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Introduction A disturbance in exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) has been observed in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Yet, no studies have examined whether EIH occurs in people with acute/subacute WAD. This study will determine whether EIH occurs immediately after and 24 hours after aerobic exercise (AE) and neck-specific exercise (NSE) in people with acute/subacute WAD.Methods and analysis A randomised controlled trial has been designed and is reported in line with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials. EIH will be assessed immediately after and 24 hours after AE, NSE and a control intervention (randomly allocated). As dependent variables of the study, we will measure pressure pain thresholds measured over the region of the spinous process of C2 and C5, the muscle belly of the tibialis anterior and over the three main peripheral nerve trunks, Neck Pain Intensity, Neck-Disability Index, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Tampa Scale Kinesiophobia-11, self-reported Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Scale.Ethics approval and dissemination Ethical approval has been granted by the Ethics Committee from University Rey Juan Carlos (Madrid, Spain; reference number 0707202116721). The results of this study will be disseminated through presentations at scientific conferences and publication in scientific journals.Trial registration number RBR-9tqr2jt, https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/observador/submissao/sumario/11551.

Background and Objectives: Vojta therapy is used by physiotherapists and is based on stimulation through peripheral pressure that leads to the activation of involuntary motor response patterns, thus triggering patterns of reflex locomotion, hence also called reflex locomotion therapy. Objective: To analyze the changes produced by Vojta therapy in the evolution of infant motor development in patients with maturational delay due to periventricular leukomalacia. Materials and methods: One session of Vojta Therapy per week for eleven months, patients’ neuromotor development was evaluated through the Denver II Test and the Baleys Scale. Results: A clinically significant increase in the development of the patients is observed. Conclusions: Neuromotor development seems to generate an adequate progression in the motor area.

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a challenge for health systems and, specifically, to physical therapists obligated to adapt their job and stop face-to-face consultations. In this situation, therapeutic exercise has been implemented in different COVID-19 patients. This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel therapeutic exercise program through telerehabilitation tools in COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptomatology in the acute stage. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 subjects were randomized an experimental group, based on muscle conditioning, and in a control group, who did not perform physical activity. Thirty-six subjects, 18 in each group, completed the one-week intervention. We measured the six-minute walking test, multidimensional dyspnoea-12, thirty seconds sit-to-stand test, and Borg Scale. Results: Both groups were comparable at baseline. Statistically significant improvement between groups (p < 0.05) in favor of the experimental group was obtained. No differences between gender were found (p > 0.05). Ninety percent adherence was found in our program. Conclusion: A one-week telerehabilitation program based on muscle toning exercise is effective, safe, and feasible in COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptomatology in the acute stage.

Abstract Background The aim of the proposed study is to analyze the effect of a six-week osteopathic visceral manipulation (OVM) program on the flexion-relaxation phenomenon in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain (LBP) and functional constipation. Methods/Design An assessor-blinded, two-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled trial will be conducted. The sample will comprise 76 individuals with non-specific chronic LBP who have functional intestinal constipation, aged 18–65 years. The participants will be randomly allocated to two groups: (1) OVM and (2) sham OVM (SOVM). Evaluations will involve an interview, the Oswestry Disability Index, Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, functional constipation according to Rome III criteria, Biering-Sorensen test to normalize electromyographic (EMG) data, T12–L1 paraspinal level of the EMG signal during the flexion-relaxation phenomenon, 11-point numeric pain rating scale and fingertip-to-floor test. OVM and SOVM will be performed once per week for six weeks. Group 1 will receive OVM for 15 min and Group 2 will receive a sham visceral technique. Evaluations will be performed before and after the first session, after six weeks of treatment, and three months after randomization (follow-up). The findings will be analyzed statistically considering a 5% significance level (p ≤ 0.05). The limitation of the study is that the therapist will not be blinded. Discussion This will be the first trial to analyze the clinical response and electromyographic signals during the flexion-relaxation phenomenon after OVM. Trial registration Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry, RBR-7sx8j3. Registered on 26 October 2017.

Abstract Background Nonspecific chronic neck pain is a fairly common disorder that causes a great impact, and it is greatly influenced by psychosocial factors. Among a number of treatment modalities described for its management, the most common approach is based on manual therapy and specific therapeutic exercise, which have shown a moderate effect on subjects with chronic non-specific neck pain. However, the effect times of these treatments have not been accurately detailed. Our study aims to break down and compare the effects of two experimental treatments based on manual therapy and therapeutic exercise. Methods The short-term and mid-term changes produced by different therapies on subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain were studied. The sample was randomized divided into three groups: manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and placebo. As dependent variables of our research, we studied (a) pain, based on the visual analog scale and the pressure pain threshold, and (b) cervical disability, through the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Outcomes were registered on week 1, week 4, and week 12. The findings were analyzed statistically considering a 5% significance level (P ≤ 0.05). Results No statistically significant differences (P 0.05) were obtained between the experimental groups, if they exist against the control group. Nonetheless, we found that manual therapy improved perceived pain before than therapeutic exercise, while therapeutic exercise reduced cervical disability before than manual therapy. Effect size (R 2) shows medium and large effects for both experimental treatments. Conclusion There are no differences between groups in short and medium terms. Manual therapy achieves a faster reduction in pain perception than therapeutic exercise. Therapeutic exercise reduces disability faster than manual therapy. Clinical improvement could potentially be influenced by central processes. Trial registration Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry, RBR-2vj7sw. Registered on 28 November 2018.

Abstract Background In December 2019, 27 cases of pneumonia, of unknown cause, were identified in the province of Hubei (China). The WHO declared the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and it was finally declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The Spanish Government obliges the entire population to remain confined to their homes, with the exception of essential basic services, to stop the spread of COVID-19. Home isolation implies a notable physical deconditioning. Telerehabilitation methods have reported positive experiences, and we propose to study in affected patients of COVID-19, due to the general house confinement of the entire Spanish population. Methods Patients will be recruited in the regions of Andalusia, Murcia, and Valencia (Spain). Patients will remain confined to their homes, and there, they will carry out their assigned exercise program, which will be controlled telematically. Evaluators will attend to carry out all measurements at the beginning, during, and end of the study, telematically controlled. The patients will be randomly divided into three groups, two of them will perform a home exercise program (breathing exercises or non-specific exercises for muscle toning) and the third group will perform sedentary activities, using mental activation techniques, and will act as a sham group. We will evaluate respiratory variables and other variables of the physical state through physical tests, effort, and perceived fatigue. The data will be statistically analyzed, and the hypotheses will be tested between the groups, using the SPSS software, v.24, considering a 95% confidence interval. Discussion We will analyze the results, in terms of the level of fatigue and perceived exertion, physical health, and maintenance of respiratory activity of two types of exercise programs, toning and respiratory, applied in patients affected by COVID-19 during the period of home confinement. We intend to investigate a field not previously studied, such as the repercussion of carrying out a toning and respiratory exercise program in these patients, in historical circumstances that no one had previously observed in Spain, since the general population has never been forced to remain confined in their homes, due to a pandemic infection, by a coronavirus (COVID-19). Observing the effects that these two home exercise programs could produce in patients infected with COVID-19, we will try to better analyze and understand the mechanisms that are associated with the worsening of breathing in this type of patient. Trial registration Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry RBR-6m69fc . Registered on March 31, 2020.