Research, Articles & Case Studies

Abstract 

BACKGROUND: Non-specific low back pain is an increasingly common musculoskeletal ailment. The aim of this study was to examine the utility of craniosacral therapy techniques in the treatment of patients with lumbosacral spine overload and to compare its effectiveness to that of trigger point therapy, which is a recognised therapeutic approach. 

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 55 randomly selected patients (aged 24-47 years) with low back pain due to overload. Other causes of this condition in the patients were ruled out. The participants were again randomly assigned to two groups: patients treated with craniosacral therapy (G-CST) and patients treated with trigger point therapy (G-TPT). Multiple aspects of the effectiveness of both therapies were evaluated with the use of: an analogue scale for pain (VAS) and a modified Laitinen questionnaire, the Schober test and surface electromyography of the multifidus muscle. The statistical analysis of the outcomes was based on the basic statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon's signed rank test. The statistical significance level was set at ps0.05. 

RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated a significant reduction of pain measured with the VAS scale and the Laitinen questionnaire. Moreover, the resting bioelectric activity of the multifidus muscle decreased significantly in the G-CST group. The groups did not differ significantly with regard to the study parameters. 

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Craniosacral therapy and trigger point therapy may effectively reduce the intensity and frequency of pain in patients with non-specific low back pain. 2. Craniosacral therapy, unlike trigger point therapy, reduces the resting tension of the multifidus muscle in patients with non­specific lumbosacral pain. The mechanism of these changes requires further research. 3. Craniosacral therapy and trigger point therapy may be clinically effective in the treatment of patients with non-specific lumbosacral spine pain. 4. The present findings represent a basis for conducting further and prospective studies of larger and randomized samples. 

John Matthew Upledger (1960-2017) wrote this article for the MASSAGE Magazine's February 2012 issue, and we are republishing it here to honor his memory- and to educate massage therapists about the benefits of CranioSacral Therapy, the technique John Matthew's father, John E. Upledger. D.O., created. John Matthew Upldeger passed away on May 21, 2017. He had been involved in the Upledger Institute International for more than 30 years, in areas including clinical services and education.

Like massage therapy, CranioSacral Therapy is a gently end effective tool to have in a therapist's set of skills for pain relief. CranioSacral and massage both create more space in the body, increase flexibility and decrease pain. 

Background: Non-specific neck pain (NS-NP) is characterized by pain in structures located in the region between the superior nuchal line and the spinal process of the first thoracic vertebra, without association with any specific systemic disease provided by multifactorial and/or little known causes.

 Objective: The objective of the present study will be to verify the clinical effects of MV through visceral nociceptive inhibition in NS-NP patients with functional dyspepsia.

Methods: In this study sixty NS-NP patients with functional dyspepsia (age: 18 and 50 years) will be randomized in into two groups: visceral manipulation group (VMG) (n =30) and control group (CG) (n =30). The VMG will be treated with visceral manipulation to the stomach and liver wile CG received placebo treatment. The immediate effects and 7 days after treatment will be evaluated through pain, cervical range, and electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius.

The way your baby is cared for and nurtured immediately after birth significantly impacts their transition from the womb to life outside.

In a culture that commonly separates mothers and babies for routine procedures such as cleaning, weighing and measuring, most babies are missing that critical time of being skin to skin with their mothers, which has short and long term consequences for all.

This article talks about the first hour should be focused on baby’s first breastfeed and mother-baby and family bonding. Unless mother or baby is in need of medical assistance, hospital protocols should support this time of new beginnings for both vaginal and caesarean births.

Anxiety is becoming a big problem for people in America. This article provides you 15 Soothing Mindfulness Quotes That Will Calm Your Anxious Feelings.

Neurodegenerative diseases are often associated with aging. To learn what happens within the aging brain and potentially gain information relevant to human health, researchers examined the gene - expression patterns in postmortem brain samples. Overall, the researchers found, gene expression of glial cells changed more with age than did with neurons. These gene- expression changes were most significant in the hippocampus and substania nigra, regions damaged in Alzheimer's  and Parkinson's diseases. 

The difference between an old brain and a young brain isn't so much the number of neurons but the presence and function of supporting cells called glia. In this article, researchers found that the state of someone's glia is so consistent through the years that it can be used to predict someones age.