test groups receiving accordingly 3,15% and 6,13% more body mass increase over the control group. A tendency towards higher albumin concentration in both test groups was noted, and calves of the second test group had higher amounts of hemoglobin and higher concentrations of it per erythrocyte. In samples of epidermis and hairs of the second test group the papillary layer was well developed, with the amount of hair and hair follicles exceeding 7 in the field of view, with the thickness of hairs being at least 70 μm. Inner papilla of hair contained 6 to 8 layers of hair, thickness of awn hairs reaching 80-90 μm, down hairs reaching 40 μm, with the hair cortex making up more than 80% of the hair thickness. Thus, introducing zinc salts and chelated zinc compounds to the milk-fed calves’ ration, has resulted in monetary profit increases over the control group by 255,0 and 612,0 roubles accordingly. By all researched values, the highest results were reached from adding zinc bioplex with approximately 360 mg added per animal for the entire duration of the growth process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 02 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurel Stringer ◽  
Sarah Malley ◽  
Darrell M. Hutto ◽  
Jason A. Griggs ◽  
Susana M. Salazar Marocho

Background: The most common approach to remove yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) fixed-dental prostheses (FDPs) is by means of diamond burs attached to a high-speed handpiece. This process is time-consuming and destructive. The use of lasers over mechanical instrumentation for removal of FDPs can lead to efficient and predictable restoration retrievability. However, the heat produced might damage the tooth pulp (>42˚C). Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum temperature (T) reached during the use of different settings of the erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet Er,Cr:YSGG laser through a YSZ ceramic. Methods: YSZ slices (1 mm thick) were assigned into 7 groups. For the control group, a diamond bur was used to cut a 1 mm groove into the YSZ slices. For the 6 experimental groups, the laser was operated at a constant combination of 33% water and 66% air during 30 s with two different power settings (W) at three frequencies (PPS), as follows (W/PPS): 2.5/20, 2.5/30, 2.5/45, 4.5/20, 4.5/30, 4.5/45. The T through the YSZ slice was recorded in degrees Celsius by using a digital thermometer with a K thermocouple. Results: The median T of the control group was 26.5˚C. The use of 4.5 W resulted in the median T (˚C) of 44.2 at 20 PPS, 53.3 at 30 PPS, and 58.9 at 45 PPS, while 2.5 W showed 34.6, 31.6, and 25.0 at 20, 30, and 45 PPS, respectively. KruskalWallis one-way ANOVA showed that within each power setting, the T was similar. The high power and lowest frequency (4.5/20) showed no significant difference from the 2.5 W settings and the control group. Conclusion: The lower power setting (2.5 W) is a potential method for the use of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser to debond YSZ structures. The higher power (4.5 W) with high frequencies (30 and 45 PPS) is unsuitable.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richa Gupta ◽  
Piyush Kumar ◽  
D. P. Singh ◽  
Arvind Kumar Chauhan ◽  
Kamal Sahni

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among Indian women. Radiotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment in all its stages. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) combines multiple radiation fields to deliver precise dose of radiation to the affected area. Tailoring each of the radiation fields to focus on the tumor delivers a high dose of radiation to the tumor and avoids nearby healthy tissue. The present study is done to compare conventional radiotherapy versus 3DCRT in cancer cervix for compliance, clinical response and toxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty patients were enrolled and randomised into two radiotherapy plans with radical intent - Group A treated by conventional radiotherapy and group B treated by 3DCRT. Concurrent cisplatin was delivered on weekly (35mg/m2) or tri-weekly (75mg/m2) basis during external beam Radiotherapy and was followed by High Dose Radiotherapy Brachytherapy. Clinical response and complication assessment were evaluated.Collected data was analyzed using standard statistical methods and softwares to calculate level of significance using “p” value by chi square test. RESULTS: In this study mean age of the patients was 48 years (26-67 years). The anemia was the most common side effect seen in both groups (96% vs 88%, p=0.29). Neutropenia was more in group B (36% vs 44%, p= 0.56). Lower GI toxicity was seen only in patients in group A (20% vs 0%, p=0.018). In follow up there were no significant early rectal and bladder reactions in both groups and 2 patients in each group had late rectal reactions of grade I and II (p= 0.312). No significant skin, bladder and small intestinal toxicity were seen in both groups. CONCLUSION: Conventional radiotherapy gives equally efficacious response though accompanied by toxicities which were acceptable.


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