Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 101 in total

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  1. Fulltext The importance of exercise as a therapeutic agent
    Singh R
    Malays J Med Sci, 2002 Jul;9(2):7-16.
    PMID: 22844219 MyJurnal
    Adaptations in the structural and/or functional properties of cells, tissues and organ systems in the human body occurs when exposed to various stimuli. While there is unanimous agreement that regular physical activity is essential for optimal function of the human body, it is evident that extrinsic factors, such as diet, smoking, exercise habits, are reflected in the morbidity and mortality statistics of the population. Ageing is obligatorily associated with reduced maximal aerobic power and reduced muscle strength, i.e. with reduced physical fitness. As a consequence of diminished exercise tolerance, a large and increasing number of the aged population will be living below, at or just above 'threshold' of physical ability, needing only a minor illness to render them completely dependent. Physical training can readily produce a profound improvement of functions essential for physical fitness in old age. Adaptation to regular physical activity causes less disruption of the cells' internal environment and minimises fatigue which enhances performances and the economy of energy output during daily physical activity. Regular physical exercise reduces the risk of premature mortality in general, and of coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Physical activity also improves mental health and is important for health and optimal function of muscles, bones and joints. The most recent recommendations advice the people of all ages to include a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity, such as brisk walking, on most, if not all, days of the week.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  2. Fulltext Treatment for flexion contracture of the knee during Ilizarov reconstruction of tibia with passive knee extension splint
    Kwan MK, Penafort R, Saw A
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 Dec;59 Suppl F:39-41.
    PMID: 15941159
    Joint stiffness is one of the complications of limb procedure. It developes as a result of failure of knee flexors to lengthen in tandem with the bone, especially when there is inadequate physical therapy to provide active and passive mobilization of the affected joint. We are reporting four patients who developed fixed flexion contracture of their knees during bone lengthening procedure for the tibia with Ilizarov external fixator. Three of them were treated for congenital pseudoarthrosis and one was for fibular hemimelia. None of them were able to visit the physiotherapist even on a weekly basis. A splint was constructed from components of Ilizarov external fixator and applied on to the existing frame to passively extend the affected knee. Patients and their family members were taught to perform this exercise regularly and eventually near complete correction were achieved. With this result, we would like to recommend the use of this "Passive Knee Extension Splint" to avoid knee flexion Contracture during limb lengthening procedures with Ilizarov external fixators.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy/methods*
  3. The effectiveness of a pre-operative home-based physiotherapy programme for chronic anterior cruciate ligament deficiency
    Keays SL, Bullock-Saxton JE, Newcombe P, Bullock MI
    Physiother Res Int, 2006 Dec;11(4):204-18.
    PMID: 17236528
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little evidence supports the prescription of pre-operative rehabilitation in the treatment of chronic anterior cruciate ligament-deficient (ACLD) subjects. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a specific six-week pre-operative exercise programme on ACLD knees.

    METHOD: A single, masked, controlled study was designed. This comprised two matched groups of 12 chronically ACLD patients awaiting reconstruction and a group of 12 matched uninjured control subjects. Only one ACLD group received a home-based exercise and educational programme. Assessment before and after the exercise intervention included: knee joint stability (clinical and KT1000 evaluation); muscle strength (Cybex II); standing balance and functional performance (agility, [corrected] and subjective tests).

    RESULTS: At the time of initial assessment there were no statistically significant differences in any measures for the two ACLD groups but both ACLD groups were significantly different from the uninjured control group as regards quadriceps strength and function. Measures taken after six weeks showed no significant improvement in the untreated ACLD group or in the uninjured control group. The treated ACLD group showed significant improvement in the following measures: quadriceps strength measured at 60 degrees and 120 degrees per second (p < 0.001); single leg standing balance with eyes closed (p < 0.001); instrumented passive stability at 20 lb (89 N) force (p = 0.003); agility and subjective performance (p < 0.001). The incidence of unstable episodes had decreased in the treated ACLD group, reducing further damage to the joint.

    CONCLUSION: This study leaves little doubt that pre-operative physiotherapy had a positive effect on motor function in ACLD subjects and should be prescribed routinely to maximize muscle stabilizing potential prior to reconstruction. Patients report improved stability and, in certain cases, may avoid surgery. The finding that exercise increased the passive stability of the joint was unexpected and requires further investigation.

    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy*
  4. A multicomponent exercise program for institutionalized older adults
    Justine M, Hamid TA
    J Gerontol Nurs, 2010 Oct;36(10):32-41.
    PMID: 20438009 DOI: 10.3928/00989134-20100330-09
    This study examined the effects of a multicomponent exercise program on depression and quality of life in institutionalized older adults. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were recruited from a publicly funded shelter home in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Malaysia. The experimental group consisted of 23 volunteers 60 or older who performed 60 minutes of supervised exercise three times per week for 12 weeks. The control group consisted of 20 volunteers who continued with a sedentary lifestyle. At 12 weeks, the exercise group demonstrated an improvement in quality of life by 10.74% (p > 0.05) but not depression (-1.6%, p > 0.05). The control group demonstrated a decrease in both quality of life by 11.26% (p > 0.05) and level of depression by 17.7% (p > 0.05). This study suggests a multicomponent exercise program is a feasible intervention to improve quality of life in institutionalized older adults.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy/methods*
  5. Fulltext Electromyographic activity and applied load during high intensity elastic resistance and nautilus machine exercises
    Aboodarda SJ, Shariff MA, Muhamed AM, Ibrahim F, Yusof A
    J Hum Kinet, 2011 Dec;30:5-12.
    PMID: 23487250 DOI: 10.2478/v10078-011-0067-0
    This study was designed to quantify and compare Electromyographic activity (EMG) and applied load in quadriceps muscle within performing high intensity knee extension exercises by Elastic Resistance (ER) and Nautilus Machine (NM). Sixteen male and female subjects (22.4 ± 4.7 yrs) completed 8 RM seated knee extension by NM, elastic tubing with original length (E0) and elastic tubing with 30% decrement of original length (E30). The mean value of EMG and external force were calculated and synchronized across various segments of motion for the three modes of training. The results demonstrated that in the early concentric and late eccentric segments of contraction, NM elicited significantly higher muscle activation than both E30 and E0 (p < 0.05). However, in the mid-concentric and mid-eccentric as well as late concentric and early eccentric segments no significant differences were observed between NM and E30. These findings supported the approach that developing external recoil of force in ER device by reducing 30% of initial length of elastic material can offer similar neuromuscular activation compared with NM. On this basis, E30 can be suggested as an affordable and non-gym based exercise device which has the capacity to provide an appropriate high resistance stimulus to meet the training requirement of athletes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  6. Fulltext Disaster Medicine-Is it time we embrace it?
    Amjad, N.M.
    International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2011;10(1):1-2.
    MyJurnal
    Education and training in disaster medicine is an ongoing process to all categories of personnel involved.
    In addition to the collaborative inter-professional table top exercises, regularly conducted field exercise drills offers the best form of training. Currently in most countries there is no standardized curriculum
    for the training of disaster management from the medical perspective. It is imperative that the concept of disaster medicine and its principles should be a component in the undergraduate and postgraduate
    curriculum of Medical and Allied health related programmes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  7. Participating in a virtual reality balance exercise program can reduce risk and fear of falls
    Singh DK, Rajaratnam BS, Palaniswamy V, Pearson H, Raman VP, Bong PS
    Maturitas, 2012 Nov;73(3):239-43.
    PMID: 22884437 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.07.011
    The objective of this study was to quantify the effectiveness of virtual reality balance games (VRBG) to decrease risk and fear of falls among women.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy*
  8. Intensive exercise and a patient in acute phase of polymyositis
    Hejazi SM, Engkasan JP, Qomi MS
    J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 2012;25(4):231-4.
    PMID: 23220804 DOI: 10.3233/BMR-2012-0340
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Polymyositis (PM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy manifested by proximal limb muscles weakness, elevated creatinin kinase, electromyography changes, and muscle inflammation in biopsy. We report an instance of intensive rehabilitation therapy in a patient with clinically active polymyositis.
    CASE REPORT: A 19-year-old female patient, diagnosed with 'electromyography and biopsy proven' polymyositis for 5 years, suffered from worsening limbs weakness and dysphagia. In her history, she had upper and lower limbs weakness accompanied by dysphagia which was further complicated by right bronchial aspiration 9 months ago. A four-week trial of intensive training and exercise rehabilitation, concurrently accompanied by medications was prescribed for this patient. At the end of therapy she achieved significant improvement in muscle strength, activities of daily living, and ambulation without any disease exacerbation.
    CONCLUSION: We concluded that short-term intensive training and exercise may lead to improvements in patients with PM, without causing a progress in the disease. Due to the rarity of PM and difficulty of conducting well-controlled studies to examine the risks and benefits of exercise in these patients, further research is necessary to investigate benefits of exercise training in active phase of disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy/methods*
  9. Multimodal physiotherapeutic management for stage-IV osteitis pubis in a 15-year old soccer athlete: a case report
    Vijayakumar P, Nagarajan M, Ramli A
    J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 2012;25(4):225-30.
    PMID: 23220803 DOI: 10.3233/BMR-2012-0337
    Osteitis pubis among soccer athletes is a disabling painful condition and it is difficult to manage without integrating a multimodal treatment approach. There is limited scientific evidence on the effectiveness of exercise in treating Osteitis pubis especially when it progress to a chronic painful condition. The purpose of this case report is to discuss the successful multimodal physiotherapeutic management for a 15-year old soccer athlete diagnosed with stage-IV Osteitis pubis. Land and water based active core muscle strengthening exercises, Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques (PNF) and Manual Therapy are some of the essential components incorporated in multimodal intervention approach with emphasis to water based strength and endurance training exercises. The athlete was able to make progress to a successful recovery from his chronic painful condition and accomplished the clearly established clinical outcomes during each phase of rehabilitation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  10. Fulltext A measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of COPD patients following pulmonary rehabilitation program with two health index questionnaire (SF-36 and SGRQ)
    Ayiesah, R., Riza, S.
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2012;8(1):21-26.
    MyJurnal
    The health related quality of life (HRQoL) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is greatly influenced by their health status. The Health Index Questionnaire - Short Form 36 (SF-36) and St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) are commonly used to assess the HRQoL of COPD patients. Objective: This study investigates differences in HRQoL following sessions of pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) with a control group (CG) that had no intervention. Method: This quasi-experimental study involving 17 subjects assigned to the CG and 16 subjects in the intervention group (IG). Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant authority. Both groups were given the health index questionnaires- SF-36 and SGRQ prior and 5 weeks after the intervention. The CG only had medication while the IG performed exercises (cycling, treadmill walking, upper limb strengthening exercise and stair climbing exercise). Results: Data analysis using SPANOVA demonstrated significant improvement in HRQoL measured from SF-36 in domains of bodily pain (p=0.005), vitality (p=0.021) and mental health (p=0.002) in IG unlike the CG. Similarly, SGRQ, also shows improvement in symptom (p=0.028), activity (p=0.004) and total score (p=0.012. Conclusion: The 5 weeks pulmonary rehabilitation program demonstrated improvement in HRQoL among COPD
    patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  11. Effects of balance-focused interactive games compared to therapeutic balance classes for older women
    Singh DK, Rajaratnam BS, Palaniswamy V, Raman VP, Bong PS, Pearson H
    Climacteric, 2013 Feb;16(1):141-6.
    PMID: 22640573 DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2012.664832
    The prospective pre-post control study was designed to evaluate the effect of introducing balance-focused interactive virtual-reality games to community-dwelling older women to improve their agility, balance and functional mobility.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy*
  12. Fulltext A quantitative approach to measure women's sexual function using electromyography: a preliminary study of the Kegel exercise
    Mohktar MS, Ibrahim F, Mohd Rozi NF, Mohd Yusof J, Ahmad SA, Su Yen K, et al.
    Med Sci Monit, 2013 Dec 13;19:1159-66.
    PMID: 24335927 DOI: 10.12659/MSM.889628
    BACKGROUND: Currently, the reference standard used to clinically assess sexual function among women is a qualitative questionnaire. Hence, a generalised and quantitative measurement tool needs to be available as an alternative. This study investigated whether an electromyography (EMG) measurement technique could be used to help quantify women's sexual function.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: A preliminary intervention study was conducted on 12 female subjects, who were randomised into a control (n=6) and an intervention (n=6) group. Intervention involved a set regimen of pelvic floor muscle exercises (Kegel) and the control group did not have any treatment. All subjects were asked to answer a validated, self-rated Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ). EMG measurements of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and the abdominal muscles were taken from all women at recruitment and 8 weeks after study commencement.

    RESULTS: After 8 weeks, most of the subjects in the control group did not display any noted positive difference in either PISQ score (4/6) or in their muscle strength (4/6). However, a noted progressive difference were observed in subjects who were placed in the Kegel group; PISQ score (5/6) and muscles strength (4/6).

    CONCLUSIONS: The noted difference in the Kegel group subjects was that if progress is observed in the sexual function, improvement is also observed in the strength of at least 2 types of muscles (either abdominal or PFM muscles). Thus, EMG measurement is a potential technique to quantify the changes in female sexual function. Further work will be conducted to validate this assumption.

    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy/methods*
  13. Physical activity and quality of life of cancer survivors: a lack of focus for lifestyle redesign
    Lee JE, Loh SY
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(4):2551-5.
    PMID: 23725173
    BACKGROUND: Physical activity is a component of lifestyle activity and one that has been increasingly seen as 'the medicine' to cure chronic diseases, including certain types of cancer. Physical activity has potent impact on mortality but only if it is well incorporated as lifestyle activity may it allow a better outcome of the quality of life of cancer survivors. This paper presents a review on the evidence of physical activity being actively promoted as lifestyle activity amongst cancer survivors, for the last five years.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials incorporated as lifestyle activity through MEDLINE with the associated terms "physical activity or exercise", "quality of life" and "cancer survivor or people with cancer", 'lifestyle' and 'randomised controlled trial'. The period of search was confined to publication within January 2008 till December 2012 and further limits were to full text, peer reviewed, abstract available and English language.

    RESULTS: Based on inclusion criteria, 45 articles were retrieved. Of these, 41 were excluded after examining the full paper. Four final articles on randomized controlled trials were studied to determine the effectiveness of PA to improve the quality of life in post treatment cancer survivors and positive associations were found.

    CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity is related to better quality of life of cancer survivors. Only one paper had characteristics of lifestyle incorporation for a lifestyle redesign, but none overtly or actively promoting exercise interventions as an essential lifestyle activity. With increasing survivorship, the benefits of physical activity must be aggressively and overtly promoted to optimize its positive impact.

    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy*
  14. Sarcopenia in Asia: consensus report of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia
    Chen LK, Liu LK, Woo J, Assantachai P, Auyeung TW, Bahyah KS, et al.
    J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2014 Feb;15(2):95-101.
    PMID: 24461239 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2013.11.025
    Sarcopenia, a newly recognized geriatric syndrome, is characterized by age-related decline of skeletal muscle plus low muscle strength and/or physical performance. Previous studies have confirmed the association of sarcopenia and adverse health outcomes, such as falls, disability, hospital admission, long term care placement, poorer quality of life, and mortality, which denotes the importance of sarcopenia in the health care for older people. Despite the clinical significance of sarcopenia, the operational definition of sarcopenia and standardized intervention programs are still lacking. It is generally agreed by the different working groups for sarcopenia in the world that sarcopenia should be defined through a combined approach of muscle mass and muscle quality, however, selecting appropriate diagnostic cutoff values for all the measurements in Asian populations is challenging. Asia is a rapidly aging region with a huge population, so the impact of sarcopenia to this region is estimated to be huge as well. Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) aimed to promote sarcopenia research in Asia, and we collected the best available evidences of sarcopenia researches from Asian countries to establish the consensus for sarcopenia diagnosis. AWGS has agreed with the previous reports that sarcopenia should be described as low muscle mass plus low muscle strength and/or low physical performance, and we also recommend outcome indicators for further researches, as well as the conditions that sarcopenia should be assessed. In addition to sarcopenia screening for community-dwelling older people, AWGS recommends sarcopenia assessment in certain clinical conditions and healthcare settings to facilitate implementing sarcopenia in clinical practice. Moreover, we also recommend cutoff values for muscle mass measurements (7.0 kg/m(2) for men and 5.4 kg/m(2) for women by using dual X-ray absorptiometry, and 7.0 kg/m(2) for men and 5.7 kg/m(2) for women by using bioimpedance analysis), handgrip strength (<26 kg for men and <18 kg for women), and usual gait speed (<0.8 m/s). However, a number of challenges remained to be solved in the future. Asia is made up of a great number of ethnicities. The majority of currently available studies have been published from eastern Asia, therefore, more studies of sarcopenia in south, southeastern, and western Asia should be promoted. On the other hand, most Asian studies have been conducted in a cross-sectional design and few longitudinal studies have not necessarily collected the commonly used outcome indicators as other reports from Western countries. Nevertheless, the AWGS consensus report is believed to promote more Asian sarcopenia research, and most important of all, to focus on sarcopenia intervention studies and the implementation of sarcopenia in clinical practice to improve health care outcomes of older people in the communities and the healthcare settings in Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  15. Effect of exercise and gait retraining on knee adduction moment in people with knee osteoarthritis
    Khalaj N, Abu Osman NA, Mokhtar AH, Mehdikhani M, Wan Abas WA
    Proc Inst Mech Eng H, 2014 Feb;228(2):190-9.
    PMID: 24458100 DOI: 10.1177/0954411914521155
    The knee adduction moment represents the medial knee joint load, and greater value is associated with higher load. In people with knee osteoarthritis, it is important to apply proper treatment with the least side effects to reduce knee adduction moment and, consequently, reduce medial knee joint load. This reduction may slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis. The research team performed a literature search of electronic databases. The search keywords were as follows: knee osteoarthritis, knee adduction moment, exercise program, exercise therapy, gait retraining, gait modification and knee joint loading. In total, 12 studies were selected, according to the selection criteria. Findings from previous studies illustrated that exercise and gait retraining programs could alter knee adduction moment in people with knee osteoarthritis. These treatments are noninvasive and nonpharmacological which so far have no or few side effects, as well as being low cost. The results of this review revealed that gait retraining programs were helpful in reducing the knee adduction moment. In contrast, not all the exercise programs were beneficial in reducing knee adduction moment. Future studies are needed to indicate best clinical exercise and gait retraining programs, which are most effective in reducing knee adduction moment in people with knee osteoarthritis.
    Study design: systematic review
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy*
  16. Treatment stability of Milwaukee brace in idiopathic hyperkyphosis
    Mehdikhani M, Behtash H, Ganjavian MS, Abu Osman NA, Khalaj N
    Prosthet Orthot Int, 2014 Aug;38(4):316-20.
    PMID: 23950552 DOI: 10.1177/0309364613499063
    The Milwaukee brace is an efficient method for correcting hyperkyphosis before skeletal maturity. However, loss of correction in long-term follow-up is inevitable.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  17. Fulltext Preliminary study of an exercise programme for reducing fatigue and improving sleep among long-term haemodialysis patients
    Maniam R, Subramanian P, Singh SK, Lim SK, Chinna K, Rosli R
    Singapore Med J, 2014 Sep;55(9):476-82.
    PMID: 25273932
    INTRODUCTION: Fatigue and quality of sleep are the main factors that contribute to a poor quality of life among patients on long-term haemodialysis. Studies have also emphasised the importance of exercise for improving the wellbeing of dialysis patients. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a predialysis low-to-moderate-intensity exercise programme for reducing fatigue and improving sleep disorders among long-term haemodialysis patients.

    METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, an exercise programme was conducted three times a week for 12 weeks before long-term haemodialysis patients underwent dialysis at two centres. The patients were categorised into either the exercise group (n = 28) or control group (n = 27). The latter was asked to maintain their current lifestyles. Assessments of fatigue and sleep disorder levels were performed for both groups using self-reported questionnaires at baseline and after intervention. The patients' perception of the exercise programme was also determined using self-reported questionnaires.

    RESULTS: Paired sample t-test indicated improvements in fatigue level in the exercise group (mean fatigue score: post-treatment 40.5 ± 7.9 vs. pre-treatment 30.0 ± 10.9). Improvements in sleep disorders were also observed in the exercise group (mean score: post-treatment 7.6 ± 3.3 vs. pre-treatment 10.1 ± 3.8). However, sleep quality deteriorated in the control group (mean score: post-treatment 10.7 ± 2.9 vs. pre-treatment 9.3 ± 2.9).

    CONCLUSION: Simple low-to-moderate-intensity exercise is effective for improving fatigue, sleep disorders and the overall quality of life among haemodialysis patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy/methods*
  18. Platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of hamstring injuries: a randomized controlled trial
    A Hamid MS, Mohamed Ali MR, Yusof A, George J, Lee LP
    Am J Sports Med, 2014 Oct;42(10):2410-8.
    PMID: 25073598 DOI: 10.1177/0363546514541540
    BACKGROUND: A hamstring injury is one of the most common types of injury affecting athletes. Despite this, the optimal management of hamstring muscle injuries is not yet defined. The effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy on the recovery of hamstring injuries is unclear.
    PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of a single PRP injection in the treatment of grade 2 hamstring muscle injuries.
    STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2.
    METHODS: Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with an acute hamstring injury were randomly allocated to autologous PRP therapy combined with a rehabilitation program or a rehabilitation program only. The primary outcome of this study was time to return to play. In addition, changes in pain severity and pain interference scores over time were examined.
    RESULTS: Patients in the PRP group achieved full recovery significantly earlier than controls (P = .02). The mean time to return to play was 26.7 ± 7.0 days and 42.5 ± 20.6 days for the PRP and control groups, respectively (t(22) = 2.50, P = .02). [corrected]. Significantly lower pain severity scores were observed in the PRP group throughout the study. However, no significant difference in the pain interference score was found between the 2 groups.
    CONCLUSION: A single autologous PRP injection combined with a rehabilitation program was significantly more effective in treating hamstring injuries than a rehabilitation program alone.
    KEYWORDS: management; muscle injury; platelet-rich plasma (PRP); return to play
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  19. Changes in transversus abdominis muscle thickness after lumbo-pelvic core stabilization training among chronic low back pain individuals
    Leonard JH, Paungmali A, Sitilertpisan P, Pirunsan U, Uthaikhup S
    Clin Ter, 2015;166(5):e312-6.
    PMID: 26550815 DOI: 10.7417/T.2015.1884
    OBJECTIVE: Lumbo-pelvic core stabilization training (LPST) is one of the therapeutic exercises common in practice for rehabilitation of patients with chronic low back pain. This study was carried out to examine the therapeutic effects of LPST on the muscle thickness of transversus abdominis (TrA) at rest and during contraction among patients with chronic non-specific low back pain.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 participants (7 males and 18 females) with chronic non-specific low back pain participated in a within-subject, repeated measures, double-blinded, placebo-controlled comparisons trial. The participants received three different types of experimental therapeutic training conditions which includes the lumbo-pelvic core stabilization training (LPST), the placebo treatment with passive cycling (PC) and a controlled intervention with rest (CI). The interventions were carried out by randomization with 48 hours between the sessions. The effectiveness of interventions was studied by measuring the changes in muscle thickness of TrA at rest and during contraction using a real time ultrasonography.
    RESULTS: Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated that the LPST provided significant therapeutic benefits as measured by an increase in the muscle thickness of the TrA at rest (p<0.05) and during contraction (p<0.01). The percentage change of the muscle thickness observed during LPST was significantly higher (p<0.01) when compared to the other two experimental training conditions.
    CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that the LPST might provide therapeutic benefits by increasing the muscle thickness and function of TrA. Therefore, it is suggested that LPST technique should be considered as part of management program for treatment of low back pain.
    KEYWORDS: Back pain; Core stabilization; Lumbo-pelvic exercise; Rehabilitation; Transversus abdominis
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
  20. Fulltext Methods to improve rehabilitation of patients following breast cancer surgery: a review of systematic reviews
    Loh SY, Musa AN
    Breast Cancer (Dove Med Press), 2015;7:81-98.
    PMID: 25792854 DOI: 10.2147/BCTT.S47012
    CONTEXT: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer amongst women but it has the highest survival rates amongst all cancer. Rehabilitation therapy of post-treatment effects from cancer and its treatment is needed to improve functioning and quality of life. This review investigated the range of methods for improving physical, psychosocial, occupational, and social wellbeing in women with breast cancer after receiving breast cancer surgery.
    METHOD: A search for articles published in English between the years 2009 and 2014 was carried out using The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Search terms included: 'breast cancer', 'breast carcinoma', 'surgery', 'mastectomy', 'lumpectomy', 'breast conservation', 'axillary lymph node dissection', 'rehabilitation', 'therapy', 'physiotherapy', 'occupational therapy', 'psychological', 'psychosocial', 'psychotherapy', 'exercise', 'physical activity', 'cognitive', 'occupational', 'alternative', 'complementary', and 'systematic review'.
    STUDY SELECTION: Systematic reviews on the effectiveness of rehabilitation methods in improving post-operative physical, and psychological outcomes for breast cancer were selected. Sixteen articles met all the eligibility criteria and were included in the review.
    DATA EXTRACTION: Included review year, study aim, total number of participants included, and results.
    DATA SYNTHESIS: Evidence for exercise rehabilitation is predominantly in the improvement of shoulder mobility and limb strength. Inconclusive results exist for a range of rehabilitation methods (physical, psycho-education, nutritional, alternative-complementary methods) for addressing the domains of psychosocial, cognitive, and occupational outcomes.
    CONCLUSION: There is good evidence for narrowly-focused exercise rehabilitation in improving physical outcome particularly for shoulder mobility and lymphedema. There were inconclusive results for methods to improve psychosocial, cognitive, and occupational outcomes. There were no reviews on broader performance areas and lifestyle factors to enable effective living after treatment. The review suggests that comprehensiveness and effectiveness of post-operative breast cancer rehabilitation should consider patients' self-management approaches towards lifestyle redesign, and incorporate health promotion aspects, in light of the fact that breast cancer is now taking the form of a chronic illness with longer survivorship years.
    KEYWORDS: breast cancer surgery; lifestyle redesign; quality of life; rehabilitation methods; self-management; symptom-management
    Matched MeSH terms: Exercise Therapy
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