The Most Common Functional Disorders and Factors Affecting Female Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor (PF) is made of muscles, ligaments, and fascia, which ensure organ statics, maintain muscle tone, and are involved in contractions. This review describes the myofascial relationships of PF with other parts of the body that determine the proper functions of PF, and also provides insight into PF disorders and the factors contributing to them. PF plays an important role in continence, pelvic support, micturition, defecation, sexual function, childbirth, and locomotion, as well as in stabilizing body posture and breathing, and cooperates with the diaphragm and postural muscles. In addition, PF associates with distant parts of the body, such as the feet and neck, through myofascial connections. Due to tissue continuity, functional disorders of muscles, ligaments, and fascia, even in the areas that are distant from PF, will lead to PF disorders, including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, prolapse, sexual dysfunction, and pain. Dysfunctions of PF will also affect the rest of the body.

Physiotherapy in a patient with colorectal cancer - preoperative management

During the surgical treatment of colorectal cancer, whether by laparoscopic or classic open method, the tissues in the abdominal cavity are traumatized. The cuts of the muscle fibers are associated with the disturbance of the tone of the postural muscles. A scar within the abdominal cavity also causes movement limitations in the form of restrictions in the mobility of the spine. The implementation of patient rehabilitation in the form of targeted physiotherapy before the procedure should be an indispensable element of the treatment of colorectal cancer. The aim of the study is to propose a therapy that uses the spine mobility test to diagnose deficits. The proposed preoperative therapy focuses mainly on improving the parameters of the spine's mobility. The paper presents examples of activities that can be used in therapy before surgery. A review of the available literature and own experience were used for the work. It can be concluded from the analyzed literature that physiotherapy in oncological patients is not very widespread and is neglected in the treatment process. Patients, by In the literature, before colorectal cancer removal surgery, they are not subjected to physical rehabilitation, which is associated with complications resulting from the course of the procedure. The process of rehabilitating patients after surgical treatment of colorectal cancer should take place in the pre-operative period. Physiotherapy should take into account the weakening of the muscle strength in the trunk and limitations of mobility caused by age. Rehabilitation should be aimed at restoring functionality.

Caffeine decreases neuromuscular fatigue in the lumbar muscles - a randomized blind study

Background Ergogenic evidence for caffeine is robust in sports and isolated limb tasks. Our objective was to evaluate a possible ergogenic effect on postural muscles, still unknown, through the Biering-Sorensens lumbar extension test. Methods A double-blind, controlled placebo, crossover study. Fifty-one healthy, physically inactive male subjects (18-25 years) with average body mass (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) were recruited. The subjects received oral caffeine (6 mg/kg) and saline (0.3%) in two cross-evaluations separated by one week. The primary outcome was the time in the Biering-Sorensen test after 1 hour of treatment. The secondary outcomes were peak lumbar extension force, rating of perceived exertion, EMGs median frequency and muscle recruitment of multifidus spinae and transversalis/interne oblique muscles, and cardiovascular variables (heart rate and blood pressure). Results 27 subjects were blindly treated with caffeine and saline. Caffeine was ergogenic during the Biering-Sorensen test. It increased lumbar extension time (d=0.34, P<0.05), but not peak force. The perception of effort decreased with caffeine (d=0.37, P<0.05). Caffeine increased muscle stimulation frequency (P<0.05) and recruitment (η²=0.49, P<0.05) of multifidus spinae. In the transversalis/interne oblique muscles, caffeine increased the median frequency (η² = 0.13, P<0.05) and the distribution of higher frequencies (P<0.05). Caffeine also increased muscle recruitment in the transversalis/interne oblique muscles (η²=0.94, P<0.05). Tachycardia and increased blood pressure at the lumbar test were higher in the caffeine condition (P<0.05). Conclusions Our results show that caffeine is ergogenic for postural muscles. Decreased RPE and improved muscle activity suggest central mechanisms of caffeine. Trial registration UTN U1111-1234-2079.

Inter-Day Reliability and Changes of Surface Electromyography on Two Postural Muscles Throughout 12 Weeks of Hippotherapy on Patients with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term covering a group of permanent developmental disorders of movement and posture characterized by highly variable clinical features. The aim of this study was to assess the short-term and mid-term effects of neurorehabilitation via hippotherapy on the contractile properties of two key postural muscles during functional sitting in such patients. Thirty-minute hippotherapy sessions were conducted biweekly for 12 weeks in 18 patients (18.1 ± 5.7 years old). Surface electromyography (EMG) was implemented bilaterally in rectus abdominis and adductor magnus. We quantitatively analyzed the amplitude of EMG signals in the time domain and its spectral characteristics in the frequency domain. EMGs were recorded at the beginning and end of each session on day one and at week six and week twelve. Statistical analysis revealed a substantial inter-day reliability of the EMG signals for both muscles, validating the methodological approach. To a lesser extent, while beyond the scope of the current study, quantitative changes suggested a more selective recruitment/contractile properties’ shift of the examined muscles. Exploring postural control during functional activities would contribute to understanding the relationship between structural impairment, activity performance and patient capabilities, allowing the design of neurorehabilitation programs aimed at improving postural and functional skills according to each individual’s needs. The present study provides basic quantitative data supporting the body of scientific evidence making hippotherapy an approach of choice for CP neurorehabilitation.

Neuromuscular activation of postural neck muscles methods significance in rehabilitation of patients with cervical myofascial pain syndrome

Neck pain is an actual problem of our time, one of the leading causes of temporary disability. Most often, cervical pain is non-specific, and is manifested by myofascial pain syndrome. Neck pain therapy is a big problem due to the lack of unified effective treatment protocols and at the same time with the abundance of methods offered. According to the results of some studies, the pain syndrome may be associated with a violation of proprioreception and dysfunction of the postural muscles of the neck. Accordingly, neuromuscular activation techniques can be effective in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome of the neck. The purpose of this pilot study is to research the various effects of using neuromuscular activation methods in patients with myofascial pain syndrome in neck muscles.

Evaluating the validity of diagnostic methods for scoliotic posture of primary school children

Primary school children are exposed to asymmetric loads that lead to an imbalance of postural muscles and a violation of the body relative symmetry. Mass screening examinations in schools for scoliotic posture and scoliosis are conducted primarily through the Adams test. It has low reproducibility and a high frequency of false negative results. In practice, various methods for diagnosing posture disorders are also used. Some methods are based on the evaluation of postural muscles static endurance, elasticity and proportionality of their functional capabilities. Others are based on a comprehensive assessment of the ability to maintain an upright posture rationally. The third ones are based on the analysis of the tonic vibration and H-reflex of skeletal muscles on both sides of the vertebral column. All the above mentioned methods definitely have diagnostic potential. Therefore it was decided to determine the validity of some common methods for diagnosing posture disorders based on the analysis of their mutual congruence. Based on the results of the experiment, a reliable correlation between the studied parameters was established. It in turn allows us to judge the congruence of the considered diagnostic methods and, accordingly, the high probability of their validity.

Lumbar Lordosis, Pain Intensity and Type of Work in Women Participating in Fitness Activities

Introduction. The aim of this study was to examine women participating in fitness activities regarding their level of disability in daily activities and lumbar lordosis.Material and methods. Data were collected from 68 females between the ages of 25-70 participating in fitness exercises. The Oswestry Disability Index was applied to measure the level of disability due to the low back pain in everyday life. The angle of lumbar lordosis was measured using a Saunders’ digital inclinometer.Results. The results of the study confirmed the existence of problems related to low back pain in people performing sedentary work. There were no correlations between lumbar lordosis angle and the level of disability in daily activities of the groups. The low back pain increases especially among people performing sedentary work.Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that work in a sitting position is not associated with a decrease in the angle of lordosis in relation to another work than in a sitting position. Sitting work can be an indirect cause of back pain and slight disability in everyday life by weakening postural muscles.