Zubia Veqar

To Compare the Effect of Vibration Therapy and Massage in Prevention of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).

OBJECTIVES To compare the effects of vibration therapy and massage in prevention of DOMS. METHODS Pre-test and Post-test Control-Group Design was used, 45 healthy female non athletic Subjects were recruited and randomly distributed to the three groups (15 subject in each group). After the subjects initial status was measured experimental groups received vibration therapy (50 Hz vibration for five minutes) or massage therapy (15 minutes) intervention and control group received no treatment, just prior to the eccentric exercise. Subjects were undergoing the following measurements to evaluate the changes in the muscle condition: muscle soreness (pain perception), Range of Motion (ROM), Maximum Isometric Force (MIF), Repetition maximum (RM), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Cretain Kinase (CK) level. All the parameters except LDH, CK and 1RM were measured before, immediately post intervention, immediately post exercise, 24 hours post exercise, 48 hours post exercise and 72 hours post exercise. LDH, CK and 1 RM were measured before and 48 hours post exercise. RESULT Muscle soreness was reported to be significantly less for experimental (vibration and massage) group (p=0.000) as compared to control group at 24, 48, and 72 hours of post-exercise. Experimental and control group did not show any significant difference in MIF immediate (p=0.2898), 24 hours (p=0.4173), 48 hours (p=0.752) and 72 hours (p=0.5297) of post-exercise. Range of motion demonstrated significant recovery in experimental groups in 48 hours (p=0.0016) and 72 hours (p=0.0463). Massage therapy showed significant recovery in 1RM (p=0.000) compared to control group and vibration therapy shows significantly less LDH level (p=0.000) 48 hours of post exercise compare to control group. CK at 48 hours of post exercise in vibration group (p=0.000) and massage group showed (p=0.002) significant difference as compared to control group. CONCLUSION Vibration therapy and massage are equally effective in prevention of DOMS. Massage is effective in restoration of concentric strength (1 RM). Yet vibration therapy shows clinically early reduction of pain and is effective in decreasing the level of LDH in 48 hours post exercise periods.

Methods of Postural Assessment Used for Sports Persons

Occurrence of postural defects has become very common now-a-days not only in general population but also in sports persons. There are various methods which can be used to assess these postural defects. These methods have evolved over a period of many years. This paper is first of its kind to summarize the methods of postural assessment which have been used and which can be used for evaluation of postural abnormalities in sports persons such as the visual observation, plumbline, goniometry, photographic, radiographic, photogrammetric, flexiruler, electromagnetic tracking device etc. We recommend more and more postural evaluation studies to be done in future based on the photogrammetric method.

Psychometric Analysis of the Pittsburgh Insomnia Rating Scale among University Population of Poor Sleepers in India.

Background: Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale is a 65 item self administered open source questionnaire. The scale is widely used in clinical practice but its psychometric properties are not well established. Therefore keeping in mind this lacuna the current study was designed for university population of poor sleepers in India. Aims: The purpose of this study was to establish the Pittsburgh sleep Quality Index test- retest reliability, validity and internal consistency of Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale. Materials and Methods: Twenty five subjects were randomly chosen from the screened population of poor sleepers. Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index and Insomnia severity index were administered on test day. Retest was administered after one week. Results: Eight males and seventeen females with mean age 24 + 7.04 were recruited. The test retest reliability for Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale total score showed excellent reliability (ICC2,1-0.93). The results also show that the total score is moderately correlated with Pittsburgh sleep Quality Index (r-0.31) and moderately correlated with Insomnia severity index (r-0.49). Internal consistency for the test was excellent (Cronbachs alpha- 0.930) Conclusion: The study findings suggest that Pittsburgh insomnia rating scale has excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability and good validity for university population of poor sleepers in India. It is an important first line of assessment scale for screening of sleep problems.

Vibration Therapy in Management of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).

Both athletic and nonathletic population when subjected to any unaccustomed or unfamiliar exercise will experience pain 24-72 hours postexercise. This exercise especially eccentric in nature caused primarily by muscle damage is known as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This damage is characterized by muscular pain, decreased muscle force production, reduce range of motion and discomfort experienced. DOMS is due to microscopic muscle fiber tears. The presence of DOMS increases risk of injury. A reduced range of motion may lead to the incapability to efficiently absorb the shock that affect physical activity. Alterations to mechanical motion may increase strain placed on soft tissue structures. Reduced force output may signal compensatory recruitment of muscles, thus leading to unaccustomed stress on musculature. Differences in strength ratios may also cause excessive strain on unaccustomed musculature. A range of interventions aimed at decreasing symptoms of DOMS have been proposed. Although voluminous research has been done in this regard, there is little consensus among the practitioners regarding the most effective way of treating DOMS. Mechanical oscillatory motion provided by vibration therapy. Vibration could represent an effective exercise intervention for enhancing neuromuscular performance in athletes. Vibration has shown effectiveness in flexibility and explosive power. Vibration can apply either local area or whole body vibration. Vibration therapy improves muscular strength, power development, kinesthetic awareness, decreased muscle sore, increased range of motion, and increased blood flow under the skin. VT was effective for reduction of DOMS and regaining full ROM. Application of whole body vibration therapy in postexercise demonstrates less pressure pain threshold, muscle soreness along with less reduction maximal isometric and isokinetic voluntary strength and lower creatine kinase levels in the blood.

Photogrammetric Assessment of Upper Body Posture Using Postural Angles: A Literature Review

Objective: The purpose of this paper was to review the literature regarding the measurement properties of various angles used for postural assessment of the head, neck, shoulder, and thorax and to discuss the utility of these measures. Methods: The inclusion criteria for this literature review were use of postural angles to assess posture, measurement of upper body posture, and research studies conducted in last 3 decades that had free full‐text available online entirely in the English language. The exclusion criteria were review articles; studies involving subjects having obesity, visual problems, any history of surgery, respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic, or congenital pathology or disease; and research studies in which postural angles were measured with respect to vertical only. The following databases were searched: PubMed Central, PubMed, ResearchGate, Springer Link, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar and Scielo through February 20, 2016. Results: A total of 21 studies that were found to be best suited to explain the craniovertebral (CV) angle, sagittal head tilt, sagittal shoulder‐C7 angle, coronal head tilt, coronal shoulder angle, and thoracic kyphosis angle were included in this review. Craniovertebral angle, sagittal head tilt, sagittal shoulder‐C7 angle, coronal head tilt, and coronal shoulder angle possess moderate to high intrarater reliability. Craniovertebral angle, sagittal head tilt, sagittal shoulder‐C7 angle and thoracic kyphosis angle possess high interrater reliability (except for sagittal head tilt when measured using the goniometer). Craniovertebral angle, sagittal head tilt, and sagittal shoulder‐C7 angle have been proved to be valid measures of posture when compared with similar angles measured on radiographs. None of the studies reported intrarater reliability of thoracic kyphosis angle, interrater reliability of coronal head tilt and coronal shoulder angle, and validity of coronal angles and thoracic kyphosis angle. Conclusions: We found several reliable methods to measure the postures of the head, neck, shoulder, and thoracic regions by measuring the CV angle, sagittal head tilt, sagittal shoulder‐C7 angle, and thoracic kyphosis angle, respectively. Standardization of methods for angular measurement is recommended so that there is uniformity among studies regarding camera height, participant‐camera distance, and type of software to generate normative data for postural angles.

Validity and reliability of insomnia severity index and its correlation with pittsburgh sleep quality index in poor sleepers among Indian university students.

Abstract Objective: Insomnia severity index (ISI) is a widely used scale in various demographic groups but its psychometric properties have not been established in a sample of Indian subjects. This study was conducted as a preliminary study to extend and confirm the applicability of ISI to an Indian population of university students and to establish its correlation with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Materials and methods: The study was conducted among the student population of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India, with due approval by the institutional ethical committee. Twenty-five poor sleepers with a mean age of 25.24±7.04 years and a BMI of 24.2±2.5 kg/m2 were recruited for the study from the university population. They were administered ISI and PSQI on test day and the same was repeated after 1 week. Results: The test-retest reliability for ISI (intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC2,1−0.84) was excellent. It was further established by the Bland-Altman graph and scatter plot. The results also showed that ISI (Pearson’s coefficient r−0.45) had a strong positive correlation with PSQI. Internal consistency for the ISI (Cronbach’s α–0.84) was excellent. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that ISI has excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability and validity for the university population of poor sleepers in India. Hence, it can prove to be a good tool for screening insomnia in the current population.

Psychometric analysis of Epworth Sleepiness Scale and its correlation with Pittsburgh sleep quality index in poor sleepers among Indian university students

Abstract Background The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is an 8-item scale to detect excessive daytime sleepiness. Although its psychometric properties are well established on a number of populations the same has not been done for an Indian population, hence this study was designed to cover this knowledge gap. Aims The purpose of this study was to establish the test-retest reliability, validity and internal consistency of the ESS and its correlation with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in poor sleepers in India. Materials and methods Twenty-five poor sleepers were randomly chosen from a university population. All the subjects were administered the two scales on the test day and the same was repeated after 1 week, which was the retest. Statistical analysis Intraclass coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were calculated for the reliability which was further supported by the Bland-Altman graph and a scatterplot. Cronbach’s alpha and Pearson’s coefficient were calculated for internal consistency and correlation, respectively. Results Twenty-five poor sleepers with mean age 25.24 ± 7.04 years were recruited. The test-retest reliability for ESS displayed good reliability (ICC2,1: 0.86) which was supported by the Bland-Altman graph and the scatterplot. Cronbach’s alpha was reported as 0.86 and Pearson’s coefficient was r: 0.62, p-value: 0.001. Conclusion The results suggest that the ESS has good internal consistency and test-retest reliability for a university population of poor sleepers in India.

Extensor trunk muscle activity during stabilization exercises: An update

Stabilization exercises are commonly employed exercises and are popular due to reduction in spinal loads and for strengthening of trunk extensors. Different stabilization exercises are performed in various position and using different strategies. Local muscles of trunk as well as global muscles both are activated during these exercises. Activation of local muscle such as multifidus as compared to global muscles is now being emphasized for treating low back pain (LBP). Varying lumbar lordosis during stabilization exercises has shown to increase the activity of lumbar multifidus as compared to longissimus thoracis muscle which is a global muscle. In addition, a lordotic posture causes lesser reduction in moment arm of erector spinae and reduced muscle activation. The lumbar multifidus is an important stabilizer of the neutral zone, and dysfunction in these muscles is strongly associated with LBP. Lumbar multifidus has also shown to be selectively and bilaterally atrophied in LBP. Electromyography of trunk muscles during stabilization exercises will provide a means by which the muscle activation levels can be analyzed and can assist therapist in selecting appropriate exercise for the muscle which is commonly atrophied in chronic LBP. Exercises promoting targeted activation of atrophied muscles will result in effective rehabilitation for LBP. The extensor muscle activity during stabilization exercises will help providing a potential for progression and planning rehabilitation protocol for the specific muscle.

Association Between Forward Head, Rounded Shoulders, and Increased Thoracic Kyphosis: A Review of the Literature

Objective: The purpose of this review was to explore the association between forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and increased thoracic kyphosis. Methods: The PubMed, ERIC, and Cochrane databases were searched using the key words posture, head, shoulder, forward scapular posture, and thoracic kyphosis through December 2016. Results: Our initial search yielded 6840 research studies, 6769 of which were excluded because they either were duplicates or did not satisfy the inclusion criteria. After the abstracts of the remaining studies were read, 15 were assessed for eligibility, and only 4 papers were included in the present review. Cervical lordosis values were found to be significantly associated with thoracic kyphosis values. Also, there were significant correlations between rounded shoulders and increased thoracic kyphosis. Conclusion: Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and increased thoracic kyphosis can exist alone or in any combination.

Correlation between endurance of deep cervical flexors and lower scapular stabilisers in computer users with chronic neck pain

Chronic neck pain is becoming increasingly prevalent among computer users. Recent studies have identified impaired activation of the deep cervical flexor muscles, in people with chronic neck pain. According to Jandas hypothesis of muscle imbalance, deep cervical flexors and lower scapular stabilisers become inhibited in a predicted pattern (upper crossed syndrome). But the relationship between these muscle groups has not been investigated by a study so far. The study was aimed at investigating the correlation between endurance of deep cervical flexors and lower scapular stabilisers in computer users with chronic neck pain. Fifty computer users (22 males and 28 females) in the age group of 20–30 years participated in the study. The endurance of deep cervical flexors was measured using cranio cervical flexion test. Endurance of lower scapular stabilisers was measured using modified version of the grade 3 standard lower trapezius clinical muscle test position. The endurance of deep cervical flexor muscles correlated significantly with the endurance of lower scapular stabilisers of both the right (r=0.666, p≤0.001) and the left (r=0.662, p≤0.001) side. Results also showed that endurance of deep cervical flexor muscles correlated significantly with VAS scores (r = −0.444, p≤ 0.001) but it had no correlation with the duration of neck pain. There is a positive correlation between the endurance of deep cervical flexors and right and left lower scapular stabilisers in computer users with chronic neck pain.