RECENT RESEARCH
Shooshtari J . Karatas N , Dalgic A .
Lifestyle medicine
Comparison of the prevalence of myofascial trigger points of muscles acting on knee between patients with moderate degree of knee osteoarthritis and healthy matched people . Myofascial Pain and Treatment , 25 : 113-118 , 2021 . DOI : https :// doi . org / 10.1016 / j . jbmt . 2020.10.012
Introduction : Trigger points have been implicated in the development of several musculoskeletal disorders . Trigger points harbored in lower limb muscles might represent a ubiquitous source of pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis ( OA ). This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points ( MTrPs ) in muscles acting on the knee in patients with OA .
Methods : Thirty-seven patients aged at least 55 years old with a moderate degree of OA ( grade III of Kellgren and Lawrence scale ) were recruited . Thirty asymptomatic people , matched on age and body mass index , were considered as the control group . Ten muscles acting on the knee joint were selected . Taut bands were also identified using a skin rolling method . A pressure of 3 kg / cm2 was used to identify myofascial trigger points in all muscles except the popliteus ( 8 kg / cm2 ).
Results : Chi-square was performed to compare the prevalence of trigger points between the groups . The McNemar test was administered to compare the prevalence of trigger points in the right and left sides of participants . Prevalence of the trigger points was significantly higher in patients with knee OA compared with asymptomatic people in all muscles except for right ( p = 0.17 ) and left ( p = 0.41 ) rectus femoris , right ( p = 0.61 ) and left ( p = 0.22 ) sartorius and left biceps femoris ( p = 0.08 ). Comparison of the prevalence of MTrPs bilaterally revealed that only the right and left sartorius differed significantly ( p = 0.008 ).
Conclusions : The prevalence of MTrPs in the muscles acting on the knee joint is higher in patients with a moderate degree of knee OA compared with asymptomatic subjects .
Is foot reflexology effective in reducing colic symptoms in infants : A randomized placebocontrolled trial . Complementary Therapies in Medicine , 59 , 102732 , 2021 .
Objectives : Infantile colic and its accompanying crying represent a major source of stress and have negative physiological , emotional and psychological effects on infants and parents . The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of foot reflexology for reducing symptoms of infantile colic .
Design : The study was conducted as a single-blind , randomized , placebocontrolled trial with a sample population of 45 infants diagnosed with infantile colic .
Methods : Simple randomization was used to select a reflexology ( study ) group ( n = 20 ) and a placebo group of infants with colic ( n = 25 ). The parents and biostatistician were blinded to group assessment . Foot reflexology , or stimulating reflex points on the foot , was implemented with the reflexology group . Placebo foot reflexology , or noneffective touch , was used with the placebo group . Over a two-week period , both interventions were performed four times for 20 min each time by the researcher . The researcher collected data using the information form , the Infant Colic Scale ( ICS ), and a diary of daily crying duration .
Results : The trial ended with the completion of the data . In each group , 20 infants were studied . The means of the Infant Colic Scale scores and daily crying duration were significantly lower in the foot-reflexology group than in the placebo foot-reflexology group ( p < . 001 ). Infants with colic in the reflexology group cried less and experienced fewer symptoms than before treatment .
Conclusions : Foot reflexology is a noninvasive and safe nursing intervention that is effective for reducing crying duration and symptoms in infants with colic .
Wan Z , Liu X , Yang H , Li F , Yu L , Li L , Wang Y , Jiang H , Zou J , Du J .
Effects of Health Qigong Exercises on Physical Function on Patients with Parkinson ’ s Disease . J Multidiscip Healthc . 2021 ; 14:941-950 . https :// doi . org / 10.2147 / JMDH . S303945
Purpose : To measure motor function improvements in patients with Parkinson ’ s disease ( PD ) using Health Qigong exercises .
Patients and Methods : Fifty-two PD patients ( Hoehn and Yahr stages I to IV ) were randomly divided into experimental and control groups . Twenty-six PD patients in the experimental group were intervened with routine medicine and fitness Qigong exercise . The other 26 PD patients as the control group were treated only with regular medication . Twelve-week intervention had been conducted for the study , and participants completed the scheduled exercises 4 times per week for 60 minutes each time . Data which included the one-legged blind balance , physical coordination , and gait was collected before , during , and after the intervention . Comparisons were made between the experimental and control groups through the repeated measures analysis of variance .
Results : A total of 40 participants ( 77 % response rate ) completed the study . There was no significant difference in baseline data . After 12 weeks of Health Qigong therapy , the length of time the one-legged blind balance test had increased ( P < 0.01 ), and the time it took to TUG test was reduced ( P < 0.01 ). Joint range of motion and gait significantly improved . The control group ’ s there were no significant differences in the above variables , except for joint range of motion , which decreased .
Conclusion : Health Qigong exercises can significantly improve physical functions in patients with PD , especially for the balance ability , gait , joint range of motion in patients with PD . It can reduce their activity risk factor and improve their quality of life .
JATMS | Winter 2021 | 109