fariborz mohammadipour

Obese and overweight individuals strive to burn more calories per unit of time through walking, which is one of their main goals.  The necessity of walking with shoes with the capability of burning more calories per unit of time compared to common shoes was very noticeable. This research aimed to compare oxygen and energy consumption between running with biomechanical beach simulator shoes and sports shoes with polyurethane soles in overweight women. In this semi-experimental and applied research, 16 overweight women were selected. A researcher-developed beach simulator shoe enhances muscle activation in the lower limbs and abdomen through two main mechanisms and by using the specialized knowledge of sports biomechanics. Consequently, this enhancement leads to increased oxygen and energy consumption compared to common walking shoes. The test protocol consisted of three stages with speeds of 3, 5, and 7 km/h on the treadmill, each stage lasting 3 minutes. The statistics related to oxygen and energy consumption were collected by Metamax gas analyzer and through calculations. The statistical method of Two-way analysis of variance test with repeated measures was used to test the hypotheses and analyze the data at a significance level of 0.05. The findings showed that the beach simulator shoes can significantly increase oxygen and energy consumption in overweight women (significant levels of 0.05 and 0.03 respectively). According to the findings of the present research, the beach simulator shoe was able to increase the oxygen and energy consumption of a person by using two layers of balls and hydrodynamics, compared to sports shoes with PU soles. Beach simulator shoes were able to burn more calories per unit of time than PU sports shoes.

People with knee osteoarthritis suffer from profound proprioception impairment and decreased muscle strength. Massage is mentioned as an intervention that can relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of four weeks of Swedish massage on knee joint proprioception, muscle strength of quadriceps, and osteoarthritis symptoms in adult women with knee osteoarthritis. Thirty women were included by targeted and available sampling (age 52.60±7.30 years old, height 1.57±0.05 m, body mass74.40±9.60 kg). The subjects were randomly divided into two equal control and intervention groups (n=15). The intervention group received the Swedish massage for 4 weeks (12 sessions). During this period, the control group did not receive any interventional protocol. Symptoms of osteoarthritis, muscle strength of quadriceps, and knee joint proprioception were analyzed in the pre-and post-test using the WOMAC questionnaire, handheld dynamometer, and joint angle reconstruction, respectively. A mixed repeated measure test was used for comparison between and within groups. The results showed a significant improvement in the desired variables of the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.05). So that osteoarthritis symptoms were significantly improved (P=0.001), and quadriceps muscle strength (P=0.001) and knee joint proprioception (P=0.001) were significantly increased. Based on the findings of this study, massage can increase the strength of quadriceps muscles and improve the knee joint proprioception in women with knee osteoarthritis by decreasing pain and improving physical function. Therefore, it is recommended to use this intervention in order to improve strength, joint proprioception, and symptoms in women with knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating chronic disease that leads to swelling, inflammation, and pain in the knee joints. Most falls occur while walking, and it is thought that there is a correlation between gait characteristics and the risk of falling in the elderly. The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between the kinematic and spatiotemporal characteristics of walking and the history of falls in women with knee OA.

60 women with unilateral OA of the knee were selected based on the research inclusion criteria in a purposeful and available manner and after filling out a written consent form, they were included in the study using a limited randomization method of block randomization type. Then, the falling history of participants was recorded. To record spatiotemporal and kinematic variables of walking, a motion analysis system was used. To measure the correlation between the spatiotemporal parameters of walking (movement and spatiotemporal data) and the history of falling, the biserial correlation coefficient was used.

According to the results of the biserial correlation coefficient test, there was no relationship between spatiotemporal and kinematic factors in all three joints of the hip, knee, and ankle and the subject's history of falling..

No correlation was observed between walking characteristics and a history of falls in patients with knee OA. It is possible that the participants with OA symptoms may be aware of their presence and physical activity, or may limit their daily life activities. It should also be noted that the current study is retrospective and patients may underestimate or overestimate their history of falls accordingly.

A common complication in patients with stroke, sensory impairments is particularly proprioception. There is evidence that hydrotherapies due to challenging their sensory system and the balance and hydrotherapies is one of the curative methods of this illness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 6 weeks of aquatic training on proprioception of ankle joint in patients with stroke.

This study is a randomized clinical trial (RCT). 30 available male patients with chronic ischemic stroke were randomly divided into 3 equal groups of 10 subjects including two groups of training (shallow and deep) and one control group. Interventional groups had the aquatic exercise therapy program that included 6 weeks (3 sessions of exercises per week) and the control group did not experience any aquatic exercise. All groups before and after the intervention to assess proprioception with a goniometer pedal and the data analyzed using analysis of covariance and the Tukey post hoc test were analyzed.

The results showed that after adjustment for confounding proprioception before the intervention, the three groups, in terms of proprioception after the intervention, with no significant differences (P = 0.058).

Due to the lack of significant differences in ankle joint proprioception in the two groups is not recommended the protocol of aquatic training in this study could not be considered as a safe and new approach way to improve proprioception patients with chronic ischemic stroke regarded and used. Although it is possible to increase the duration or intensity of exercise and more exercise can affect the ankle joint proprioception.

The use of treadmills and sports equipment is on the rise due to long stay at home because of the progression of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), and hence, tendency of individuals to exercise at home. Common movement patterns in non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries include decreased knee flexion accompanied by increased knee valgus angles. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the maximum angles of knee varus and flexion when walking on positive, negative, and zero treadmill inclinations.

29 subjects within the age range of 18-28 years were selected and divided into two groups of healthy (weight: 58.95 ± 8.58, height: 163.14 ± 3.95, intermalleolar distance: 0.46 ± 0.40) and genu valgum (weight: 61.60 ± 5.56, height: 161.80 ± 5.50, intermalleolar distance: 6.95 ± 2.51). The parameters of maximum angles of knee varus and flexion when walking on -10, zero, +10% treadmill inclinations were calculated using three-dimensional motion analysis system. The data were processed in Cortex and MATLAB softwares and analyzed using mixed repeated measure at the significant level of P < 0.050.

The results of this study showed that the highest values of maximum angles of knee varus and flexion were observed at -10% inclination. In addition, the maximum varus angle did not differ significantly between the positive and zero inclinations, but the maximum flexion angle showed a significant difference between these two inclinations.

Since walking on negative inclinations inclines the knee angle in the frontal plane toward the varus and increases the flexion angle and decreases the load exerted on the ACL, this type of walking can be more effective in rehabilitating people with genu valgum.

The proper implementation of Dachi in karate as a basic technique has a direct impact on the implementation of other techniques. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the maximal angular velocity of hip, knee and ankle joints in differen  Zenkotsu dachi techniques in karate.

12 male karate athletes (Height 175 ± 5, mass 75 ± 5, Age 25 ± 5, Background 8 ± 2) participated in this test .A three-dimensional analyzer(motion analyzer),with six matched infrared cameras at a speed of 200 frames per second was used. And  records were analyzed by cortex2.5.0 software. The normality of the data distribution was confirmed by Shapirovilk test. To test the hypotheses of the research, the data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test at the significant level of 0.05 using statistical software (SPSS 25).

In this research, we performed Zenkotsu dachi forward movement in six different ways, and the results show that there is a significant difference only between the third and fourth methods and also between the fourth and fifth methods in the hip joint If there is no significant difference in knee joint and ankle joint in any of the methods. Because each of these methods changes the position and range of motion of the hip and pelvic floor muscles.

By sitting more forward and lower back flexing, the individual optimizes the involved limbs and muscles and creates greater angular velocity in the hip joint.

 The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of functional and non-functional fatigue protocols on the dynamic balance of amateur basketball players.

 Ten amateur basketball players (mean age= 21.4±1.5 years, mean height= 177.5±7.1 cm, and mean weight= 67.4±8.5 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. Stair climbing and specific basketball movement circuit training were used to induce the non-functional and functional fatigues, respectively. Dynamic balance was measured by the postural stability test (level 2) using the Biodex balance system. Paired T-test and independent T-test were used for data analysis at a significance level of P<0.05.

 Dynamic balance of subjects was decreased after inducing both fatigue protocols, where the non-functional fatigue protocol reduced the overall balance by 21.39%, and the functional protocol reduced it by 10.49%. There was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores of overall balance and the balance in the anterior-posterior direction following the non-functional fatigue protocol (P=0.03).

 Non-functional fatigue protocol affects the dynamic balance of basketball players more than the functional protocol. Therefore, using different types of specialized exercises to experience the period of fatigue may be effective in improving the balance of basketball players.

Sport skills include landing from high-risk activities. Single-leg landing is a common movement in many sports and is known a major cause of non-contact Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries, and increase in knee external motion in the frontal plane can also aggravate it. The present study was carried out to analyze the effects of different degrees of insole hardness (soft, medium-hard, hard) on joint kinematics of knee in single-leg landing from different heights including 20, 40, and 60 centimeters.

A total of 20 male individuals (mass mean: 75.30± 1.03 kg; height: 180.1± 4.19 cm; age: 25.30± 4.29) were selected. Participants were asked to do single-leg landing from different heights (20, 40, and 60 cm) on different kinds of insole in terms of hardness placed inside the shoes in front of a three-dimensional motion analysis system. After data processing using cortex software, maximum parameters of knee flexion and knee valgus were measured. Statistical analyses of data were done using repeated measures test considering a significant level lower than 0.05.

In landing from 20 cm height, soft insole showed the maximum level of knee flexion and minimum level of knee valgus. In landing from 40 cm height, semi-hard insole showed the maximum level of knee flexion and minimum level of knee valgus. Finally, in landing from 60 cm height, hard insole showed the maximum level of knee flexion and minimum level of knee valgus.

The results showed that different degrees of insole hardness influence the knee joints kinematics. More knee flexion and less knee valgus brought about by these insoles can reduce ACL injuries.

Anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACL) is the most common knee ligament injury. In addition to the high cost of treatment, it causes loss of athletic participation, and tend to secondary damages. Deficiency balance is one of the most important causes of this injury, so balance improvement can prevents it. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of neuromuscular training on balance and prevention of ACL injury in boy adolescent taekwondo players. Twenty-seven boy adolescent taekwondo players participated in this study voluntarily. They were divided into two groups of experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 12). The experimental group performed neuromuscular training sessions of 30-45 minutes, three times per week, for 8 weeks, and in the rest of the time (up to 90 minutes), they performed usual taekwondo trainings. The control group only practiced usual taekwondo trainings for 90 minutes. Static and dynamic balance was measured using the Biodex balance system before and after applying the neuromuscular training protocol. The comparison of the groups was done using the ANCOVA statistical method at a significant level of P < 0.050. There were significant differences in the static balance index (P = 0.001) and all of the dynamic static balance indexes [posterior-anterior index (P = 0.001), external-internal index (P = 0.001), and general index (P = 0.001)] between the groups after performing neuromuscular training. It can be suggested that, neuromuscular training have a positive effect on the balance in boy adolescent taekwondo players, and may prevent ACL injury.

Aging reduces the physiological function of the body and perturbs the gait. On the other hand, based on the previous studies, regular physical activities postpone these perturbations. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Pilate's exercises on some lower extremity kinematics parameters in healthy sedentary middle age women during walking.
A total of 20 healthy middle-aged sedentary women, between 50-45 years old, were purposefully selected to participate in the present study. In pre-test, each participant placed on a treadmill, then she walked on the treadmill for one minute. Then, the final 30-second of walking was recorded using the two-dimensional motion analysis system with 6 cameras at 120 Hz speed rate. Then, participants performed eight weeks of Pilates which was followed by a post-test similar to the pre-test. The Cortex software was used for data processing. Statistical analyses of data was performed using SPSS, version 22, running a paired T-test at a significant level of 0.05. Then, The desired parameter, including the hip, knee, and ankle motion range during the swing and stance phases were measured. Moreover, hip, knee, and ankle joint angles at both the heel contact and toe off moments were evaluated. Finally, the length step parameter was extracted, as well.
The results showed no significant differences between the evaluated parameters.
The present study showed that the eight weeks of Pilates training does not affect the lower extremity kinematics during walking in healthy sedentary middle-aged women. This must be due the fact that the aging physiological problems in middle aged women are less than those in the elderly.

Changing the direction of the body in fast moving movements is a matter of injury, which is of special importance in the injury mechanism of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The present study investigated the kinematic comparison of feint maneuver between dominant and non-dominant legs and its relation with anterior cruciate ligament injuries injury.
In this study, 18 professional female handball players were selected in a targeted and convenience way. The subjects, after attaching the markers, ran for 3 meters and when arrived to marked location on the ground, performed the feint maneuver with their dominant leg and passed the bar. Then, performed the same action with their non-dominant leg. Raw data processing was implemented using Cortex software. Then, the variables of the knee joint (flexion/extension and valgus/varus) entered the SPSS software; and the Shapiro-Wilk test was used to evaluate the normality of the data. Lyon and dependent t tests were used for homogeneity and intragroup comparison, respectively. The significance level was considered at less than 0.05.
The changes in flexion (P = 0.346) and extension (P = 0.322) of knee joint were not significant between dominant and non-dominant legs; but the changes in valgus (P = 0.001) and varus (P = 0.001) of knee joint were significantly different between the dominant and non-dominant legs.
The results of this study will help to understand the risk factors of kinematics in risky situations better, and thus can teach the correct way of performing techniques to athletes exposed to high-risk situations. It is better to use protective instruments such as brace or kinesiotape while doing this techniques.

Age-associated changes in circadian rhythm and chronotype can result in variation in the physical and cognitive performance, and also the time preference for physical and mental activities between older adults and youngsters. The ability to maintain body orientation in elderly requires paying attention, and can be subjected to these age-associated changes leading to a fall. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the morning-evening variations of dynamic balance in morning-type elderly women under dual cognitive task condition.
Using purposive sampling, 12 women aged 65-80 years were arranged andomly in 3 separated groups. The Timed Up and Go test (TUG) was performed under dual and mono cognitive tasks in 3 different days at the sports biomechanics laboratory of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran. Two-way repeated measure ANOVA test was used for data analysis at the significance level of P Although there was a significant difference (P = 0.001) between the dynamic balance while performing a cognitive task with normal gait, time of the day had no effect on the dynamic balance of elderly women under dual (P = 0.711) and mono (P = 0.221) cognitive tasks.
The dynamic balance of women aged 65-80 years without performing a cognitive task does not change throughout a day, but generally, the dual cognitive task annihilates the elderly’s physical performance.

Forward Walking (FW) and Backward Walking (BW) on different gradients of the treadmill is a common exercise for lower extremity rehabilitation. However, limited studies are found about the three-dimensional analysis of lower extremity and status of the knee joint during FW and BW on different gradients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the lower extremity joints kinematics during FW and BW on incline and decline surfaces.
The current research has a quasi-experimental design. Sixteen healthy males with the mean (SD) age of 22.4(2.5) years, volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects’ FW and BW with their preferred speed on a treadmill at four gradients (-7.5%, 0%, % and %), were analyzed by using motion capture system. All data were analyzed using paired sample t test (P Significant differences were seen between FW and BW in most angular variables in sagittal plane. However, there were no significant differences between FW and BW in most parameters of knee angle in frontal plane.
Based on the results, with increase in FW inclination and decrease in BW inclination, the knee varus angle in frontal plane reduces. Therefore, FW on the upslope surfaces or BW on downslope surfaces, probably is a suitable solution to reduce the loads exerted on medial compartment of the knee.

Sport surfaces reduce the incidence of sport injuries and enhance the technical efficiency of the athletes. The vertical jump skill is the standard test for measuring explosive power, so the present study was carried out to investigate the effect of different sport surfaces on vertical velocity, force, and power during the squat jumps of male soccer players.
A total of 20 male soccer players (age: 21.8±2 years, height: 178±4 cm, mass: 68±5 kg, and experience: 8±2 year) participated in the study. Kinematics data were collected at a sampling rate of 200 Hz with a motion-capture system comprised of six infra-red cameras. Participants performed squat jumps on four different surfaces: natural grass, artificial grass, and sand and rubber indoor floors in the laboratory. Inverse dynamics for calculating vertical velocity, force, and power were applied. The Mixed repeated measures ANOVA was used for data analysis.
The results showed a significant difference only between natural grass and sand (p=0.018) surfaces in vertical force. Moreover, a significant difference was found between the vertical velocity on sand and the other three surfaces: natural grass, artificial grass, and rubber indoor floor (p=0.001). Also, a significant difference was observed in vertical power only between sand and the other three surfaces (p=0.001).
It can be concluded that between the surfaces used in the current study, only sand surface resulted in changes in power, velocity, and vertical power during athlete's squat jump and it is possibly related to the energy loss while applying force on the sand.

Walking, as a continuous muscular activity, has a grave effect on formation of individual's body configuration. The body configuration can also affect the individual's walking. The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematic characteristics of the lower extremity in walking among individuals with hyperlordosis lumbar malformation with that of healthy individuals.
This descriptive-comparative study was conducted on 38 female students. The subjects were selected through purposive and convenience sampling and were divided into two groups of healthy and hyperlordosis. Lumbar lordosis angle was measured using a flexible ruler and data on the subjects’ walking was obtained using a three-dimensional epto electric system with six cameras. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and ANCOVA at the significance level of P ≤ 0.05.
Angular relocation and angular velocity of the hip and ankle, and knee joint valgus angle in stance phase of walking in individuals with lumbar hyperlordosis showed a significant increase compared to healthy individuals. However, no change was observed in the angular relocation and angular velocity of the knee joint at the stance phase of walking.
Lumbar lordosis abnormality in the sagittal plane causes change in the motion range of talus and hip joints. This abnormality in the frontal plane causes change in valgus angle of the knee.

Repeating or high-intensity external perturbation is the major mechanism of head and neck injuries in contact sports such as karate. Central nervous system employs postural adjustments strategies against perturbations. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of proprioceptive training on head and neck strategies against external perturbations to reduce sway in these regions in karate athletes.
Twenty five professional male karate athletes voluntarily participated in this study. They were randomly divided into control (n = 12) and experimental (n = 13) groups. Kinematic parameters of head and neck against external perturbations were measured using motion analysis system. CORTEX, MATLAB and SPSS software were used to analyze the data. Paired t and analysis of covariance tests were used to compare mean differences within the group and between the groups at significant level of less than 0.05.
There were significant differences in angular displacement (P = 0.009) and acceleration (P The outcomes of this study show that proprioception training can improve compensatory postural adjustments strategy and increase head and neck postural stability against external perturbation in karate athletes

Music therapy has been reported to have positive effects on many diseases of nervous origin such as Huntingtons, stroke and Parkinson's disease.The aim of current study was to evaluate the acute effects of music therapy session with a different rhythmic structures on gait parameters in patients with MS.
Material and 15 female patients with diseases MS, the age range of 22-50 years, and EDSS 3 to 6, volunteered to participate in this study. For training session used rhythmic structures 2/4, 4/4 and 6/8 during walking. Walking subjects were recorded by Three-dimensional motion analysis system with 6 cameras and after data processing with cortex software, spatial-temporal gait parameters were extracted. Statistical analysis of data using paired samples T test and repeated measures of variance was performed.
Paired sample t-test results showed that a music therapy session with rhythmic structures 2/4, 4/4 and 6/8 are generally not affected on the gait parameters of patient with MS. Repeated measures of variance also showed that despite the more positive effect of the 2/4 and 4/4 metres on the gait parameters than 6/8 metre, but there were no significantly different between 2/4, 4/4 and 6/8 rhythmic structures.
The results showed a positive effect (though slight) of music therapy session with the different metres on gait parameters of people with MS. Probably in the long term, the effect of this type of training will be more apparent.

Given the high prevalence of varus malalignment of the knee and the consequences of walking on different surfaces on this malalignment، the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of walking inclination on knee angle in the frontal plane of patients with varus malalignment. 18 male subjects with varus malalignment classified at grade 3 bowleg، within the age range of 19-24 years، volunteered to participate in this study. The parameters of knee angle in the frontal plane at the moments of heel contact، midstance and toe off when walking on -7. 5، zero، +5 and +10 percent of treadmill inclination were calculated using three-dimensional motion analysis system with six optoelectronic cameras. Repeated measures of variance and non-parametric Friedman test were used for data analysis. The results of the present study showed that as walking inclination increases، knee angle in the frontal plane decreases. The only significant differences were related to varus angle between +10 and zero percent inclinations at the moment of midstance (P<0. 001) and between -7. 5 and zero percent inclinations at the moment of toe off (P<0. 001) and in case of other parameters، no significant differences were observed. According to the obtained results، walking on upslope surfaces، probably is a suitable solution to reduce the load exerted on the knee and prevent premature osteoarthritis in young individuals with varus malalignment.

This study intended to the effect of exercise protocol on 11 – 13 years old students’ dynamic balance while walking on balance beam. 30 non-athlete male students were equally and randomly assigned to an experimental (weight: 400.43 ± 8.34; height: 148.20 ± 6.87) and a control group (weight: 425.56 ± 7.25; height: 148.46 ± 7.28). The experimental group participated in an eight week training program (handstand training). Before and after the training protocol, the students were asked to walk on a balance beam and their balance performance were measured and compared. Changes in the position of the shoulders, hip and ankles were measured through motion analysis device. For statistical analysis was used software SPSS 21 and independent and paired samples t-test analysis were run on the data at the 0.05 level of significance. In between group analysis revealed significant differences between control and experimental group only in the case of position of shoulder (P = 0.02). In within group analysis significant differences were observed only in the position of ankle in the experimental group before and after the exercise protocol (P = 0.04). Overall, findings of the study indicate handstand balance exercise improve dynamic balance in upper extremity.