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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 17131

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Prof. Dr. David Cruz-Díaz

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Guest Editor

Department of Health Sciences, Universidad de Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: rehabilitation; physical rehabilitation; sports injuries; posture; exercise science; sports medicine; postural balance; physiotherapy; gait analysis; musculoskeletal disorders; low back pain; chronic ankle instability; motor control; postural control; neuromuscular training; sensorimotor training; pilates
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Dr. Alfonso Ibañez Vera

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Guest Editor

Department of Health Sciences, Campus las Lagunillas s/n, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: physiotherapy; physical therapy; electrotherapy; therapeutic exercise; pain; manual therapy; posture; rehabilitation; temporomandibular disorders; pelvic floor disorders; idiopathic scoliosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Conventional physiotherapy and exercise/training interventions have been widely explored in the management of musculoskeletal disorders. Furthermore, evidence-based clinical practice suggests that the combination of both interventions can lead to the best results. However, the therapeutic approach must respond to the demands of our changing society, especially in this global scenario. The influence of social media, new technological devices, and the access to information of patients require an in-depth exploration of the feasibility of the novel approach in the management of musculoskeletal disorders.

The main objective of this Special Issue is to provide scientific evidence on new intervention programs whose rapidly spreading popularity, due to social media promotion, is not always supported by scientific literature. The use of some devices or interventions by celebrities draws the attention of millions of people trying to imitate them. Nevertheless, some of these devices or interventions could be dangerous and are not a suitable fit for everyone. In this Special Issue, the accepted manuscripts will contribute to elucidate which of the most popular novel approaches are safe and effective.

Dr. David Diaz
Dr. Alfonso Ibañez Vera
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

spinal disorders
chronic ankle instability
motor control
postural control
sensorimotor training
therapeutic exercise
woman health
new technologies
electrotherapy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Effects of Balance Training with Stroboscopic Vision for Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

by Kyung-Min Kim, María D. Estudillo-Martínez, Yolanda Castellote-Caballero, Alejandro Estepa-Gallego and David Cruz-Díaz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5364; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105364 - 18 May 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4719

Abstract

Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) is one of the most common musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Stroboscopic vision (SV) training has been deemed to enhance somatosensorial pathways in this population group; nevertheless, until recently no studies have addressed the additional effects of this treatment option to the traditional therapeutic approach. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of a partial visual deprivation training protocol in patients with CAI, a randomized controlled trial was carried out. Patients with CAI (n = 73) were randomized into either a balance training, SV training, or a control (no training) group. For participants assigned into training groups, they received 18 training sessions over 6 weeks. The primary outcome was dynamic balance as measured by the Star Excursion Balance Test assessed at baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention. Secondary outcome measures included ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, self-reported instability feeling, and ankle functional status. Results: Better scores in stroboscopic training and balance training groups in all outcome measures were observed in comparison with the control group with moderate to large effect sizes. Stroboscopic training was more effective than neuromuscular training in self-reported instability feeling (cohen’s d = 0.71; p = 0.042) and anterior reach distance of the star excursion balance test (cohen’s d = 1.23; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Preliminary findings from the effects of SV Stroboscopic training in patients with CAI, suggest that SV may be beneficial in CAI rehabilitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorder)

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15 pages, 2113 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Immediate Effect of Informational Manual Therapy for Improving Quiet Standing and Bodily Pain in University Population

by Rosa Cabanas-Valdés, Mª Dolores Toro-Coll, Sara Cruz-Sicilia, Laura García-Rueda, Pere Ramón Rodríguez-Rubio and Jordi Calvo-Sanz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094940 - 6 May 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2924

Abstract

Background: The Informational Manual Therapy (IMT) is a therapeutic touch. This study aims to assess the effect of IMT on quiet standing, pain and health status in university population. Methods: An experiment was conducted on subjects utilizing a comparative paired analysis both before and after the intervention. One IMT session was performed on 57 healthy individuals aged from 18 to 65 years. The primary outcome was quiet standing assessed by the Satel 40 Hz stabilometric force platform. Secondary outcomes were bodily pain assessed by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and health status by EQ-5D-3L. The primary outcome was evaluated before and immediately after treatment. Results: The individuals were divided into 3 age groups, 18–35 (52.6%), 35–50 (29.8%) and 51–65 (17.6%). Statistically significant differences were immediately observed after the session ended when comparing the pre-post quiet stance scores in a number of length parameters: L, Lx, Ly and stabilometry amplitude on Y-axis with eyes open and closed. Significant differences were also found when testing bodily pain (SF-36) and anxiety (5Q-5D-3L). Conclusion: One session of IMT produced positive effects when testing quiet standing with eyes open and eyes closed, as well as a significant reduction in pain and anxiety for those tested. Further research is suggested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorder)

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11 pages, 1506 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Abdominal Expansion versus Abdominal Drawing-In Strategy on Thickness and Electromyography of Lumbar Stabilizers in People with Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Yi-Liang Kuo, Chieh-Yu Kao and Yi-Ju Tsai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4487; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094487 - 23 Apr 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2595

Abstract

The abdominal expansion (AE) strategy, involving eccentric contraction of the abdominal muscles, has been increasingly used in clinical practices; however, its effects have not been rigorously investigated. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of the AE versus abdominal drawing-in (AD) strategy on lumbar stabilization muscles in people with nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Thirty adults with nonspecific LBP performed the AE, AD, and natural breathing (NB) strategies in three different body positions. Ultrasonography and surface electromyography (EMG) were, respectively, used to measure the thickness and activity of the lumbar multifidus and lateral abdominal wall muscles. The AE and AD strategies showed similar effects, producing higher EMG activity in the lumbar multifidus and lateral abdominal wall muscles when compared with the NB strategy. All muscles showed higher EMG activity in the quiet and single leg standing positions than in the lying position. Although the AE and AD strategies had similar effects on the thickness change of the lumbar multifidus muscle, the results of thickness changes of the lateral abdominal muscles were relatively inconsistent. The AE strategy may be used as an alternative method to facilitate co-contraction of lumbar stabilization muscles and improve spinal stability in people with nonspecific LBP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorder)

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12 pages, 1161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Abdominal Hypopressive Training on Postural Control and Deep Trunk Muscle Activation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by María del Mar Moreno-Muñoz, Fidel Hita-Contreras, María Dolores Estudillo-Martínez, Agustín Aibar-Almazán, Yolanda Castellote-Caballero, Marco Bergamin, Stefano Gobbo and David Cruz-Díaz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2741; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052741 - 8 Mar 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6189

Abstract

Background: Abdominal Hypopressive Training (AHT) provides postural improvement, and enhances deep trunk muscle activation. However, until recently, there was a lack of scientific literature supporting these statements. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of AHT on posture control and deep trunk muscle function. Methods: 125 female participants aged 18–60 were randomly allocated to the Experimental Group (EG), consisting of two sessions of 30 min per week for 8 weeks of AHT, or the Control Group (CG), who did not receive any treatment. Postural control was measured with a stabilometric platform to assess the static balance and the activation of deep trunk muscles (specifically the Transverse Abdominal muscle (TrA)), which was measured by real-time ultrasound imaging. Results: The groups were homogeneous at baseline. Statistical differences were identified between both groups after intervention in the Surface of the Center of Pressure (CoP) Open-Eyes (S-OE) (p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.60) and the Velocity of CoP under both conditions; Open-Eyes (V-OE) (p = 0.001, Cohen´s d = 0.63) and Close-Eyes (V-CE) (p = 0.016, Cohen´s d = 0.016), with the EG achieving substantial improvements. Likewise, there were statistically significant differences between measurements over time for the EG on S-OE (p < 0.001, Cohen´s d = 0.99); V-OE (p = 0.038, Cohen´s d = 0.27); V-CE (p = 0.006, Cohen´s d = 0.39), anteroposterior movements of CoP with Open-Eyes (RMSY-OE) (p = 0.038, Cohen´s d = 0.60) and activity of TrA under contraction conditions (p < 0.001, Cohen´s d = 0.53). Conclusions: The application of eight weeks of AHT leads to positive outcomes in posture control, as well as an improvement in the deep trunk muscle contraction in the female population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorder)

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