All 3 modalities were effective in reducing skin temperature and changing sensory conduction at a physiological level that is sufficient to induce a hypoalgesic effect. The results suggest that cold water immersion, as applied in this study, is the most indicated modality for inducing therapeutic effects associated with the reduction of motor nerve conduction.

Adding manual therapy to an exercise protocol did not enhance improvements in scapular kinematics, function, and pain in individuals with shoulder impingement syndrome. The noted improvements in pain and function are not likely explained by changes in scapular kinematics.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of stretching applied every 3 days to the soleus muscle immobilized in the shortened position on muscle fiber morphology. Eighteen 16-week-old Wistar rats were used and divided into three groups of 6 animals each: a) the left soleus muscle was immobilized in the shortened position for 3 weeks; b) during immobilization, the soleus was stretched for 40 min every 3 days; c) the non-immobilized soleus was only stretched. Left and right soleus muscles were examined. One portion of the soleus was frozen for histology and muscle fiber area evaluation, while the other portion was used to identify the number and length of serial sarcomeres. Immobilized muscles (group A) showed a significant decrease in weight (44 ± 6%), length (19 ± 7%), serial sarcomere number (23 ± 15%), and fiber area (37 ± 31%) compared to the contralateral muscles (P < 0.05, paired Student t-test). The immobilized and stretched soleus (group B) showed a similar reduction but milder muscle fiber atrophy compared to the only immobilized group (22 ± 40 vs 37 ± 31%, respectively; P < 0.001, ANOVA test). Muscles submitted only to stretching (group C) significantly increased the length (5 ± 2%), serial sarcomere number (4 ± 4%), and fiber area (16 ± 44%) compared to the contralateral muscles (P < 0.05, paired Student t-test). In conclusion, stretching applied every 3 days to immobilized muscles did not prevent the muscle shortening, but reduced muscle atrophy. Stretching sessions induced hypertrophic effects in the control muscles. These results support the use of muscle stretching in sports and rehabilitation.

We evaluated the effect on mice skeletal muscle regeneration of different doses (2.6, 8.4, and 25 J/cm2) of HeNe laser (lambda 632.8 nm; power, 2.6 mW; spot size, 0.007 cm2) applied directly to intact skin of injured muscle. Muscle injury was induced in both right and left Tibialis anterior (TA) muscles by ACL myotoxin (5 mg/kg). Right TA muscles were irradiated daily for 5 days while contralateral muscles received a sham treatment. Only the 2.6 J/cm2 dose resulted in changes such as increased mitochondrial density and muscle fibre in the TA muscles as compared to sham groups (3280 +/- 704 microns 2 versus 2110 +/- 657 microns 2, p = 0.02). We concluded that the HeNe effect on mouse muscle regeneration is dose-specific: only 2.6 J/cm2 increased muscle fibre area and mitochondrial density.

Data suggest that 660 nm LLLT with low (10 J/cm²) or moderate (60 J/cm²) energy densities is able to accelerate neuromuscular recovery after nerve crush injury in rats.