A study from Brazil published in Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation investigated the acute effects of static stretching on skin temperature, flexibility, passive muscle stiffness, and pain during hamstring stretching in healthy young subjects. Why would this be important? Because if stretching increases skin temperature, then it can be assumed that it increases the temperature of the myofascial tissues. This
Can a “tight” sciatic nerve restrict ankle joint range of motion? If so, nerve mobilization technique should be effective toward increasing dorsiflexion of the ankle joint. It is commonly believed that maximal ankle joint range of motion (ROM) into dorsiflexion is restricted by the tension within the plantar flexor muscles (e.g., gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis posterior,
A recent research on the lateral collateral ligament complex – anterior talofibular ligament, calcaneofibular ligament, and posterior talofibular ligament – has yielded some new findings: There are ligament fibers that connect the anterior talofibular ligament to the calcaneofibular ligament. These connecting fibers are described as arciform because of they are arc-shaped. Therefore, the anterior talofibular
Neck pain is a common condition, with prevalence of 30% to 50% of the population annually. While massage is commonly used for treating neck pain, there is no guideline for an optimal dose. The term “optimal dose” being defined by two factors: the optimal amount of time spent massaging the neck during each treatment the
Warm-up stretching is usually performed before an exercise with the aim to reduce the risk of injuries and improve performance. There have been controversial studies that have shown that although static stretching of a muscle-tendon (myofascial) unit temporarily improves joint range of motion (ROM), the static stretching can also temporarily impact the muscles’ ability to
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition characterized by progressive airflow limitation that is associated with an inflammatory response The Effect of COPD on Breathing COPD causes expiratory flow limitation (difficulty breathing out) and air trapping (residual air left in the lungs), known clinically as dynamic hyperinflation. This phenomenon leads to increases in
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I’ve been a practicing physiotherapist for over 45 years, the majority of which have been devoted to seeking a better understanding of the spine in both its health and dis-ease. I have developed a model of care which combines manual therapy and complimentary movement therapy which more specifically
Different stretching strategies and protocols are widely utilized to improve flexibility or maintain health. Stretching acts on the muscle tendon-unit and used to improve the range of motion (ROM) of the joints. A review from University of Palermo in Italy evaluated the current body of literature to understand the relation between type of stretching and
Recent research has confirmed the occurrence of non-local exercise effects. Self-myofascial release (with the use of roller massage) of the plantar fascia can increase hamstring extensibility. A possible mechanism consists of mechanical force transmission across myofascial chains. However, as the degree of structural continuity in these chains decreases with age, the magnitude of the remote
Deep fascia has been considered one of the origins of pain and dysfunction. The terms “fibrosis” and “densification” are often used to indicate changes in the deep fascia. They can modify the mechanical properties of the deep fascia and damage the function of underlying muscles or visceral organs. However, the two terms refers to two
