Background/Aims: Chronic low back dysfunction is a serious health problem affecting people at some time in their life; it impedes the mobility of the lumbar spine and adjacent joints leading to functional disabilities. Muscle Energy Techniques aim to normalise soft tissue structures, such as shortened or tight muscles, with no direct implication to the joint associated with these soft tissues. Kinesio taping supports damaged structures without restriction of mobility and at the same time may influence some of the mechanisms associated with muscle fatigue, such as blood flow and proprioception. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Muscle Energy Techniques and kinesio taping on pain level and spinal mobility in patients with chronic low back dysfunction. Methods: A total of 90 patients with chronic low back dysfunction were selected. All participants were randomly allocated into three groups; group A received cross (X) technique kinesio taping and conventional therapy, Group B received cross (X) technique kinesio taping, Muscle Energy Techniques and conventional therapy, Group C received Muscle Energy Techniques and conventional therapy. A visual analogue scale for pain severity and inclinometer for trunk range of motion were used to measure the results. Results: Results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the post-treatment measurements of the three groups. Conclusions: A combination between Muscle Energy Techniques and kinesio taping with conventional therapy appears to improve pain and trunk range of motion in patients with chronic low back dysfunction.

Back ground and purpose: Stroke can have high varying effects on patient's trunk control and ventilatory function. The current study was done to assess the relationship between trunk control and ventilatory function using computerized spirometer in chronic hemorrhagic stroke patients. Subjects: twenty five hemorrhagic stroke patients from both sexes (17 male and 8 female) were participated in the study. The age ranged from 40-60 years. Methods: Subjects were assigned into one group "Patients with chronic hemorrhagic stroke". Procedures: Trunk control was assessed using Trunk impairment scale and ventilatory function was assessed by using spirometer. Results: The results showed that there was a significant moderate direct relationship between overall score of Trunk impairment scale and peak expiratory flow and maximum voluntary ventilation. Conclusion: it was concluded that the relationship between trunk muscles and ventilatory function appear to be significant in chronic hemorrhagic stroke.

BackgroundImpaired posture is strongly associated with function particularly in patients with parkinsonian disease (PD). Objective To detect the effect of sensory integration training on postural instability in elderly PD following stereotactic surgery. Patients and methods A total of 27 patients with idiopathic PD were assessed before and after 12 weeks by the postural stability test. They were randomly assigned into three groups: group I (sensory integration training), group II (stereotactic surgery), and group III (sensory integration training after 10 days postoperatively). ResultsThere was significant improvement in group III more than in groups I and II. The percent of improvement of group III was higher concerning the overall stability index (48.86%, t=7.088 and P=0.0001(, anterior/posterior index (74.61%, t=21.240 and P=0.0001), and medial/lateral index (55.81%, t=14.014 and P=0.0001). Group III was superior to groups I and II (P=0.026 and 0.001, 0.040 and 0.0001, and 0.049 and 0.0001). ConclusionSensory integration training improved postural stability in elderly with PD following stereotactic surgery.

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