Objective: The objective of this study was to histologically verify the effects of microcurrent electrical stimulation (MES) on muscular recovery after muscle contusion.
Methods: Muscle contusion to the left gastrocnemius muscle was induced by the weight-drop method in 24 female Wistar rats aged 10 weeks. The animals were divided into two groups of 12 each: the non-intervention group in which animals were allowed to recover naturally; and the MES group in which animals were treated with MES for 30 min/day starting from the day after the muscle contusion. Tissue samples were collected for observation from six animals in each group on Days 4 and 7 post-muscle contusion, respectively. The Day-7 histological imaging was compared between the two groups in terms of regenerating muscle fiber count within a certain field area.
Results: The histological imaging showed expansion of the spaces between muscle bundles on Day 4 post-muscle contusion in the MES group and a regenerating muscle fiber count (within a certain field area) of 45.0 ± 12.8 in the non-intervention group and 67.4 ± 11.7 in the MES group on Day 7 post-muscle contusion, indicating a significantly higher count in the MES group.
Conclusion: Early treatment with MES after muscle contusion can potentially promote muscle regeneration.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations among nonspecific neck pain, cervicothoracic spinal alignment, and central sensitization in patients with frozen shoulder. The secondary aim was to confirm the relationship between central sensitization and physical activity as well as between central sensitization and pain catastrophizing.
Methods: This study included 41 patients with frozen shoulder. We evaluated cervicothoracic spinal alignment and Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) scores and examined their associations with nonspecific neck pain. Furthermore, we assessed physical activity and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) scores to confirm their relationships with CSI scores.
Results: CSI scores were significantly associated with nonspecific neck pain and significantly and positively correlated with PCS scores.
Conclusion: In patients with frozen shoulder, central sensitization was associated with nonspecific neck pain. We could confirm the relationship between central sensitization and pain catastrophizing.

Objective: Physical therapy following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) typically follows a time-based protocol (TB), which progresses according to a time schedule but does not adequately reflect individual patient differences. Therefore, we aimed to develop a criteria-based protocol (CB) that considers tissue healing and patient goals and to investigate whether CB leads to different outcomes postoperatively.
Methods: The participants were divided into two groups: 25 followed the TB protocol, and 34 followed the CB protocol. TB followed a time schedule for mobilization, whereas CB was structured into four stages with specific subcategories. The primary outcome was the length of hospital stay. The secondary outcomes included satisfaction, activity level, and timed up and go (TUG) test results, assessed preoperatively and at 12 weeks postoperatively. Additionally, factors influencing hospital stay and the secondary outcomes were identified through multiple regression analysis.
Results: The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the CB group. The CB group showed improvement in all parameters at 12 weeks postoperatively compared to preoperative values. In the TB group, satisfaction and activity levels improved at 12 weeks postoperatively, but no changes were observed in TUG. There was no difference between the groups at 12 weeks postoperatively. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis identified CB as a significant variable for all outcomes.
Conclusion: CB may reduce the length of hospital stay and positively influence postoperative satisfaction, activity level, and physical function.

Objective: We used ultrasound imaging to observe the dynamics of the radial head and interpret the pathophysiology in two cases of lateral epicondylitis of the humerus.
Case: Both patients were men in their fifties, with a chief complaint of lateral elbow pain when holding an object. In both cases, joint range of motion was decreased in wrist grip flexion and rotation at 0° elbow extension, and tenderness was observed in the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, and extensor digitorum. The lateral and anterior displacement dynamics of the radial head were measured using ultrasound imaging, and the amount of change and displacement angle were calculated. In both cases, the lateral displacement of the radial head decreased, the anterior displacement increased excessively, and the displacement angle was larger on the affected side than on the healthy side. After the extensibility of the extensor carpi radialis brevis and extensor digitorum muscles and gliding around the radial ring ligament were improved, the range of motion increased, the forward displacement and angle of displacement decreased, and pain disappeared.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the limitation of the range of motion and changes in displacement caused by increased tension in the annular ligament of the radius and extensor digitorum muscles may be related to this pathophysiology.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the completeness of case reports related to musculoskeletal physiotherapy in Japan using the CARE guidelines.
Methods: This study included case reports of Japanese physiotherapy published in 2019. We categorized the participants into musculoskeletal and other fields, and calculated and compared the rate of references that complied with the checklist for each item of the CARE guidelines. Fisherʼs exact test was used for statistical analysis (5% significance level).
Results: Of the 256 cases, 111 (43.4%) were in the musculoskeletal field. Of these, < 50% complied with “item 7; depict important dates and times in the case (table or figure),” “item 10d; adverse and unanticipated events,” and “item 11a; strengths and limitations of the management of this case,” which was statistically significantly lower compared to other fields.
Conclusion: Case reports of musculoskeletal physiotherapy lacked information on “timelines,” “follow-up and outcomes,” and “discussion.”