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Improvements found using interferential treatment

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A recent article* reports a study which analyzed the effectiveness of a combined method of massage and electrotherapy with interferential current in individuals with chronic low back pain.

In the study, sixty-two individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. For 10 weeks the experimental group underwent treatment comprising 20 sessions (twice a week) of massage with interferential current in the lumbar and dorsal-lumbar area, and the control group received superficial lower back massage (effleurage, superficial pressure and skin rolling).

The results revealed that in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain, interferential current electro-massage achieved a significantly greater improvement in disability, pain and quality of life in comparison to superficial massage after 20 treatment sessions, compared to superficial massage.

 

* Short-term effects of interferential current electro-massage in adults with chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation; May2013, Vol. 27 Issue 5, p439, by Lara-Palomo, Inmaculada Carmen (1); Aguilar-Ferrándiz, María Encarnación; Matarán-Peñarrocha, Guillermo A; Saavedra-Hernández, Manuel; Granero-Molina, José; Fernández-Sola, Cayetano; Castro-Sánchez, Adelaida María

1Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, University of Almeria, Spain.

Clinical trial of K-taping reports significant results

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Blue K-tapeDuring recent years scientific research has demonstrated a growing interest in elastic and anaelastic adhesive taping techniques. However, there are only a few studies investigating the principles behind the effects of taping.
A recent study’s objectives were to investigate the effects of taping application on the tone of the pectoralis major muscle at rest, in absence of any relevant pathologies.
The study involved a prospective, randomised and blinded clinical trial on healthy individuals and a repeated measures study design. Two different taping techniques (facilitatory and inhibitory) were applied over the pectoralis major of 24 healthy volunteers. The outcome measure was passive range of motion of external rotation of the glenohumeral joint.
The study* reported that facilitatory taping significantly enhanced the activity of the underlying muscle. Results showed a negative correlation between facilitatory taping application and the contralateral pectoralis major length, indicating a possible effect on the muscle tone of areas outside the site of direct application. The inhibitory taping application did not produce significant results.

This study was designed and carried out as a final research project at the Bachelor of Science degree in Physiotherapy at the University of Padua, Italy, and was reported in the Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies (2014) 18, 405e411

* Kinesiologic taping and muscular activity: A myofascial hypothesis and a randomised, blinded trial on healthy individuals, Alberto Gusella, BSc in Physiotherapy a, Marcello Bettuolo, BSc in Physiotherapy b, Francesco Contiero, BSc in Physiotherapy DipHE c, Giovanni Volpe, BSc in Physiotherapy a
a Padua University, Padua, Italy
b ASSFER Formazione e Ricerca, Padua, Italy
c British School of Osteopathy, London, UK

Massage Therapy Can Help Low-Back Pain

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In a study published in the February 2014 edition of Scientific World Journal, researchers investigated whether chronic low-back pain therapy with massage therapy alone was as effective as combining it with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. The study was conducted on 59 individuals divided into two groups, all of whom suffered from low-back pain and were diagnosed with degenerative changes of the spine, other intervertebral disc diseases or spine pain.

In both patient groups, the pain measured was significantly reduced and the level of disability showed significant improvement compared to the baseline.

Conclusion

Researchers concluded massage had a positive effect on patients with chronic low-back pain and propose that the use of massage causes fast therapeutic results and that, in practice, it could help to reduce the use of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of chronic low-back pain.

 

Majchrzycki M, Kocur P, Kotwicki T. Deep tissue massage and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for low back pain: a prospective randomized trial. ScientificWorldJournal. 2014; 287597.

It’s our birthday gift to you

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line drawing of a birthday cake

It’s our birthday, and we want to reward our loyal clients for their support.

We’re giving 25% off all tape products purchased when you come for treatment in September.

To claim your discount, just mention this post when you come in to the clinic.

Massage Therapy for Improvements in Balance, Neurological, and Cardiovascular Measures in Older Adults

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Research published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (IJTMB) found that older adults who receive massage therapy for up to six weeks could benefit from decreased blood pressure and improved stability.

Falls in older adults represent a primary cause of decreased mobility and independence, increased morbidity, and accidental death. Research and clinical reports indicate that therapeutic massage (TM) may positively influence suggested causative factors. This project assessed the effects of six weeks of TM treatment on balance, nervous system, and cardiovascular measures in older adults.

Results:

The TM group showed significant differences relative to controls in cardiovascular and displacement area/velocity after the week six session, with decreasing blood pressure and increasing stability over time from immediate post-TM to 60 minutes post-TM. Long-term differences between the groups were detected at week seven in displacement area/velocity and systolic blood pressure.

Conclusions:

Results suggest six weeks of TM resulted in immediate and long-term improvements in postural stability and blood pressure, compared to a controlled condition.

Sefton JM, Yarar C, Berry JW, et al. Six weeks of massage therapy produces changes in balance, neurological and cardiovascular measures in older persons. International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.2012; 5(3):28-40.

Massage therapy can help with burn scars

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In a study published in the March 2014 issue of the journal Burns, 146 burn patients with scars were randomly divided into two groups. All patients received standard rehabilitation therapy for hypertrophic scars – known as raised scars that are typically red, thick and may be itchy or painful—and 76 patients received additional burn scar rehabilitation massage therapy. Both before and after the treatment, researchers assessed the scar characteristics for thickness, melanin, erythema, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum, and elasticity.

Results

While both groups showed improvement, the massage group showed a significant decrease in scar thickness, melanin, erythema, and TEWL. There was a significant intergroup difference in skin elasticity with the massage group showing substantial improvement.

Conclusion

Researchers concluded that burn rehabilitation massage therapy is effective in improving pain, itching, and scar characteristics in hypertrophic scars after a burn.

 

Cho YS, Jeon JH, Hong A, Yang HT, Yim H, Cho YS, Kim DH, Hur J, Kim JH, Chun W, Lee BC, Seo CH. The effect of burn rehabilitation massage therapy on hypertrophic scar after burn: A randomized controlled trial. Burns. 2014 Dec;40(8):1513-20

Queensland Researchers pour cold water on ice baths

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The idea that ice baths are an effective way to speed up muscle recovery after strength training has again been debunked, this time by researchers from the University of Queensland and QUT.

They say athletes who immerse themselves in icy cold water are hindering long-term gains in muscle mass and strength and it would be better for them to “warm down” on an exercise bike.

Their 12-week study, involving 21 physically active men, shows that not only does cold-water immersion attenuate muscle adaptation, it also blunts the activation of key proteins and satellite cells in skeletal muscle up to two days after strength exercise.

Their advice to athletes is to stay clear of cold water, at least after strength training.

Findings

“The present findings contribute to an emerging theme that cold-water immersion and other strategies (e.g. antioxidant supplements, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that are intended to mitigate and improve resilience to physiological stress associated with exercise may actually be counter-productive to muscle adaptation,” write the researchers in The Journal of Physiology.

Report

The research report, published in The Journal of Physiology, may be found by following this link: Post-exercise cold water immersion attenuates acute anabolic signalling and long-term adaptations in muscle to strength training

See also our May 2015 post about Why Ice Delays Recovery by Gabe Mirkin, MD, author of the best-selling 1978  Sportsmedicine Book, and creator of the term RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for the treatment of athletic injuries.

“Away, Around & About” – an English Art Song recital

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Our friend Ian Fisher is holding a recital at 3pm on Sunday August 20th, at the Willoughby Uniting Church, 10/12 Clanwilliam Street, North Willoughby.

Ian will present “Songs of Travel”, “Sea Songs”, and “Let Us Garlands Bring”. Ian will be accompanied by Elizabeth Wilton and violinist Dorothy Sercombe.

Tickets are $25 and will be available at the door.

August is Tradies Month

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TradiesAugust is Tradies Month at IC Sports Therapies

Tradies! Receive $10.00* off your first treatment in August if you are a Tradie!

 

For everyone else

Refer your friend (Tradie or not) & get a Refer a Friend discount† for yourself!!!

The fine print

*$10.00 for an hour’s treatment, $5.00 for a half hour
†$10.00 if your friend has an hour’s treatment, $5.00 if they have a half hour.

The 2015 City2surf is over

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The City to Surf is over for another year, and our congratulations go out to the 78,607 people who started. The first male across the line had a time of 00:42:09, and the first female finished in 00:46:32, with the average race time being 01:49:34.

Several of our families ran in the event, and returned with personal best times. Congratulations!

City to Surf

The City2Surf[1] is a road running event held annually in Sydney on the second Sunday in August, covering a 14 kilometre course. Many clients of IC Sports Therapies are participating in this year’s City2surf event on August 9th, and we’d like to remind them – please book your pre- and post-event treatment sessions early, while there are still openings available. Phone 9477-3103 today, or book  during your next visit to the clinic.

The Sydney City2Surf event is a “fun run” as well as a race, attracting both competitive runners and community participants who can choose to run or to walk. The event was first run on 5 September 1971, and on the event’s 40th anniversary, a record 80,000 participants ran, making it the largest run of its kind in the world.

The course record is 40:03, set by Steve Moneghetti in 1991. The women’s record is 45:08 minutes, set by Susie Power in 2001[1].

Two of our clients, photographed during the SMH half-marathon, 17/5/2015
Two of our clients who participated in this year’s Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon on Sunday, May 17th 2015.