Physical Treatments Journal
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Summer 2016

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the main causes of disability in adults. Approximately 80% of LBPs lead to chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). Damages to back region may be due to weak musculoskeletal structure, impaired muscle or joint flexibility, changes in muscle tone, and reduced strength and endurance. A set of exercises by small ball was designed by the corresponding and first authors to improve the balance of muscular activity.
The current study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of small ball exercise program compared to that of Williams flexion exercises, in patients with CNSLBP.
Among the patients referred to the physical therapy clinics in Tehran, Iran, 30 subjects (16 males and 14 females) were selected through convenience sampling method, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, in 2014-2015. Demographic information was recorded. The patients were randomly allocated into one of the intervention groups. For both intervention groups, a 10-session routine electrotherapy was applied (TENS, Hot pack, and ultrasound). Additionally, patients in the intervention group 1 received small ball exercises, but the intervention group 2, they received Williams exercises (as the control). Treatment was conducted by a physiotherapist and a research fellow assessed pain intensity based on visual analogue scale [P1] (VAS) and disability index (Oswestry). Assessments were performed before starting the intervention, after treatment, and then 2 weeks later. Paired and independent samples t tests were employed to conduct the statistical analysis by SPSS version18.
There was no significant difference between the groups based on the baseline characteristics. In both groups, pain and disability showed significant improvement (P The current study, while proving beneficial effects of Williams exercise with routine physiotherapy in patients with CNSLBP, showed that substitution of these exercises by small balls exercises could enhance the effect of treatment on pain and disability. Small ball exercise program also showed better outcome in the follow-up, and was ranked higher regarding its impact, ease of implementation, and desirability by the patients.

APS, TENS, Pain, Function, Mechanical shoulder impairment
Rehabilitation and physiotherapy have a major role in reducing the pain and increasing the functional ability in patients with shoulder joint pain. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Action Potential Simulation (APS) and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in patients with Chronic Mechanical Shoulder Pain (CMSP).
In this quasi-experimental study, 32 patients with CMSP were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned into APS group and TENS group, both of them received 6 sessions of intervention. The study instruments included pain intensity and shoulder Range Of Motion (ROM), America Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form, and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index. The stability of scapula and shoulder function (shoulder dyskinesia) were measured before and after the intervention. The obtained data were analyzed using t tests by SPSS19 (P Pain intensity, shoulder ROM, and stability of scapula decreased in both groups. However, there were no significant differences between groups (P > 0.05). In addition, shoulder function did not change after intervention in both groups (P > 0.05).
With regard to study findings, APS and TENS are effective in pain reduction but none has preference over the other in treatment approaches.

Human hands are efficient tools to do fine works, game, and routine activities, which are of greater consideration in students with special needs, including hearing-impaired students.
This descriptive-analytical study was performed by cross-sectional method on 32 hearing-impaired students with age average of 8.43 years old in Hamedan in the academic years 2015-2016. The collecting data tools in this study was the demographic questionnaire: Connors questionnaire and Purdue Pegboard test. The data were analyzed by SPSS20 through parametric and nonparametric tests, chi-square test, and ANOVA.
the average speed of the dominant hand movement is 6.67±1.20, the average speed of the non-dominant hand movement is 4.81±1.42, the coordination of hands 2.96±1.34, hand skill 14.48±3.64, and assembly is 8.26±5.31. The gender and handedness play no effective roles in scores of fine motor skills and there is no significant correlation between the cases of hearing impairment and fine motor skills of hands (p>0.05). However, the average in rural groups is higher than that in urban groups (p0.05). But, the average scores obtained by the students whose mothers have different academic backgrounds show significant statistical differences (p The mother's academic backgrounds and the living locations are more effective than the causes of hearing impairment, handedness, and gender on fine motor skills in students with hearing impairment. Therefore, it is recommended to perform rehabilitation interventions and training the fine motor skills in order to help students to improve their routine activities, learning, and environmental and recreational experiences.

Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, and lifting is one of its risk factors. The activity of lumbar muscles as the main muscles involved in lifting is important with regard to identification of the allowable limits and the injury mechanisms as well as the motor control aspects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the lifting speed on the lumbar muscles activities during the lifting of the light loads by squat method.
In this study, 27 healthy men were tested using electromyography (EMG). The data were collected from the erector spinae and the multifidus muscles. The signal processing was performed using MATLAB software after normalization to MVC and the statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 16.
The muscles activities at fast, medium, and slow speeds were not statistically significantly different (P>0.05), however, the difference between the numerical values of muscles activities at low and high speeds were clearly visible in the diagram. The highest activity was observed in multifidus muscles and then in erector spinae muscles.
The results indicated that the lifting speed does not have significant effect on the activity of lumbar muscles during the lifting of light loads, but it should be noted that it can be a risk factor in the long term for individuals who are lifting a lot of loads in a day.

Wearing high-heel shoes has become a habit among women of the present era. Statistics show that around 60% of women wear high-heel shoes at least thrice a week. High-heel shoes cause postural changes and damage body joints. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of high-heel shoes on the head protrusion angle.
This study was conducted at University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. A simulated instrument to high-heel shoes was used in this research. Participants of this study were 25 healthy female students with the average (SD) age of 26.64 (3.86) y, average (SD) weight of 57.04 (7.06) kg, average (SD) height of 164.04 (5.76) cm, and average (SD) body mass index of 21.17 (2.14) kg/m2. A digital camera was used, fixed on a 1 m tripod at the distance of 2.40 m from the used instrument on the heel. A software (Corel VideoStudio ProX4) was used to get pictures from the movie for each centimeter increase in heel height and 9 pictures were taken from 0 to 8 height points. AutoCAD 2012-English software was used to take measurements at 9 levels.
The obtained data and the correlation between variables were analyzed by using ANOVA. Statistical analysis showed a significant reduction in the head protrusion angle. Results also showed significant relationship (P The present study showed the relationship between reduction in head protrusion angle and increase in heel height.

The present research was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of group play therapy on social skills of female students with intellectual disability.
The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest design and the control group. The study population included all female students with intellectual disability in Shiraz, Iran enrolled in academic year 2013-2014. Out of them, a sample of 30 students were selected through convenience sampling method and were randomly placed in the experiment and the control groups (each group 15 students). Pretest was taken from both groups and the experiment group received training for group play therapy in 10 sessions, while this training was not provided to the control group. At the end, a posttest was taken from both groups. For measuring social skills, the social skills scale (social skills rating system) was used. The collected data were analyzed using analysis of covariance by SPSS 21.
According to the findings, the mean score for social skills and their subscales significantly increased in the experiment group (P The findings indicated the effectiveness of group play therapy on social skills of female students with intellectual disability. Therefore, we recommend that by designing and implementing group play therapy, social skills be improved in these students.