Exercise & Rehab

Indications, benefits, and risks of pilates exercise for people with chronic low back pain

A Delphi survey of pilates-trained physical therapists Physical Therapy, 05/12/2014 Clinical Article Wells C, et al. – The objective of this study was to establish a consensus regarding the indications, contraindications, and precautions of Pilates exercise and the potential benefits and risks of Pilates exercise for people with chronic low back pain (CLBP). These findings […]

Isometric torso muscle endurance profiles in adolescents aged 15-18

Normative values for age and gender differences Dejanovic A, et al. Ann Hum Biol. 2014 Mar-Apr;41(2):151-6. doi: 10.3109/03014460.2013.837508. Epub 2013 Oct 11. Abstract OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish normative values for torso muscle endurance in adolescents aged 15-18 years. It was hypothesized that torso endurance profiles of adolescents differs between males […]

The efficacy of manual therapy and exercise for different stages of non-specific low back pain: an update of systematic reviews – Full Text Article

J Man Manip Ther. 2014 May; 22(2): 59–74. doi: 10.1179/2042618613Y.0000000041 PMCID: PMC4017797 PMID: 24976749 Benjamin Hidalgo Abstract Objective to review and update the evidence for different forms of manual therapy (MT) for patients with different stages of non-specific low back pain (LBP). Data sources MEDLINE, Cochrane-Register-of-Controlled-Trials, PEDro, EMBASE. Method A systematic review of MT with […]

Aerobic Exercise Preserves Cognition in Nondemented Elderly

Pauline Anderson May 01, 2014 PHILADELPHIA — Continuous long-term aerobic activity has a protective effect on cognitive status and psychomotor speed in nondemented elderly, a new study has found. “We recommend daily low-impact aerobic physical activity in older people who are able to do this type of exercise,” said lead researcher Manuel Seijo-Martinez, MD, Neurology […]

All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality Risk in US Adults

May 01, 2014 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In this study, the mortality risk of 12,060 adults from the NHANES III and NHANES continuous surveys was estimated according to physical activity, pharmacotherapy, and glycemic control. The results indicated that patients who had uncontrolled diabetes or who had controlled glucose levels but were physically inactive had higher all-cause mortality […]

PERSPECTIVES FOR PATIENTS – Knee Pain: Safely Strengthening Your Thigh Muscles

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2014, Volume: 44 Issue: 5 Pages: 328-328 Abstract Quadriceps are the muscles on the front of your thigh that help you straighten your knee. When these muscles are not strong, you may feel pain under your kneecap. Quadriceps can be strengthened by performing squats and leg extensions. However, […]

Comprehensive Exercise Program vs Advice for Chronic Whiplash

Research · April 03, 2014 The Lancet, Early Online Publication, 4 April 2014 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60457-8 TAKE-HOME MESSAGE In this two-group, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial involving patients with chronic whiplash–associated disorder, patients were randomly assigned to either a comprehensive exercise program (n = 86) or advice (n = 86). In terms of pain reduction, the comprehensive exercise […]

Effects of Spinal Stabilization Exercise on the Cross-sectional Areas of the Lumbar Multifidus and Psoas Major Muscles, Pain Intensity, and Lumbar Muscle Strength of Patients with Degenerative Disc Disease

J Phys Ther Sci. 2014 Apr;26(4):579-82. doi: 10.1589/jpts.26.579. Epub 2014 Apr 23. Kim S Abstract [Purpose] The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using spinal stabilizing exercise to reduce atrophy of the multifidus and psoas major muscles, reduce the levels of pain and disability, and increase paraspinal muscle strength in patients […]

Some physiotherapy treatments may relieve menstrual pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review.

J Physiother. 2014 Mar;60(1):13-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2013.12.003. Epub 2014 Apr 24. Kannan P1, Claydon LS2. QUESTION: In women with primary dysmenorrhoea, what is the effect of physiotherapeutic interventions compared to control (either no treatment or placebo/sham) on pain and quality of life? DESIGN: Systematic review of randomised trials with meta-analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Women with primary dysmenorrhea. INTERVENTION: Any form […]

Walking Doesn’t Hurt, May Help in CKD

Walking Doesn’t Hurt, May Help in CKD Frontline Medical News, 2014 Apr 10, MA Moon Full Story Neither acute bouts of moderate walking nor regular moderate walking are unsafe in patients who have predialysis chronic kidney disease, and both types of exercise may actually reduce systemic inflammation and improve immune function in these patients, according […]

Aerobics May Build Bigger Brains in Older Women

Published: Apr 8, 2014 By Salynn Boyles, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Full Story Journal Reference Action Points Regular aerobic exercise appeared to enlarge a key area of the brain associated with memory in older women with mild cognitive impairment. Note that increased left hippocampal volume has been shown in other research to be associated with […]

The effectiveness of yoga for depression: a critical literature review

Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 04/09/2014  Review Article Louie L – In the United States, the prevalence of depression is quite high—9% in the general population—with women, young adults, and seniors particularly vulnerable. Although the significant positive findings are promising, the studies had methodological limitations; identification of these limitations can inform future studies. In recent years, increasing […]

Comprehensive physiotherapy exercise programme or advice for chronic whiplash (PROMISE)

A pragmatic randomised controlled trial The Lancet, 04/08/2014  Evidence Based Medicine  Clinical Article  Full Story Journal Reference Michaleff ZA, et al. – Evidence suggests that brief physiotherapy programmes are as effective for acute whiplash–associated disorders as more comprehensive programmes; however, whether this also holds true for chronic whiplash–associated disorders is unknown. Authors aimed to estimate the effectiveness […]

Chronic Neck Pain and Exercise Interventions: Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type Principle

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Volume 95, Issue 4 , Pages 770-783, April 2014 Cliona O’Riordan, BSc Abstract Objective To identify the most effective components in an active exercise physiotherapy treatment intervention for chronic neck pain based on the frequency, intensity, time, and type (FITT) exercise method of tailoring physical activity recommendations to the […]

Aerobic exercise and weight loss reduce vascular markers of inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity in obese women

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 03/21/2014 Clinical Article Ryan AS, et al. – The study aims to examine the relationships between plasma and tissue markers of systemic and vascular inflammation and obesity and insulin resistance and determine the effects of aerobic exercise training plus weight loss (AEX+WL) and weight loss (WL) alone on these […]

Association between physical activity and mortality among breast cancer and colorectal cancer survivors

A systematic review and meta-analysis  Annals of Oncology, 03/25/2014  Review Article Schmid D, et al. – Using prospective studies published through June 2013, the authors conducted a systematic review and random–effects meta–analysis of pre– and post–diagnosis physical activity in relation to total and cancer mortality among breast or colorectal cancer survivors. Physical activity performed before or after […]

Association between physical activity and mortality among breast cancer and colorectal cancer survivors

A systematic review and meta-analysis Annals of Oncology, 03/25/2014  Review Article Schmid D, et al. – Using prospective studies published through June 2013, the authors conducted a systematic review and random–effects meta–analysis of pre– and post–diagnosis physical activity in relation to total and cancer mortality among breast or colorectal cancer survivors. Physical activity performed before […]

Effects of exercise training on different quality of life dimensions in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Tthe Ex-DHF-P trial Nolte K Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2014 Mar 13. [Epub ahead of print] Despite suffering from poor prognosis, progressive exercise intolerance, and impaired quality of life (QoL), effective therapeutic strategies in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are sparse. Exercise training (ET) improves physical QoL in HFpEF, but the effects on […]

Complementary and Alternative Approaches Relieve the Burden of Atrial Fibrillation

By Mark L. Fuerst Reviewed by Philip Green, MD, Assistant in Clinical Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York Full Story Take Note The regular practice of yoga improves symptoms, arrhythmia burden, heart rate, blood pressure, anxiety and depression scores, and several domains of quality of life among patients […]

Backing Off Exercise Worsens COPD

by Crystal Phend Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today 02.19.2014 Slowing down in exercise habits was associated with a subsequent increase in hospitalizations for exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a prospective Spanish study showed. The odds of hospitalization for COPD exacerbation rose 2.49-fold in the 3 years after a shift from a daily walking […]