نشریه پژوهش در توانبخشی ورزشی
پیاپی 20 (پاییز و زمستان 1401)

Chronic back pain is one of the most common problems in today's society that has recently increased due to inactivity, so various methods of rehabilitation are being studied. The aim of this study was to Comparison of the Effect of Core Stability exercises at both stable and unstable levels on pain, height control and quality of life in women with chronic low back pain.

Twenty female patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n = 10) stable and unstable (trampoline). Pain (by visual pain scale), static balance (by stork test), dynamic balance (by Y test) and quality of life (by SF36 questionnaire) were measured before and after the 8 week intervention. Subsequently, patients in both groups received their own training, three sessions every week for 8 weeks. Data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA in SPSS software.

The results showed that the intergroup interaction in the variables of pain, quality of life, static and dynamic balance was significant with the superiority of the unstable level group (P <0.05).

The results of the study indicate that exercises for both stable and unstable surface effectively improve pain, increase balance and improve the quality of life of the subjects. The results, however, show that the variables in the unstable training group (trampoline) have significantly improved compared to the other group, so this method can be used as a complementary treatment modality for patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. .

Hip abductors muscles play a role in providing stability and movement to the lower limbs. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of hip abductors muscles fatigue on kinematics gait parameters in the Elderly men.

The participants of this study included sixteen healthy elderly men without a history of falling with a mean age (65.62±5.77 years(, mass (75.25±1.37 kg(, height (169±6.07 cm(. In the pre-test, gait kinematics evaluation was performed using a motion analysis device. Then the subjects participated in the hip abductor muscles fatigue program and immediately after the fatigue, gait kinematics evaluation was performed like a pre-test. Data collected through the Cortex software was analyzed and extracted in Excel file format. A paired sample t-test was used to compare the results before and after fatigue.

Results:

 The findings showed that after applying the fatigue protocol, the angular displacement of the lower limbs during gait was significantly decreased (p <0.05). In addition, the step length of gait after fatigue decreased significantly before fatigue (p< 0.05).

Conclusion :

The results of this study showed that the step length and kinematic of the hip, knee, and ankle joints during of walking are the effects of fatigue the hip abductor muscles. Therefore, the hip abductor muscles weakness can be a risk factor for falling and injuring during walking in the elderly population.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain increases significantly with age. Back pain is the most common pain reported by elderly people in the world. Virtual reality (VR) technology has become increasingly prevalent in many spheres of knowledge, including healthcare rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of virtual reality training (VRT) on pain and postural control of elderly men with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP).

Thirty elderly patients with CNLBP in both experimental and control groups participated in this study. The experimental group performed 30 min VRT three times a week for eight weeks, and the control group continued their normal life routine during this period. Pain and center of pressure (CoP) variable were assessed before and after the intervention using visual analogue scale and foot pressure system, respectively. Paired sample t-test and one way analysis of covariance at SPSS software version 22 were used for data analysis (P<0.05).

The results of statistical analysis indicated that pain (P=0.001) and CoP variables (oscillation velocity (P=0.014), sway area (P=0.004), anterior-posterior displacement (P=0.000) and medial-lateral displacement (P=0.03)) in the experimental group had a significant decrease compared to the control after eight weeks.

According to the obtained results, the use of VRT with the aim of reducing pain and postural fluctuations is recommended to rehabilitation of geriatric with CNLBP.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of menstrual cycle phases on the lower limb joints and segments kinematics during squats at different loads. Ten female subjects with normal and regular menstrual cycle voluntarily participated in this study. Kinematics of the lower limbs of subjects were recorded using Myomotion device in three phases of primary follicular (first to third days of the menstrual cycle), secondary follicular (eleventh to fifteenth days of the menstrual cycle), and luteal (twenty-first to twenty-fifth days menstrual cycles) during squats with body weight, 10 kg barbell, 25% body weight, and 50% body weight. Range of motion (ROM) and maximum angles of thigh flexion, adduction, and internal rotation, knee adduction and flexion, tibia internal rotation and ankle dorsiflexion in preferred leg of the subjects were calculated. The results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the ROM and maximum angles in different loads significantly increased in the secondary follicular phase with increase in load. Moreover, the ROM and maximum angles were generally higher in the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase in squat with body weight and higher loads. According to the results, it suggests female athletes use resistance exercises with lighter weights with more caution at the peak of the secondary follicular phase (ovulation). Moreover, it is siggests to reduce resistance training during luteal phase.

Aging is associated with menopause in women. The present study investigates the effect of Pilates exercises on some components of old menopausal women's psychological health.

Participants in this study were 86 postmenopausal women over 60 years (experimental group: N=43, control group: N=43) in Tehran. The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design. The experimental group performed Pilates exercises for eight weeks, 3 sessions per week for 60 minutes, but the control group did not participate in any sports activities other than normal daily activities. The quality of sleep, depression, anxiety, and fatigue were assessed using the Pittsburgh Questionnaire Index (PSQI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), respectively. ANCOVA analysis of covariance and related T was used to test the research hypotheses under normal conditions. All statistical analyzes were performed with SPSS version 26. A significant level (α ≤0 0.01) was considered.

The results of this study showed that 8 weeks of Pilates exercises has positive effect on Sleep disturbances (P ≤0 0.001), anxiety (P ≤0 0.001), depression (P ≤0 0.001), and fatigue (P ≤0 0.001) in postmenopausal women (P ≤0 0.05).

It seems that the use of Pilates exercises in postmenopausal women can lead to effective results on sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and fatigue and shows the importance of using these exercises in elderly and postmenopausal women. Therapists are also advised to use Pilates exercises in postmenopausal women.

It is assumed that hearing loss is associated with the labyrinth dysfunction and may interfere with postural control. Therefore, the present study aimed to collect functional tests for balance assessment in the hearing impaired people.

This is a systematic review, in which, a comprehensive review was performed on functional tests for balance assessment in hearing impaired people. Databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched. The search period lasted from the beginning of 2021 to April 2021.

15 articles were selected in which 21 different tests had been used to assess the balance of the hearing impaired. After careful examination of the tests used to assess the balance of the hearing impaired, it was found that the studies used 9 tests to assess static balance, 8 tests to assess dynamic balance and 4 multidisciplinary tests to assess balance in the hearing impaired.

The functional tests that have been used to evaluate the balance in people with hearing impairment are the tests that have been used for other groups as well, and there are no functional tests that specifically evaluate the balance of these people. It seems that in order to determine which functional tests provides an accurate and correct evaluation of the balance of the hearing impaired, it is necessary to conduct studies to evaluate the validity of functional tests using advanced and accurate balance assessment tools.

This study aimed to compare the postural control between female athletes with and without ACL reconstruction during a single-leg landing maneuver. In this cross-sectional study, twenty female athletes (10 healthy (without history of knee injuries or surgery): age=20.89±0.21 years, height=164.81±0.69 cm, weight=62.80±0.92 kg, and 10 ACLR: age=21.57±0.41 years, height=165.48±0.37 cm, weight=61.56±0.76 kg) performed a single-leg landing on a 30-centimeter platform on the center of the force plate (40×60 Bertec) and held their balance for 20 seconds. The data analysis was performed by SPSS version 25. Independent t-tests were used to examine possible between-group differences at the significance level of 95% (P ≤ 0.05).The results of the study showed that the mean of postural control index (Confidence Ellipse Area) in the control group was higher than in the ACLR group. In other words, the mean of postural control index was 68.47 cm2 in the healthy group and 60.08 cm2 in the ACLR group. Although the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament restores its mechanical role, it is not very successful in restoring sensory function; And this factor may lead to poor postural control, lack of sense of joint position, and finally secondary injury of the anterior cruciate ligament.

In a varus knee, the load balance on two sides of the knee joint is disturbed and the stress applied to the medial side of the joint will be greater than that of a healthy knee. The most common type of surgery to correct the deformity and balance the joint load is surgery called High Tibial Osteotomy.

In this study, a 3D model for a varus knee joint specimen was generated from MRI images. The second sample 3D model is prepared for the same joint after performing a virtual Closed Wedge Osteotomy. For the normal standing position, after loading and solving the problem, the stress distribution in the meniscus and the articular cartilage for both samples is obtained.

The results show that the maximum values of Von Mises stress and Contact Pressure for the varus knee are much higher than the corresponding values for the operated knee. The maximum contact pressure, under a 400 Newtons load applied to the upper end of the femoral head, was 7.821 MPa in the internal meniscus for the preoperative knee and 4.099 MPa for the operated knee in the external meniscus. Also, the maximum von Mises stress for before and after surgery was 6.501 and 3.488 MPa, respectively, both in the inner meniscus.

After simulation and finite elements analysis, the results of stress distribution showed that the stresses find a more suitable distribution after the operation and are closer to the values of a healthy knee.

Spinal cord injury affects postural control by impairing the ascending and descending pathways of the spinal cord. Trunk control and the ability to maintain seated balance have particular importance for people with spinal cord injuries. To support the strategies implemented to improve trunk control and seated balance by experts in this field, it is necessary to use a valid and reliable tool to assess sitting balance. Therefore, this study aimed to classify and introduce the available tools in the assessment of sitting balance in people with spinal cord injuries.

Articles were searched with Persian and English keywords obtained from Mesh in MEDLINE (PubMed), Science Direct, and MAGIRAN databases in the period from 2016 to 2022. The selection process of articles was based on PRISMA.

A total of 183 articles were obtained after searching the databases. After screening and review, 12 articles were included in the main study. The variables were extracted for these 12 articles.

A review of the studies shows that sitting balance assessment tests are divided into 2 clinical and lab groups. Among the clinical tools, (SBM), trunk control test, Set of Assessment Tools, (SSEBT) and (FIST-SCI), and the lab tools (LOS), (SWS) and (IMU) seem to be suitable options for assessing sitting balance.

Proprioception is a part of the body sensory system which is responsible for collecting information for the central nervous system in order to inform the condition of parts of the body. One of the causes of impaired proprioception, is fatigue. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Core muscle fatigue on pelvic and knee Proprioception and the amount of balance types of athletes and non-athletes.

30 men (15 athletes and 15 non-athletes) as a pre-test, preformed pelvic and knee proprioception and balance (static and dynamic) tests. In the second session, individuals participated in core muscle fatigue protocol and immediately underwent proprioception and balance tests in fatigue conditions. covariance method was used to compare the results between before and after fatigue protocol. Significance level (p≤0.05) was considered.

The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the effect of core muscle fatigue in pelvic proprioception at an angle of 30 degrees (p=0.002), knee proprioception at an angle of 60 degrees (p= 0.007), and dynamic balance (p= 0.001) among athletes and non-athletes. This difference was not significant in static balance (p= 0.072).

Reinforcement the core muscles to prevent sports injuries should be given special attention by coaches and athletes. Considering the relationship between of the fatigue and the increase in the sports injuries, core muscle fatigue, especially in non-athletes, can be considered an alarm and minimal physical activity with emphasis on reinforcement the core muscles be recommended to everyone.

Changing the knee flexion angle and using unstable devices are some ways to change the activity of the hip and trunk extensors in supine bridge exercise. The present study intends to compare the effect of different knee flexion angles in bridge exercise at the unstable surface on the activation of selected muscles of young male soccer players.

Eighteen young players performed one-session bridge exercises on a Bosu ball on full-extension (0°), 45°, and 90° of knee flexion, and electromyography was used to assess the amount and the onset of activity in selected hip muscles.

The results showed a significant difference in the electrical activity of Semitendinosus, Biceps Femoris, Gluteus Maximus, and Gluteus Medius at different knee angles (P=0.001). Furthermore, Even the results showed a significant difference in the onset of Gluteus Medius muscle activity at different knee angles (P=0.005), but the difference was not significant in the onset of Semitendinosus muscles (P=0.52), Biceps Femoris (P=0.12) and Gluteus Maximus (P=0.40) at different knee angles.

For strengthening the Hamstrings, bridge exercise with less knee flexion angles and for reinforcing the Gluteal muscles, bridge exercise with more knee flexion angles showed more effectiveness. Additionally, results have shown that performing bridge exercises on Bosu Ball with 45° of knee flexion can activate the Gluteus Medius muscle faster. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, this exercise on different angles of the knee joint can be used for specific aims and by considering the individual needs.

The aim of the present study is to compare some bio-motor factors during preferred and non-preferred times based on chronotype in young men aged 18 to 25 years old.

The population included male athletes between the ages of 18 and 25 in Tehran. Using Gpower sample size software, the total sample size of 40 people was calculated. Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) was used. To measure the internal and external rotation of the shoulder, the Mobee Med device was used, the flexibility of the leg muscles was measured by the Wells test, and the Biodex balance meter was used to evaluate the static and dynamic balance. A mixed ANOVA test was used for data analysis.

The results showed that the main effect of the test and also the effect of the interaction between the group and the test was not significant in any of the variables, but the main effect of the group in the external rotation variable had a significant difference. In the pre-test stage, there was no significant difference between the groups, but in the post-test, evening types had significantly higher scores in the performance variable than morning types. In other words, there was a significant difference in the external rotation range of motion of the shoulder in the evening type group in the morning and in the evening. the results of the present study showed that there was no significant difference between the subjects' performance in the preferred and non-preferred time.