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BACKGROUND: Impairment in both the motor and cognitive aspects of postural control is a critical issue in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) who experience high pain anxiety (HPA). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of cathodal and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (c-tDCS and a-tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on postural control during cognitive postural tasks in CLBP patients with HPA. METHODS: This study included 66 patients randomly assigned to three groups: DLPFC a-tDCS, DLPFC c-tDCS, and sham tDCS. All groups received 20 minutes of tDCS, but the stimulation was gradually turned off in the sham group. Postural stability indices were assessed using the Biodex Balance System. RESULTS: Both the a-tDCS and c-tDCS groups showed a significant reduction in most postural stability indices at static and dynamic levels after the interventions (immediately, 24 hours, and one-week follow-up) during the cognitive postural task (P < 0.01). Additionally, there was a significant improvement in postural balance in the a-tDCS and c-tDCS groups compared to the sham tDCS group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the a-tDCS group showed significantly greater improvement than the c-tDCS group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on the results, both a-tDCS and c-tDCS over the DLPFC had positive effects on postural control during cognitive postural tasks in CLBP patients with HPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique for stimulating the brain that can alter brain excitability. Prior research has indicated that tDCS has the potential to enhance performance by increasing corticospinal excitability or improving muscle recruitment strategies. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether tDCS could enhance kinetic parameters of the countermovement jump (CMJ) in non-elite jumping athletes, specifically focusing on the maximum force, time to maximum force, and rate of force development. Additionally, the study aimed to assess whether any potential improvements persisted after one week. Methods: This study involved the participation of 48 healthy individuals within a double-blinded, randomized controlled design. The participants were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: Anodal tDCS, sham tDCS, and control. Both the anodal and sham tDCS groups underwent a series of three intervention sessions, with each session occurring 48 hours apart. Kinetic assessment of the lower limb during the CMJ was conducted using a force plate before and after these intervention sessions. Additionally, a follow-up evaluation session was conducted one week after the last intervention session to assess the persistence of the stimulation effects. The control group underwent kinetic assessments of the lower limb during the CMJ within a similar time frame as the other groups. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed for maximum force (P = 0.881), time to maximum force (P = 0.570), and rate of force development (P = 0.474) between the different conditions at any of the assessed time points. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that applying 20 minutes of anodal tDCS at 2 mA over the Cz region did not have an impact on the maximum force, time to maximum force, and rate of force development in the CMJ task among non-elite jumping athletes when compared to the Sham and Control conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) often presents with a dysfunction in deep abdominal muscles activity during standing tasks. Although some studies indicated that deep abdominal muscle activity improved during some functional tasks following stabilization exercise (SE), there is no study to evaluate the effect of SE on lateral abdominal muscles thickness during standing postural tasks. Objective: The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate the lateral abdominal muscles thickness in the participants with CLBP while standing on a balance board and (2) to compare the effects of SE and a general exercise (GE) program on the lateral muscles thickness changes. Methods: This was a between-groups, triple-blinded randomized controlled trial design. In total, 40 females with CLBP were randomly assigned into 2 groups: GE (control group) and supervised progressive SE (experimental group). Diagnostic ultrasound imaging was used before and after the intervention to measure lateral abdominal muscles thickness during standing on 2 different levels of platform in the Biodex Balance System. Visual analog scale and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire were used to evaluate changes in pain intensity and disability. Results: The results indicated significant increases in transverse abdominis muscle thickness during all standing tasks (P = .02) and significant decreases in pain intensity and disability following SE intervention (P < .001). However, the lateral abdominal muscle thicknesses were not changed after GE intervention while standing postural tasks (P > .05). The GE group revealed only significant decreases in pain intensity after intervention (P = .03). Conclusion: Supervised progressive SE improved the activity of deep abdominal muscles in standing postural tasks in the patients with CLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first purpose was to investigate the trunk muscle endurance, the second aim was to evaluate the trunk–pelvis kinematics during gait, and the third was to evaluate the relationship between trunk–pelvis kinematics and the trunk muscle endurance. Thirty participants (15 nonspecific chronic low back pain [NCLBP] and 15 healthy) were included. The authors first assessed trunk muscle endurance on endurance testing protocols. The authors next measured the trunk–pelvis kinematics during gait using a 3-dimensional motion capture system. Angular displacement, waveform pattern (CVp), and offset variability (CVo) were also examined. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in (1) the trunk muscle endurance and (2) sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes CVp between groups (P <.05). A significant moderate correlation was found between supine double straight-leg raise and frontal CVp (r =.521, P =.03) and transverse planes CVp (r =.442, P =.05). However, a significant moderate correlation was observed between prone double straight-leg raise and sagittal plane CVp (r =.528, P =.03) and transverse plane CVp (r =.678, P =.001). The relationship between (1) lower trunk extensor endurance with transverse and sagittal planes CVp and (2) lower abdominal muscle endurance with transverse and frontal planes CVp suggests that gait variability in these planes may result because of trunk muscle deconditioning accompanying NCLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. FHP people showed a reduced Semi-Spinalis Capitis muscle (SECM) size in maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVIC). Also, other studies showed less thickness of this muscle at rest in individuals with pain. So, this muscle must be paramount in subjects with FHP-accompanied neck pain in contraction. Materials and methods. We carried out this observational study with the participation of fifty people with a forward head posture divided into two groups: those with neck pain and those who didn't have neck pain, with a cut-off point of 3 on the VAS. Ultrasonography was used to measure the thickness of the SECM at rest and during maximum isometric contraction in a neutral position. Rest and maximum isometric SECM thickness were normalized using the subject's body weight. For analysis, an independent t-test was used. Results. There was a significant difference in SECM muscle size in MVIC and thickness difference (muscle contraction thickness minus muscle rest thickness) between the two groups (p = 0.043; p = 0.024, respectively). However, there is no significant difference in the resting thickness of SECM between groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions. There is an alteration in SECM muscle size in maximum isometric contraction in FHP subjects with pain, while FHP people without pain didn't show this alteration. Both groups showed a similar alteration in the thickness of the SECM at rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Medial longitudinal arch (MLA) posture of the foot is usually associated with increased risk of lower extremity injury. This study investigated the effect of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) on torque of evertor and invertor muscles of ankle in low arched foot. Materials and methods: The participants were 40 young, untrained adults (male and female) with flat foot. The subjects were randomly divided into a vibration group (n=20m, mean age=23.85±3.15, mean weight=70.00±12.94, mean BMI=24.85±3.69 and a control group (n=20m, mean age=22.8±1.73, mean weight=72.14±12.53, mean BMI=24.59±3.99). Eversion and inversion isokinetic torque of ankle were measured at speeds of 30/s and 120/s before and after 6 weeks of WBV in both groups and 4 weeks after the end of last training session in intervention group. We also measured the maximum changes in concentric torque of invertor and evertor muscles of ankle. Results: T-test and repeated ANOVA revealed significant increase in concentric torque of evertor muscles of ankle in 30/s and 120/s in interventional group compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). But no significant difference was found in other contractions. The effect of intervention continued after four weeks (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that WBV training could enhance ankle evertor muscles strength in flat foot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]