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Real-time visual feedback can be used to activate the upper trapezius and serratus anterior muscles and to improve movement of the scapula during shoulder flexion in people with scapular winging.

BackgroundTo determine the influence of breathing maneuver and sitting posture on tidal volume (TV), respiratory rate (RR), and muscle activity of the inspiratory accessory muscles in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsTwelve men with COPD participated in the study. Inductive respiratory plethysmography and surface electromyography were used to simultaneously measure TV, RR, and muscle activity of the inspiratory accessory muscles [the scalenus (SM), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and pectoralis major (PM) muscles] during quiet natural breathing (QB) and pursed-lips breathing (PLB) in three sitting postures: neutral position (NP), with armm support (WAS), and with arm and head support (WAHS).ResultsTwo-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was employed. In a comparison of breathing patterns, PLB significantly increased TV and decreased RR compared to QB. Muscle activity in the SM and SCM increased significantly in PLB compared to QB. In a comparison of sitting postures, the muscle activity of the SM, SCM, and PM increased in the forward-leaning position.ConclusionsThe results suggest that in COPD, PLB induced a favorable breathing pattern (increased TV and reduced RR) compared to QB. Additionally, WAS and WAHS positions increased muscle activity of the inspiratory accessory muscles during inspiration versus NP. Differential involvement of accessory respiratory muscles can be readily studied in COPD patients, allowing monitoring of respiratory load during pulmonary rehabilitation.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of taping on wrist extensor force reproduction (FR) and wrist joint position reproduction (JPR) sense in subjects with and without lateral epicondylitis. [Subjects] Thirty workers in an automobile-parts manufacturing company participated: fifteen workers who had experienced pain with lateral epicondylitis and fifteen workers who had no history of lateral epicondylitis.[Methods] Taping was applied on the proximal forearm, starting from the medial, and tracking laterally. This was repeated two or three times.The FR error and JPR error of both groups (with and without lateral epicondylitis) were measured with and without taping.[Results] Without taping, the FR and JPR errors of the lateral epicondylitis group were significantly higher than those of the without lateral epicondylitis group.With taping, the FR error of the lateral epicondylitis group was significantly decreased from 1.24 kg to 0.49 kg. With taping, the JPR error of the lateral epicondylitis group was significantly decreased from 3.31 to 2.13 degrees.[Conclusion] The lateral epicondylitis group had significantly higher FR and JPR errors. Taping significantly improved force reproduction and joint position reproduction error.

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