Background and aim: The great amount of load tolerated by the knee joint during daily activities has made this joint the most vulnerable joint to osteoarthritis. Different types of knee orthosis are prescribed for treatment and among them neopran and 3 pressure points orthosis are the most common ones. Although these orthosis are used widely, little is known about their effects on the relief of patient's symptoms. In this study the immediate effects of two "4 spring-loaded neopran" and "3 pressure points corrective" knee orthosis on the pain reduction and functional improvement of the patients suffering from medial compartment knee orthosis were compared.

 Materials and methods: Twenty patients (age 53±12) with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis, with severity of less than grade 4 (based on the Kellgren & Lowrence grading method and diagnosis of an orthopedist) and tibiofemoral angle of above 180º were recruited. The functional performance was assessed by 6 min walking test in the first day without orthosis and in the 2^nd and 3^rd day immediately after wearing one of the orthosis in random order. The intensity of pain was evaluated by 100 mm VAS test in the first day before and after 6 min walking test and in the 2^nd and 3^rd day only after the walking test.

 Results: Both orthosis induced a significant reduction in patient's pain (p<0.01) and improvement in functional capacity (p<0.01). the comparison between the two orthosis regarding the pain reduction after the walking test revealed the dominance of the 3 pressure points corrective orthosis (p<0.007). The difference between the functional improvements of two knee orthosis was statistically not significant (average increase in walking distance of 15 m and 24 meters for neopran and 3 pressure point orthosis).

 Conclusion: The 3 pressure point and neopran knee orthosis can induce significant reduction in pain and improvement in the functional capacity of the patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. The 3 pressure point orthosis seems to dominate the neopran in pain reduction and functional improvement (however not statistically significant).

Background and Aim: The aim of this research was to study spinal abnormalities ( kyphosis, lordosis and scoliosis ) and dynamic and static balance in mentally retardation with and without Down syndrome (DS) and relation between them in DS.

Materials and Methods: Thirty mentally retardation with DS (age 13.96 ± 1.77 yr) and 30 mentally retardation without DS (age 14.30±1.96 yr) that selected randomly participated in this study. Modified single balance test for the evaluation static balance and heel-to-toe test for evaluation dynamic balance were used. Continued spinal abnormalities included kyphosis, lordosis and thoracic & lumbar scoliosis were measured by spinal mouse.

Result: The results showed a significant difference between static and dynamic balance, kyphosis and thoracic & lumbar scoliosis in mentally retarded with and without DS . There was a significant relationship between static balance and kyphosis and thoracic and lumbar scoliosis and dynamic balance with kyphosis and thoracic and lumbar scoliosis in DS . There was not a significant relationship between balance and lordosis.

Conclusion: Due to relationship between postural and balance and special needs in mentally retardation particularly Down syndrome, for optimal performance of their daily activities, it should emphasis to recognize the structural profile and prescribe postural corrective programs and improving balance.

Key words : Down syndrome, Spinal deformities, Static balance, Dynamic balance  

Background and Aim: Physical and cognitive performance changes such as impairment in balance and reaction time occur with aging. In according to some studies, these disorders may be delayed by systematic physical activities. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Pilates training on the improvement of balance and reaction time of sedentary adulthood men in Kermanshah city.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 sedentary adulthood men, aged (72.15±6.74), selected and divided into two equal groups randomly. These old men lived in Elderly centers in Kermanshah. In order to measure the participants’ balance and reaction time, static balance test stork, timed up and go test and reaction time system was used. Participants participated in a course of 8-week Pilates exercise program such as stretching movements in the muscular joints balance practicing of legs, standing on one foot and deep breathing. After assurance of normality using K-S test, independent t-test was used

  for data analysis.

Results : The results showed in comparison with control group, participation in Pilates protocol, could improve balance and reaction time in elderly men significantly (p<.0.05).

Conclusion: According to results of this study , Pilates training can improve balance and reaction time of the elderly . So to improve the cognitive and motor functions of the elderly , it can be recommended to participate in physical activities such as Pilates training .

Key Words: Pilates training, Elderly, Static balance, Dynamic balance, Reaction time

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sensory-motor integration on Balance and Reaction time in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder( DCD). Motor developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a statement that the American Psychiatric Association was described for children who have difficulty in implementing some of the skills and competencies necessary to deal with the needs of the motor suffering their everyday lives, proposed locomotors.

Materials and Methods: This study was a semi-experimental study. Twenty patients (mean age, 8.5years old) were randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control groups from the DCD children rehabilitation center in Kermanshah. Continuous performance test, test improved stork and test walk heel to toe were used. After the pretest, the experimental group had a protocol for 8 weeks, three sessions per week of 120 minutes exercise (Swinging, jumping on Trampoline, baby turn around, turn around and coach children). To investigate the differences between the groups and the effect of exercise, ANOVA with repeated measures design with 2 × 2 (two with double measurement) were used. Post hoc t-test and t-test was used to analyze differences within groups and between groups.

Results: The results showed that the experimental group showed a significant improvement in reaction time, dynamic and static balance. There was a significant difference at post-test in experimental group due to the extent of the practice.

Conclusion: Improvement in balance is more likely due to the increased proprioception and stability. It is also likely to reduce the reaction time of integrated activities due to the pre-movement or speed up of the processing of perceptual or cognitive.

Keywords:  Sensory-motor integration, Balance , Reaction time, DCD