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Bachground and Aim:The anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) has both mechanical and sensory function. Knee joint proprioception has been tested utilizing either reproduction of position or threshold to detection of passive motion in non-weight bearing positions. It has been suggested that more functional and dynamic/active tests of proprioception may clarify the effect of injury and reconstruction on the proprioceptive function of the ACL at the knee.

 The purpose of this study was assessment of knee joint position sense (JPS) following ACL reconstruction in functional position.

Material and Method:12 patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction and 12 healthy control subjects participated in the study.

JPS was evaluated by reproduction of the angles in weight-bearing position with limb movement into flexion and extension.

The dominant-limb knee of healthy subjects and reconstructed and normal knee of the patients were selected for evaluation.

The knee angles were measured  by using a system comprised of digital photography, non-reflective markers and AutoCAD software. Absolute error was considered as a dependent variable.

Results:There were no significant differences between the operated and normal knee of the patients and between the patients and healthy control subjects. These results were observed in two tasks of limb movement into flexion and extension. The position had no significant effect on the absolute error in both groups.

Conclusion and Discussion: The result of this study suggest that subjects who have undergone ACL reconstruction do not have a deficit in knee JPS when tested under functional weight bearing conditions. Knee JPS  is maintained by muscle-tendon receptors providing primary and accurate sensory information for normal proprioceptive function, along with remaining capsular and ligamentous mechanoreceptors which provide additional and/or complimentary proprioceptive information.

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Background and Aim:Measuring the joint angles is used to assess  joint  position sense (JPS). The aim of this study was to introduce a fast, less expensive, objective and simple method of measurement.

In this study, the accuracy and reliability of a system, comprising digital photography, nonreflective markers and AutoCAD analysis (or manual analysis) were evaluated.

Material and Methods: For this purpose, the digital photos were taken from 9 angles of a standard goniometer whereas 4 square markers were been attached on its arms. The goniometer was placed at two locations on a calibration board. The angles were measured by using AutoCAD software via the markers^, corners. Furthermore, the markers were recorded at 72 angles of the knee joint positions in 24 healthy subjects.The knee angles were measured by 3 investigators and by using transparent sheets and goniometry.

Results:ICC was 1 for each location of the goniometer at each reference angle.The variability from the mean angles was approximately less than 0.2 degree. r² was 1 for each location. Intra & inter- rater reliability of the manual analysis were high.

Conclusion:It was noted that the new introduced system, was reliable and precise enough so it could be utilized to measure the joint angles, especially for evaluating the JPS.

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Background and aim: In physical evaluations, measuring the joint angle is one of the most important outcomes to assess the patient's progress, the effectiveness of various treatment techniques and to delineate the need for future treatments. The aim of this study is to study the reliability of a system consists of skin markers, digital photography, and AutoCAD software for measuring the knee joint angles.

 Materials and methods: In first section, reliability of markers placement was evaluated within three different intervals (five minutes, two days, and twenty days). At second section, reliability of digital photography was evaluated while position of the skin markers and subjects was the same. At the end, in third section, reliability of angle measurement by means of AutoCAD software was assessed.

Results: In first section, the ICC for test-retest reliability of markers placement between first and second sessions, first and third sessions, and also first and forth sessions were 0.97, 0.94, and 0.73, respectively. In second section, the ICC for test-retest reliability of digital photography was 0.99 and in third section, the ICC for intra-rater reliability of angle measurement by means of AutoCAD software was 0.99 (p=0.05).

Conclusion: It was noted that the introduced system was highly reliable, so it could be utilized to measure the knee joint angles.

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Background and Aim: The rapid growth of the athletic training profession has been accompanied by an equally rapid increase in focus on basic and clinical research. Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is an extremely common athletic injury. Despite extensive clinical and basic science research, the recurrence rate remains high. Chronic ankle instability (CAI) following LAS is hypothesized to predispose individuals to re-injury because of neuromuscular control deficits which result following injury. No investigation has been carried out on the existence of joint position deficits in the knee joint of patients with CAI. In this study, joint position sense (JPS) was evaluated in patients with CAI.

Materials and Methods: Ten female patients with CAI and ten healthy control subjects participated in this study. JPS was evaluated by reproduction of the angles in two standing and sitting positions, and in each position two target angles were tested. The knee joints in both lower limbs of patients and the dominant knee-limb of healthy subjects were evaluated. The knee angles were measured by using a system comprised of skin markers, digital photography, and Auto CAD software. Absolute error was considered as a dependant variable.

Result: There were no significant differences between the knee JPS of dominant leg in healthy subjects and both knee joints of patients. There were also no significant differences between knee JPS in two standing and sitting positions and in two different target angles (p>0/05).

Conclusion: The result of this study suggests that subjects who have CAI do not have deficit in knee JPS when tested in sitting position and also under functional weight bearing conditions.  

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Background and aim: The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis with muscle tightness, muscle strength, BMI, and age in standing position.

Material and methods: In this study, 75 healthy female subjects participated with age range 20-70 years, mean (SD) = 40.66 (13.69). Pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis were measured in standing position with pelvic inclinometer and flexible ruler respectively. The length of muscles, including: erector spinae, iliopsoas, rectus femoris, hamstrings, tensor fascia lata & ilio tibial band, and gastrocnemius were assessed by Schober, Thomas, Ely, 90/90 SLR, Ober tests and passive dorsiflexion of foot, respectively. The strength of muscles, including: rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, left & right obliqus, Gluteus maximums & medius, and quadriceps were evaluated by manual muscle tests.

 Results: The relationship between pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis with muscle strength, BMI, and age was poor. Muscle tightness and muscle strength had no significant effect on pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the evaluated variables including: pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis, have poor correlation with muscle tightness, muscle strength, BMI, and age. 

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Background and aim: During the past current decades, objective measurements in general and specialy dynamic measurements had been important aspect of evaluation of stuttering. Although these measurements can not replace with perceive judgements but these measurements help us to better diagnosis and treatment. Also we can use these for give feedback of treatment results to patient. Thereforee the purpose of this study was to measure and compare some dynamics characteristics between adult stutterers and nonstutterers.
Materials and Methods: Sample of  this study was 32 adult men including 16 stutterers and 16 nonstutterers. We used from Vowel /a/ prolongation was used for gathering the subjects voice sample.The data by were analysed by Dr. Speech software.
Results: According to this research there is not significant difference in average of vocal folds contact quotient and contact index among adult stutterers and nonstutterers. But there is significant difference in average of vocal folds contact quotient perturbation between adult stutterers and nonstutterers.
Conclusion: In this research we used vocal folds contact quotient and contact index as factors from occurrence and expanding of stuttering and therefore we concluded that these factors do not have significant role in stuttering occurrence and expanding.

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Background and Aim: Core stability is the ability of the lumbopelvic- hip complex to prevent buckling of the vertebral column and return it to equilibrium following perturbation. It has been demonstrated that trunk muscle activity occurs before the activity of the prime mover of the limb. Core stability is seen as being pivotal for efficient biomechanical function to maximize force generation and minimize joint loads in all types of activities ranging from running to throwing. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between core stability and lower extremity function in female athletes.

 Materials and Methods: Thirty volunteer female athletes with mean age (SD)=23(3.8) years old, participated in this study. They performed two series of tests: core stability tests (hip isometric abduction and lateral rotation, double leg lowering, trunk extension – flexion and left and right lateral flexion endurance, and double leg lowering), and lower extremity function tests (star excursion balance tests in three directions, vertical jump, single and triple hopping, stairs sprinting, 6 m hopping, and shuttle run).

Results: The results of this study showed that the strength of hip isometric abduction with stairs sprinting, 6 m hopping , and with star excursion balance test in three directions had r=-0.430, r=-0.367and r=0.515 respectively and all significant. Also , right lateral flexion endurance with shuttle run (r=0.367) , double leg lowering with vertical jump (r=0.42), trunk extension endurance with vertical jump (r=-0.404) ,were significantly correlated. In the other items there were no relationship between core stability and lower extremity function (p>0.05).

Conclusion: There is a relationship between core stability and lower extremity function but studies have not supported them. However, the data showed that core stability is moderately too weak related to lower extremity function, core stability could not be measured with these tests and they are not good indicators for lower extremity function. Evaluation of the core should be dynamic, and compromise assessment of the specific functions which specialize for athletic groups.

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Background and Aim: More recently, attention has turned to the role of proximal structures in function of lower limb. Decreased lumbo-pelvic (or core) stability has been suggested to contribute to the etiology of lower extremity sport injuries. This is largely due to the closed chain nature of athletic activities. Groin pain is a common complaint for athletes participating in sports such as soccer. Adductor-related groin pain was the most common primary entity in soccer players. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare of core stability between male soccer players with and without hip adductors strain. Various studies have been done for treatment and prevention of recurrent of this lesion and the most important thing in these studies was to keep the integrity of  the core stability.
Materials and Methods: Fifty professional soccer players (25 healthy and 25 with adductors strain. mean age: 21.32±2.73) was studied. Core stability was compared among them by 5 endurance and functional tests. Endurance of back extensors, trunk flexors and lateral flexors were tested by Modified Biering-Sorensen and Mc.Gilltests.In current research, the Double Leg Lowering test is applied to measure the function of the oblique abdominals muscles and the Single Leg Squat test is applied to measure the function of hip abductor and external rotators muscles.
Results: Endurance of back extensors, flexors and lateral flexors were significantly lower in the injured soccer players in comparison with the healthy players. Significant decrease in the function of oblique abdominal muscles, hip abductor and external rotator muscles were founded in the injured players (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Decrease of endurance and function in the trunk muscles is probably an important risk factor for hip adductors strain injuries in the soccer players. Increasing the endurance of the core muscles can be reduced the occurrence of hip addactors strain. 

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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 : Athletes from different sport fields are needed to lower extremity dynamic balance for their specific skills. The question can be raised is whether athletes from different sport fields are different in lower extremity dynamic balance? The aim of this study was to compare the dynamic balance of lower extremity of football, handball and taekwondo athletes with functional tests.

  

Material and Methods : Ten football, 10 handball, and 10 taekwondo healthy male athletes with the mean age of 23.83±0.06 years participated voluntarily in this study . The lower extremity dynamic balance was assessed by Shuttle Run test (SR), figure of 8 Hop test (FEH), Side to Side Hop test(SSH) and Agility Hop test (AH). All analyses were conducted using SPSS version 19.

  

Results : The scores of SR, FEH and AH tests were higher in taekwondo players compared to football and handball players (7.11± 0.26, 9.86±1.09 and 9.2 ±1.31, respectively). Football players gained the highest score in SSH test (7.52±0.84). The FEH test score in handball players was higher than football players (9.59±0.94). Statistical analysis showed significant differences between three groups on two tests (SR P=0/03 and AH P=0/01).

  

Conclusion : This study showed that lower extremity function of athletes from different fields of sport may be different. It seems that football and handball players need more agility and speed than taekwondo players for doing their own skills. This issue should be considered in designing the sport specific training protocol for athletes.

 

Key words : Functional test, Football, Handball, Taekwondo

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Background and Aim: Presently, lecturing is widely used as a teaching method at all Universities particularly, if the aim is to convey the materials to a large class of students. However, nowadays recording the voice of the lecturer has become a common practice and has introduced as a new learning technique. There are studies in which researchers acknowledged this method and have mentioned many advantages for it. On the other hand, many others have declared that this method which might be used for students with certain disabilities may cause distraction and reduces the learning that can occur. The purpose of this study was to compare the method of recorded lectures with note-making in class on undergraduate physiotherapy students’ learning.

  

Materials and Methods : In a descriptive- cross sectional study 29 undergraduate physiotherapy students classified in two groups according to studying methods one group used the method of note-making in class and the other one utilized the method of the voice recording . Four dependent variables including written exam grades, teacher’s evaluation scores, course satisfaction scores, and students’ grades on difficult questions were measured.

  

Results: There were no significant differences between two groups in written exam grades (P=0.92), teacher’s evaluation scores (P=0.55), course satisfaction scores (P=0.57), and on difficult questions grades (P=0.53).

  

Conclusion: Using voice recorders had no significant effect on students’ learning. The results are related to one specific course and can not be extended to other courses.

  

Key words: Lecturing, Voice recording, written exam grades, Teacher’s evaluation scores

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Background and Aim: According to the attachments lumbar spine and pelvic muscles, it seems that pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis have previous studies about this relationship have shown different results and these conflicting results can hamper therapist to set a correct therapeutic plan. The aim of this study was to examine this relationship in a large sample and with more accurate instruments. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty healthy women (20-65 year-old) with a mean age of 41.45 12.27 participated in this study. Pelvic tilt was measured by inclinometer and lumbar lordosis by flexible ruler. Statistical tests have been performed by SPSS (version 11.5) computer software. Results: The results of this study showed a weak correlation between pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis (r =0.16, p<0.05). This association was little affected by age. Conclusion: This study has examined the relationship between pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis of healthy women in static position. The present study showed a weak correlation between pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis in healthy women.

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Background and Aim: Shoulder injury is one of the most common injuries in overhead sports. Impingement syndrome is most frequent cause of these injures. Scapular has important biomechanical role in normal shoulder function .Muscle imbalance changes normal scapular arthrokinematic and as a result the risk of injury is high. One of the treatment methods which is used in athletes with impingement syndrome is kinesio taping. Goals of this study was to investigate the effects of kinesio taping of trapezius muscles on pain , functional movements of shouhder joint and lateral scapular slide in athletes with impingement syndrome.

Materials and Methods: Fifteen athletes with a mean age of 30.53±3.56 with impingement syndrome participated in this study. Pain with visual analog scale , functional movements and lateral scapular slide test in 3 positions was  assessed . Then kinesio taping was used for trapezius muscles .Repeated evaluation was performed in 3 different periods of : 20 minutes , 72 hours , 6 days  after first session.

Results: Mean of  pain was reduced in 72 hours and 6 days after kinesio taping (p=0.003) .  Ext.rot + abd movement after kinesio taping was improved and the most improvement was 6 days after kinesio taping (p=0.004). Int.rot+add movement after kinesio taping was improved and the most improvement was 6 days after kinesio taping (p=0.001). Lateral scapular slide test in first position and second position improved significantly. In third position test did not change significantly after kinesiotaping.

Conclusion: Kinesio taping of trapezius muscles in athletes with impingement syndrome has effects on pain reduction, improvement of functional movement of shoulder and improvement of scapular kinematic. Therefore kinesio taping can be used as a treatment in athletes with impingement syndrome.

Keywords: Kinesio taping, Trapezius muscles, Impingement syndrome.

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Background and Aim:: Muscular shortness is one of the most common musculoskeletal impairments. It may occur as a result of trauma or even a sedentary life style and cause clinical symptoms. Hamstring muscle, due to its functional roles, is prone to injuries during physical activities. Research has shown that decreased hamstring muscle flexibility may lead to lower extremity injury. The goal of this study is to compare the effects of myofascial release (MFR) and muscle energy technique (MET) effects on hamstring muscle flexibility. 

Materials and Methods: Twenty four non-athlete healthy subjects (means ± SD= 26/12 ± 5.4 Years) were randomly assigned to two groups; myofascial release group and muscle energy technique group. Passive range of motion (ROM) of knee extension was measured using a digital goniometer before and immediately after the intervention.

Results: There was a significant increase in the knee passive range of motion immediately after both interventions (in MFR group p=0.000 and in MET Group p=0.000).The amount of knee extension increase was greater in myofascial release group (p=0.023).

Conclusion: Both MFR and MET can increase hamstring muscle flexibility; however, in this study MFR has shown to be more effective than MET.

Keywords: Flexibility, Muscle energy technique,  Myofascial release technique,  Hamstring muscle