Sep
5
2023
Pelvic floor exercises have long been recommended for women – now researchers say they could help men too. The exercises were found to help men with erectile dysfunction as much as taking in Viagra.
The researchers say the findings mean men have an alternative to drug therapy.
For around 50 years, women have been advised to perform pelvic floor exercises to strengthen their muscles for childbirth.
The pelvic floor is a “hammock” of muscles which support the bowel and bladder.
Pelvic floor, or Kegel, exercises involve clenching the muscles you would use to prevent yourself urinating.
This latest research indicates it is also important for men to maintain the muscle tone and function of their pelvic floor muscles with the exercises.
The team from the University of the West of England in Bristol studied 55 men with an average age of 59 who had experienced erectile dysfunction for at least six months.
The men, all patients at the Somerset Nuffield Hospital, Taunton, Somerset, were given five weekly sessions of pelvic floor exercises and assessed at three and six months, and asked to practise the exercises daily at home.
It was found 40% of the men regained normal erectile function – some of who had severe erectile dysfunction, and another 35% showed some improvement.
Two thirds of the men had said they also had problems with urination. These improved significantly after they began the exercises.
Dr Grace Dorey, a specialist continence physiotherapist who carried out the research, told BBC News Online: “The exercises were found to be equally as effective as taking Viagra.
“Pelvic floor exercises improve function in a physical way, in a more natural way.
“Men should be doing preventative exercise. It really is use it or lose it.”
She said men should be exercising their pelvic floor exercises from puberty onwards.
A spokesperson for the Impotence Association said: “The value and effectiveness of pelvic floor exercises should not be underestimated when considering the management of sexual problems such as impotence and premature ejaculation.
“The exercises are thought to strengthen the muscles that surround the penis and improve the blood supply in the pelvis, which is an important factor in relation to erectile dysfunction.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3036188.stm
Sep
5
2023
People who have migraines — either chronic or episodic — are more likely to suffer from serious skin pain and sensitivity, new research shows.
As many as two-thirds of those affected by migraines may also experience a condition called cutaneous allodynia. Cutaneous allodynia is skin sensitivity and pain so severe that everyday activities like brushing your hair or wearing jewelry can cause pain.
“The phenomenon of cutaneous allodynia seems to be correlated to true migraine,” said headache expert Dr. Bruce Silverman, a neurologist at Providence Hospital and Medical Centers in Southfield, Mich. “For those with migraine and cutaneous allodynia, the idea of treating prior to the onset of symptoms may offer a greater response.”
To assess the prevalence of cutaneous allodynia, researchers led by Dr. Marcelo Bigal, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, surveyed almost 17,000 people who experienced headaches. Their questionnaires asked about the type of headaches suffered, how often, whether or not their quality of life was affected, whether or not they suffered from depression, or if they had any other illnesses that might cause pain. Survey participants were also asked to complete the allodynia symptom checklist (ASC), an assessment tool previously designed by the study’s authors.
The study, which is in the April 22 issue of the journal Neurology, found that almost 12,000 people reported suffering from migraines. Another 1,491 had headaches that were probably migraines, and 3,345 experienced other types of headaches, such as tension headaches.
Of those who reported having chronic migraines — daily headaches — 68 percent also experienced cutaneous allodynia. In those with episodic migraines, 63 percent also experienced the condition. Just 42 percent of those with suspected migraine reported cutaneous allodynia, and about 37 percent of those with other types of headaches reported allodynia, as well.
In people with migraine, cutaneous allodynia was more common in women, in those who had headaches more often, in people with a higher body mass index, and in those disabled or depressed.
http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/news-250285-31.html
Sep
5
2023
Objective
The usefulness of massage as a recovery method after high-intensity exercise has yet to be established. We aimed to investigate the effects of whole-body massage on heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) after repeated high-intensity cycling exercise under controlled and standardized pretest conditions.
Methods
The study included 62 healthy active individuals. After baseline measurements, the subjects performed standardized warm-up exercises followed by three 30-second Wingate tests. After completing the exercise protocol, the subjects were randomly assigned to a massage (myofascial release) or placebo (sham treatment with disconnected ultrasound and magnetotherapy equipment) group for a 40-minute recovery period. Holter recording and BP measurements were taken after exercise protocol and after the intervention.
Massage—myofascial induction protocol
| Massage technique | Body area | Approximate time (min) |
|---|---|---|
| Long J-stroke | Gastrocnemius | 3 |
| Long J-stroke | Biceps femoris | 3 |
| Cross hand technique | Thoracolumbar fascia | 12 |
| Sustained pressure | Occipital condyles | 5 |
| V spread | Frontalis | 5 |
| Ear pull | Temporalis | 4 |
| Cross hand technique | Quadriceps | 8 |
Results
After the exercise protocol, both groups showed a significant decrease in normal-to-normal interval, HRV index, diastolic BP (P > .001), and low-frequency domain values (P = .006). After the recovery period, HRV index (P = .42) and high-frequency (HF) (P = .94) values were similar to baseline levels in the massage group, whereas the HRV index tended (P = .05) to be lower and the HF was significantly (P < .01) lower vs baseline values in the placebo group, which also showed a tendency (P = .06) for HF to be lower than after the exercise. Likewise, diastolic BP returned to baseline levels in the massage group (P = .45) but remained lower in the placebo group (P = .02).
Conclusion
Myofascial release massage favors the recovery of HRV and diastolic BP after high-intensity exercise (3 Wingate tests) to preexercise levels.
Reference:
Manuel Arroyo-Morales, Nicolas Olea, Manuel Martinez, Carmen Moreno-Lorenzo, Lourdes Daz-Rodrguez and Amparo Hidalgo-Lozano.Effects of Myofascial Release After High-Intensity Exercise: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.02.009 March 2008, Pages 217-223
The authors are from: University of Granada, Spain and the paper wins an award at the 2007 ACC-RAC Conference.
