جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه "walking" در نشریات گروه "پزشکی"

 The Arbaeen Walk tradition has emerged as an annual religious event throughout the history of Shiism. The purpose of the current research is to understand the lived experience of pilgrims during the Arbaeen pilgrimage.

 This research uses the qualitative paradigm and interpretive phenomenological method. The statistical population included the pilgrims of the Arbaeen, out of whom 39 pilgrims were selected as the statistical sample by available sampling. The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview. In order to analyze the data, inductive content analysis based on open coding was used.

 The results indicate that, according to the pilgrims, the health factors that are effective in the Arbaeen Walk, which cause their satisfaction to decrease during this route, include the lack of drinks (lack of drinking water, lack of ice), lack of medical and health items (lack of medicine, lack of examination beds), lack of education for pilgrims before the trip through the media (pre-trip education), weak hygiene and cleanliness (bathroom, toilet and poor hygiene), lack of new facilities (difficulties in obtaining passports, lack of ancillary facilities, lack of accommodation), the problems related to processions (management of processions, obtaining medical license for cooks), lack of cultural advertising, chaotic and crowded borders, poor government management, the high cost of rent, and lack of information and guide for pilgrims. Finally, among these obstacles, the biggest obstacles from the point of view of pilgrims are the lack of drinks, the high cost of transportation, and poor hygiene and cleanliness.

 Based on the findings, it can be said that providing all kinds of health and medical services to visitors can help to improve the health level of visitors.

Gait is a fundamental movement pattern influenced by various structures. This study aimed to determine the effect of sand-based training on ground reaction force frequency spectrum in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and pronated feet during gait.

This clinical trial was conducted on 28 male students with pronated feet and ACL injuries aged 22-25 years at Mohaghegh Ardabili University. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups of 14: A control group and a sand-based training group. The ground reaction force variables were measured using a force plate in the pre-test and post-test.

The number of necessary harmonics in the free moment component decreased by 15.95% in the post-test (16.48±4.14) compared to the pre-test (19.11±2.15) of the control group (P<0.05). The number of necessary harmonics in the mediolateral direction of the ground reaction force decreased by 23.34% in the post-test (15.59±3.92) compared to the pre-test (19.23±2.66) of the training group (P<0.05). Additionally, the number of necessary harmonics in the anteroposterior direction of the ground reaction force increased by 33.04% in the post-test (21.61±2.55) compared to the pre-test (14.47±4.11) of the training group (P<0.05).

Sand-based training was able to improve the gait mechanics of individuals with ACL reconstruction and pronated feet.

The way we walk and the symmetry of various joints in the lower limb, particularly the knee, which is crucial for movement and weight-bearing, can change due to immobility and splinting of the upper limb. Therefore, this research aimed to conduct a symmetry analysis of the three-dimensional maximum mechanical power of the knee joint during walking while using an upper limb splint with a sling in young women.

This study employed a quasi-experimental and cross-sectional design. All research participants provided written consent to participate after being informed about the study's details. Ethical approval was obtained from the Kinesiology Research Center of Kharazmi University. Thirty healthy female subjects met the entry and exit criteria, which included having a dominant right limb and no history of orthopedic or neurological disorders. Participants walked along a force plate in three different conditions: normal, dominant upper limb splinting, and non-dominant upper limb splinting, all while being recorded by motion analysis cameras. Based on the obtained kinetic and kinematic outputs, the mechanical power value of the dominant and non-dominant knee of the subjects was estimated in three situations to compare the three-dimensional average mechanical power of the knee joint in each of the circumstances. Independent t-test was used at a significance level of P≤0.05.

The results showed that none of the values related to the knee joint's three-dimensional production and absorption power in the right and left limbs are significantly different.

The principle of symmetry in the knee joint is established between all three positions of dominant and non-dominant upper limb splinting. Since mechanical power is one of the important biomechanical criteria and contains kinetic and kinematic information at the same time, it may be concluded that the biomechanical symmetry of the knee joint is maintained in immobility states of the upper limb and these joint plays a more controlling role in walking.

Individuals with a history of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury are at a higher risk of re-injury compared to healthy individuals. ACL-injured patients exhibit weaker longitudinal arches and increased foot pronation compared to healthy individuals. This study aimed to determine the effect of short-term use of anti-pronation insoles on plantar pressure variables following ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with a pronated foot during gait.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 15 male participants who had undergone ACLR with a pronated foot (mean age= 23.2±4.5 years) and 15 healthy males (mean age= 22.7±4.3 years) in Ardabil, Iran during 2022. Plantar pressure values during gait with and without the use of anti-pronation insoles were recorded and compared using a foot scanner (sampling rate: 300 Hz).

The effect of the group factor on the big toe plantar pressure variable was statistically significant (P<0.05). Pairwise comparison results demonstrated a significant increase in pressure in the ACLR group (154.63±41.71 N/cm²) compared to the healthy group (126.54±26.57 N/cm²) (P<0.05). Intragroup comparison results revealed a significant decrease in pressure on the second to fifth toes (215.73±60.74 N/cm²) and the first plantar (420.58±107.56 N/cm²) when using anti-pronation insoles compared to the non-insole condition (the second to fifth toes (201.57±76.21 N/cm²) and the first plantar (400.78±118.20 N/cm²) in the ACL reconstruction group (P<0.05).

The use of anti-pronation insoles can effectively reduce plantar pressure after ACLR in individuals with a pronated foot during gait.

Aging causes physiological changes such as decreased walking speed, influencing motor control. Obstacle crossing challenges the neuromuscular system and changes the dynamics of the center of pressure (COP) and center of mass (COM). Analyzing the COP variations and ground reaction forces (GRFs) during walking is needed to identify movement abnormalities, assess fall risk, and develop effective interventions to improve quality of life and prevent injuries in middle age. This study aims to compare the GRFs and variability in COP and COM during normal walking and obstacle crossing in middle-aged women.

 This is a quasi-experimental, causal-comparative study on 24 healthy middle-aged women (aged 55-64) in Tehran, Iran. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. Kinetic data during obstacle crossing and normal walking were collected using two force plates (AMTI, USA) and motion analysis cameras (Vero version 2.2, UK). Motion errors were minimized by wearing special clothes and walking with barefoot. Statistical data analysis was performed in SPSS sofware, version 22.

 Participants’ mean age, height, and body mass index were 59.31±3.07 years, 157.91±0.03 cm, and 27.02±3.65, respectively. Significant increases were observed in the COP-COM of the right foot  at the mediolateral (t=-2.79, P=0.009) and anteroposterior (t=-4.21, P=0.001) directions, and in the GRFs of the right foot at the anteroposterior (t=-8.539, P=0.001) and vertical (t=-3.604, P=0.001) directions during obstacle crossing, compared to those during normal walking.

 There are significant increases in the COP-COM and GRFs during obstacle crossing in middle-aged women, which are not evident during normal walking. Further studies using advanced analyses and diverse populations are recommended to better understand these changes.

 Flatfoot, as a three-dimensional foot deformity can cause alterations in motor function. Different methods, such as exercises, orthotic insoles, and specialized shoes, have been proposed to manage this condition. The present study aimed to compare the effects of orthotic insoles, shoes, and taping on the frequency content of ground reaction forces (GRFs) during walking in athletes with flexible flatfeet.

In this quasi-experimental study, 15 male athletes aged 18-25 years with flexible flatfeet (age: 21.78 ± 2.07 years; height: 1.78 ± 0.07 m; weight: 80.28 ± 8.23 kg) with a history of regular fitness training for at least 6 months participated. The GRF data were collected using a force plate under five walking conditions: shoes (relaxed-fit, breathe-easy Skechers) + insoles (ethylene vinyl acetate), barefoot, shoes, taping, and shoes + taping. The frequency content of the GRFS was then calculated. To compare the frequency content among different walking conditions, repeated measures ANOVA was used. P≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

 The results showed significant differences between the various walking conditions, with the greatest significant reductions in the variables of 99.5% power frequency, median frequency, frequency bandwidth, and mean frequency in the shoes and shoes+ taping conditions (P<0.05). The reduction in frequency content was particularly prominent in the mediolateral direction.

 The use of shoes can result in a greater reduction in the frequency content of GRFs during walking in athletes with flexible flatfeet compared to taping or barefoot walking. Therefore, relaxed-fit, breathe-easy Skechers are recommended for enhancing motor performance in athletes with flexible flatfeet.

The impact of the weight of backpacks with different weights on the foot, which is the link between the human body and the ground, has received less attention from researchers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare ground reaction force distribution between dominant and non-dominant legs among female students while carrying different loads.

The present study was semi-experimental and laboratory. Twenty female students at age of 14-17 participated as subject in this semi-experimental study. Participants carried backpacks with 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight during walking. Ground reaction force data of subjects in both dominant and non-dominant legs was collected by a foot pressure system. Repeated measure ANOVA was run to analyze the obtained data. All the analyzes were performed at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS 22 software.

The results showed that the symmetry index between dominant and non-dominant legs in lateral heel (P=0.045), second and fifth metatarsals (P=0.023), toes 2-5 (P=0.000) were significantly greater in carrying backpack 20% of body weight as compared to 10% of body weight.

According to the results, it seems that increasing weight of backpack can rise the symmetry index between dominant and non-dominant legs that indicate difference and dissimilarity in performance of dominant and non-dominant legs in students.

Electromyographic activity of lower limb muscles decreases in knee osteoarthritis. Whole body vibration is a suitable intervention in strengthening muscles, whose effect on the electromyographic activity of lower limb muscles during functional activity has not been properly investigated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of whole-body vibration on the electromyography of the lower limb muscles of people with knee osteoarthritis during functional activity.

This clinical trial study was conducted on 30 people with knee osteoarthritis who were included in the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The participants were randomly divided into intervention and control groups (15 people in each group). Both groups were subjected to routine physiotherapy treatment, and the intervention group was subjected to whole-body vibration with a frequency of 30 Hz and an amplitude of 2 mm for 4 weeks and 3 times a week. Before and after the intervention, the EMG of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus muscles were recorded using surface electromyography while walking.

The results of this study showed that the RMS activity of the lower limb muscles increased significantly in both the intervention and control groups, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups.

Whole body vibration has no significant effect on electromyography of lower limb muscles of people with knee osteoarthritis. Another study with a larger sample size is recommended.

This study aims to assess the effect of a forward and backward walking training program on some inflammatory markers and physical function of older women.

Twenty-four older women (aged 60-75 years) were divided into three groups of walking forward, walking backward, and control. Two groups of walking forward and walking backward, performed training three times a week for eight weeks with an exertion rate of 14-15 according to Borg’s scale. Before and after the training, anthropometric factors (age, body height, body weight, and body mass index) and the muscle strength and muscle endurance were measured and blood sampling (for biochemical analysis) was conducted. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the means in SPSS software, version 23, and the significance level was set at 0.05.

The results showed that backward walking training significantly increased muscle strength and muscle endurance compared to the control and forward walking groups, but the program did not cause a significant change in the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, or vitamin D binding protein.

It seems that backward walking training can have a greater effect on physical function in older women compared to forward walking, and lead to a healthier life for them.

 Concerning the effectiveness of training on people with chronic low back pain, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of postural restoration institute (PRI) training on lower limb kinematics during walking in middle-aged subjects with discogenic low back pain.

 In this prospective observational quasi-experimental study, 42 people participated in three groups: people without low back pain (healthy group, n=14) and people with low back pain in two groups (intervention group, n=14; and control group, n=14). Kinematic data were recorded by 7 Qualisys cameras with a frequency of 100 Hz in the pretest and post-test. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was used in SPSS software version 23 at a significance level 0.05.

 The results showed that people with low back pain in the intervention and control groups walk with a slower velocity, lower cadence, and shorter step length than healthy individuals for both right and left limbs. However, after the PRI training, the intervention group showed a significant increase in those three variables. Furthermore, there were significant differences between the healthy group and the two groups of intervention and control in the range of motion (ROM) for the pelvis in the sagittal and frontal planes, the right hip joint in the horizontal plane, the right ankle in the frontal plane, the left hip joint in the sagittal and horizontal planes as well as the left ankle in the sagittal plane. After applying PRI, the differences between the healthy and the intervention groups regarding the pelvis ROM on the sagittal plane, the right ankle ROM on the sagittal plane, the left hip joint ROM on the frontal plane, and the left knee ROM on the sagittal plane were minimized and became insignificant.

 The present study’s findings confirmed the effectiveness of using PRI training in improving biomechanical indicators, such as the range of joint movements and increasing the velocity and step length of walking, to treat and manage the performance of people with discogenic chronic low back pain.

 This study aimed to compare the frequency spectrum of ground reaction forces in blind and healthy participants with open and closed eyes during walking.

 This study was quasi-experimental. The statistic samples comprised 15 blind men with a mean age of 25.22±6.33 years and 15 healthy men with a mean age of 27.22±5.31 years. They were selected by available sampling. A foot scan (RS Scan International, Belgium) device was used to measure the foot pressure values while walking. Variables of foot pressure were recorded at a sampling frequency of 300 Hz. For data analysis, we used the paired t test to compare the within-group means and the independent t test to compare the between-group means in SPSS software, version 24. 

 The results showed that the frequency content with 99.5% power was greater in the blind group than in the healthy group with open eyes in the vertical direction, first metatarsal, and lateral and medial heel parts (P<0.05). Also, the frequency content with 99.5% power was greater in the healthy group with closed eyes than those healthy ones with open eyes (P<0.05). The frequency content with 99.5% power (P=0.004) and numbers of essential harmonics (P=0.003) in the vertical direction in the blind group were respectively 9.84% and 13.51% less than the healthy group with closed eyes. The number of essential harmonics (P=0.002) in the vertical direction in the healthy group with closed eyes was 20.61% greater than those healthy ones with open eyes. The frequency content with 99.5% power in the vertical direction in the blind group was less than that of the healthy group with closed eyes (P=0.023).

 Considering the increase in frequency with 99.5% power and the number of essential harmonics in different areas of the soles of the foot in the blind group and healthy group with closed eye, it is recommended that physiotherapists, motion analysts, and rehabilitation specialists design a special rehabilitation protocol for blind people and those who lost their vision due to an accident.

The present study findings aimed to investigate the effect of exercises based on the American National Academy of Sports Medicine principles (NASM) on walking kinetics in piriformis syndrome in middle-aged men.

The current research was semi-experimental and laboratory-type. The statistical sample of the present study was 30 men with piriformis syndrome. Subjects were equally and randomly placed in two intervention and control groups. The intervention group performed NASM exercises for eight weeks. Before and after the exercises, the ground reaction force variables were measured using a Bartek force plate device with a sampling rate of 1000 Hz. Kinetic data were smoothed using a fourth-order Butterworth filter with a frequency cutoff of 20 Hz. For statistical analysis, analysis of variance and paired T-test were utilized at the significance level of P < 0.05.

The findings of the present study showed that the effect of time on the FxHC and FyHC components at the peak of the forces and the FyHC component at the time of reaching the peak of the ground reaction force increased in the post-test compared to the pre-test. P > 0.025;
d = 0.64 - 0.96. The effect of the time factor in the FyPO component at the peak of the ground reaction force in the post-test was less than the pre-test (P < 0.025; d = 1.64-0.96). The interaction effect of the time × group in the FxPO component at the peak of the force and the FzHC component at the time of reaching the peak of the ground reaction force had a significant difference (P < 0.048; d = 0.87-0.83).

The NASM exercises used in this research can have a clinical and therapeutic effect that can reduce damage to the lower limbs and improve the quality of walking in people with piriformis syndrome.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most prevalent motor disability during childhood, characterized by a range of movement and posture disorders that result in activity limitations. In children with CP, abnormal walking patterns are observed due to spasticity and contractures in the lower limb muscles. Also, an excessive flexion gait pattern of the knee presents in 66% of spastic diplegic CP children aged from 5 to 21 years. Accordingly, reducing excessive knee flexion during walking may decrease secondary compensations and enhance walking performance and quality of life. This study aims to design and evaluate a novel dynamic orthosis along with its impact on functional parameters of walking and occupation performance in a child with spastic diplegia CP. 

This research was a fundamental and applied study of the design and fabrication. The study plan is a single subject, interaction design, conducted in two stages and implemented as A-B-BC-A. After the initial orthosis design, a second and final iteration was developed to address the limitations observed in the preliminary design. The study participant included an 8-year-old boy with spastic diplegic CP, classified as level II (according to the gross motor function classification system expanded and revised), exhibiting a crouch gait pattern. Functional variables, such as speed, balance in walking, spasticity, and occupation performance, were assessed in the study phases.

The advantages and disadvantages of the final design were identified. Changes were made regarding manufacturing in less time, the ability to adjust the circumferential measures, ease of wearing and removing, and issues related to toileting. In comparing the baseline with intervention phases one and two regarding balance, the intervention demonstrated effectiveness (percentage of non-overlapping data [PND]=70%). According to PND values, functional speed in the second intervention phase showed significant results (PND=75%). The hamstring muscle spasticity graph analysis during intervention phases exhibited a reduction of 1 or 2 units. The occupational performance score and satisfaction with the child’s performance increased significantly after the intervention phases.

According to the mechanism of dynamic movement orthoses, as long as they are worn during the day, they are effective in modulating the tonicity of spastic muscles by exerting pressure on hypertonic muscles. This modulation improves balance, movement speed, and overall task performance. Consequently, these findings suggest that dynamic orthotic interventions may enhance functional outcomes and occupational performance, and satisfaction in children with spastic diplegic CP.

Schoolchildren have to use backpacks every day on routes with different characteristics and weights to carry their staff. However, the knowledge available on its effects on walking biomechanics is very limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using backpacks with different weights on plantar kinetics and balance variables among female students during the stance phase of walking.

Twenty female students in the age range of 14-17 with available sampling participated as subjects in this semi-experimental study. Participants carried backpacks with 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight during walking. Plantar pressure data of subjects was collected by a foot pressure system. Repeated measure ANOVA was run to analyze the obtained data.

The results showed that the force in the heel medial and fifth metatarsal were significantly lower in 10% of body weight as compared to 15% (p=0.045) and 20% (p=0.038) body weight. Also, heel rotation in carrying a backpack with 20% of body weight was significantly greater than 10% of body weight (p=0.031).

According to the results, it seems, that increasing the weight of a backpack can alter the pattern of force distribution in the foot during walking. Changing foot biomechanics leads to poor posture adjustment and raises the risk of muscle-skeletal injuries among school students.

Differences in foot structure are thought to be associated with differences in foot function during movement. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foot structure on plantar pressure characteristics in overweight girl children aged 10-13 years during walking.

Thirty-six overweight girls with pes planus, pes cavus and normal feet structures participated in this study. The plantar pressure characteristics of the subjects were measured using the foot-scan system while walking on a 14-meter gait-way at a self-selected speed. Peak plantar pressure, time to reach the peak pressure, percentage of the plantar contact area and impulse were measured. MANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test were used for statistical analyses at a significance level of 0.05.

The mean peak pressure of the left foot of the pes cavus group under the hallux (12.47) was greater than that of the normal (7.93) and pes planus (7.49) groups (p=0.035). The mean impulse underneath the 2-5 toes zone of the right foot of normal (0.86) group was greater than pes planus (0.49) group (p=0.008). The mean impulse also was greater under the hallux zone of the left foot among pes cavus group (2.61) than those in normal (0.89) and pes planus (0.88) groups (0.045).

Despite the existence of minor differences; in general, the results of this study did not show a significant alteration in plantar pressure characteristics among overweight children with different foot structures during walking.