COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOW DENSITY LASER APPLICATION AND HIGH POWER PAIN THRESHOLD ULTRASOUND (STATIC ULTRASOUND) IN PATIENTS WITH MYOFACIAL PAIN SYNDROME

Background: Deep dry needling (DDN) and ischemic compression technic (ICT) may be considered as interventions used for the treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) in latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). The immediate effectiveness of both DDN and ICT on pressure pain threshold (PPT) and skin temperature of the latent MTrPs of the triceps surae has not yet been determined, especially in athletes due to their treatment requirements during training and competition. Objective: To compare the immediate efficacy between DDN and ICT in the latent MTrPs of triathletes considering PPT and thermography measurements. Method: A total sample of 34 triathletes was divided into two groups: DDN and ICT. The triathletes only received a treatment session of DDN (n = 17) or ICT (n = 17). PPT and skin temperature of the selected latent MTrPs were assessed before and after treatment. Results: Statistically significant differences between both groups were shown after treatment, showing a PPT reduction (p < 0.05) in the DDN group, while PPT values were maintained in the ICT group. There were not statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) for thermographic values before and treatment for both interventions. Conclusions: Findings of this study suggested that ICT could be more advisable than DDN regarding latent MTrPs local mechanosensitivity immediately after treatment due to the requirements of training and competition in athletes’ population. Nevertheless, further studies comparing both interventions in the long term should be carried out in this specific population due to the possible influence of delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage on PPT and thermography values secondary to the high level of training and competition.

Download Full-text

High-Porosity Thermal Barrier Coatings from High-Power Plasma Spray Equipment—Processing, Performance and Economics

Coatings ◽

10.3390/coatings10100957 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 957

Author(s):

Nicholas Curry ◽

Matthias Leitner ◽

Karl Körner

Keyword(s):

Thermal Barrier Coatings ◽

High Power ◽

Deposition Efficiency ◽

Sintering Behavior ◽

Thermal Barrier ◽

Low Density ◽

High Porosity ◽

Plasma System ◽

Barrier Coatings ◽

The Impact

High-porosity thermal barrier coatings are utilized on gas turbine components where maximizing the coating thermal insulation capability is the primary design criteria. Though such coatings have been in industrial use for some time, manufacturing high-porosity coatings quickly and efficiently has proven challenging. With the industry demand to increase productivity and reduce waste generation, there is a drive to look at improved coating manufacturing methods. This article looks at high-porosity coatings manufactured using a high-power plasma system in comparison with a current industrial coating. A commercial spray powder is compared with an experimental Low-Density powder developed to maximize coating porosity without sacrificing coating deposition efficiency. The resultant coatings have been assessed for their microstructure, adhesion strength, furnace cyclic lifetime, thermal conductivity and sintering behavior. Finally, the impact of spray processing on coating economics is discussed. The use of a Low-Density powder with a high-power plasma system allows a high-porosity coating to be manufactured more efficiently and more cost effectively than with conventional powder feedstock. The improvement in thermal properties for the experimental coating demonstrates there is scope to improve industrial coatings by designing with specific thermal resistance rather than thickness and porosity as coating requirements.

Download Full-text