Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

This paper discusses the value of mobilization with movement in de quervain’s tenosynovitis. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a form of stenosing tenosynovitis usually occurring in the tendons of abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB). Many conventional physical therapy interventions are followed for the management of this condition. But, in spite of such a variety of treatment options, many patients remain symptomatic. The possible reason for this could be attributed to the fact that the presence of tenosynovitis may be associated with carpal positional abnormality and CMC and wrist joint stiffness. These associated positional abnormalities are neglected while following the regular treatment protocols accounting for the failure of the conventional treatment approaches. Mobilisation with movement (MWM) techniques serves to correct the root cause of positional abnormalities and provide pain-free range of movement. Thus, these techniques should be added in the conventional treatment protocol for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

Keywords: Mobilisation with movement, De quervain’s tenosynovitis, Positional faults.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether externally applied resistance to chest wall expansion during exercise training will improve the exercise capacity or not. Methods: One hundred healthy, non-active adults volunteer were included for the study with age group between 20-30 years. Both the groups performed aerobic exercise three days a week up to 35-40 minutes. The exercise testing was performed by using Bruce protocol to predict VO2 max value. Time to exhaustion and PFT were calculated. Results showed that VO2max and time to exhaustion improved significantly after twelve weeks of aerobic training for both the groups. Conclusion: Training with thoracic band exercise significantly increased aerobic capacity. Time-to-exhaustion significantly increased in chest wall constriction group after twelve weeks than the non chest wall constriction group.

Key word: Functional Capacity, Vo2 max, Pulmonary function, Chest wall constriction

In this paper, use of manipulation therapy in coccydenia is discussed Coccydynia is a term that refers to pain in the region of the coccyx which is typically triggered by or occurs while sitting. The intensity of the pain varies and sometimes is aggravated by arising from position or injecting the painful area with local anesthetic or corticosteroids. In most cases, abnormal mobility is seen on dynamic standing and seated radiographs. The cause of pain is unknown in most of the patients. Non surgical management remain the gold standard treatment for coccydynia, consisting of decreased sitting, seat cushioning, coccygeal massage, stretching, manipulations, local injections of steroids or anesthetics and postural adjustments. In this article we will focus on the use of manipulations to treat the coccydynia.

Keywords: coccydynia, manipulation therapy.

Purpose of study: To compare the immediate effects of two techniques of nerve massage- longitudinal and transverse, for tibial nerve on the vibration and temperature thresholds in the foot in asymptomatic subjects. Materials and methods: 48 subjects of either sex (34 male, 14 female), with mean age 23.6 ± 4.8 years, volunteered to participate by incidental sampling after giving informed consent. The side of the leg for first intervention was chosen by simple random sampling and the choice of first intervention (longitudinal or transverse nerve massage) was allocated in a concealed manner using block randomization. One intervention was a longitudinal nerve massage (to either side) while other was a transverse nerve massage (to the other side). One tester administered the nerve massage techniques while an independent blinded observer measured the outcome measures. Both the interventions lasted for 2 minutes each. The techniques were applied for 10 reps and 2 sets. Pre, immediate post intervention and post intervention- 5 mins assessment of vibration thresholds, heat thresholds and cold thresholds of the sole of the foot were assessed using a Vibrotherm® (Biothesiometer) by the blinded observer.Results: Tibial nerve transverse massage technique reduced the vibration thresholds (2.1± .84 volts) in the foot significantly better (p=.000) than that of the longitudinal nerve massage. Transverse massage technique also reduced the heat thresholds- 6.4 ± 1.8 degrees Celsius (p=.054) and increased the cold thresholds- 4.8 ± 2.2 degrees Celsius (p=.87) clinically but not statistically significant (p >.05). Both effects were however reversible within five minutes (p <.05). There was no effect of side of dominance (p=.14) in all the subjects studied. Conclusion: Transverse nerve massage technique was significantly better than the longitudinal massage technique in reducing the vibration thresholds for tibial nerve. Clinically, transverse nerve massage technique also reduced the heat thresholds and increased the cold thresholds for tibial nerve in the subjects studied.

Keywords: Neurodynamics, nerve massage, quantitative sensory testing, randomized controlled trial.

The present work was planned to determine if alternate nostril breathing (ANB) has any effect on central neural processing, by studying its effect on reaction time. In present study 20 male and 20 female, young medical students were practiced ANB for 3 months. Outcome assessments of auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) were performed at baseline and after the 3 month of ANB training. There was a statistically significant (P<.001) decrease in both ART and VRT. This decrease in ART and VRT after ANB practices may be due to increased mental alertness, a balancing effect of ANB on the functional activity of the left and right cerebral hemisphere or increased corticotrophin releasing hormone and cortisol secretion in response to a challenge. This is of applied value in situations requiring faster reactivity such as in day today driving, sports and in specialized surgery.