Sub Occipital Muscle Inhibition Technique Verses Cranial Cervical Flexion Exercise for Increasing Hamstring Flexibility in Physiotherapy Students

Background: Variation in flexibility can put an unusual amount of annoyance on the framework of the musculoskeletal system. The hamstring muscles are restricted when they are short, which can interfere with everyday activities and is usually a cause for concern. The flexibility of the hamstrings increases as the suboccipital muscles' tone deteriorates,, which are is single neuronal pathway that goes through the dura mater and connects them and which is called as the superficial back line (SBL). Hence as an intervention suboccipital muscle inhibition technique and cranial cervical technique is less time and energy consuming with efficient amount of results. Aim and Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of suboccipital muscle inhibition technique verses cranial cervical technique for increasing hamstring flexibility. Methods: Here we will evaluate hamstring tightness and impact of suboccipital muscle inhibition technique verses cranial cervical technique as an intervention with duration of 2 weeks. As an outcome measure Sit and reach test is given to desired population .This study will be conducted in Ravi Nair Physiotherapy College, Sawangi, Meghe, Wardha. The duration of study will be two week. The study design is pre and post interventional study. Results: The data will be analysed using Student paired t test. Conclusion: The expected outcome includes detection of hamstring tightness and improvement in hamstring tightness using sit and reach test. Data analysis will be done using students paired t test and conclusion of the study will be published after the results are analysed.

Investigation of Effectiveness of Two Different Kinesiotaping Techniques in Myofascial Pain Syndrome: An Open-Label Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Myofascial pain syndrome is a regional musculoskeletal pain syndrome characterized by trigger points. Although there are widely accepted treatment modalities, there is no gold standard treatment. Kinesiotaping represents an interesting modality in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders and attracts attention with studies emerging in the recent years, but in spite of the proposed benefits of kinesiotaping, its efficacy is still unclear, thus further studies evaluating the effectiveness of kinesiotaping are needed. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate, not only the effectiveness of kinesiotaping applied with the space correction and muscle inhibition techniques (compared to the home exercise program in reducing pain and improving functional status and quality of life in female patients with myofascial pain syndrome related to active trigger points in the upper trapezius), but also to evaluate the superiority of the 2 techniques over each other. STUDY DESIGN: An open-label randomized clinical trial with a parallel assignment intervention model. SETTING: The physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics in Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. METHODS: Seventy-one female patients with the complaint of pain in the upper trapezius region, diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome, and having at least one active trigger point in the upper trapezius fibers, were randomly assigned by a computer program to 1 of the 3 groups: kinesiotaping with the space correction technique (KSCT, n = 20), kinesiotaping with the muscle inhibition technique (KMIT, n = 24), and the home exercise program alone (control group [CG], n = 27). The patients were evaluated by the numerical rating scale for pain intensity, the neck disability index for functional status, and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey for quality of life in the beginning of the study and at the first, second, and sixth weeks (1-month follow-up). RESULTS: Kinesiotaping was associated with lower pain intensity levels (P = 0.019 at the first week and P = 0.026 at the second week) and better functional status (P = 0.011 at the second week) and it was effective in increasing quality of life by improving physical functions and general health (P = 0.033 and P = 0.003 at the second week, respectively) earlier than in the CG. Role limitations due to physical factors improved in the KMIT group earlier than in the other groups (P = 0.022 at the second week). LIMITATIONS: Being performed in a limited number of female patients only, absence of a placebo group, and lack of blinded assessments. CONCLUSION: Both kinesiotaping methods were associated with lower pain intensity levels and better functional status and were effective in increasing quality of life by improving physical functions and general health earlier than the home exercise program. There was no significant difference between the kinesiotaping methods, except for role limitations due to the physical factors domain of SF-36 which was improved in the KMIT group earlier than in the KSCT group and CGs. KEY WORDS: Myofascial pain syndrome, myofascial trigger point pain, trapezius, kinesiotape, muscle inhibition technique, space correction technique

Effectiveness of Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique versus Muscle Energy Technique on Hamstring Muscle Flexibility in College Going Students

Background: Hamstring is one of the commonest muscle which often gets tight. Suboccipital muscle inhibition technique is a method of relaxing tension in four muscles located between occiput and axis which regulates the upper cervical vertebra. When the tone of suboccipital muscles falls, it has been reported that the tone of knee flexors such as hamstrings also decreases due to relaxation of myofascia. This is because hamstrings and suboccipital muscles are connected by one neural system, which passes through the duramater called the superficial back line. Muscle energy technique is a procedure that involves voluntary contraction of a patient’s muscle in a precisely controlled direction, at varying levels of intensity and has been utilized in lengthening of tight muscles. Method: The study was done after obtaining approval from ethical committee. Subjects having hamstring tightness who fulfilled inclusion criteria were selected from the population. 52 subjects were included and divided into two groups. The study was carried out for 5 days. Subjects in the experimental group were treated with SMIT and Subjects in control group were treated with MET. Outcome measures used were Active Knee extension test and Back Saver Sit and Reach Test. Data was analysed post treatment (Immediate effects) and at the end of 5th session using non- parametric tests at 5% level of significance. Result: Within group analysis at post treatment and at the end of 5th session showed significant improvement in both the outcome measures in experimental and control group. Between group analysis showed no significant effect post treatment whereas after 5 days significant difference was found where more improvement was found in the control group i.e. Muscle energy technique group. Conclusion: Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique and Muscle Energy Technique both were effective in improving hamstring flexibility but Muscle energy technique was found to be more effective. Keywords: Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique, Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Flexibility, Active Knee Extension (AKE), Back Saver Sit and Reach Test (BSRT).

Effects of the Suboccipital Muscle Inhibition Technique on the Range of Motion of the Ankle Joint and Balance According to Its Application Duration: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of suboccipital muscle inhibition technique (SMIT) on active range of motion (AROM) of the ankle joint, lunge angle (LA), and balance in healthy adults, according to the duration of its application. A total of 80 participants were randomly allocated to the 4-min suboccipital muscle inhibition (SMI) group (SMI_4M, n = 20), 8-min SMI group (n = 20), 4-min sham-SMI (SSMI) group (n = 20), and 8-min SSMI group (n = 20). Accordingly, the SMIT and sham SMIT were applied for 4 min or 8 min in the respective groups. AROM of dorsiflexion and LA were assessed, and a single leg balance test (SLBT) was performed before and after the intervention. AROM (4 min, p < 0.001; 8 min, p < 0.001), LA (4 min, p < 0.001; 8 min, p < 0.001), and SLBT (4 min, p < 0.001; 8 min, p < 0.001) significantly improved after SMI application. Compared with the SSMI group, the SMI group showed a significant increase in AROM (p < 0.001), LA (p < 0.001), and SLBT (p < 0.001). Except for SLBT (p = 0.016), there were no significant interactions between intervention and application duration. The results suggest that the SMIT, at durations of both 4 and 8 min, could be effective tools for improving AROM, LA, and balance.

The effect of suboccipital muscle inhibition and posture correction exercises on chronic tension-type headaches

BACKGROUND: Compared with healthy people, patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) are likely to have forward head postures (FHP) and a higher number of active trigger points (aTrP) on the suboccipital muscle. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to verify how the suboccipital muscle inhibition (SMI) on aTrPs and the FHP correction exercise can effectively reduce symptoms of the CTTH patients. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 45 individuals with CTTH, divided into three groups of 15 patients each: a) the SMI group using the myofascial release technique; b) the SMIEx group subject to both the SMI therapy and FHP correction exercises; and c) the control group. Group A and B were given the relevant interventions twice a week for four consecutive weeks, and went through the headache impact test (HIT-6) and examinations on the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the headache areas, the type and number of myofascial trigger points (TrP), the soft tissue PPT, and the posture before and after the intervention. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the HIT-6, the headache PPT, the soft tissue PPT, the TrP, and the posture in Group A and B patients to whom the SMI technique and SMIEx interventions were applied. The biggest reduction and increase in the HIT-6 and the headache PPT respectively were seen in the SMIEx group. CONCLUSION: According to this study, the SMIEx can be an effective intervention for patients with CTTH.