Physical Treatments Journal
Volume:8 Issue: 3, Autumn 2018

A theory states that strong core stability allows athletes to fully transfer forces from the upper extremities to lower extremities, and finally to the ground. On the contrary, weak core stability causes alterations in transferring forces, reduces sport performance, and increases risk for injury, especially in the lower extremities. Therefore, the current study investigated the relationship between core endurance and performance in professional female badminton athletes.  To examine the aforementioned relationship, badminton athletes invited to the 2017 Youth National Team camp (n=16, Mean±SD age=14.9±1.2 y, height=163.0±4.5 cm, weight=57.8±4.3 kg) completed core endurance and performance tests. Badminton athletes performed 5 performance tests (Y balance, vertical jump, 20 m sprint, 4×9 agility, and single-leg triple crossover hop tests), and 4 core endurance tests (trunk flexor, trunk extensor, and bilateral side bridge tests). Data analysis indicated significant correlations between core endurance and balance (r=0.52, P=0.04), as well as between core endurance and triple crossover hop test (r=0.63, P=0.01); however, relations between core endurance and other performance tests (vertical jump, 20 m sprint, agility) were not statistically significant.  Considering the significant correlations between core endurance and balance and triple crossover hop test, it is suggested that personal trainers, coaches, and badminton athletes use the core stability exercises to improve balance and single-leg cutting maneuver. As a result, the chance of non-contact lower extremity injuries caused by the loss of balance or those occurring during cutting movement will be reduced.

Physical condition and posture are related to bio-psychological health. Overweight in the children is also associated with musculoskeletal deformities. The current study aimed to compare the effect of conducting an 8-week of selected football activities and corrective exercises on postural deformities, the factors of physical readiness, and body composition in three male groups, including children, teenagers, and youth. In this quasi-experimental study, 60 male students were selected through stratified simple random sampling method and divided into the groups of children (n=20, Mean±SD age=12.25±0.78 y), teenagers (n=20, Mean±SD age=14.30±0.65 y), and youth (n=20, Mean±SD age=16.40±0.50 y). Using a chessboard, flexible ruler and the New York test, the subjects’ personal characteristics were investigated. The program of selected exercises included an 8 weeks of three sessions of 45-60 minutes with an intensity of 60% to 70% of the heart rate reserve. To compare the intragroup and intergroup mean scores, Student’s t-test and the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were used. The obtained results suggested that body weight, waist, and hip circumference significantly decreased in all three groups. However, body mass index significantly decreased in children and youth. Physical readiness, cardiorespiratory endurance, anaerobic power, agility, muscular endurance, and muscular strength were statistically significant in all groups. Speed significantly improved in children and teenagers. Postural deformities, forward head posture, kyphosis, lordosis, and Genu Varum improved in all study groups. An eight weeks of selected football activities and corrective exercises improved the performance of physical motor fitness, body composition, and postural deformities in all study groups.

Static balance decrease with aging. Exercise program has significant effects on improving balance. However, the most effective method on improving balance in elderly remains undiscovered. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of training on the stable and unstable surfaces on the static balance in elderly.  This was a clinical randomized trial with a pre-test post-test design. A total of 75 elderly women were studied. The samples were assigned into 4 different exercise groups and a control group. Biodex Balance equilibrium was used to record static balance and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was applied to record functional balance. Data were analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance at the significance level of P<0.05. The total balance, anterior-posterior and medio-lateral balance scores significantly decreased in the training groups after performing the exercise program (P=0.00). After conducting the exercise program, balance scores differently decreased in different groups (P<0.01). The exercise program improved the BBS, total balance, anterior-posterior, and mediolateral balance scores in the elderly subjects. The proprioceptive system function decreases with aging; thus, exercising on an unstable surface can challenge the proprioceptive system and increase proprioceptive function in elderly. The obtained results revealed that exercising on foam and sand improve the function of this system, due to the involvement of proprioceptive system. Thus, the increased involvement of proprioceptive system in balance, may improve balance on unstable surfaces, compared to hard ones.

Lateral Epicondylitis (LE) or tennis elbow is one of the most frequent complications in the general population. Moreover, it is one of the most common lesions in the work-related upper limb. This disease has a significant impact on the daily activities of individuals and their performance. The most frequent problem in patients with LE is pain in the proximal forearm. The current study evaluated and compared a simple proximal forearm strap and a counterforce brace combined with Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). In this quasi-experimental study, 26 patients with LE were selected as samples using non-probability sampling technique (convenience method). They were randomly divided into the two groups of simple brace and brace+LLLT. Jamar Digital Hand Dynamometer, Visual Analog Scale, and the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire were used to measure grip strength, pain and the disability of samples, respectively. The comparison of studied parameters was performed by repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The mean pain score significantly decreased in both groups; however, the difference between the two groups was not significant. The simple counterforce brace had no significant effect on grip strength, but in the group who used counterforce brace with LLLT, the grip strength significantly increased. The mean disability scores decreased significantly in both groups; however, the difference was not significant between the two groups. The counterforce brace with LLLT had more effect on the reduction of disability. Both tested braces could affect grip strength, pain, and the disability of patients with LE. The counterforce brace with LLLT was superior to the simple counterforce brace only on grip strength.

The current study investigated the effect of an aquatic training program on balance in women with low back pain.  This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test and control group design. The study population included all patients with low back pain who referred to orthopedics s offices. In total, 30 women suffering from back pain were purposefully and voluntarily selected; then, randomly divided into two experimental (15 patients) and control (15 patients) groups. The subjects of the aquatic exercise group received a 12-week aquatic exercise program of 3 sessions per week for 60 minutes. The control group received no physical activity program. At the beginning and end of the experimental period, the patients’ balance was assessed using Berg Balance Scale. The obtained data were analyzed using t-test and the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at the significance level of P<0.05, by SPSS.  We observed a statistically significant improvement in the scores of the experimental group, compared to the control group prior period balance (P<0.05). However, no significant change was observed in the controls (P≥0.05). Compared with the control group, the experimental group scores significantly increased after receiving the twelve weeks of aquatic treatment (P<0.05).  The obtained results suggested that aquatic exercise therapy can be a useful treatment method to improve balance and subsequently improve the daily performance of patients.

This study aimed to compare the effects of fatigue due to overground and treadmill running on the plantar pressure distribution pattern.  Twelve novice athletes (Mean±SD age=26.0±2.5 y, Mean±SD weight: 52.0±3.0 kg, Mean±SD height: 159.0±5.0 cm), without sports injuries over the past year, were selected. Overground and treadmill running created fatigue in the samples. Peak plantar pressure distribution, Center of Pressure, contact area, and impulse the samples were recorded using a footscan (Footscan Version 7 Gait 2nd generation software) pressure system during running before and after the fatigue protocol and analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS v. 18.  Peak plantar pressure on the second to fifth toe , the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones, and medial part of the heel significantly increased. The shift in the Center of Pressure of the foot was non-significant in all stages. The contact area at the second metatarsal and midfoot area shifted only before the fatigue protocol on overground running. Impulse at the second to fifth toe, first to fifth metatarsal, significantly increased in the ground running.  The results showed that fatigue due to treadmill running has different effects compared to fatigue due to overground running.

Disturbances in balance and also regaining the balance strategy is very important in the middle-aged women who are near their menopause and subject to severe hormonal and physiological changes, reduced muscle strength, and decreased bone density. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance training in the water with and without the weighted vest on the balance recovery strategy of middle-aged women affected with a balance disorder. Present study was a quasi-experimental study conducted on 26 middle-aged women. They were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two groups: balance training group in water with weighted vest (13 women), and balance training group in water without weighted vest (13 people). In order to assess the balance strategy recovery, the electromyography activity of the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and rectus femoris muscles around the hip joint and lateral gastrocnemius, peroneus longus, and anterior tibialis muscles around the ankle joint was recorded during the drop-landing task. The water balance training was performed for 6 weeks, three sessions per week, each session for 45 minutes. After 6 weeks of training, all pretest stages were repeated in the post-test. Shapiro-Wilk and ANCOVA tests were used for analyzing the obtained data. The significance level was set at 0.05 for all tests. The Independent t test results showed no significant difference between demographic information of the two groups (P<0.05). The results of ANCOVA showed that the recovery balance strategy of middle-aged women in the group of water balance training with weighed shirt had significantly improved (P<0.05). Also, the eta coefficient was 0.76 which indicates relatively large amount of impact exercises.  Doing balance exercises in water with weighted vest can well affect balance factors and improve the recovery balance strategy of middle-aged people. Therefore, in order to prevent disturbance in the balance and falling with increasing age, it is recommended to take advantage of water balance exercises with weighted vest in the middle-aged period.