Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

Background and Introduction: Cervicogenic headache is a very common condition which leads to significant disability. Cervicogenic headache was first introduced by Sjaastad in 1983 and is defined by the World Cervicogenic Headache Society as referred pain perceived in any part of the head caused by a primary nociceptive source in the musculoskeletal tissues innervated by cervical nerves. A number of studies have been conducted to find the effects of various therapeutic techniques on cervicogenic headache. In this study, comparison has been done between Cervical Therapeutic Exercise Programme for cervicogenic headache and Myofascial Release Techniques to find out the technique more effective in reducing cervicogenic headache parameters. Method: 30 subjects selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into 3 groups: Conventional group, Exercise group and MFR group to which Conventional treatment for Cervicogenic Headache, Cervical Therapeutic Exercise Programme and Myofascial Release Techniques respectively are administered. Pre and post treatment readings were recorded for Neck Disability Index score, Visual Analog Scale score, Headache Duration, Headache Frequency. Results: After one week of treatment it was found that all the three treatment approaches were effective in reducing the Cervicogenic headache parameters. However on comparing three treatment approaches, Myofascial Release Techniques were the most effective in reducing the above parameters. (p<0.05) Conclusion: Myofascial Release Techniques are more effective than Cervical Therapeutic Exercise Programme in reducing Cervicogenic Headache symptoms.

Key words: Cervicogenic Headache; Cervical Therapeutic Exercise Programme; Myofascial Release.  

Background and purpose: Patellar taping is an inexpensiveintervention with minimal side-effects for Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis with evidence both in favor and against it. Therefore the purpose of our study is to find out immediate effect of patellar taping on pain and disability in individuals with patellofemoral osteoarthritis. Material and Methods: Male and female subjects with age > 50 yrs, referred to physical therapy centers for treatment of Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis (n=30) were included. All subjects underwent the Step test and Timed up and go test twice first without tape and then with the therapeutic tape. During each of the test pain was evaluated using VAS. Results: Using a paired sample T-test the results demonstrated a significant improvement in the step test and timed up and go test along with significant reduction in pain. Conclusion: The finding of this study supports the experimental hypothesis that therapeutic taping reduces pain and observed disability in patients with patellofemoral osteoarthritis.

Keywords: Patellar taping, patellofemoral osteoarthritis 

Purpose of study: To evaluate the effect of the two exercises, Specific Stabilization exercise and Conventional Back Extension exercise on relieving chronic disc prolapse pain. In addition, this study attempts to draw a conclusion as to which exercise is more effective for chronic low back pain. Materials and Methods: 20 patients with chronic disc prolapsed were divided into two groups. 10 patients in Group A received Specific stabilization exercise and 10 patients in Group B received conventional back extension exercise. Pain perception was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), a responsive pain scale that yields reliable and valid data. Disability was measured using the Ronald – Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Both the intervention periods were for 4 weeks at a frequency of 5 times /week for 30-45 min. Each exercise consists of 3 sets and 10 repetitions (10 sec hold) in each set. Progression was made when a patient was able to perform three sets of 10 to 15 repetitions of an exercise with ease. Results: In the study there was a decrease in the pain status in patients who were given conventional back extension exercise but there was a more marked relief in patients who were given Specific stabilization exercises according to paired sampling. Conclusion: Training of the specific stabilization exercise in study group A showed a significant improvement in decreasing pain and in improving functional ability when compared to strengthening exercise in group B after a treatment protocol of four weeks.

Key Words: Chronic disc prolapse; Conventional back extension exercise; Specific stabilization exercises. 

Objectives: To objectively evaluate the relationship between core stability and athletic performance measures in male collegiate athletes. Background: The relationship between core stability and athletic performance has yet to be quantified in the available literature. The current literature does not demonstrate whether or not core strength relates to functional performance. Questions remain regarding the most important components of core stability, the role of sport specificity, and the measurement of core stability in relation to athletic performance. Methods: A sample of 30 volunteer student athletes from Jamia Millia Islamia provided informed consent. Participants performed two tests: single arm raising experimental (core stability test) and a backward overhead medicine ball throw (power performance). Each participants performed tests in randomized order. Results: Correlations between the core stability test and performance test was determined using Karl’s Pearson correlation coefficient. Medicine ball throw positively correlated to the core stability test (r =0.71, p=0.023). Coefficient correlation minutely changed in between top and bottom performers. Gender was the most strongly correlated variable to core strength, males with a mean measurement of double leg lowering of 47.43 degrees compared to females having a mean of 54.75 degrees. Conclusions: There appears to be a strong link between a motor control of core stabilizers and athletic performance tests. Performance test used in study needed precise timing of core muscles so that explosive power created in legs and core can be efficiently transferred to the throwing arm. More research is needed to determine if there are specific sub-categories of athletic performance (other than power) which can correlate with motor control of core. However, future studies should seek to correlate more tests of athletic performance with motor control of core stabilizers. 

Keywords: Core stability; BOMB-throw; Performance; Power. 

Background and Purpose: Mechanical Low Back Pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder which interfere with quality of life and work performance. There is no specification of which exercise has to be followed according to patient requirement. Mckenzie protocol has been prescribed in past few decade in a large scale even the Back School Program. But there is no proper clarification of which exercise has to be given in Back School Program apart from ergonomic advice. So the purpose of study is to compare the Mckenzie protocol and Back School Program in mechanical low back pain individual. Method : 35 subjects randomly assigned into two group – Group A Mckenzie protocol and Group B Back School Program. The baseline variable for pain intensity is VisuaAl nalog Scale and functional limitation is Modified Oswestry Disability Index were taken on 1st, 12th and 21st day of treatment session for 3 week of duration. Result: Using one way ANOVA there was significant improvement in Visual Analog Scale and Modified Oswestry Disability Index score for both groups.But unpaired t-test did not show any significant difference in exercise program between groups. Conclusion:On statistical basis there is no significant difference in Mckenzie protocol and Back School Program exercises, but patient felt better relief in their functional limitation by following Back School Program exercises.

Key words: Mechanical Back Pain; Back School Program; Mckenzie Protocol; Modified Oswestry Disability Index.