bob_stra
02-19-2004, 02:28 AM
Something that Brett wrote last week abt "incidental, unknown research" got me to thinking / digging....
It seems Australia really *is* the lucky country! I recently found out that living here gives me free, full text access to the Cochrane Collaboration library. For those of you who don't know. the Cochrane Collaboration is probably the worlds leading research group into the efficacy of health and biomedical modalities. To quote them -
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international non-profit and independent organisation, dedicated to making
up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available worldwide
I thought those of you without fulltext access might enjoy a a few random snippets from the library. Make of these what you will - I'm not advocating one thing over another, merely pointing out some interesting, related topics. Also be aware that critical thought is required to interpret some of these results.
*********************************
Title
Enhanced respiratory muscular function in normal adults after lessons in proprioceptive musculoskeletal education
Authors Austin JH AP
Source
Chest.
Date of publication
1992
Issue
102
Pages
486-90
Abstract
A subjective sense of enhanced ease of breathing has been described after instruction in the Alexander technique of proprioceptive musculoskeletal education (awareness and voluntary inhibition of personal habitual patterns of rigid musculoskeletal constriction). We investigated the effects of AT instruction on respiratory function in healthy adult volunteers (group 1, ten subjects), who received 20 private AT lessons at weekly intervals. Spirometric tests, including maximum static mouth pressures, were assessed before and after each course of lessons. Healthy control subjects, matched for age, gender, height, and weight (group 2, ten subjects), without instruction, were tested over a similar interval. Group 1 showed significant increases in PEF (9 percent, p less than .05), MVV (6 percent, p less than .05), MIP (12 percent, p less than .02), and MEP (9 percent, p less than .005) (paired Student's t testing). Group 2 showed no significant changes. Possible mechanisms for the changes in group 1 include increased length and decreased resting tension of muscles of the torso, which in turn may increase their strength, increase thoracic compliance, and/or enhance coordination. We conclude that AT musculoskeletal education may enhance respiratory muscular function in normal adult subjects.
Cochrane Group Code
SR-COMPMED
ID
CN-00209916
************************************************** **********
Title Comparison of three treatment procedures for minimizing ankle sprain swelling.
Authors Cote DJ, Prentice Jr WE, Hooker DN, Shields EW
Source Physical Therapy Date of publication 1988 Volume 68 Issue 7 Pages 1072-1076
Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of cold, heat, and contrast bath treatments on the amount of edema in first- and second-degree sprained ankles during the postacute phase of rehabilitation. Thiry subjects with postacute sprained ankles were assigned to a cold (n = 10), heat (n = 10), or contrast bath (n = 10) treatment group. A specially constructed tank was used to take pretreatment and posttreatment volumetric measurements of subjects' sprained ankles. Descriptive statistics, a 3 x 3 two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures, and Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference post hoc test revealed that cold therapy produced the least edema in subjects with sprained ankles (p <.05).
All three treatments (cold, heat, and contrast bath) produced an increase in the amount of edema in the postacute sprained ankles of the subjects. Heat and contrast bath therapy produced almost identical increases in the amount of ankle edema on each of the three days of the study. We concluded that cold therapy is the most appropriate of the three treatments *if the therapeutic objective is minimize edema* (emphasis mine!!) before rehabilitative exercise during the third, fourth, and fifth days postinjury for first- and second-degree ankle sprains.
************************************************** *****
Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) in asthma: a randomised controlled trial.[comment].
Comments
Comment in: Thorax. 2003 Aug;58(8):649-50; PMID: 12885973
Authors
Cooper S, Oborne J, Newton S, Harrison V, Thompson Coon J, Lewis S, Tattersfield A
Source
Thorax
Date of publication
2003 Aug
Volume
58
Issue
8
Pages
674-9
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with asthma are interested in the use of breathing exercises but their role is uncertain. The effects of the Buteyko breathing technique, a device which mimics pranayama (a yoga breathing technique), and a dummy pranayama device on bronchial responsiveness and symptoms were compared over 6 months in a parallel group study.
METHODS: Ninety patients with asthma taking an inhaled corticosteroid were randomised after a 2 week run in period to Eucapnic Buteyko breathing, use of a Pink City Lung Exerciser (PCLE) to mimic pranayama, or a PCLE placebo device. Subjects practised the techniques at home twice daily for 6 months followed by an optional steroid reduction phase. Primary outcome measures were symptom scores and change in the dose of methacholine provoking a 20% fall in FEV(1) (PD(20)) during the first 6 months. RESULTS: Sixty nine patients (78%) completed the study. There was no significant difference in PD(20) between the three groups at 3 or 6 months. Symptoms remained relatively stable in the PCLE and placebo groups but were reduced in the Buteyko group. Median change in symptom scores at 6 months was 0 (interquartile range -1 to 1) in the placebo group, -1 (-2 to 0.75) in the PCLE group, and -3 (-4 to 0) in the Buteyko group (p=0.003 for difference between groups). Bronchodilator use was reduced in the Buteyko group by two puffs/day at 6 months; there was no change in the other two groups (p=0.005). No difference was seen between the groups in FEV(1), exacerbations, or ability to reduce inhaled corticosteroids.
CONCLUSION: The Buteyko breathing technique can improve symptoms and reduce bronchodilator use but does not appear to change bronchial responsiveness or lung function in patients with asthma. No benefit was shown for the Pink City Lung Exerciser.
***********************************
Enjoy ;-)
It seems Australia really *is* the lucky country! I recently found out that living here gives me free, full text access to the Cochrane Collaboration library. For those of you who don't know. the Cochrane Collaboration is probably the worlds leading research group into the efficacy of health and biomedical modalities. To quote them -
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international non-profit and independent organisation, dedicated to making
up-to-date, accurate information about the effects of healthcare readily available worldwide
I thought those of you without fulltext access might enjoy a a few random snippets from the library. Make of these what you will - I'm not advocating one thing over another, merely pointing out some interesting, related topics. Also be aware that critical thought is required to interpret some of these results.
*********************************
Title
Enhanced respiratory muscular function in normal adults after lessons in proprioceptive musculoskeletal education
Authors Austin JH AP
Source
Chest.
Date of publication
1992
Issue
102
Pages
486-90
Abstract
A subjective sense of enhanced ease of breathing has been described after instruction in the Alexander technique of proprioceptive musculoskeletal education (awareness and voluntary inhibition of personal habitual patterns of rigid musculoskeletal constriction). We investigated the effects of AT instruction on respiratory function in healthy adult volunteers (group 1, ten subjects), who received 20 private AT lessons at weekly intervals. Spirometric tests, including maximum static mouth pressures, were assessed before and after each course of lessons. Healthy control subjects, matched for age, gender, height, and weight (group 2, ten subjects), without instruction, were tested over a similar interval. Group 1 showed significant increases in PEF (9 percent, p less than .05), MVV (6 percent, p less than .05), MIP (12 percent, p less than .02), and MEP (9 percent, p less than .005) (paired Student's t testing). Group 2 showed no significant changes. Possible mechanisms for the changes in group 1 include increased length and decreased resting tension of muscles of the torso, which in turn may increase their strength, increase thoracic compliance, and/or enhance coordination. We conclude that AT musculoskeletal education may enhance respiratory muscular function in normal adult subjects.
Cochrane Group Code
SR-COMPMED
ID
CN-00209916
************************************************** **********
Title Comparison of three treatment procedures for minimizing ankle sprain swelling.
Authors Cote DJ, Prentice Jr WE, Hooker DN, Shields EW
Source Physical Therapy Date of publication 1988 Volume 68 Issue 7 Pages 1072-1076
Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of cold, heat, and contrast bath treatments on the amount of edema in first- and second-degree sprained ankles during the postacute phase of rehabilitation. Thiry subjects with postacute sprained ankles were assigned to a cold (n = 10), heat (n = 10), or contrast bath (n = 10) treatment group. A specially constructed tank was used to take pretreatment and posttreatment volumetric measurements of subjects' sprained ankles. Descriptive statistics, a 3 x 3 two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures, and Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference post hoc test revealed that cold therapy produced the least edema in subjects with sprained ankles (p <.05).
All three treatments (cold, heat, and contrast bath) produced an increase in the amount of edema in the postacute sprained ankles of the subjects. Heat and contrast bath therapy produced almost identical increases in the amount of ankle edema on each of the three days of the study. We concluded that cold therapy is the most appropriate of the three treatments *if the therapeutic objective is minimize edema* (emphasis mine!!) before rehabilitative exercise during the third, fourth, and fifth days postinjury for first- and second-degree ankle sprains.
************************************************** *****
Effect of two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) in asthma: a randomised controlled trial.[comment].
Comments
Comment in: Thorax. 2003 Aug;58(8):649-50; PMID: 12885973
Authors
Cooper S, Oborne J, Newton S, Harrison V, Thompson Coon J, Lewis S, Tattersfield A
Source
Thorax
Date of publication
2003 Aug
Volume
58
Issue
8
Pages
674-9
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with asthma are interested in the use of breathing exercises but their role is uncertain. The effects of the Buteyko breathing technique, a device which mimics pranayama (a yoga breathing technique), and a dummy pranayama device on bronchial responsiveness and symptoms were compared over 6 months in a parallel group study.
METHODS: Ninety patients with asthma taking an inhaled corticosteroid were randomised after a 2 week run in period to Eucapnic Buteyko breathing, use of a Pink City Lung Exerciser (PCLE) to mimic pranayama, or a PCLE placebo device. Subjects practised the techniques at home twice daily for 6 months followed by an optional steroid reduction phase. Primary outcome measures were symptom scores and change in the dose of methacholine provoking a 20% fall in FEV(1) (PD(20)) during the first 6 months. RESULTS: Sixty nine patients (78%) completed the study. There was no significant difference in PD(20) between the three groups at 3 or 6 months. Symptoms remained relatively stable in the PCLE and placebo groups but were reduced in the Buteyko group. Median change in symptom scores at 6 months was 0 (interquartile range -1 to 1) in the placebo group, -1 (-2 to 0.75) in the PCLE group, and -3 (-4 to 0) in the Buteyko group (p=0.003 for difference between groups). Bronchodilator use was reduced in the Buteyko group by two puffs/day at 6 months; there was no change in the other two groups (p=0.005). No difference was seen between the groups in FEV(1), exacerbations, or ability to reduce inhaled corticosteroids.
CONCLUSION: The Buteyko breathing technique can improve symptoms and reduce bronchodilator use but does not appear to change bronchial responsiveness or lung function in patients with asthma. No benefit was shown for the Pink City Lung Exerciser.
***********************************
Enjoy ;-)