Physical Treatments Journal
Volume:9 Issue: 4, Autumn 2019

The quality and condition of the human body are of particular importance. This is because the positive and negative changes resulting from this matter could affect other conditions. The skeletal condition of the spine is an essential part of a person’s physical condition. Recognizing correct positions has always attracted the attention of sports scientists. The present study reviewed the normative data of the thoracic and lumbar curvature.

We investigated the studies conducted from 1980-2016. We studied and used related articles that measured spinal curvatures and investigated invasive and non-invasive methods. The authors reported previous studies without any bias.

The obtained results indicated that spine norms are different in research reports. Thus, further investigating this subject is required for recognizing, categorizing, screening, and decreasing the prevalence of spinal deformities.

We reviewed the studies on the prevalence of spinal abnormalities and the provision of natural alignment and the extent of injury to the area in athletes. The relevant data suggested a great variation in applying measurement methods, as well as the homogeneity between the studied communities. Therefore, comparing the present results and categorizing studies should be performed with great caution.

Identifying lower extremity defects during high impact activity, such as landing, especially in young athletes who play team sports, could help to prevent non-contact lower extremity injuries. The Tuck Jump Assessment (TJA) is a screening instrument designed to recognize neuromuscular deficits related to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury. The current study investigated the prevalence rate of neuromuscular deficits during tuck jump in female and male physical education and sports sciences collegiate students.

The study subjects included all undergraduate students of physical education and sports science at the University of Kurdistan in 2018-2019 academic year (male/female =55-77, Mean±SD age: 21.3±1.7 y, weight: 63.4±12.3 kg, height: 169.4±9.5 cm, body mass index: 21.97±2.94 kg/m2, and sports experience: 4.95±3.38 y). All study subjects conducted the TJA, which consisted of continuous maximal height tuck jumps for 10 seconds. Tuck jump performance was recorded by two cameras in sagittal and frontal planes and was evaluated using the Kinovea software. The performance was scored across 10 criteria using the modified scale (0-2).

One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results revealed a significant difference between the tuck jump scores in male and female athletes (P<0.01). The difference between male and female athletes was not significant in neuromuscular fatigue and quadriceps dominance; in both groups, the prevalence of these defects was <15%. However, there was a significant difference between the ligament dominance, trunk dominance, and leg dominance of male and female athletes (P<0.01). The prevalence of leg dominance in males (65.5%: 49.1% grade 1, 16.4% grade 2) was higher than that of the females (45.5%: 40.30% grade 1, 5.2% grade 2). But the prevalence of ligament dominance in females (81.8%: 51.9% grade 1, 29.9% grade 2) was higher than that of the males (40%: 34.5% grade 1, 5.5% grade 2). Besides, the prevalence of trunk dominance in females (72.7%: 57.1% grade 1, 15.6% grade 2) was higher than that of the males (26.3%: 25.5% grade 1, 1.8% grade 2). 

The mean score of incidence of the ligament dominance, trunk dominance, and leg dominance was ˃50% in the study subjects. Thus, it is recommended that preventive exercise programs emphasize on the correction of these defects. The correction of leg dominance deficiency is a priority among males; however, the correction of ligament dominance and trunk dominance is the priority among females.

Positioning the legs in performing spike technique significantly contributes to the development and prevention of lower limb injuries. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the feedback and feedforward activaties of selected lower limb muscles during triple jump spike with and without toe-in landing in female volleyball players.

In this controlled-laboratory study, 15 female elite volleyball players performed triple spike in toe-in and neutral positions. The electrical activity of tibialis anterior, proneus longus, gastrocenemius, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris muscles was recorded using a 16-channel surface electromyography device (Baya Med Company). The Dependent Samples t-test was applied to analyze the obtained data at the 95% confidence level.

In toe-in landing, the semitendinosus muscle activity (P=0.040) significantly decreased in the feedforward phase. Besides, in the feedback phase, there were significant increases in tibialis anterior (P=0.039) and proneus longus (P=0.043). Eventually, a significant decrease was observed in the medial gastrocenemius (P=0.042) and biceps femoris muscle (P=0.047) activities.

Decreased biceps femoris muscle activity during the feedback phase with the toe-in position may be associated with the decreased supportive effect of hamstring muscle, increased anterior knee shear force, and subsequently anterior cruciate ligament injury. Increased activity of leg and ankle muscles may also increase the odds of muscular fatigue and subsequent ankle sprain during toe-in landing.

A thoracic curve degree of greater than 45° leads to thoracic hyperkyphosis, and its common treatment method is orthotic treatment. The acceptance rate of spinal orthosis depends on in-brace correction, patient`s compliance and quality of life.

In this study, we aimed to compare in-brace correction, compliance and quality of life in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis wearing Milwaukee and Lyon braces.

In this case study, we retrospectively analyzed data for 23 adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis worn Milwaukee brace (n=15) and Lyon brace (n=8). In-brace correction was assessed by comparing Cobb angle before and two months after wearing brace. Compliance was determined by the percentage of actual hours worn in accordance with the prescribed regimen. The Quality of Life Profile for Spinal Deformities questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life and mental/psychological functions. Data normality assumption was assessed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Other tests used for data analysis included paired t-test and independent t-test.

Patients had thoracic kyphosis angle of 55-75 degrees aged 10-17 years. They were divided into two groups of Milwaukee(n=15; mean age= 14 years; mean first Cobb angle= 67.9 degrees) and Lyon (n=8; mean age= 13.75 years ; mean first Cobb angle= 61.7 degrees). No significant difference was found between in-brace correction of two groups (p= 0.073), while the compliance of Lyon group was better. Furthermore, findings reported a significant difference in quality of life between groups (p= 0.018), where Lyon group had improved quality of life.

Lyon brace had less detrimental effect on the quality of life of patients in comparison with the Milwaukee brace, while the compliance after using Lyon brace was better; however, identical in-brace correction was achieved by both braces. Therefore, by considering and integration of significant factors in treatment plan, these braces can be used for in-brace correction.

Studies on how the shoe insole hardness regulate joint stiffness and transfer energy in the lower extremity during jump landing are scarce. The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of shoe insole changes in joint power and stiffness during landing from jumps. 

Fifteen healthy male athletes volunteered to perform jump-landing in various shoe insole conditions. Kinematics and kinetics data were examined to calculate joint stiffness and peak negative power (absorbing power).

The shoe insole hardness significantly affected ankle joint stiffness (P≤0.05). Furthermore, enhanced shoe inserts hardness increased ankle joint stiffness. Moreover, soft insole significantly increased negative peak power, compared to the hard insole condition (P=0.01). 

Increasing the shoe insert hardness can higher affect the distal ankle joint, compared to the proximal joints. However, landing with soft shoe insoles increased the negative joint power during landing; it implied neuromuscular adaptation in response to the impact signals and elevated eccentric force by the knee extensors.

Visual impairment affects all movement aspects of children. Furthermore, moving, as the primary means of physical education, is essential for promoting health in disabled children. Therefore, the present study determined the effect of core stability exercises on the risk of falling and the quality of life in blind individuals.

In this quasi-experimental research, 30 blind male and female students were purposively selected and randomly divided into the experimental and control groups. After selecting the students and obtaining their consent to participate in the training program, Functional Reach Test (FRT) and 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) were conducted before and after the intervention. The experimental group participated in a 6-week training program for three weekly 45-minute sessions. The obtained data were analyzed by univariate analysis to determine intergroup differences. Moreover, the Paired Samples t-test was applied to determine within-group differences at a significant level (α=0.05).

The achieved results suggested that after 6 weeks of training, there was a significant improvement in the risk of falling and the quality of life of the experimental group, compared to the pre-training scores of the core stability (P˂0.05); however, there was no significant change in the control group. The Independent Samples t-test revealed a significant difference between the control and experimental groups.

The core stability exercises affected the risk of falling as well as the quality of life in the studied blind individuals. Considering the importance of mobility, especially in children with visual impairments, it is recommended that core stability exercises be used as an effective method to maximize physical mobility in this group.

The present study investigated the effect of a 4-week training with Total Resistance Exercises (TRX) on performance and balance in healthy children.

In total, 26 children aged 12-16 years were purposefully selected. Then, the study subjects were randomly divided into two groups of TRX (n=13) and control (n=13). The static and dynamic balance and performance were measured by Sharpened Romberg Test, Y Balance Test, and Functional Movement Screen (FMS), respectively. The experimental group performed TRX for 4 weeks; three 55-minute sessions per week. The obtained data were analyzed using statistical tests, including t-test and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS.

The t-test results suggested a significant difference between the pretest-posttest scores of all variables assessed in the experimental group (P≤0.05). In addition, ANCOVA results indicated that performing TRX significantly improved the balance and FMS score in the experimental group, compared to the controls (P≤0.05).

Conducting 4 weeks of TRX training significantly improved static and dynamic balance and FMS values in healthy children; therefore, coaches can use these exercises to improve balance and performance and prevent injury in this group.