Multi-frequency bioimpedance and myofascial release therapy: An equine “AtlasOrange1” validation study
Main Article Content
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6495-5629
Vibeke Sødring Elbrønd
Marta Julia Krasnodebska
Abstract
Background: Measurable sources of muscle tension include viscoelastic tone, physiological contracture, voluntary contraction, and muscle spasm, and if left untreated, they can over a period of time result in clinical pain as a direct result of increased myofascia tension. Typically, physiotherapy is used to stretch affected muscles, thereby reducing motor neuron excitability, and as a consequence give the patient a sensation of correct posture and movement, thereby facilitating normal movement patterns. However, cases of documented therapy effectiveness are rare.
Methods: A total of 6 horses with myofascial tension/imbalance issues were selected for this trial. The horses were assessed manually by a qualified Veterinarian and note was taken of regions with high resting myofascial tension as well as movement restrictions. The horses were then measured using a multi-frequency BioImpedance Analysis unit (SFB7) by a technician blinded to the manual assessment. AtlasOrange1, a new form of mechanical physiotherapy massage was used to treat all 6 horses. Treatment was applied directly to two anatomically identifiable myo-fascial regions for a total period of two minutes. Subsequently, the effects of treatment were followed using multi-frequency bioimpedance at an interval of 1, 24 and 48 hours.
Results: Regions of increased myofascial tonus/stiffness were detected manually and noted for all 6 horses. The bioimpedance data was analyzed for centre frequency (fc) and extracellular resistance (Re) and delta values between the right- and left-hand sides of each horse were calculated. Treatment induced a 39% decrease for Re (NS) and a 58% decrease for fc (P=0.003) over 48 hours post-treatment. The mfBIA values were subsequently compared with the findings of the manual evaluation revealing a 94.4% overall agreement.
Conclusion: We suggest that a high level of resting myofascial tension/stiffness is measureable using mf-BIA, and that it can be relieved with massage forms of treatment like AtlasOrange1.Article Details
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
Anderson, R.U., Harvey, R.H., Wise, D., Smith, J.N., Nathanson, B.H., Sawyer, T. 2015. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Reduction of medication use after pelvic floor physical therapy with an internal myofascial trigger point wand. Appl. Psychophysiol. Biofeedback DOI 10.1007/s10484-015-9273-1.
Bartels, E.M., Sørensen, E.R., Harrison, A.P. Multi-frequency bioimpedance in human muscle assessment. Physiological Reports. In Press.
Cho, S-H., Kim, S-H., Park, D-J. 2015. The comparison of the immediate effects of application of the suboccipital muscle inhibition and self-myofascial release techniques in the suboccipital region on short hamstring. J. Phys. Ther. Sci. 27: 195-197.
Dommerholt, J., Grieve, R., Layton, M., Hooks, T. 2015. An evidence-informed review of the current myofascial pain literature – January 2015. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies 19: 126-137.
Gajdosik, R.L., Hatcher, C.K., Whitsell, S. 1992. Influence of short hamstring muscles on the pelvis and lumbar spine in standing and during the toe-touch test. Clin. Biomech. 7: 38-42.
Green, S., Buchbinder, R., Hetrick, S. 2003. Physiotherapy interventions for shoulder pain. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2, CD004258.
Harrison, A.P., Elbønd, V.S., Riis-Olesen, K., Bartels, E.M. 2015. Multi-frequency Bioimpedance in equine muscle assessment. Physiol. Meas. 36:453-464.
Licciardone, J.C., Aryal, S. 2014. Clinical response and relapse in patients with chronic low back pain following osteopathic manual treatment: Results from the OSTEOPATHIC Trial. Manual Therapy 19: 541-548.
Masterson, J. 2011. Beyond Horse Massage: A breakthrough interactive method for alleviating soreness, strain and tension. Trafalgar Square Books, ISBN 9781570764721.
Mitsukawa, N., Sugiaski, N., Kanehisa, H., Fukunaga, T., Kawakami, Y. 2009. Fatigue-related changes in fascicle-tendon geometry over repeated contractions: Difference between synergist muscles. Muscle & Nerve, 40: 395-401.
Nescolarde, L., Yanguas, J., Lukaski, H., Alomar, X., Rosell-Ferrer, J., Rodas, G. 2013. Localized bioimpedance to assess muscle injury. Physiol. Meas. 34: 237-245.
Park, K.N., Yi, C.H., Jeon, H.S., Lee, W.H., Ha, S.M., Kim, S.J., Kwon, O.Y. 2012. Effects of lumbopelvic neutralization on the electromyographic activity, lumbopelvic and knee motion during seated knee extension in subjects with hamstring shortness. J. Phys. Ther. Sci. 24: 17-22.
Peck, D., Buxton, D.F., Nitz, A. 1984. A comparison of spindle concentrations in large and small muscles acting in parallel combinations. J. Morphol. 180: 243-252.
Sergienko, S., Kalichman, L. 2015. Myofascial origin of shoulder pain: A literature review. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies 19: 91-101.
Stahn, A., Strobel, G., Terblanche, E. 2008. VO2max prediction from multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Physiol. Meas. 29: 193–203.