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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: This study was performed to compare the stiffness of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles in subjects with anterior knee pain and normal subjects.

Materials and Methods: In this non experimental and case-control study, 20 persons with anterior knee pain were selected simply from convenient sample and 20 healthy persons were selected by matching method. proximal and distal stiffness of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles were measured using an isokinetic device in the passive mode. Also, maximal concentric peak torque during flexion and extension movements of hip and knee, in two groups were compared by independent T-test and correlation analysis.

Results: There was no significant difference between anterior knee pain and proximal compartment of rectus femoris(P=0.320) and hamstring(P=0.125) stiffness, but there was significant difference between anterior knee pain and distal compartment of rectus femoris and hamstring stiffness (P<0.001). Significant relationship was found between anterior knee pain and muscles strength (P<0.001). No correlation was found between strength and stiffness of rectus femoris (P=0.356) and hamstring muscles (P=0.643) in patients group, but in healthy subjects this relationship was found (P<0.001). 

Conclusion: In patients with anterior knee pain, hamstring and rectus femoris muscles stiffness increased and muscle strength decreased. Increasing of muscle strength was effective on stiffness in healthy subjects, but there was no relation between them in patients group. Also rectus femoris and hamstring muscles possibly have different proximal and distal neuromuscular compartments.

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Background and Aim: In some disorders, word finding is difficult. There is different ways to assess naming process that verbal fluency is one way. So far has not been an index to verbal fluency assessment and treatment, the aim of this study was to determine normative data of semantic fluency for 18-69 -year – old adult Persian speakers.
Materials and Methods: This study was cross sectional and analytic. Participants were 540 normal adults 18-69 -year – old. They were divided in 4 age groups ( 18-30, 31-43, 44-56, 57-69) and 3 educational groups (0-8, 9-12, >12). The peoples were asked to name animals and fruits in 60 seconds, words were recorded and analyzed whit Troyer method and SPSS 16 software.
Results: The findings of this study did not show significant differences in semantic verbal fluency, clusters mean and number of switches between two genders. But significant differences were found in semantic verbal fluency (P=0.000) and number of switching (P=0.000) between educational groups. Also significant differences were found in semantic verbal fluency (P=0.014), clusters (P=0.000) mean and number of switching (P=0.000) between age groups.
Conclusion: Semantic verbal fluency and number of switching increase by promoting the education but decrease by rising of participant age. Clusters mean increase by rising of participant but the education had not significant effect. Gender had no effect on none of them. The findings of this study are consistent with other studies and difference in findings in some of studies, could cause of different in educational and age partitions.

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Abstract

Background and Aim: The Action Observation stimulates mirror neurons. It is the effective acquisition of skills, motor learning and memory formation and this feature can be used to treat injuries such as stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of action observation on the symmetry of weight distribution in lower limbs and stability indices in semi-dynamic stability.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 91 healthy male and female non-athletes aged 20 to 45 years. Data were collected through questionnaires and clinical examinations. Subjects were randomly assigned to men and women with and without film observation. A 3-minute short film was preapared to stimulate mirror neurons in the standing position on the symmetry weight measurement system and Biodex platform system. In film observation group, before and after viewing the film, distribution of weigh bearing on the right and left sides, and dynamic stability indices in two stability levels of 5 and 8 were measured and calculated indices of total, anterior - posterior and medio- lateral indices were obtained. In without film observation group, measurements were performed at the similar time as a film observation group.

Results: Percentage weight distribution showed no significant difference between the two groups. The comparison of percentage changes between two groups showed that observation of the film improved significantly total index (p <0.002) and anterior – posterior index (p <0.018) in the stability level of 5. Analysis of the results in the separately men and women groups, showed the significant improvement of these parameters only in women group after film observation regardless of film observation, the percentage changes of stability indices showed no significant differences in men groups.

Conclusion: Action Observation (by activating the mirror neurons) can be effective methods to improve the balance standing of healthy people on the stable and unstable surfaces. Significant improvement stability indices in women after viewing the film, may suggest the greater sensitivity of women's mirror neurons related to men.

Keywords: Mirror Neurons, Action Observation, Symmetry of Weight Distribution, Dynamic Stability, Stability

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 Background and Aim: Total Hip Replacement (THR) is done comprehensively all over the world. Despite the effects of braces on control of THR complications , few studies have been performed on this subject. The purpose of this study was to evaluate immediate effect of hip abduction brace on mobility and functional balance of patients with THR.

  

 Materials and Methods: Eight men and nine women with THR participated in this study. Mobility and functional balance were assessed and compared with and without brace conditions by means of TUG, FR and Berg tests.

  

  Results : A significantly higher TUG, FR and Berg scores were seen in brace condition compared to without brace situation (P < 0.05).

  

  Conclusion: Hip abduction brace can increase mobility and functional balance in patients with THR.

  

  Keywords: Total Hip Replacement, Functional balance, Functional Mobility, Hip Abduction Brace

  

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Background and Aim: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is one of the most important elements in normal musculoskeletal function during gait cycle and serve as a shock absorber during heel strike and load transfer from lower limbs to trunk. Its stabilizing is the product of osseous, ligamentus and muscular elements which muscle activity of these muscles (Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Multifidus, Erector Spinea, and Latissimus Dorsi) is important in load transfer through SIJ. It seems that the function of the given muscles in sacroiliac joint pain subjects is interrupted. So, the aim of the present study is to compare muscle activity during different events of stance phase of gait cycle during preferred and slow speed between sacroiliac joint pain and healthy subjects.

  

Methods and Materials: Thirteen SIJ pain subjects (12 females, 1 male) and thirteen healthy subjects (11 females, 2 male) participated in this study. Muscle activity based on RMS from selected muscles was recorded during different events of stance phase of gait either preferred or slow speed by EMG Data-link Biometrics and normalized according to muscle activity during a 500 ms period in rest position before starting walking called Baseline Correction.

  

Results: Significant statistical differences were found between two groups in muscle activity based RMS during different events of stance (p=0/006), but there was no significant difference in effect of speed on RMS between two groups (p=0/37). Significant Statistical differences were also seen between selected muscles in each group separately during slow speed of walking (p=0/003) but no significant statistical difference during preferred speed in SIJ pain group (p=0/14).

  

Conclusion: SIJ subjects have showed increased levels of muscle activity during different events of stance phase of gait with preferred and slow speeds. These increased levels can be interpreted as a mechanism to control trunk movements effectively, provide sufficient support and transfer load to lumbar area efficiently.

  

Key words: Muscle activity, Sacroiliac joint, Gait, Trunk muscle, Lower limb muscles

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Background and Aim: The curves of the spine, especially lumbar lordosis, play an important role in the maintenance of an efficient upright posture and allow efficient absorption of the loads applied to the spinal column and increase the efficiency of the spinal musculature. Excessive lumbar postures, also called “hyperlordosis” and “hypolordosis” , are thought by some researchers to be indicative of altered muscle activity and stress patterns. Therefore tolerance of particular activities of daily living (ADL) of an individual with these postures is reduced. Despite the importance of neuromuscular control at spinal column maintenance and coordination, there are little investigations about the effect of thoracic and lumbar curvatures on trunk muscles activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate electromyographic behavior of trunk muscles in lordotic posture.

  

Materials and Methods: Twelve subjects with lordotic posture ( mean age 23.67 years, mean weight 56.67 kg, and mean height 162 cm) and eleven subjects with normal posture ( mean age 22 years, mean weight 59.36 kg, and mean height 164.91 cm) participated in this study. Subjects were asked to hold a load equivalent of 7% of her body weight.

  

Results: Data analysis indicated that there is not significant statistically difference in median frequency variable between two groups (p>0.05). But there is significant statistically differences at The percentage change in RMS of erector spinae and internal oblique muscles at three time periods between two groups. The percentage change in RMS of external oblique muscle has significant statistically difference at first and third time periods between two groups.

  

Conclusion: These finding reveal that excessive lumbar lordosis alter the activity levels of trunk muscles. Therefore, it seems that the use of posture correction exercises in therapeutic protocols is necessary for improvement of these changes. Also, it is recommended to do this research in dynamic tasks for attain of comprehensive information about the effect of postural deviation on electromyographic behavior of trunk muscles.

  

Keywords: Electromyography, Hyperlordosis, Posture, Prolonged load holding

  

  ^* Corresponding Author: Dr.AzadehShadmehr, Rehabilitation Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences