(1) Background: Musculoskeletal pain is both intractable and irritating. Intravenous Laser Irradiation of Blood (ILIB) therapy has been used as pain control treatment for this condition. However, there remains a lack of clear evidence regarding ILIB on pain control. This study aimed to reveal the result of changes in patient pain intensity after receiving ILIB therapy. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pain scores and sleep quality from 76 patients diagnosed with musculoskeletal disease who received three courses of ILIB therapy. Each course included ten sessions of ILIB treatment over ten consecutive days. During ILIB therapy, patients were inserted with a laser fiber optic needle which irradiated blood cells via a 632.8 nm Helium-Neon laser light over a period of 60 min. Pain scores were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), whereas sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). These scores would be recorded both before and after each ILIB treatment course. (3) Results: The mean of all patients’ initial VAS score was 5.35. After completing three courses of ILIB treatment, the mean VAS score decreased to 2.2, which indicated a significant reduction in pain intensity. Additionally, patients experienced sleep quality improvement levels from PSQI 8.97 to 5.53 upon completion of three courses of ILIB treatment. (4) Conclusions: Intravenous Laser Irradiation of Blood (ILIB) resulted in a positive pain control effect on patients with musculoskeletal disease, especially for those with moderate to severe pain intensity (initial VAS score >4). Additionally, patients experienced better sleep quality as a result of their pain relief after receiving ILIB treatment.

(1) Background: Knee osteoarthritis causes pain, weakness, muscle atrophy, and disability. The application of whole-body vibration in patients with knee osteoarthritis can improve strength, balance, and functional activities. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of early whole-body vibration intervention in patients after total knee arthroplasty. (2) Method: A single-blinded randomized control trial. Fifty-two patients with knee osteoarthritis post total knee replacement from a medical center in southern Taiwan were randomly assigned to either a whole-body vibration group or control group. Main outcome measures included pain severity, leg circumference, knee range of motion, knee extensor strength, a five-times sit to stand test, and a timed up and go test. (3) Results: Immediately post treatment, the patients in the vibration group showed a significant increase in knee extensor strength and improvement in calf swelling compared to the control group. A trend toward decrease in pain severity and improvement in functional performance were observed in both groups without a significant difference between the groups. There was no significant difference in knee range of motion (ROM) and functional performance between the groups. (4) Conclusions: The whole-body vibration intervention in patients early post total knee arthroplasty showed significant immediate effect in increasing knee extensor strength and decreasing calf swelling.

Aim: In order to investigate the effect of cycling wheelchair training as an exercise for aged 65+ disabled patients on cognitive function, quality of life, aerobic capacity and physiological parameters. Methods: Participants in nursing home performed cycling wheelchair training for 30 min a day, 5 days a week, for a total of 4 weeks. The main outcome measure was the short form 12 survey (SF-12). Other outcome measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), aero bike work rate test, resting blood pressure, and heart rate. Results: In this study, 41 volunteers were recruited and no participants dropped out of the study voluntarily during training, and no serious adverse effect was identified. Physical and mental component summary total scores of SF-12 were significantly higher after training with statistical significance (p = 0.001). 8 subscales also showed significant improvements after training (p = 0.025 ~ <0.001). Total MMSE score has no difference before and after training. Attention/calculation (p = 0.018), short term memory (p = 0.041), and aerobic capacity (p < 0.001) as measured by subscales of MMSE and aero bike test showed marked improvements, while resting systolic blood pressure (p = 0.931) and heart rate (p = 0.793) did not change. Conclusions: Cycling wheelchair is practical for the disabled elderly to exercise, and a 4-week exercise program enhanced their quality of life and aerobic capacity.

Background/Objectives: Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy are clinically linked conditions that share numerous biomechanical predispositions; however, the sonographic morphological correlations between the plantar fascia (PF) and Achilles tendon (AT) remain underutilized in routine diagnostic algorithms. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the concurrent relationship between the ultrasound morphometrics of the PF and AT in patients with plantar fasciitis. The secondary objective was an exploratory assessment to evaluate whether AT measurements can serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool. Methods: A cross-sectional diagnostic study was conducted, evaluating 45 adults with clinically and ultrasonographically confirmed unilateral plantar fasciitis. The evaluation encompassed 45 affected feet and 45 contralateral unaffected control feet (internal controls). The main outcome measures included ultrasonographic PF thickness, AT thickness, and AT width. Statistical evaluations utilized the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired comparisons, Spearman correlations, Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) multivariable logistic regression to account for paired-limb data clustering, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: AT thickness and width correlated moderately, yet significantly, with PF thickness (r_s = 0.49 and 0.59, p < 0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated that an AT thickness >0.43 cm achieved 86.0% sensitivity, 48.1% specificity, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.71. Furthermore, an AT width >1.48 cm yielded 85.2% specificity and an 88.9% positive predictive value. GEE multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age and gender and accounting for within-subject clustering revealed that an AT thickness >0.43 cm was significantly associated with a 6.99-fold increase in the odds of having concurrent plantar fasciitis (Adjusted OR 6.99, 95% CI: 2.05–23.89, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Ultrasonic AT thickness and width exhibit a moderate, significant morphological association with PF thickness. An AT thickness >0.43 cm serves as a valuable supplementary diagnostic indicator associated with plantar fasciitis, underscoring the clinical importance of evaluating the entire enthesis complex concurrently.