---

Background and aim: Muscles that contribute in production of sound have an important role in specific language. Knowledge of normal activities of these muscles is very important in language dysfunction and pathologic conditions. Needle electromyography is complementary approach in clinical evaluations of above conditions but it is a painful method for evaluating of the patient. Surface electromyography can be used to neurophysiological behaviors and effect of treatment interventions and is accepted by scientific academies. The purpose of this study is appointment of new approach in this area.

 Materials and methods: Sixty eight healthy subjects (34 female and 34 male) in range of 20-30 years old were contributed after supplement of questioner form in this study. Subjects sat in a chair with arm rest and recording electrodes placed on muscles of Thyroarytenoid and Cricothyroid of both side (right and left) at middle and lower parts of throat, near of 1 cm from midline.  Silent activity and fricative voice (z-zh) and voiceless (s-sh) activities recorded randomly at 10 second with interval rest between them for 5 repetition. All of signals processed and then compared in time, frequency and non linear measurements.

 Results: Non linear values such as Percent of recurrence, Entropy were reduced significantly in fricative voice (P<0.05).

 Conclusion:  Surface activity recording of Thyroarytenoid and Cricothyroid muscles is possible and sensitive parameter is non linear values. Surface electromyography is new approach for assessment of above muscle in clinical evaluation of speech pathologic conditions.    

---

Background and Aim: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition. Women with patellofemoral pain syndrome would present significant weakness in many of hip muscle groups when compared with the healthy group. The objective of the present study was to compare the strength of hip abductor, extensor and external rotator muscle groups in sedentary women with bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome to a matched control group of sedentary women without patellofemoral pain syndrome. 

Materials and Methods: Twelve women with bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome as experimental group and other twelve matched women as control group participated in this study. Maximum isometric strength for three hip muscles including abductor, extensor and external rotator muscle groups was measured bilaterally in all subjects using a dynamometer fixed on a platform and finally averaged between two limbs and compared with the control group.

Results: The hip abductor, extensor and external rotator muscle groups of experimental group were statistically weaker than that of the control group (p< 0.001).

Conclusion:  It seems that lower limb muscles including hip muscles of women with patellofemoral pain syndrome become weaker due to disuse conditions. 

---

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.

---

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.

---

Background and Aim: Osteoarthrosis is a common condition in the cervical region due to the high mobility of this region. Despite the clinical popularity of traction that is often prescribed for patients with neck pain, there is no agreement on the effectiveness of traction. Due to the high controversy and the lack of experimental documents in the efficiency of the pneumatic traction device in reducing symptoms of neck pain, present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the pneumatic traction device in reducing pain and amount of drug use, and improving disability level in patients with neck osteoarthrosis compared to the control group.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients with neck pain aroused by osteoarthrosis were randomly assigned into two groups of control or experimental. The control group received hot pack, TENS, US, exercise therapy and ergonomic training as their usual physical therapy care. Patients in the experimental group also benefited from the sustained traction via the pneumatic traction device too. All participants were treated for 10 sessions. Pain (NPRS), the level of disability (NDI), the number of sedative drugs and NSAIDs were evaluated in the beginning of the first session and at the end of the last session.

Results: A significant decrease in the levels of the pain and disability in both groups were found (P<0.05). The decrease of pain and disability in the experimental group was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the control group. There was no significant difference in terms of the sedatives and NSAIDs within and between the groups at the end of the last session (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Although physical therapy and ergonomic trainings may lead to a significant improvement in neck pain and related disability in the osteoarthrosis patients, the use of pneumatic traction device can increase the rate of improvement.

Key words: Spondylosis, Neck pain, Traction, Air neck traction device

---

Background and Aim: Rotator cuff tendon rupture is the most frequent cause of shoulder pain and disability, especially in middle and old age. Physiotherapy is known as non-surgical or conservative treatment for it. The goal of this research was to investigate the effect of physiotherapy treatment in full-thickness tear of Supraspinatus tendon on shoulder pain and shoulder active range of motion.

Materials and Methods: In this before and after clinical trial, 17 patients (5 men and 12 women) with average age of 54.35±7.13 years old whom had full-thickness tear of Supraspinatus tendon were treated within 30 physiotherapy clinical sessions. The physiotherapy protocol for patients was included of heat, ultrasound and electrical stimulations modules and exercise therapy program was consisted of three components of stretching, strengthening and endurance. Patients in the first, twentieth and at the end of the thirtieth session were evaluated for pain and range of motion. Pain variable by visual analogue scale and range of motion variable by goniometer were evaluated.

Results: Within subjects ANOVA (parametric) and Friedman (nonparametric) tests showed a significant difference in pain and range of motion between before and after physiotherapy (P <0.01).

Conclusions: This study showed that physiotherapy may reduce pain and improve range of motion of shoulder in surgery candidate patients with full-thickness tear of Supraspinatus tendon and decrease client needs to surgery. However, studies with longer follow-up are recommended to evaluate this outcome.

Keywords: Supraspinatus tendon tears, Physiotherapy, Pain, Range of motion, Visual analogue scale, Goniometer