理学療法と理学リハビリテーションのジャーナル

Hamstring is the muscle which makes the posterior compartment of the thigh. It is the most common muscle which gets injured easily due to the tightness of the muscle. This study aimed to determine whether extended sitting, body composition, Hamstring to Quadriceps strength ratio (H/Q Ratio) and level of physical activity predispose to hamstring tightness. This study also focused on identifying the influence of gender and leg dominancy on hamstring tightness.

Hamstring muscle tightness was significantly higher in males than that of females. Non-dominant leg (right or left) did not show a difference in tightness than the dominant side. The association between extended sitting and Hamstring tightness was significant while the association between Hamstring tightness with body composition, H/Q ratio and level of physical activity was not significant. It is important that we take measures to minimize the risk of developing hamstring tightness among university students.

Objective: To investigate whether application of kinesio taping as an adjunct to oral motor therapy is beneficial and time efficient in reducing drooling and enhancing mouth closure inspite of oral motor therapy alone and to investigate the social stigma associated with drooling.
Background: As the child grows, the rate of drooling decreases due to the maturation of Oral Motor-Sensory functions and will lead saliva control. However, if the drooling continues after 4 years of age in the awake state is considered abnormal. Oral Motor Therapy includes active and passive exercises, and sensory stimulation. Kinesio tape in pediatrics is an emerging field with various studies conducted on its use in children with cerebral palsy in improving motor function and motor impairment.
Materials and methods: Experimental trial in which 30 neurologically impaired children with drooling were randomly allocated to Oral Motor therapy alone (Group A) and in kinesio tape and oral motor therapy intervention (Group B). Primary outcome measures were Drooling Impact Scale, Thomas-Stonell Drooling scale and Lip closure measurement. RESULT: Both the groups were found to be significantly effective in reducing drooling but the combination of kinesio taping with oral motor facilitation in group A was found to be more effective in enhancing mouth closure and reducing frequency and severity of drooling.
Conclusion: Oral Motor stimulation was proved to be significantly beneficial in reducing the frequency and severity of drooling in neurologically impaired children. Time efficient treatment for the controlling drooling was statistically significant in intervention using kinesiotaping and oral motor therapy. Also, the quality of life of the children was also improved with the above intervention protocol.

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the outcome of physiotherapy intervention in a juvenile case of Volkmann’s ischemic contracture.
Methodology: The patient was an 8-year-old female pupil presenting with flexion deformity of the right elbow, wrist and fingers accompanied with pain and difficulty in performing activities of daily living of 5 months onset. She received physiotherapy including home program for 43 sessions with a periodic review of the intervention after the 22nd, 33rd and 43rd treatment sessions.
Results: The outcome variables included pain intensity, range of motion, muscle girth, and functional ability. Ranges of motion changed as follows: elbow flexion 85° to 120°; elbow extension 85° to 120°;  wrist flexion 18° to 19°; wrist extension 36° to 46°; pronation 30° to 180°; supination 50° to 180°. The patient demonstrated palpable improvements in all these parameters. Pain also dropped from 7 to 4 and sometimes lesser. There was no significant muscular atrophy in the forearm despite the compromise of the muscle length-tension relationship but in the thenar and hypothenar eminences. A very tiny, subtle and rather tricky to detect anesthetic spot was observed on the palm.
Conclusion: We therefore concluded that physiotherapy had a positive outcome for children with Volkmann’s  ischemic contracture and had the potential to reduce the cost of future surgeries for patients.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One student-athletes often experience back and shoulder injuries, among other  musculoskeletal injuries, which can be stressful and difficult to recover from. Many injuries are sports specific, e.g., contact vs. non-contact or gender related, but most back and neck injuries can become chronic in nature. Often these injures can lead to less than desirable physical and  emotional well-being. The current study aims to assess the user experience of 47 NCAA Division-One athletes for daily functional active wear technology designed to provide instant posture correction and immediate chest expansion to improve thoracic mobility and physical wellness. Results showed that 100% of the subjects were satisfied with the comfort level of the posture active wear, and 95% felt their posture improved after wear. Furthermore, over 90% of subjects would wear the posture active wear daily as well as recommend it to others. 80% of the subjects would wear the posture active wear for exercise, 92% liked the feel of the fabric, and 90% would like to use it as adjunct to physical therapy. Overall, the results of the current study indicate that competitive athletes find the tested posture active wear comfortable, effective in instantly correcting posture, would use it during exercise, would highly recommend it to others, and would use it as an adjunct to Physical Therapy. Overall this apparel is a promising option for posture correction, injury prevention and physical therapy for student athletes and further supports previous literature on the IFGfit™ posture correcting active wear.