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Background and aim: Proprioception is a main component of somatosensory system that plays a protective role in acute injuries through reflex muscular splinting. Proprioception reduction could be a source of deficits in reaction time, postural control and postural stability. In chronic low back pain  patients (CLBP) the proprioception is decreased and leads to dysfunction in motor control and increased the risk of injury. Evaluation the repositioning of lumbar region could be an indication to measure the lumbar proprioception . The purpose of this study was to compare the lumbar repositioning in CLBP and healthy females. 

Material and Methods: Eighteen CLBP (22.83 ± 2.93 years) and 18 healthy females (23.33 ± 2.19 years) participated in this study. Lumbar repositioning error in 30% and 60% of lumbar full flexion and neutral position with closed eye in standing was evaluated with electrogoniometer. Absolute and constant error for 3 repositioning points were obtained and analyzed.

Results: Absolute error in patients with low back pain was significantly higher than control subjects in all 3 position points (P<0.05). Constant error did not show significant difference between two groups. (P>0.05)

Conclusion: Increased in absolute error of females with CLBP in lumbar repositioning implies that some aspects of proprioception may lose in patients with CLBP.

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Background and Aim: Work related injury (WRI) can cause problems such as change or loss in job, fatigue and burnout. Injury prevalence has increased from 10.2% to 13.5% in the U.S. therapists since 2004 to 2006. At least 3,700 physiotherapists and 900 occupational therapists membership in Iranian Medical Council and developments of occupational therapy and physical therapy domains are involved in our country and the growing trend of student admissions in these fields and also limited researches in work-related problems of therapists, there would be a challenge in research studies. The overall goal of this systematic review was to survey the prevalence of work-related problems, predisposing factors and causes of these problems among therapists and finally predict problems of Iranian occupational therapy and physiotherapy population. 
Materials and Methods: By performing the five stages of an evidence based systematic review with regard to the selection criteria obtained from related articles, looking for articles were done through using internet databases, reference books and Citation review. At first, 50 articles were obtained. Finally, this study reviewed 25 articles in the last two decades in different parts of Iran and the world (1990-2010)
Conclusion: It was clarified that muscular injuries were of the most common types of damages caused by these works. Injuries were seen in most particularly in public, orthopedic and acute settings. Low back pain was remarkably reported. Age under30 years, inexperience and heavy work were some of the risk factors. Improper handling was determined as the main cause of injuries in therapists. Besides musculoskeletal injuries, common psychosocial problems were depression, anger and job frustration. Finally, considering culture and job characteristics of the Iranian therapists, the data and results were compared and discussed to predict different aspects of WRI in Iranian therapists.

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Background and Aim: Anterior knee pain (AKP or AnKP) is one of the most common disorders of knee. Many studies have been implemented about anterior knee pain and effect of different treatments on this disorder. Todays, this general term has been divided and studied more closely. Knee extension syndrome is one of the common disorders in orthopedic and physical therapy that diagnosed with increased stiffness of quadriceps muscle and causes anterior knee pain. The purpose of this review article is to evaluate this disorder more closely.

Materials and Methods: A literature search was carried out using MEDLINE and SCIENCE DIRECT cite and JOSPT journal database to assess existing literature about anterior knee pain. Furthermore, literatures about the different standpoints of anterior knee pain and effectiveness of different treatments and interventions of anterior knee pain and knee extension syndrome have been identified.

 Results: Fifty articles have been surveyed: forty-two articles evaluated the effect of different treatments on anterior knee pain. Five articles evaluated the various aspects of anterior knee pain more closely and three ones related to knee extension syndrome.

Conclusion: According to these studies results, the causes of anterior knee pain can be classified in two categories: 1) anterior knee pain associated with patellofemoral disorders and 2) anterior knee pain non-associated with patellofemoral disorders. The knee extension syndrome is the cause for anterior knee pain but non-associated with patellofemoral disorders. In this disorder, the tilt angle of patella could be increased and this factor can increase the patients' pain. In contrast to general belief that focuses on tensor fascia lata- ilotiobial band complex (TFL-ITB complex), the rectus femoris muscle stretching should be focused more, because the ilotiobial band has a less effect on patellar tilt. 

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Background and Aim: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in industrial society. There are complex changes in motor control of cervical spine in neck pain patients. The aim of this study was to compare the latency of activation of neck muscles during upper limb movement between neck pain patients and healthy subjects.

Materials and Methods: Eighteen chronic non-specific neck pain patients and eighteen healthy subjects who were matched in age, weight and height participated in this study. Subjects were standing on the ground and performed flexion and abduction movement of the right arm until at least 90 degree in five trials and consequently surface electromyography of neck muscles was recorded. Activation time of neck muscles was determined in comparison with the activation time of deltoid muscle (as an event) and then compared between two groups.  

Results: Findings of this study showed that in patients with chronic neck pain and healthy subjects during upper limb flexion and abduction movements, the superficial neck muscles were activated after deltoid activation. As well as in the neck pain patients compared to the healthy subjects superficial neck muscles onset was significantly appeared with delayed (P<0.05).

Conclusion: In patients with neck pain compared to healthy controls, the neck muscles were significantly delayed in responses to the internal perturbations of fast upper limb movements. It may be to increase the risk of injuries of neck region during fast upper limb movements.

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Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of different types of isokinetic contractions on hemodynamic parameters in men.
Materials and Methods: Ten healthy male subjects (age, 26.1±3.4 years) in three separate sessions performed three exercise protocols included Concentric/Concentric (C/C), Eccentric/Eccentric (E/E) and Concentric/Eccentric (C/E) contractions (flexion and extension) in the knee joint. In each session subjects performed 4 sets, 10 repetitions, at the speed of 60 degree per second. Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and rate of pressure product) were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise and after 30 min recovery. Data were analyzed using two- way repeated measures of ANOVA.
Results: Statistical analysis of data showed significant increases in heart rate, systolic blood pressure (P<0.001), mean arterial blood pressure (P=0.053) and rate of pressure product (P<0.001) during exercise and significant reductions in these parameters in recovery period. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was significantly different among the contraction protocols (F2,34=15.5) and post-hoc test showed that RPE was lower in E/E protocol than the other two protocols.
Conclusion: Hemodynamic parameters change in response to different muscular contractions, though these changes are not related to contraction type.

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Background and Aim : Hemiplegic shoulder pain is a common problem that its prevalence varies from 48% to 84%. This disorder limits the patient’s ability to achieve the optimal function. The objective of study was to assess the relationship between hemiplegic shoulder pain with neuromusculoskeletal disorders in post stroke hemiparesis

  

Materials and Methods: This study was an observational-analytic that fullfilled on fifty patients with acute stroke. The post stroke period was 28 days. The following items were evaluated:shoulder subluxation with X-ray, shoulder spasticity with Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), soft tissue injury with orthopaedic tests and RSD with clinical features.

 

Results: Hemiplegic shoulder pain was present in 28 patients(56%). Seventeen patients (85%) showed shoulder subluxation, 18 patients (72%) had supraspinatus tendonitis ,13 patients (65%) had biceps tendinits, 4 patients (14/2%) had ACJ involvement, 3 patients (10/7%) had elbow flexor spasticity, 2 patients (7/1%) had shoulder adductor spasticity ,2 patients (7/1%)had shoulder internal rotators spsticity , 4 (14/2%) patients had RSD.

  

Conclusion: Results from this study show that one factor does not play role in causing hemiplegic shoulder pain and this disorder is multifactorial. Prevention of shoulder pain and performing appropriate physiotherapy can play a role in improving stroke patients’ function.

 

Keywords: Stroke, Shoulder pain, Sublxation, Muscle tone, Shoulder –Hand syndrone

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Background and Aim: Despite the widespread use of whole body vibration (WBV),especiallyin recent years, its neurophysiological mechanism is still unclear and the results about the facilitatory or inhibitory effects of WBV widely vary in different studies. The aim of this study was to compare between immediate (one session) and short term (12 sessions) effects of WBV on the spinal motor neurons excitability in healthy young men.

  

Materials and Methods: Ten voluntary non-athlete healthy young-men (mean age:26.1±2.23) were participated in this study.In the sham sessions subjects stood on the turned off vibration plate while were maintaining the semi-squat position and then after 2 weeks wash-out, vibration training sessions were done on the same position with frequency of 30 HZ and peak to peak amplitude of 3 mm training sessions (sham & vibration) consisted of 12 sessions (3 sessions per week) and 4 set in each of them, weekly one set added to the training protocol. H reflex recruitment curve of soleus muscle was recorded before and after first and also 12th sessions in both sham and vibration training protocol. Ascending slope of recruitment curve, threshold and peak amplitudes and related intensities, amplitude of Mh and Hmax/Mmax ratio were determined.

  

Results: Immediate effects of vibration training 12th session caused a significant decrease of threshold amplitude and an increase of peak intensity (p=0.05 and p=0.05 respectively). Short term WBV training significantly decreased the threshold intensity of soleus recruitment curve (p=0.01).

  

Conclusion: The results suggest the inhibitory effect of acute WBV training on the spinal motor neurons excitability. It seems that short term WBV training may be effective to facilitate the motor neurons excitability or increase the muscle spindle sensitivity.

  

Key Words: Whole body vibration, H reflex recruitment curve, Soleus muscle, Short term training

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Background and Aim: Proprioception is a type of feedback from limbs to CNS which defines a sensory tools to contribute position sense and movement sense.

Precise and controlled movements are important sections of sports and activity daily living which needs to accurate information of proprioception.

High concentration of proprioceptors are reported in cervical spine, sacroiliac and ankle joint. The purpose of this study was to compare repositioning error of cervical spine on high level badminton and basketball players and healthy subjects.

  

Materials and Methods: Twenty female basketball players (23.40 years old), 20 female badminton players (24.81years old) and 20 healthy female (24,95years old) subjects were recruited to participate in this study. Cervical total range of motion (ROM) and repositioning error in target angle (30% of full ROM in each movement) of flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion and rotation were measured by CROM apparatus.

Results : Our results indicate that two groups of athletes has significant differences with non-athletic subjects in flexion, extension, left lateral flexion and ro tation and there were significant differences in right lateral flexion and right rotation between badminton players and non-athletic subjects (P<0.005).

  

Conclusion : Cervical proprioception may improve with specific sport movements. Basketball and badminton are non-contact sports that needs to eye and hand coordination, as our results showed that the cervical repositioning error was decreased in athletics related to non-athletic subjects, the mentioned sports may improve proprioception.

 

Key Words: Proprioception, Cervical, Repositioning error, Basketball, Badminton

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Background and Aim: Postural control is the ability of maintaining of the body posture in space. Peripheral and central factors have important role in muscle fatigue. Repetitive muscle contraction leads to muscle fatigue. If strength is educed up to 30% of maximum contraction can be disturbed stance control of subjects. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of lumbar muscle fatigue on postural control in athlete and non-athlete subjects.

  

Materials and Methods: Fifteen men as athlete subjects and other fifteen matched men as non- athlete subjects participated in this study. Trunk extensor muscle fatigue was produced by dynamometer. Stance postural sways were evaluated by force platform device in bipedal stance with open eye.

  

Results: In pre-fatigue state there is no significant difference between two groups. Fatigue had significantly effect on postural sways in both group after Lumbar muscle fatigue specially in non-athlete group (P ≥ 0.05) .

  

Conclusion: The postural control of athletes after muscle fatigue was better than non athlete subjects probably due to better proprioception in athlete subjects.

  

Keywords: Muscle fatigue, Postural control, Force plattform.

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  Background and Aim: Social psychologists defines aggressive act a conscious behavior that its aim is creation physical or mental pain and suffering. Aggression is relatively permanent inclination to expressing behaviors along with ruff from a person in different position.

 

Materials and Methods: The research is done in frame a quasi-experimental design (pre-test and post-test) with two test and control groups with t reatment protocol (t3-t4: s tructures and complex communication networks that there are in under cortex or cortical that to it called limbic system or lateral and is responsible emotions and memory ), on 30 adolescents 13-15 years old with aggression disorder. Sampling method was accessible. Treatment has been implemented during 20 sessions, for 2 months and 3 sessions, in every week (30 minutes). For data collection is used of Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire that iranian reliability reported for the total scale (0/82) and validity (0/73).

 

Results: The results of analysis of covariance about anger show that calculated F (14/55) is greater from table F with significant 0/01. Thus with confidence 0/99 can be claimed that use of neurofeedback method is causing reduction “anger”. The results of analysis of covariance about physical aggression show that calculated F (36/5) is greater from table F with significant 0/01. Thus with confidence 0/99 can be claimed that use of neurofeedback method is causing reduction “physical aggression”. The results of analysis of covariance about verbal aggression show that calculated F (5/77) is greater from table F with significant 0/01. Thus with confidence 0/99 can be claimed that use of neurofeedback method is causing reduction “verbal aggression”. The results of analysis of covariance about hostility show that calculated F (36/5) is greater from table F with significant 0/01. Thus with confidence 0/99 can be claimed that use of neurofeedback method is causing reduction “hostility”.

 

Conclusion: The results are expression that intervention with protocol (t3-t4) is causing reduction aggression behaviors in adolescents.

 

Key words : Neurofeedback , Aggression, Adolescents , I ntervention , Education

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Background and Aim: Idiopathic scoliosis is a common orthopaedic condition affecting 1.5% to 3% of the adolescents. Conservative treatments for idiopathic scoliosis involve bracing, exercise therapy, electrical stimulation and chiropractic treatment. Bracing in association with exercise is a well known method in the treatment of scoliosis. In spite of the disagreement among researchers, no study has assessed the effect of Blount &Moe exercises accompanied with a milwaukee brace on the kyphotic and scoliotic cobb angle at the beginning of weaning phase up to now. Therefore the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of Blount &Moe exercises on improvement of kyphotic and scoliotic cobb angle at the beginning of weaning phase.

Materials and Methods: The patients were evaluated in terms of the quantity and quality of performing the exercises. Mean Cobb angle was compared  before bracing and at the beginning of weaning phase.

Results: Kyphotic and scolioitic cobb angle were reduced after using the milwaukee brace(p> 0.05), but no significant difference was found among all groups for the kyphotic and scoliotic cobb angle.

Conclusion: Miwaukee brace reduces kyphotic and scoliotic cobb angle, but the quantity and quality of exercise doing before weaning phase does not affect this parameter.

Key words:Kyphoscoliosis,Milwaukee brace, Exercise, Cobb angle

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Background and Aim: Proprioception is a component of somatosensory system. One of the most important somatosensory receptors is muscle spindles. Neck area with high density of muscle spindle, plays a significant role in providing this sense. With repeated contact sports, with high trauma on head and neck region, it is likely that proprioception will be impaired. The present study was conducted to compare proprioception between wrestlers, taekwondo players and non-athlete subjects to determine the effect of trauma on proprioception of craniocervical region.

 

Material and Methods: This study was a case-control study of 75 male with the age range of 18-30 years (Including: 25 professional wrestlers, 25 professional taekwondo players and 25 non-athlete subjects). Participants were selected through simple non-probability sampling. To assess proprioception of craniocervical region, angular repositioning of two positions (neutral and 50% of range of motion) was evaluated by using the cervical range of motion device (CROM device). The statistical method which used in this study was one way ANOVA.

 

Results: Accuracy of target repositioning (50% of range of motion) of extension, right and left rotation were significantly different between three groups (p<0.05). Returning to neutral position from mentioned movement was associated with a significant error (p<0.05).

 

Conclusion: It is assumed that proprioception of craniocervical region has been affected by trauma in wrestlers and taekwondo players, so that the accuracy of head repositioning for both neutral and target positions were reduced in wrestlers. However, taekwondo players had more errors in repositioning of target angle.

 

Keywords: Proprioception, Repositioning error, Craniocervical, Wrestlers, Taekwondo players

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Background and Aim:  The aim of this study was to determine the short-term and long-term effects of one protocol of physiotherapy on reduction of pain, improve active lumbar range of motion and disability in the patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain.

Materials and Methods: A total of 12 patients with lumbar radiculopathy were included in this study. Physical therapy included electrical nerve stimulation at sensory level, superficial heat and therapeutic exercise for patients. Pain intensity of lumbar and affected lower extremity, active lumbar range of motion and disability were considered as variables in this study. The evaluation was performed 6 months after the end of therapy sessions. The repeated measure of ANOVA was used to assess the effect of physiotherapy and pair t-test was used to assess the follow-up.

Result: Statistically significant differences were found in lumbar pain, affected lower extremity, active lumbar flexion, right and left lateral flexion and disability after treatment (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in lumbar pain, affected lower extremity , active lumbar right and left lateral flexion in the last session of treatment and 6 month later (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Physiotherapy is an effective treatment in order to reduce pain and improve active lumbar range of motion in patients with lumbar radicular pain.

Keywords:  Physiotherapy, Radicular pain, Range of motion, Disability

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Background and Aim: Forward Head Posture (FHP) is one of the most common postural disorders which related to current life style. This disorder may cause some changes in motor control of cervical muscles.

 

Materials and Methods: Eight subjects with Forward Head Posture and 8 matched healthy subjects wereParticipated. The kinematic and electromyographic activity of each subject was analyzed and the flexion- Relaxation phenomenon was determined.

 

Results: The results showed that the cessation of flexion-relaxation phenomenon was different between two groups (P<0.05). The result of Pearson correlation showed a significant positive correlation between Cranio-vertebral angle and cessation of the phenomenon (P<0.05).

 

Conclusion: The flexion- relaxation phenomenon was different in Forward Head Posture related to the healthy subjects and the concentric contraction was started with delay in the Forward Head Posture subjects. Therefore, the motor control and balance disorder may be seen in these subjects.

 

Keywords: Forward Head Posture, Flexion- Relaxation, Electromyography, Kinematic