فهرست مطالب zohreh behboodi

The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was to determine the effectiveness of reflexology on self-reported back pain compared to placebo (massage) and control among cricketers.

The volunteer participants consisted of 45 male cricket players who had been training at least for three years with a mean age of  18.481±2.32 years, mean body mass of 64.31±7.65, mean height of 174±5.39 cm, and a mean body mass index of 21.07± 1.97 kg/m². Cricketers were trained at Chandigarh and Mohali (India) cricket stadiums and participated in Interstate competition 2017. Cricketers were randomly assigned to reflexology, placebo, and control treatment groups. The reflexology group received topical pressure applied to their feet using a specific reflex area believed to have an effect on back pain. In addition, the placebo group received a foot massage avoiding reflexology area and control group received back pain information. Pre- and post-treatment interviews were conducted after one week (7 sessions). Each treatment was administered for 15 minutes as well. To determine the degree of the effect of reflexology on back pain, multiple regressions, and the factorial ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to analyze the hypotheses.

Both reflexology (P<0.001) and massage (P<0.001) treatments resulted in reducing the pain compared to providing back pain information, and there were significant differences between the reflexology and placebo groups (P<0.001). Finally, the results indicated that reflexology may have a positive effect on back pain.

Overall, foot reflexology, as an avenue for human touch, can be performed anywhere, requires no special equipment, is noninvasive, and does not interfere with patients’ privacy. However, an adequately powered trial is required before any more definitive pronouncements are possible.

Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic condition of the joints. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but it occurs most often in knees, hips, lower back and neck. The purpose of this experimental pretest-posttest study was to determine the effect of eight weeks' core stability and strength training on knee pain and function in elderly women with osteoarthritis.

Thirty-six elderly women with osteoarthritis (mean age, 64/5 ± 4/50 years and mean weight of 70/71 ± 10/52, mean height 156/34 ± 6/12) were participated and randomly divided into three equal groups (n=12): strength training program, core stabilization training and control groups. Strength training, core stabilization training groups received especial training for eight weeks and control group no received any training. To collect the data, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), functional questionnaire (WOMAC) body composition and dynamometer were used.  Normality of Data and homogeneity was tested by Shapiro–Wilk test. Descriptive statistics, two way ANOVA, paired sample t test and the bonferroni test were used to analyze the hypotheses. (P ≤ 0.05).

The results showed that, there was significant effect of eight weeks' exercises of core stability on, increase muscle strength (d=0.80, p=0.002) and function (d=0.73, p=0.001) and decrease knee pain (d=0.81, p=0.036). Also, there was significant effect of eight weeks' exercises of strength training on increase function (d=0.90, p=0.001) and muscle strength (d=0.73, p=0.041) and decrease knee pain (d=1.52, p=0.003).   

It seems, core stability and strength training can reduce the pain and help to rehabilitation of elderly women with osteoarthritis.