Objective: To investigate the pain referral area (number of pixels) and extent (vector length) as elicited from increasing intensities of pressure-induced pain at the shoulder. Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Clinical laboratory setting. Participants: Twenty-two healthy men and women participated in two experimental sessions. Methods: Delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) was induced in the dominant shoulder and assessed 24 hours later. Participants rated the level of DOMS on a 6-point Likert scale. Four different intensities (pressure pain threshold [PPT]+20%, PPT+30%, PPT+40%, and PPT+50%) were applied to the infraspinatus in a randomized, balanced fashion for 60 seconds from low to high intensity or vice versa. The resulting location, area, and extent of referred pain as drawn by the participants on a digital body chart were extracted and expressed in pixels. The extent of pain was defined as the vector length extending from the ipsilateral earlobe to the most distal location of the pain. Results: The referred pain area from PPT+20% was smaller than PPT+30%, PPT+40%, and PPT+50%. The extent of referred pain did not differ between the pressure pain intensities. Conclusions: Pressure intensity at PPT+30%, but no more, produces the greatest referred pain area as compared with the traditional pressure intensity of PPT+20%. Thus, the intensity of PPT+30% may be ideal for exploring the mechanisms of referred pain. The extent of the pain represents an independent expression of the intensity of the provoking stimulus and may be more closely related to the location of the stimulus.

Background: Adequate hamstring flexibility is crucial for musculoskeletal health as increased muscle tone can lead to stretch-type injuries, muscle weakness, dysfunctional neuromuscular control, postural changes, and lower back pain. The aim was to compare the effectiveness of a program based on Electrical Muscle Elongation (EME), Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), and no intervention in improving flexibility and viscoelastic properties of hamstring and quadriceps muscles in active young adults with functional hamstring disorder (type 2B according to the Munich Consensus). Methods: Sixty-five participants (45 male, 20 female) were randomly assigned to three groups: the EME group (n = 21) received a simultaneous combination of interferential current and stretching, the PNF group (n = 22) underwent active stretching, and the Control group (n = 22) received no intervention. Hamstring and quadricep flexibility and muscle stiffness were measured in both limbs at baseline, post-intervention, and at the 4-week follow-up. Results: The EME group showed significant improvements in hamstring flexibility in the left limb compared to the Control group and in some myotonometric variables of the quadriceps muscle compared to the PNF and Control groups (p < 0.05). Within-groups differences indicated higher improvements in the EME group. Conclusions: This study suggests that EME may offer greater benefits than PNF stretching in young adults with functional hamstring disorder.

Introduction: Specific home tasks and the use of splints seem to positively affect altered structures and functions, as well as the activities and participation, of children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). However, how did families experience the implementation of these therapies? Objective: To describe the experiences as they were perceived by the families of children with UCP before, during, and after a specific task intervention in the home environment, either with or without upper limb splinting. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological study was conducted in a natural environment. Fourteen families caring for children with UCP who participated in a previous randomized controlled trial were included. Data from unstructured and semi-structured interviews were analyzed through a thematic analysis. Results: Fourteen families (17 parents, age 37–47 years) caring for children with UCP (14 children, ages 6–10 years, 64% female) were interviewed. The following three themes emerged: “The project itself”, in which families explained that they enrolled because of their trust in therapists; “Results obtained”, where the main improvement was the integration of the assisting hand in the body schema; and “Lights and shadows”, where families showed what they learned as positive points and some negative aspects related to the assessments and splints. Conclusions: The perceptions of the parents after the specific task intervention in the home environment showed a greater integration of the most affected side. Nevertheless, although the support of a splint on the hand can have beneficial results in terms of performance, other drawbacks leading to the disuse of the splint were highlighted.

Background: Adequate hamstring flexibility is crucial for musculoskeletal health, as increased muscle tone can lead to stretch-type injuries, muscle weakness, dysfunctional neuromuscular control, postural changes, and lower back pain. The aim was to compare the effectiveness of a program based on Electrical Muscle Elongation (EME), Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), and no intervention in improving flexibility and viscoelastic properties of hamstring and quadriceps muscles in active young adults with functional hamstring disorder (type 2B according to the Munich Consensus). Methods: Sixty-five participants (45 male, 20 female) were randomly assigned to three groups: the EME group (n=21) received a simultaneous combination of interferential current and stretching, the PNF group (n=22) underwent active stretching, and the Control group (n=22) received no intervention. Hamstring and quadriceps flexibility and muscle stiffness were measured in both limbs at baseline, post-intervention, and at the 4-week follow-up. Results: The EME group showed significant improvements in hamstring flexibility in the left limb compared to the Control group and in some myotonometric variables of the quadriceps muscle compared to the PNF and Control groups (p<0.05). Within-group differences indicated higher improvements in the EME group. Conclusions: This study suggests that EME may offer greater benefits than PNF stretching in young adults with functional hamstring disorder.