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Background and aim: Visuo-spatial attention is an ability by which a portion of visuo-spatial space is selected for efficient processing of the information orienting from it. people show a normal bias in visuo-spatial attention. The direction of this bias in Attention deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is different from normal people's bias. Some cases diagnosed with ADHD can show a significant inattention in one side of the space, which is called unilateral neglect. The aim of this study is to investigate on how the visou-spatial bias is in children with ADHD.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, fifteen children (7-10 years) were classified with ADHD-combined type (ADHD-C) and 15 children were matched for age, gender and IQ. Samples had been chosen through simple random sampling and they did Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children(WISC-IV) and also  the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory for assessing whether they had inclusion criteria or not. For participants, visuo-spatial attention was assessed using the Star Cancellation Test.
Results: The results suggest that, there is a significant difference between ADHD-C groups performance and control group's performance in the Star Cancellation Test (p<0.05). Unilateral neglect recognized in ADHD-C group and it was in the left half of the space.
Conclusion: There is a significant difference in visuo-spatial attention between ADHD group and control group. Moreover, unilateral neglect which has seen in some ADHD-C cases should consider as an important item in this disorder. Further research in this area is needed.

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Background and aim:  For the rehabilitation program of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed patients (ACLR) strength and functional assessment and comparing with the uninvolved side is in great importance. Strength plays an important role in performing vertical jump moreover. It is performed in closed kinetic chain. Despite this importance, no information exists regarding the relationship on peak force of linear isokinetic and vertical jump score. The purposes of this study were1- To determine correlation between isokinetic squat and vertical jump in healthy and ACLR patients. 2- Comparing the peak force and vertical jump between the involved and uninvolved side of the ACLR patients.   
Materials and Methods: Twenty two ACLR patients with 6 months post-surgery and 16 healthy men participated in this study. Their isokinetic squat strength at the testing velocity of 25.4 cm/sec and vertical jump was measured.
Results: ACLR patients' peak force and vertical jump were significantly different between the involved and uninvolved side P≤0.05. The findings showed low relationship )r=0.425)  at the involved side between the vertical jump and peak force of squat, however, there was no relationship in the uninvolved side and the control group.
Conclusion: Findings of  this study indicate no relationship between vertical jump and peak force of squat. Both testing methods should be used since strength not always correlate strongly with physical performance.   Closed kinetic chain isokinetic testing should be used for testing lower extremity strength, while vertical jump should be used to determine performance levels.

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 Background and Aim: The common mechanism for lateral ankle sprain is inversion, plantar flexion, or the combination of both, if untreated successfully can lead to chronic ankle instability. It seems that the foot position, while touching the ground, has an effective role to cause ankle sprain. Thus it is possible to prevent ankle sprain through limiting foot position. Therefore the aim of this research is to study the effect of plantar flexion and eversion on mediolateral ground reaction force while landing in individuals who suffering from functional ankle instability.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control research study 32 subjects (17 subjects with unilateral functional ankle instability (FAI) and 15 control subjects), aged from 18 to 35 years, were tested. All subjects in instability group were selected by the orthopedic physician, then the anterior drawer and talar tilt tests were  performed for diagnosis of functional ankle instability and other physical examinations. Control group were matched with instability group by age, weight, height, gender and body mass index. The subjects standing with single leg on a 40 cm high platform in 25 cm front of a force-plate while the test leg relaxed and non-weight bearing. The subject landed on the test leg on the center of the force-plate. The subjects landed according to four types of position: A: neutral position of ankle and lateral foot wedge, B: neutral position of ankle, C: positive heel and lateral foot wedge and D: positive heel. 

Results: Among control group, medial ground reaction force increased in the "C" position relative to "B" position (p=0.007) and "C" position relative to "D" position (p=0.018). In FAI group, lateral ground reaction force increased in "C" position relative to "B" position (p=0.001) and "C" position relative to "A" position (p=0.002). Also in FAI group medial ground reaction force decreased in "D" position relative to "A" position (p=0.014). 

Conclusion: According to the findings, applying lateral foot wedge, while the ankle is in plantar flexion, increases the mediolateral ground reaction forces. Based on the results, position of plantar flexion is more possibly effective than inversion in ankle sprain. According to the study, the lateral foot wedge in ankle plantar flexion position may be more effective than in neutral one to change mediolateral ground reaction forces. 

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 Background and Aim: Cerebral palsy is characterized by non-progressive abnormalities in the developing brain that creates a cascade of motor deficits and finally affects functional activities. Limited hand function is a characteristic of the movement disorders in children with cerebral palsy which leads to disability in performing activities of daily living, work and play. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wrist Kinesio Taping on hand function of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

 Materials and Methods : In this randomized clinical trial and single-blind study, 26 children (3-6 years old) with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy were selected by convenient and simple sampling and randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. During the study for 12 days ,control group received only common occupational therapy treatment or Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT). Intervention group received both NDT and wrist Kinesio Taping for 24 hours a day on both wrists. Assessment tool was QUEST for evaluating quality of upper extremity skills and Modified Ashworth Scale for assessing spasticity of wrist before and after intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum.

 Results : The results showed significance increase of total QUEST score (P=0.029) and significance difference in domains of dissociated movements (P=0.003) and grasp (P=0.008) in Kinesio Taping group. However, there were no significant differences in weight bearing (P=0.46) and protective extension (P=0.89) domains. The data showed that wrist Kinesio Taping was effective in reducing spasticity of right wrist(P=0.004) but no significant difference for left wrist(P=0.06).

 Conclusion: Wrist Kinesio Taping technique revealed to be effective in increasing quality of upper extremity skills of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children in domains of dissociated movements and grasp. Moreover, it was concluded that this technique can be effective in reducing spasticity of right hand due to more active use of dominant hand.

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Background and Aim: Measurement of reaction time and anticipation skill are used widely in therapeutic exercises or sport programs. Improvement of anticipation skill  and reaction time in any exercise or activity that need fast and correct reaction time for deciding and doing a suitable movement, can improve the motor control and its strategies as well as central processing. There is a need for an easy-to-use program that can run reaction time tasks and anticipation skills with no special experiments. There is no system for objective measurement of above variables in our country, so designing and construction of a system for reaction time test and anticipation skill estimation was carried out.

 Materials and Methods: A system that consist of software, lap top, LCD and key board was designed. The software of the system had two subsystems for measuring reaction time and estimating anticipation skill.

Results: By use of the above equipments, 6 tests of video choice reaction time, audio choice reaction time, video complex choice reaction time, audio complex choice reaction time, high speed anticipation skill and low speed anticipation skill were performed. Structural and content validity of the system was estimated very high.

 Conclusion: Current system can use in many therapeutic and sport centers simply and provide basic data about motor control strategies. By use of it, there is a better judgment about effectiveness of various treatments and sport-men selection, too.

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Background and Aim: Multifidus muscle is one of the short and deep posterior Paraspinal muscles, which gives stability to the spine during various activities. Studies have shown that in people with neck pain, weakness and atrophy of neck muscles are major factors in the incidence of neck pain. Measurement of muscle's dimensions by ultrasonography provides an opportunity to be able to objectively assess muscle atrophy or hypertrophy. This study aimed to assess symmetry of cervical multifidus muscle size in females with chronic non-specific neck pain and healthy by ultrasonography apparatus.

Materials & Methods: Twenty five women with unilateral chronic nonspecific neck pain and 25 healthy women were participated in this study. All subjects were employed and more than 4 hours working with computers or paying office in a day. Imaging of the cervical multifidus muscles were done bilaterally in the level of the fourth vertebra. Anterior-Posterior Dimension(APD), Lateral Dimension(LD), Cross-Sectional Area (multiplied of two diameters(APD&LD)) and the Shape ratio (Lateral diameter divided by the Anterior-Posterior diameter(LD/APD)) of the muscle were measured and recorded. 

Results: Multifidus muscle size in patients group was smaller than the healthy group. In patients group, size of multifidus muscle in the painful side was smaller than the opposite side. Asymmetry of muscle size between the two sides, in the patient group was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of smaller size to the larger size of the muscle, in the healthy group was higher than the ratio in the patient group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: In patients group, asymmetry of the muscle size between two sides, also smaller size of the muscle in the painful side, showed that muscle atrophy has happened in the involved side.

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Bachground and Aim: Ankle sprain is one of the most common injury among the athletic injuries. Around 70-80% of these injuries tend to be chronic. Despite extensive clinical and basic science research, the incidence of Chronic Ankle Instability(CAI) has not significantly reduced. Because the causes of CAI is not quite clear, the rehabilitation still deals with great challenges . one of the treatment methods which has been under special attention for this injuries is Kinesio Taping(KT). In this study, effects of three KT methods on performance in athletes with CAI was investigated .

 

Materials and Methods: Thirty male athletes (futsall, football) with CAI participated in this study. The KT was used in three distinct times with three different methods (mechanical, functional and ligament- Tendon Correction) for these people and their short- time effects on functional performance of lower limb was evaluated. This evaluation was done thorough two functional performance test (Star Excursion Balance Test and Figure of 8 Hop Test).

 

Results: In taping with the aim of functional and mechanical correction, functional performance after KT dramatically improved but in taping with the aim of Ligament-Tendon correction functional performance did not change significantly after taping.

 

Conclusion: The result of this study suggests that functional and mechanical correction have the significant effect on functional performance of futsaland football athletes with CAI , the ligament-tendon correction has not significant effect.

 

Keywords: Chronic ankle instability, Kinesio tape, Functional performance tests.

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Background and Aim: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is responsible for physical and somatosensory function. It is expected that additional sensory information improves dynamic balance of ACL reconstruction patients. This study is aimed to determine the effect of sensory information on knee dynamic balance after ACL reconstruction in comparison with normal people.

 

Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a randomized clinical trial. Thirty two men (16 men with unilateral ACL reconstruction and 16 healthy men), assigned in three groups: ACLR, reconstructed knee ACLR, non-reconstructed knee and normal. All participants received tactile information during functional tests. Dynamic postural stability was assessed by two functional tests including: Star Excursion Balance test and Cross over Hop for distance. The functional tests scores were conducted both pre and post applying sensory information in ACLR and normal people.

  

Results: The data showed that tactile information improves functional performance of ACLR patients. There were significant difference in reconstructed knee’s SEBT scores in medial (p=0.005) and posteromedial (p=0.034) directions by adding touch information. Significant difference in dynamic balance by addition of touch sense, in COH scores of ACLR people and normal population was found.

  

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that additional sensory information improves dynamic balance in ACLR patients. The positive effect of tactile information supports to apply additional sensory information as a new method for increasing dynamic balance.

  

Key words: Anterior cruciate ligament, Sensory information, Dynamic balance.

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Background and Aim: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is common in sports competition and training. Following ACL rupture, neuromuscular system performance is disrupted. Perturbation training can improve the function of patients with ACL reconstruction. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of perturbation training on ground reaction force and functional status of these patients .

  

Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with ACL reconstruction were randomly assigned into intervention (mean age: 24/2 ±3/4 years) and control (mean age: 27/1 ± 2/5 years) groups. The intervention group performed ten sessions perturbation training with rocker board, wobble board and Bosu. Peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) and time to peak vertical GRF were recorded by KISTLER force plate during single leg landing from a 30cm height step. In addition, cross hop test also was evaluated as a functional test.

  

Results: Before perturbation training, both GRF and time to peak vertical GRF in reconstructed knee had not significant difference between two groups (P>0/05). In addition, functional test score had not significant difference between the groups (P=0/62). Following perturbation training, peak vertical GRF in reconstructed knee was greater than that in control groups (P<0/003).Although time to peak vertical GRF in reconstructed knee increased, there was not statistically significant difference between two groups (P=0/50). Furthermore, functional test score was statistically greater in intervention group (P=0/03).

  

Conclusion: This s tudy showed that perturbation training can improve functional status in patients with ACL reconstruction. In addition, force plate findings indicated that the patients tolerated more forces at longer time in single leg landing.

  

Key words: Perturbation training, Ground reaction force, ACL reconstruction, Function

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Background and Aim: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is the most common overuse injury occurring at the knee. Reduction of proprioception, pain, changes in muscle activity patterns are seen in PFPS. Therefore these patients may demonstrate less balance. Thus the main objective of this study was to determine the postural control in patients with patellofemoral syndrome and compare it with healthy subjects.

Materials and Methods: Ten subjects (age 31.1 ± 5.31, weight 59.6 ± 8.95, height 1.62 ± 0.05) presenting with PFPS were compared with 10 matched control subjects (age 27.2 ± 1.81, weight 60.6 ± 2.36, height 1.67 ± 0.01).

Pain was measured with VAS scale and patella position was assessed using the method first described by McConnell. Force Plate was used to measures COP paths in sagittal and frontal plane with open and close eyes.

Results: The data showed that COP paths were different between PFPS and healthy subjects with open eyes in sagittal and frontal plane (P< 0.05). Means of COP paths increase in patients with PFPS. No differences were detected between PFPS and healthy subjects with closed eyes in sagittal and frontal plane.

Conclusion: Body sways increase in patients with PFPS with open eyes due to pain, lateral tracking patella and reduction of proprioception in knee.

Keyword:  Postural control, Patellofemoral syndrome, Open & close eye

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Background and Aim: Reliability or unreliability of the results achieved from recording of surface electromyography of muscles has always been questioned. The aim of present study was to  measure the reliability of the delayed reaction time of muscle electromyography of the knee joints on the exposure of unexpected rotary turbulence in the transverse plane from the area of supporting surface.

Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy women from 19 to 30 years old and free from any clear deformities in the lower extremities were participated in the present study. Surface electromyography of the six knee musculature was carried out for every subject separately in 4 situations including: External Rotation (Ext Rot) from plantar area on the transverse plane with bent and straight knee, Internal Rotation (Int. Rot) with the same conditions, Single Leg Stance situation in 4 stages, and repeatability of Intra Session through intra-class correlation coefficients when the muscles are in action on the exposure of turbulence in four applied forms were analyzed.

Result: The results from 24 analyzed forms showed that 18 forms of muscles at the time of action had moderate to high repeatability (Monroe Classification)

Conclusion: Regarding reliability, the muscles indicated different amounts in onset latency time, on the exposure of rotary turbulence, according to joint angle and the direction of applying rotation on the transverse plane. In respect to direction of rotation, most of the muscles indicated more reliability on the exposure of external rotation turbulence (clockwise) in relation to internal rotation (anti-clockwise) and also regarding the joint angle in turbulences with straight knee in relation to turbulences with bent knee. 

Keyword: Knee muscles, Surface electromyography, Reliability, Rotational turbulence

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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

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Background and Aim: Whole body vibration (WBV) is a new therapeutic modality which improves muscle function, proprioception and postural control by creating an oscillatory mechanical stimulation. The aim of this research was to investigate the immediate effect of WBV on postural control in young adults.

Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 22 healthy subjects were participated as a single group. Non-probability simple sampling method was used. Subjects were treated with 4 minutes WBV bout. The subjects repeated four times a 60-s light exercise program according to instructions which was shown by the therapist. During the vibration intervention, the vibration frequency increased in 1 minute intervals from 15 Hz for the first minute to 30 Hz for the last minute. Postural control indexes were recorded using the Biodex Balance system in situations of two leg standing with open and close eyes that included overall stability index (OSI), anterior-posterior stability index (APSI), medial-lateral stability index (MLSI) . In order to analyze the data, paired t-test was used.

Results: The results indicated that in the case of standing on two legs with eyes open, OSI and MLSI were statistically significant (P = 0.02; P = 0.01, respectively) and with eyes closed, OSI, APSI and MLSI were statistically significant (P = 0.000; P = 0.001; P = 0. 001, respectively).

Conclusion: Four minutes WBV bout can induce improvement of postural control and balance in young adults.

Keywords: Whole body vibration, Balance, Young adults, Stability