Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

  Background: Bank workers are subjected to work on computers, deal with customers for on average 8 hours a day with minimum rest period. Most of the time work is performed in awkward postures. Neck pain was found to be most prevalent problem amongst bank workers. Reasons contributing to causes of neck pain can be attributed to awkward posture, sedentary work, maintaining static activity for typing data, handling mouse etc. Decreased activity of deep cervical flexors and increased activity of superficial cervical flexors was found to be the pathophysiology for the neck pain.

Methodology: This experimental study consists of 55 subjects with the age 19 to 50 years were selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group ‘A’ received deep cervical flexor activation along with ergonomic education. Group ‘B’ received ergonomic education only. In group A stretching to neck muscles, deep cervical flexor training using pressure biofeedback and ergonomic education was given. Group B received ergonomic education. Participants received intervention for 3 weeks, 5 days in a week. Outcome measure was NPRS, NDI and Cervical ROM measured before and after intervention. RULA was used to evaluate ergonomic posture. 

Results: The participants in group A showed highly significant improvement in NPRS (2.72±1.24 to 0.909 ± 1.151), NDI (9.59±3.305 to 3.00±2.600) and cervical flexion (43.63±2.969 to 46.54±2.738), cervical extension (54.83±2.55 to 57.045±2.171), this was observed in comparison with group B.

Conclusion: Deep neck flexor activation is suitable to treat neck pain in bank workers reducing pain,
disability and improving range of motion.

Keywords: Bank Workers; WMSDs; NDI; CCFT; Deep Cervical Flexion Activation; Ergonomic
Education.  

Aim: The aim of study was to find out the efficacy of swiss ball exercises versus floor exercises in mechanical low back pain patients. Methodology: The number of subjects was 30 (n=30) with both males and females and randomly divided into 2 groups (group A & group B). Intervention: Both the experimental groups (group A & group B) received a moist heat pack prior to the treatment with ergonomics care and strengthening exercises one group on swiss ball and another on floor for 4 weeks (3 days/week). Outcome measures: The pre & post readings of outcome measures Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disabilty Index (ODI), Dynamic Extension Endurance Test (DEET), Dynamic Abdominal Endurance Test (DAET) & Multifidus Test (MT) was taken to find out the improvement in both the groups. Result: Comparison of values of both the groups showed a highly significant improvement in low back pain, endurance and decreasing in disability but there is no significant difference between both the groups. Conclusion: It is concluded that both the exercises (Swiss ball & Floor) are equally effective in reduction of low back pain, disability and increasing endurance.

Keywords: Mechanical Low Back Pain; Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); Oswestry Disability Index (ODI); Dynamic Abdominal Endurance Test (DAET); Dynamic Extension Endurance Test (DEET); Multifidus Test (MT).

Introduction: Adhesive capsulitis is one of the most common cause of shoulder pain and disability in general population. Reeves described three stages of the disease: Stage 1 is freezing phase which is mainly characterized by pain Stage 2 is frozen phase, in which pain gradually subsides, but the stiffness is marked Stage 3 is thawing phase, in which pain resolves and improvement in range of motion (ROM) appears. Need of Study: There are various studies that shows effectiveness of Cyriax Deep Friction Massage and effectiveness of End Range Mobilization in adhesive capsulitis, but there is no literature available comparison of these two techniques.So the present study is intended to compare these two techniques Methodology: It is comparative in nature. Sampling: Randomized sampling technique was adopted in the present study. Sample Size: Total of 60 subjects with adhesive capsulitis were included in the study and then they were grouped into two groups A and B with 30 in each group.

Result: The result of the study suggests that ‘t’ value is highly significant in each pair of both Group A and Group B. Both the groups, Group A and Group B improved in VAS, Active ROM mainly abduction, external and internal rotation of the shoulder joint and SPADI, which reveals that the treatments given to the subjects of both groups are effective. Discussion: On comparing the result of both the groups, it was found that changes in VAS, SPADI Pain, SPADI Disability and SPADI Total and active range of motion of abduction, external rotation and internal rotation were more significant in Group B than that of Group A. This shows that the treatment given to Group B is more effective than that of Group A. Thus null hypothesis is rejected and alternative hypothesis is accepted. Conclusion: This study shows that end range mobilization with hot packs provide better results as compared to Cyriax deep friction massage with hot packs.

Keywords: Cyriax Deep Friction Massage; End Range Mobilization Technique; Adhesive Capsulitis.