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Objective: To compare the effectiveness of the slider, tensioner neurodynamic mobilization techniques and stretching exercises on pain, range of motion (ROM), and functional disability in patients with chronic discogenic sciatica.

Design: A pre-test post-test multi arm parallel RCT.

Setting: Outpatient clinics, faculty of physical therapy, Kafrelsheikh University.

Participants: Thirty-six patients with unilateral chronic discogenic sciatica were randomly allocated into three equal groups: Group (A) slider neurodynamic mobilization, Group (B) tensioner neurodynamic mobilization, and Group (C) stretching exercises of back extensors, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius muscles. Treatment was given three sessions per week for two weeks.

Outcome measures: All patients were examined by visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity, Modified-Modified Schober test (MMST) for lumbar flexion ROM, goniometer for hip flexion and knee extension ROM, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional assessment.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups at baseline ($p<$ 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the slider and tensioner groups compared to the stretching group for all variables. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found in the slider technique as compared to the tensioner technique regarding ROM of lumbar flexion ($p$ = 0.03), hip flexion ($p$ = 0.004), and knee extension ($p$ = 0.005).

Conclusion: Slider and tensioner neurodynamic mobilization techniques are more effective than stretching exercises in terms of reducing pain, increasing ROM, and improving function. Slider technique is more effective in ROM improvement.

The optoelectronic properties of non-metal (B, N, O, C, F) doped and biaxial tensile strain in the x–y direction of O-doped and N-doped ZrSe₂, including energy band structure, density of states, dielectric function, and absorption coefficients, have been calculated by a first-principles approach based on density-functional theory. It is shown that the doped system has a low formation energy, indicating that the structure can exist stably. The B, C, and N atom-doped systems show impurity energy levels near the Fermi energy level, narrowing the bandgap, enhancing the electron transport ability, and increasing the electrical conductivity. Biaxial stretching was applied to the ZrSe₂ structure before and after O and N doping, and it was found that the stability of the ZrSe₂, Zr₉Se${}_{17}$O${}_{1,}$ and Zr₉Se${}_{17}$N₁ structures was found to decrease gradually with increasing strain. The energy bandwidth of the doped system in the Zr₉Se${}_{17}$ O₁system at a tensile strain of 4% is a maximum of 0.924eV; from the density of states, it is found that there is a very obvious orbital hybridization of Se-4p and Zr-d. The doped system has the largest effect on the dielectric function at 6% tensile strain and on the absorption coefficient at 8%. In the Zr₉Se${}_{17}$N₁ system, stretching 8% energy bandwidth is a maximum of 0.788eV, the tensile strain of 8% has the greatest effect on the dielectric function, and a tensile strain of 6% has the most significant effect on the absorption coefficient.

Purpose: Ligaments and tendons are frequently injured structures in sports activities. It has been well known that stretching before activities largely warms up muscles and prevents athletes from getting injuries. Recent studies have suggested that the tendon might also benefit from such preconditioning stretching; however, it is unclear whether the same benefit exists for all ligament and tendon structures. We hypothesized that the effect of preconditioning on mechanical strength is dependent on the type of ligament or tendon. Methods: Twenty-six anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), 22 medial collateral ligaments (MCLs), 20 patellar tendons (PTs), and 18 Achilles tendons (ATs) from euthanized mature Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The specimens in the control group were tested for load to failure without preconditioning. In the preconditioning group, 150 sinusoid cyclic stretchings were performed; the specimens were then consecutively loaded to ultimate failure. Results: Preconditioning significantly increased the mechanical strengths of the MCL, PT, and AT (p = 0.04, p = 0.006, and p = 0.002, respectively); however, it did not affect that of the ACL. There were no significant differences among the mechanical strengths of MCL, PT, and AT in the preconditioning group. Conclusion: Preconditioning significantly enhanced all ligament and tendon structures, except for the ACL. The results suggest that optimal preconditioning exists, but depends on the specific ligament or tendon. Different preconditioning strategies may be needed for different ligament and tendon structures in order to gain maximal protection from injuries.

Spastic hypertonia causes loss of range of motion (ROM) and contractures in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. The pronation/supination of the forearm is an essential functional movement in daily activities. We developed a special module for a shoulder-elbow rehabilitation robot for the reduction and biomechanical assessment of pronator/supinator hypertonia of the forearm. The module consisted of a rotational drum driven by an AC servo motor and equipped with an encoder and a custom-made torque sensor. By properly switching the control algorithm between position control and torque control, a hybrid controller able to mimic a therapist’s manual stretching movements was designed. Nine stroke patients were recruited to validate the functions of the module. The results showed that the affected forearms had significant increases in the ROM after five cycles of stretching. Both the passive ROM and the average stiffness were highly correlated to the spasticity of the forearm flexor muscles as measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). With the custom-made module and controller, this upper-limb rehabilitation robot may be able to aid physical therapists to reduce hypertonia and quantify biomechanical properties of the muscles for forearm rotation in stroke patients.

Background: Stretching and length test of hamstring muscles have been performed commonly to manage lower back pain (LBP) in sports rehabilitation. Previous literatures addressed that stretching techniques and length test of hamstring muscles should be performed with the pelvic maintained in an anterior tilt position. However, there is no study to determine the effectiveness of pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) to maintain in anterior pelvic tilting (APT) on length test and stretching of hamstring muscles.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of hamstring muscles stretching using a PBU.

Methods: Forty participants with shortness of hamstrings randomized into two groups. Participants performed the active knee extension (AKE) stretching without (control group) or with PBU (intervention group) for four weeks. AKE tests without and with PBU were administered three times before and after hamstrings stretching by each group.

Results: The AKE test without PBU showed a significant main effect of time ($p<0.01$) but not of group ($p=0.55$) on the AKE angle. The AKE test with PBU showed a significant increase in the AKE angle in the post-intervention compared to the pre-intervention assessments in both groups ($p<0.01$). The difference of AKE angle between the pre- and post-intervention results was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group ($p<0.01$).

Conclusion: We recommend the use of a PBU to maintain the pelvic anterior tilting position when performing the AKE test or AKE stretching.

Background: Stretching has been proven to be effective on pain and range of motion (ROM) in patients with plantar fasciitis. Despite recent gain in popularity and the proposed theories of effectiveness of foam roller, there is a lack of literature on the effect of foam rolling on plantar fasciitis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of foam rolling and stretching on pain and ankle ROM in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Methods: A total of 50 participants were included and randomly allocated to the stretching and foam roller groups. Visual analog scale (VAS), pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) for gastrocnemius, soleus and plantar fascia and weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) measurements were recorded at baseline and immediately after treatment.

Results: Within-group analysis has shown there is a statistically significant difference ($p<0.001$) in all the outcome measures in both foam roller and self-stretching groups. The between-groups analysis showed no statistical significance difference in VAS, plantar fascia PPT and WBLT parameters (with $p$-values of 0.171, 0.372 and 0.861, respectively); however, significant differences were found in gastrocnemius PPT ($p=0.029$) and soleus PPT ($p=0.013$).

Conclusion: It was seen that both stretching and foam rolling techniques helped in reducing pain and increasing the ROM. However, the effectiveness of foam roller was superior to stretching in terms of increase in PPTs at gastrocnemius and soleus.

Clinical Trial Registration No: CTRI/2018/01/011398.

Name of registry: The Clinical Trials Registry — India (CTRI); https://ctri.nic.in.

This thesis mainly uses the formula to characterize the eight definitions of the matrix stretching operations, as well as the stretching relationship with the relevant matrices. The stretching relationship with the matrix product was then discussed.

For thousands of years, a unique system of health promotion using natural means, viz. food, life style and exercises, has developed, matured and has been widely practised in China and India. “Natural Healing” might not be the best term to describe this system of health promotion but it is difficult to create more appropriate terminologies. One direct translation of this system of health promotion could be the maintenance or promotion of wellness. Natural Healing for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) comprises the three components of physical, physiological and psychosocial harmony which are all interlinked. The ancient healers have worked out varieties of means to help bolstering the state of harmony.