Evaluation of Symmetrical Exercises in Scoliosis by Using Thermal Scanning

(1) Background: Scoliosis affects about 3% of the population and the number of children diagnosed with this condition is increasing. Numerous studies have been conducted in recent years to observe the effectiveness of rehabilitation specific exercises for this condition. In the present study we aim to observe if symmetrical exercises activate the back muscles in the same way in the case of children with mild scoliosis and those without postural deviations; (2) Methods: We used the thermal imaging camera, which allows a non-invasive, painless investigation that provides real-time information about muscle activity. The study qualitatively assessed muscle activation during exercises. In this study, 30 children were divided into two groups: 15 children diagnosed with mild scoliosis and 15 children without postural deviations; (3) Results: Acquisition of images after each exercise revealed an imbalance in the functioning of the back muscles in children with scoliosis, with areas of higher temperature after exercise on the convexity side of the scoliotic curve. In the second experiment in which children with scoliosis performed the required exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist, they showed a symmetrical activation of the back muscles on the right and left side of the back; (4) Conclusions: In children without postural deviations, symmetrical exercises activate the muscles equally on the right and left sides of the back. In the case of children with scoliosis, the symmetrical exercises indicated in the rehabilitation programs should be performed only under the supervision of a physiotherapist to properly activate the back muscles.

Efficiency of back muscles training and balance therapy in rehabilitation of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures

Medical rehabilitation of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VF) remains an insufficiently developed topic and requires additional research. Aim of the study was to assess the efficiency of back muscles training and balance therapy in rehabilitation of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Prospective, interventional, open-label, controlled study in two parallel groups, performed in inpatient department settings at “National Medical Research Center of Rehabilitation and Balneology” during 2018. The study involved 120 patients (11 men and 109 women) aged 40-80 (mean age 65.4±9.1 years) who were admitted for medical rehabilitation for systemic OP and VF. The rehabilitation program in the main group included: 1) Mechanotherapy on the Back-Therapy-Center Dr. Wolf complex with biofeedback (Germany); 2) Balance therapy on a double unstable COBS platform, with biofeedback (Germany); 3) Hydrokinesiotherapy in a pool; 4) Gymnastic exercises (Gorinevskaya-Dreving method). Results. The use of the three-week program of physical rehabilitation using mechanotherapy, balance therapy and special complexes of physiotherapy exercises in the gym and in the pool in patients with osteoporotic VF significantly increases the strength of the muscle corset, helps to eliminate the existing muscle deficit in TE and TF and results in a more physiological distribution of the strength ratio between TE and TF. The rehabilitation program improves the function of static and dynamic balance, both with closed and open eyes, which can be observed in the return of the center of gravity to a physiological position and in improved reaction speed to changes in body position. Usage of mechanotherapeutic methods in rehabilitation of patients with osteoporotic VF is effective for basic motor function improvement and disability reduction.

Correlation between Psoas Muscle Index and Degeneration of Spinal Back Muscle in Patients with Back Pain

Sarcopenia is characterized by a decline in systemic muscle mass and physical performance. Disc degeneration also causes back muscle atrophy. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the influence of systemic muscle mass decline on back muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration compared to disc degeneration. We included 127 patients (65.54 ± 14.93 years) with back pain who underwent lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Axial T2-weighted MRI data of the L4–5 and L5-S1 levels were used to measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the psoas and spinal muscles. The psoas index (cm2/m2) was used as a surrogate for systemic muscle mass. The Pfirrmann grading system was used to evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The functional area of the back muscles was calculated by subtracting the fat infiltration area from the CSA; the functional CSA ratio was calculated by dividing the functional CSA by the CSA. Image-processing software (ImageJ; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) was used for analysis. Psoas index and aging significantly affected CSA and the ratio of functional CSA of the back muscles and multifidi. Disc degeneration did not significantly affect the back muscles beyond aging in patients with back pain. Males showed substantially higher CSA of the back muscles and multifidi than females; however, sex did not affect the functional CSA ratio of these muscles. Systemic muscle mass decline showed a more powerful influence on back muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration than disc degeneration. Therefore, proper evaluation of sarcopenia is needed for patients with chronic back pain and back muscle degeneration.

Back muscle function in adolescent girls treated with a rigid brace for idiopathic scoliosis: no impact of 6-month brace wear on muscle strength or endurance

The study aimed to determine the impact of 6-month rigid brace on back muscle strength and endurance in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Sixty–one girls, aged 7.0–16.0, were analyzed in two groups: the study group (6–month rigid brace wear) vs. the control group (no brace treatment), recruited consecutively and matched for age, body height, weight, BMI, primary curve location and Cobb angle. All patients underwent clinical and radiological examination, modified Biering–Sorensen test, prone and standing maximum strength and endurance tests. No significant difference between groups in back muscles strength or endurance, both gobal and reported to body weight was found. No relation between the daily brace time and the back muscle strength or endurance was observed. The 6–month use of a rigid brace did not affect the strength or endurance of the back muscles in adolescent girls treated for idiopathic scoliosis.

POS0066-PARE REHABILITATION WITH KINESIOTHERAPY IN MUSCLE FUNCTION AND WEIGHT LOSS IMPROVING IN OBESITY PATIENTS

Background:exercise is one of the main factors for the successful treatment of obesity. It is known that with increasing age, muscle strength (sarcopenic obesity) decreases in an obese patient, which can lead to early disability and an increased risk of falls. Regular exercise therapy increases the functional capacity of the cardiovascular system, prevention of obesity among the population, as well as treatment for persons with sarcopenia and obesity. Therefore, it is relevant to study muscle function in obese patients while using kinesiotherapy.Objectives:was to estimate the affect of complex 3-week treatment with 4 kinesiotherapy methods on body weight loss and muscle function in patients with obesity.Methods:80 men and women aged 21-69 years old with alimentary obesity were enrolled in the study (mean age 52.4±11 years, weight 111.3±24.5 kg, BMI 40.3±8.1 kg/m2, waist circumstance WC 113.4±16 cm, hip circumstance HC 124.2±16 cm). The complex kinesiotherapy administered daily for 3 week and included interactive sensorimotor trainings on double unstable platform, kinesiohydrotherapy in a pool, special complex of physical exercises in a gym and ergocycle trainings. Weight, WC, HC, fall number for last 3 weeks were measured at baseline and after the treatment was completed. Muscle strength and walking speed functional tests results assessment (10-meters-walk test, Up-and-go test, 4 special tests for back and abdomen muscle endurance to static and dynamic loading) were performed at baseline and in 3 weeks.Results:there was a significant reduction in body weight (111.3±24.4 kg at baseline vs 107.9±23.1 kg in 3 weeks; р=0,000), in BMI (40.3±8.1 vs 39.1±7.7 kg/m2; р=0.000), in WC (113.4±15.9 vs 109.2±15.1 сm; р=0.000) and in HC (124.1±15.5 vs 119.7±14.1 сm; р=0.000) in treated obese patients. 10-meters-walk speed increased from 0.84±0.15 m/sec at baseline to 0.88±0.17 m/sec in 3 weeks (р=0.000). Up-and-go test results improved from 8.4±2.1 to 7.9±2.09 sec (р=0.000). We registered statistically significant elevation of the endurance to static loading in abdomen muscles from 13.1±9.7 to 16.49±12.8 sec (р=0.000) and in back muscles from 14.8±11.9 sec to 18.6±14.9 sec (р=0.000). The endurance to dynamic loading increased in abdomen muscles from 29.9±11.2 to 34.84±11.93 times (р=0.000) and also in back muscles from 9.1±7.4 to 12.2±9.2 times (р=0.000). Fall namber markably decreased from 0.14 ±0.34 at baseline to 0.0 (95%CI: 0.02; 0.25) after completion of treatment.Conclusion:investigated complex treatment with 4 kinesiotherapy methods promotes body weight loss, WC and HC reduction in obesity. 3-week special training of obese patients is associated with increasing in gate speed and lower extremities muscle strength, and it also causes improvement in static and dynamic loading endurance of back and abdomen muscles. Those changes may probably improve balance function and decrease risk of falling in obese patients.References:[1]O.Lee, DS. Lee, S.Lee, Associations between Physical Activity and Obesity Defined by waist – to-height ratio and body mass index in the Korean Population. // PLOS ONE- 11(7). -2016. P. 1-11.[2]I.I. Baidovletova, Physiotherapy for obesity. // Psychology and pedagogy: methods and problems. 2015.- S. 177-180.[3]L. A. Marchenkova, V. A. Vasileva, Motor and balance function disorders and possibilities of their correction in patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome // Lechashchiy vrach. 2019. № 4. S. 68.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

Locomotion Mode Recognition for Walking on Three Terrains Based on sEMG of Lower Limb and Back Muscles

Gait phase detection on different terrains is an essential procedure for amputees with a lower limb assistive device to restore walking ability. In the present study, the intent recognition of gait events on three terrains based on sEMG was presented. The class separability and robustness of time, frequency, and time-frequency domain features of sEMG signals from five leg and back muscles were quantitatively evaluated by statistical analysis to select the best features set. Then, ensemble learning method that combines the outputs of multiple classifiers into a single fusion-produced output was implemented. The results obtained from data collected from four human participants revealed that the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) algorithm has an average accuracy of 93.1%, a macro-F1 score of 0.929, and a calculation time of prediction of 15 ms in discriminating 12 different gait phases on three terrains. This was better than traditional voting-based multiple classifier fusion methods. LightGBM is a perfect choice for gait phase detection on different terrains in daily life.

Pharmaceutical care and active treatment in patients with osteochondrosis

According to the International Classification of Diseases, osteochondrosis is included in the group of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, mainly the spine. The mechanism of the disease is expressed in the disturbance of blood circulation, which nourishes the bone, and hence the damage to bone and cartilage tissue. Objective: This paper aims to present the effect of applied pharmacological and active treatment in 10 patients diagnosed with lumbar osteochondrosis. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive treatment of 10 patients diagnosed with lumbar osteochondrosis without any neurological symptoms during the period 2017–2020. This pharmacological and active treatment lasted from 15 to 17 days. The intensity of the pain symptoms, the general mobility of the spine, and the mobility of the lumbar spine were measured to determine the deficit of the patients. The strength of the flexor and extensor muscles of the body was tested. Results: A decrease in pain intensity, increase in the strength of the abdominal and back muscles and improvement of the mobility of the back muscles were found in all patients after the complex treatment. As a result of the therapy, a reduction in the patient’s dysfunctions and the risk of developing disabilities was found. Conclusion: The application of a multidisciplinary approach in patients with osteochondrosis is of great importance for reducing pain intensity and achieving a good functional recovery of motor and stabilizing function of the muscles of the spine.

The Activation of Gluteal, Thigh, and Lower Back Muscles in Different Squat Variations Performed by Competitive Bodybuilders: Implications for Resistance Training

The present study investigated the activation of gluteal, thigh, and lower back muscles in different squat variations. Ten male competitive bodybuilders perform back-squat at full (full-BS) or parallel (parallel-BS) depth, using large feet-stance (sumo-BS), and enhancing the feet external rotation (external-rotated-sumo-BS) and front-squat (FS) at 80% 1-RM. The normalized surface electromyographic root-mean-square (sEMG RMS) amplitude of gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, adductor longus, longissimus, and iliocostalis was recorded during both the ascending and descending phase of each exercise. During the descending phase, greater sEMG RMS amplitude of gluteus maximus and gluteus medius was found in FS vs. all other exercises (p < 0.05). Additionally, FS elicited iliocostalis more than all other exercises. During the ascending phase, both sumo-BS and external-rotated-sumo-BS showed greater vastus lateralis and adductor longus activation compared to all other exercises (p < 0.05). Moreover, rectus femoris activation was greater in FS compared to full-BS (p < 0.05). No between-exercise difference was found in vastus medialis and longissimus showed no between-exercise difference. FS needs more backward stabilization during the descending phase. Larger feet-stance increases thigh muscles activity, possibly because of their longer length. These findings show how bodybuilders uniquely recruit muscles when performing different squat variations.