Chronic pain is a common and debilitating condition that affects many people. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a type of chronic pain condition that affects the jaw and can be difficult to treat. Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches (CIHA) are a range of treatments, such as yoga and natural products, that are used alongside or instead
Chronic diseases are responsible for a significant number of deaths worldwide, with ischemic heart disease being the leading cause of death. However, these chronic diseases are preventable through a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular physical activity, healthy eating, and stress management. Recent advances in physiology, such as understanding immune system interactions with food and the
A recent review published in the journal Cureus highlighted the use of Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization for Manual Medicine for the protection of the clinician’s hands. Instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a manual medicine technique that uses hard material instruments to apply pressure and generate vibrations to improve the healing process and musculoskeletal performance of myofascial
The thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) is a complex structure in the dorsal trunk region that connects muscles and transmits forces. It has been implicated in nonspecific low back pain and limited range of motion due to its mechanical properties. Inflammatory processes within the TLF can lead to thickening, densification, and fibrosis, and recent studies suggest that
Shin splint or Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is a common overuse injury among athletes caused by a variety of factors such as overtraining, poor footwear, muscular imbalances, a BMI above 30, and imbalances at the thoracolumbar complex. Symptoms include diffuse palpable pain, tenderness along the posteromedial edge of the tibia, and pain along the
Aircrew transient back and neck pain is well documented, but currently no standardized preflight and postflight stretching protocol for Naval Aviation. A study published in Military Medicine aimed to determine the efficacy of a standardized preflight and postflight stretching protocol (PPS) to reduce neck and back pain scores in helicopter aircrew. Subjects were recruited from
A study from Medipol University of Health Sciences Institute, Turkey investigated the effects of diaphragmatic and iliopsoas myofascial release (MFR) techniques on pain, lumbar spine range of motion (ROM), chest wall mobility, and flexibility in patients with chronic low back pain. A randomized controlled clinical study was conducted with 42 participants aged between 20 and
A study from Department of Physiotherapy, Sao Paulo State University investigated the effects of repeated massage on the perceptive, functional, and performance outcomes of a sprint for competitive swimmers. A cross-over randomized controlled trial was conducted with 19 male and female swimmers between 12 and 20 years old. Participants received three 12-minute massage interventions over
Instrument-assisted manual therapy (IAMT) is a technique used to rehabilitate soft tissues and enhance movement dynamics. It involves applying pressure, tensile, and shear forces to specific fibrous tissues to achieve targeted therapeutic deformation. IAMT is reported to provide pain relief, increase blood flow, and improve functionality and range of motion. The mechanisms behind these effects
Recent years see the popularity of percussion or massage gun device, particular in sports training. The percussion causes vibration that can alter stretch reflex sensitivity and in turn affect the motor unit threshold, firing rate and maximal voluntary strength on muscle action. Massage gun has been used for recovery after exercise. According to a survey