Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

  Musculoskeletal disorders are bane not only for sportsmen but many ordinary people that are not engaged in sports. Studies have shown that pain, injury and inactivity can disturb our neuromuscular systems. It is well documented that pain and inactivity reduce muscle force and activation patterns. Neurac is an abbreviation for NEURomuscularACtivation, it’s a treatment method that aims to regain normal functional movement patterns in patients with musculoskeletal disorders by using high levels of neuromuscular stimulation. The developmentof the new Neurac method has emerged from the S­E­T concept (Suspension Exercise Therapy). Kinetic chains, these are the chain of events that affects the movement of neighboring joints and segments. With the neurac method ‘weak link testing’ is performed in order to assess the body’s performance. Open and closed kinetic chains exercises combined with neurac method has provided results of better muscular activation. Suspension training provides alternative instability to the core, upper and lower limbs. The instability is supposed to activate or increase muscle activation which helps in stabilisation. The existing literature is insufficient to draw confirm conclusion regarding its ability to do muscle activation. 

Keywords: eurac Training; Weak Muscle Links; Muscle Activation.

  Concussion typically results from the blow to the skull that generates abrupt acceleration and deacceleration of the brain within the skull. Dizziness and imbalance may persist even after rest in concussion which may be treated by vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). The intention of this review is to highlight the role of VRT by searching the literature from databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed & Pedro. Current evidence supports the latent role of VRT in managing the persisting symptoms of concussion. Therefore, future research is needed to explore more experimental trials to strengthen its evidence. 

Keywords: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury; Dizziness; Vestibular Exercise Therapy; Head Injury; Imbalance. 

 Background and Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain is a known consequence of repetitive strain, overuse, and work­related musculoskeletal disorders. These injuries include a variety of disorders that cause pain in bones, joints, muscles, or surrounding structures. Despite increases in women’s labour force participation, gender differences in work­related health conditions have received little research attention. The study was designed to give an estimation of the proportion of female teachers with chronic pain who appear to be  seriously handicapped by their pain on one moment and the extent to which pain can lead to disability, to loss of working days, to premature incapacity, or to unnecessary medical treatment. Methodology: A sample size of 70 out of which 35 teachers from school and 35 from university In the age group of 25­45yrs were included in the study. Other criteria for inclusion were chronic musculoskeletal pain in knee, back, shoulders, neck; BMI ­ normal (18­ 24.9); Pain due to exertion, ergonomics or overuse; job duration > 5yrs. Musculoskeletal pain assessed using Nordic pain questionnaire Whereas the disability was assessed using patient specific functional scale. Results: The results indicated that there is a negative correlation between the intensity of pain and disability among school as well as among the university female teachers. (r= ­1.99) Discussion: The study concluded that there is a negative correlation between the intensity of pain and disability at work among school and university female teachers and there is a high prevalence of disability among the high school teachers due to the musculoskeletal pain as compared to the middle school and the university female teachers.

Keywords: Musculoskeletal Pain; Disability; Work Related Health Disorder. 

  Objective: The study was done to find out the difference between the effect of two manual therapies i.e., SNAG’s and DTFM, on patients with mechanical neck pain. Method: The study was of an experimental design, with 30 subjects, 12 were female, 18 were male, and all subjects were assigned into two groups, 15 subjects in each, according to criteria (inclusion & exclusion) and carried out at physiotherapy OPD of CSS Hospital. In both groups, disability & pain were assessed by using the NDI & NBQ score respectively. The collected data were of men and standard deviation of NDI & NBQ score and has been analyzed using SPSS software. Paired T­ est was used to find the difference between two groups. Results: The results showed that there was significant difference in pain and disability with their NDI and NBQ score (p=0.000). 

Keywords: Mechanical Neck Pain; SNAG’s (Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides); DTFM (Deep Transverse Friction Massage); NDI (Neck Disability Index) & NBQ (Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire). 

  Aging refers to the time sequential detoriation that occurs in most animals including weakness, increased susceptibility to disease and adverse environment conditions, loss of mobility and agility and age related physiological changes.Balance and muscle force deteriorate with aging, and it has been suggested that a decrease in the ability to generate force in the lower extremity muscles contributes to balance impairment. balance impairments are also associated with poorer mobility measures in elderly population. Sample A group of 24 elderly subjects of age between 60­80 years were included in the study. Subjects are divided into two groups 12 in each group (Group A no. = 12), (Group B no. = 12). Group A (Lower limb muscle strength training) Group B (Trunk muscle strength training was given. Conclusion: Based on the result of present study, it can be concluded that there is no significant change in lower limb and trunk muscle strength training on balance in elderly population. Thus, the null hypothesis, that there is no difference in lower limb and trunk muscle strength training on balance in elderly population holds true. 

Keywords: Lower Limb Muscle Strengthening; Trunk Muscle strengthening; Elderly Population. 

  Objective: The study was done to find the effects of the vestibular adaption exercises on the motion sickness. Methods: The study was done on 25 subjects with the signs and symptoms of motion sickness while travelling in a bus, car or train, selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and carried out in the O.P.D. of physiotherapy at CSS Hospital, Meerut. The score were measured before the application of the vestibular adaptation exercises and just after completion of vestibular adaption exercises for Total Duration of 40 min per session, Twice a  day (40 + 40 min= 80 min every day) per week, for 12 weeks. The mean standard deviation (S.D) and standard error (S.E) are being calculated to perform the entire statistical data. The “t” test was used for analysis and the significant difference was calculated from the statistical data. esults: The ‘t’ test result shows that the difference between 0­4 week is less significant as the ‘t’ value is 2.20, and the difference between 4­8 week is significant as the ‘t’ value is 2.46, while the difference between week 4­8 & week 8­12 is significant as the ‘t’ value is 2.47. After comparing the pre­experimental and post­ experimental data I saw that the vestibular adaption exercises have the very significant value on motion sickness. Therefore, vestibular adaption exercises can be safely used to decrease the motion sickness. 

Keywords: Vestibular Adaption  Exercise; Motion Sickness; Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy.  

  Hamstring flexibility has been a matter of concern for all age groups in society. Tight hamstrings are associated with back pain and many other clinical conditions. The reason is that tight hamstrings restricts the hip flexion during forward bending as a result compensatory movements are produced due to which spinal joints have to compensate & produce movement. Apart from low back pain, ergonomically long hours of sitting at work place, is also one of the common causes of tight hamstrings in general population. Methodology: 40 office workers were included in the study. Range of motion at hip joint by SLR test was measured just prior & immediately after the hamstring stretching in chair stretch position. 18­25 years male and female individuals working with minimum 6 hours of sitting job were assigned in to group A; chair stretch and group B; warm up. Results: Group A & Group B showed no significant difference (t=0.884, p=0.05) at the starting of experiment however after stretching was given in group A and control group B was given warm up, a significant difference (t=5.56, p=0.05*) was found between the two groups, as chair stretch group showed more significant improvement in range of motion. Conclusion: The study observed that chair stretch was found to be effective in office workers in increasing hamstring flexibility.

 Keywords: Chair Stretch; Hamstring Muscle; Flexibility. 

Aims and Objective: The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of mirror box therapy in improving hand function in stroke patients. Method: Fifteen stroke patients were recruited in the study, all within 12 months after the stroke. The patients underwent thirty minutes of mirror therapy program a day in addition to 50 minutes of conventional stroke rehabilitation program, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. The assessment was done pre intervention and post­intervention using Upper limb score of Fugl Meyer Test. Results: Fugl Meyer Assessment mean score of the Group (pre intervention: 21.53, post intervention 40.26). Conclusion: Mirror therapy is effective in improving hand function in stroke patients. 

Keywords: Mirror Therapy; Hand Function; Stroke.