Background and Aim: Incorrect backpack carrying with overload causes musculoskeletal pain in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of unilateral carriage backpack with load condition on height, postural angels and gait pattern in rural children.

Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 20 healthy boys children (mean age 12.3±1.5 year) were selected randomly. Each of the subjects carried backpacks with 0%, 10%, 15% and 20% body weight with speed of 1.1(m/s) on treadmill for 30 minutes. We recorded with a videotape while children were walking on treadmill. Analyzing of cinematography of movies was done with Dartfish Software (version 7.7).

Results: Based on the results of this study, unilateral backpack carrying caused significant changes in height and trunk forward lean between 0%, 10%, 15% and 20% load conditions(P<0.05). But there were not significant changes between 10%, 15% body weights (P>0.05). Changes in knee lean angle were not significant between different weights (P>0.05).  But in step length between 0%, 10%, body weights were significant. Step frequency between 0%, 10%, and 10%, 15% load conditions were significant (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Analyzing of data showed that carriage backpack with load conditions resulted in decrease in height and increase in trunk forward lean. Also the load conditions increased knee lean angle significantly. Furthermore, the carriage of backpack with load conditions showed a significant increase in step length and step frequency.                                                                                                                

Keywords: Rural student, Unilateral backpack carrying, Posture, gait pattern

Background and Aim: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from respiratory disorders during the course of their disease .To express disability, much of the interest was devoted to their mobility and less attention has been paid on physiological aspects such as respiration. The aim of this study was to compare some of the important indices of breathing patterns in healthy individuals and people with MS. Furthermore the correlation between duration of disease and disability scores (EDSS) with pulmonary indices were investigated.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive analysis study, there were 32 people with MS and 32 healthy subjects. Both groups were matched and selected by some of the demographic characteristics. We investigated biochemical parameters that were assessed by measuring end-tidal CO₂ pressure, saturation of O₂ and respiratory rate using Capnograph. Student’s t-test was applied for independent samples. The relationships between duration of disease and EDSS with pulmonary indices were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation.

Results: The end-tidal CO₂ index had significant difference between the two groups and was lower in people with MS, whereas saturation of O₂ and respiratory rate did not have significant difference. There was a significant positive correlation among the disease duration and the disability scores, but was not associated with abnormal breathing pattern.

Conclusion: Existence of disorders in some parameters of  respiratory pattern in people with MS are revealed that survey of respiratory system in people with MS can be effective in the early diagnosis and treatment process of breathing problems in physiotherapy centers.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, Breathing pattern, Biochemical parameter, Respiratory dysfunction

Background and Aim: Fractal dimension (FD) as a measure of system complexity and a chaos and nonlinear dynamics tool has appeared successful in distinguishing subjects with different specifications such as proficiency level. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the capability of FD analysis of postural stability in distinguishing elite Wushu sportsman for dispatching to various competitions.

Materials and Methods: Eight elite and eight non-elite Wushu sportsmen from Talou section participated in this research and performed a difficult balance motion called “backward balance”. Center of pressure (COP) traces were recorded and Higuchi algorithm has been used to obtain fractal dimension of COP displacement time series. Average of FD of two groups were compared with an unpaired t-test.

Results: In both directions of anterio-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML), average values of FD in elite group were significantly more than non-elite group (p<0.05). Subsequently, implementing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that FD analysis method performance is very good in AP direction (Area under the curve or AUC=0.938) and good enough in ML direction (AUC=0.668).

Conclusions: Postural control system acts more complex in elite group because of their more proficiency. FD analysis of COP time series could help coaches in choosing elite Wushu sportsman even among a group of skilled Wushu sportsmen. 

Keywords: Wushu, Postural stability, Fractal dimension, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC), Center of pressure (COP)

Background and Aim: Balance impairment in patients with stroke leads to dependence in activities of daily living. Appropriate, accurate and inexpensive tools are necessary to assess the severity of balance impairment. In order to identify individuals with chronic stroke who have balance impairment and to apply proper treatment, the aim of this study was to examine the sensitivity and specificity of Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Functional Reach (FR) tests, Bend Reach test (BRT) and Step test (ST) in functional balance assessment of patients with chronic cerebrovascular accident.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative study, eighty-one patients with chronic stroke by mean age of 58.82 (±13.48) years and the mean past duration of disease 36.33 (28.27) months were selected by simple non-probability method. Functional balance and mobility tests including TUG, FR, BRT and ST were used as index test and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used as reference test.

Results: All of functional balance and mobility tests including TUG, FR, BRT and ST have a significant ability to identify individuals with chronic stroke subjected to the balance impairment compared with BBS(p<0.0001). Sensitivity of functional balance and mobility tests including TUG, FR, BRT and ST in intact and affected feet at the moderate or above threshold were 90, 90, 88, 88 and 90 percent respectively and at the sever threshold were 60, 85, 58, 88 and 60 percent respectively. Specificity of these tests at the moderate or above threshold were 56, 85, 65, 57 and 53 percent, respectively and at the sever threshold were 89, 90, 92, 30 and 92 percent respectively. TUG functional balance and mobility test had the highest agreement with BBS balance test.

Conclusion: TUG functional balance and mobility test are the best tool to identify chronic stroke patients with balance impairment in both moderate or above and severe threshold.

Keywords: Chronic stroke, Balance, Sensitivity, Specificity

Background and Aim: Visually and hearing impairments are as the most common groups of physical disabilities. Due to limitation caused by these disorders, they can affect family functioning. The aim of this study was to compare the functioning of families with visual and hearing impairments with families without disorders.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive – analytical study, 55 subjects with visually and hearing impairment from association of the blind and deaf of Ahvaz city, Iran and 55 subjects without disorders as the control group were selected by available sampling method and examined. Data collection tools include Family Assessment Device (FAD) inventory and the demographic  information questionnaire. Finally, the data were statistically analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS 20 software.

Results: The research findings showed that the mean scores values obtained from FAD inventory
in families with visual and hearing impairments and the controls had no statistically significant differences (P=0.1). Comparing the functioning dimensions in the three groups, the families with visual impairment had poorer functioning in dimensions of behavioral control (P=0.02), communication (P = 0.01) and overall functioning (P = 0.03) with respect to the two groups.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the families with visual impairment have lower performance compared to families with hearing impairment and the control group in some aspects.

Keywords: Family functioning, Visually impairment, Hearing impairment

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of perceptual – motor training on motor proficiency in children with hyperactivity disorder.

Materials and Methods: This study was semi-experimental. Fifty hyperactive children referred to Farabi hospital of  Kermanshah. Thirty patients (mean age, 8.8 years old) were randomly selected and examined in the control group were evaluated. The tools of the research were the Conners parent questionnaire, Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency. Firstly, the per-test was held for all participants. Then, the experimental group did the perceptual- motor activities for 2 months (24 sessions) and after this period, the post test was administered to both groups. Paired t-test and t-test were used to compare the means (P<0.01).

the significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores of experimental group,  Results: In motor proficiency (total subtests: running speed and agility, balance, bilateral coordination, strength, upper body coordination, response speed, visual controls - motor skills and a high-speed trunk) was found.

Conclusion: It seems that perceptual – motor training improves motor skills in children.

Keywords: Perceptual – motor training, ADHD, Motor proficiency, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills.

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the neck and temporomandibular joint range of motion and muscle endurance in patients with temporomandibular disorders, referring to the dental school of tehran university of medical science and healthy individuals.

Materials and Methods: A total of 30 healthy men as control and 30 patients aged 20-40 years with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) were selected as patients. Range of motion in flexion and extension of the head and neck and mouth opening was measured and masticatory muscle endurance as well as the neck extensor muscles was measured and averaged values for each patient group were compared with the control group.

Results: Head and neck flexion range of motion and endurance of neck extensor muscles in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) was lower than healthy controls. (P<0.001)

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that disorders of temporomandibular joint can change extensor muscle endurance and range of motion in neck. Pay attention to neck problems can be effective in improving patients with disorders of temporomandibular joint.

 Keywords: Range of motion, Muscular endurance, Temporomandibular disorder

Background and Aim: Behavior of people in the face of disease and help seeking is very different.  Considering the high prevalence of urinary stress incontinence in female athletes, knowing their experiences of help seeking and identify of their needs,  can be used to plan treatment strategies based on the needs of female athletes with stress urinary incontinence and shifting them to receive health care and rehabilitation services. The purpose of this study is to understand experiences of this group of female athletes from help seeking.

Materials and Methods: This is a phenomenological study and sampling was purposeful and performed after identifying professional female athletes by oral questions. Data gathering was semi-structured deep interview. The results of 29 individual and one focus group interview were analyzed using Colaizzi method.

Results: According to the results of this study, the findings were categorized to 3 themes and 11 sub-themes. Themes are self-treatment, do not help seek and use of prevention strategies.

Conclusion: Female athletes with stress urinary incontinence do not have correct awareness of available treatment for prevention and rehabilitation care of this condition and consider this condition as a part of sport injuries due to professionalism and they have less incentive to seek its cause and treatment.

Key words: Stress urinary incontinence, Experience of help seeking, Female athlete

Background and Aim: Perceptual motor abilities are based on motor functions and conceptual growth. Therefore, regarding the weak perceptual motor abilities in mental retarded children, it will be an effective step in eliminating their learning problems and improving their functional activities at school, at home and in the society. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of instruction of balance exercises along with gross movement exercises on the balance function and gross movement in mental retarded children.

Materials and Methods: Using a simple non-probability sampling method, based on a pilot sample and the sample size formula were considered 10 children in the treatment group and 10 children in the control group. Inclusion criteria include educable children with mental retardation without significant skeletal, neurological and mental illness and the age group is between 4.5 to 14.5 years. Exclusion criteria include uncooperative child and absence of more than one session. Treatment group for 10 weeks, 3 sessions per week for 30-minute exercises; balance training and gross motor was taught. No intervention was done on control group. Then all subjects retested. The effectiveness of the treatment on balance and gross motor function were performed by statistical analysis.

Results: Before treatment, balance and gross motor scores were not significant (P&ge;0.05) between the intervention and control groups. In the interventional group, gross motor scores were significant (P&le;0.05) but balance scores were not significant (P&ge;0.05). Balance and gross motor scores between pre-and post-intervention in control group were not significant (P&ge; 0.05).

Conclusion: Lack of experience in the motor skills resulted poor motor skills in mental retarded children. Therefore, according to the findings of this study, we can provide requirements for gaining motor experiences with planning, targeted training and utilization of effective rehabilitation and occupational therapy.         

Keywords: Balance exercises, Gross exercises, Mental retardation

Background and Aim: There have been disabled people in every society. Disabled who employed and working in organizations has less ability in physical and motor area, so it is important to consider personality dimensions of disabled people for promoting productivity of organizations. Also, as organizational commitment have an effective role in progress and maintain health statues of workers, so ignoring this important factor might result in decreasing productivity. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between personality extraversion-introversion with organizational commitment in disabled employees.

Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical and comparative cross-sectional study. The target population included all of the disabled employed in the offices of Aligudarz city who were 110 people, which were selected by census method, and all of them completed the questionnaire. The research tools included Eysenck personality and organizational commitment questionnaire. In order to analyze the data, Pearson correlation and regression were performed.

Results: The results indicated that a positive and meaningful relationship between personality extraversion and organizational commitment and a negative and meaningful relationship between personality introversion and organizational commitment were obtained. A positive and meaningful relationship between personality extraversion and affective commitment (r=0.36), between personality extraversion and continuance commitment (r=0.52) and between personality extraversion and normative commitment were obtained (r=0.56). A negative and meaningful relationship between personality introversion and affective commitment (r=0/31), between personality introversion and continuance commitment (r=0.47) and also between personality introversion and normative commitment were obtained (r=0.54) that generally has indirect relationship introversion with organizational commitment. (P&le; 0.01)

Conclusion: On the basis of the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the disabled subjects that have personality extraversion have more organizational commitment in their work environment. Disabled introverted personality is essential to pay more attention to the business environment.

Keywords: Introversion٬Extraversion٬Organizational commitment ٬Disabled. 

Background and Aim: Measures of oral diadochokinesis are widely used in the assessment and detecting motor speech disorders and functional abnormalities of speech performance. Preschoolers have great difficulties with this clinical task. One reason for this problem is application of using of non-words in the test. Since, such words were not designed in Farsi; therefore we compared some words and non-words repetitive articulatory rate in preschool children.

Materials and Methods: In this analytic cross-sectional study design, 142 children (65 boys & 77 girls) aged 4 to 6 years old were participated. We compared timing for 10 fast repetitions between two meaningful words /motæk&Lambda;, gol&Lambda;bi/ and tri-syllabic sequences /p&Lambda;t&Lambda;k&Lambda;/. Data was analyzed by repeated measures of ANOVA test.

Results: In children aged 4 to 5 years old, mean ± SD of timing for 10 repetitions of /p&Lambda;t&Lambda;k&Lambda;, motæk&Lambda;, gol&Lambda;bi/ were 7.72±1.02, 6.58±1.68 & 6.65±1.13 seconds respectively, and in children aged 5 to 6 years, were 7.57±0.95, 6.35±1.38 & 6.30±1.01 seconds respectively. This Analysis showed that regardless of all factors, the main effect of type of words on oral diadochokinesis was significant (p=0.0001). There were no other significant main effects or interactions.

Conclusion: Children aged 4 to 6 years old could repeat meaningful words /motæk&Lambda;, gol&Lambda;bi/ faster than non-word /p&Lambda;t&Lambda;k&Lambda;/. Sex and age group factors had not significant effect on oral diadochokinesis function. Finally, it is suggested that speech therapists can examine this ability with meaningful words.

Keywords: Oral diadochokinesis, Word, Non-word

Background and Aim: ACL injury is one of the most common sport injuries which undergo reconstructive surgery. Electromyography or recording of muscles’ electrical activity is a suitable means to assess changes in motor control system output. The goal of this study is to compare the lower limb muscles EMG activity during drop landing in individuals after ACL reconstruction and healthy subjects.

Materials and Methods: Eleven men who had undergone ACL reconstruction 6 to 24 months ago (Age 29±6 years old) and 11 healthy men (Age 28±2 years old) participated in the study. Amount of electrical activity for tibialis anterior, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus and biceps femoris muscles was recorded using surface electrodes during drop landing and calculated for two time intervals. The amount of activity was measured in -150 to +50 and +50 to +180 intervals in relation to the landing moment. Subjective IKDC questionnaire and cross-over hop functional test were used to determine the subjective and objective functional level.  Independent t test was used to determine between-group statistical differences.

Results: Feed forward activity of semitendinosus (P=.041) and biceps femoris (P=.008) muscles were significantly higher in ACLR group and feedback activity of vastus medialis (P=.03) muscles was significantly lower in ACLR group. Healthy individuals showed higher score on both the functional test and IKDC questionnaire. (P<.0005)

Conclusion: Individuals who had undergone reconstructive surgery of ACL showed different muscular activity compared to healthy subjects and closer to ACL deficient individuals 6 months after surgery and routine rehabilitation.

Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, Electromyography, Neuromuscular control

Background and Aim: Children with cerebral palsy have impaired quality of life for reasons such as sensory-motor impairments. There is no tool in Persian to examine quality of life of children with cerebral palsy based on their specific conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess psychometric properties of the  Persian version of the parent report of the Quality of Life Questionnaire for adolescence with Cerebral Palsy (CP QOL Teen).

Materials and Methods: In this psychometrics measurement study, CP QOL (parent report) was translated to Persian based on the International Quality of Life Assessment Project (International Quality Of Life Assessment Project: IQOLA), and then its face validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability were assessed. A convenient sample of subjects including 82 parents of adolescence with cerebral palsy (13-18 years old), were recruited.

Results: Face and content validity were obtained by parents and experts respectively. Content Validity Index was 0.62. There was a significant correlation between total score and subscales scores of the questionnaire and also, between total score and GMFCS. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the total score was 0.994. Also, cronbach's coefficient &alpha; for the internal consistency of all of the questions of the questionnaire were 0.996

Conclusion: Persian version of the parent report of CPQOL has acceptable reliability and validity. It is a useful assessment tool for evaluating the quality of life of adolescence with cerebral palsy.

Keywords: Reliability, Validity, Persian version of parent report of the quality of life questionnaire for adolescence with cerebral palsy.

Background and Aim:  The aim of this study was to determine the short-term and long-term effects of one protocol of physiotherapy on reduction of pain, improve active lumbar range of motion and disability in the patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain.

Materials and Methods: A total of 12 patients with lumbar radiculopathy were included in this study. Physical therapy included electrical nerve stimulation at sensory level, superficial heat and therapeutic exercise for patients. Pain intensity of lumbar and affected lower extremity, active lumbar range of motion and disability were considered as variables in this study. The evaluation was performed 6 months after the end of therapy sessions. The repeated measure of ANOVA was used to assess the effect of physiotherapy and pair t-test was used to assess the follow-up.

Result: Statistically significant differences were found in lumbar pain, affected lower extremity, active lumbar flexion, right and left lateral flexion and disability after treatment (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in lumbar pain, affected lower extremity , active lumbar right and left lateral flexion in the last session of treatment and 6 month later (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Physiotherapy is an effective treatment in order to reduce pain and improve active lumbar range of motion in patients with lumbar radicular pain.

Keywords:  Physiotherapy, Radicular pain, Range of motion, Disability

Background and Aim: Depression is one of the most important threats to psychological well-being of individuals in the 21^st century. Individuals experiencing depression will have unpleasant feelings of sadness and discouragement. This feeling stops individuals, especially students, to have the ability of experiencing fun and joyfulness in life. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of short-term resistance exercises on occupational performance areas and depression severity in students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

Materials and Methods: Convenience sampling was used in this study. Participants included 40 freshmen of medical sciences in experimental group and a matching group as control group (40 participants). The Beck Depression Inventory (second edition) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement were tested before and after implementing the designed protocols. Participants in experimental group performed resistance exercises 3 days a week, each session last 90 minutes over an 8-weeks period. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis.

Results: The paired t test expressed that there are significant differences in performance (P<.001), satisfaction (P<.001) and depression (P<.001) regarding experimental group before and after intervention of the study. The independent t test suggests significant differences in performance (P<.001), satisfaction (P<.001) and depression (P<.001) among both groups after implementing exercise program.

Conclusion: Short-term resistance exercises can effectively reduce depression severity and improve performance and satisfaction among students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

Keywords: Resistance exercises, Occupational performance areas, Depression, Students

Background and Aim: Fatigue is a factor that disrupts balance and leads to sport injuries. Female athletes have a much higher incidence of ligament injuries than men. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of gender and functional fatigue on dynamic balance.

Materials and Methods: Thirty two non athletic healthy subjects (16 women and 16 men) aged between 18-35 year participated in this study. Star excursion balance test was performed pre and post functional fatigue at the posterolateral and posteromedial directions.

Results: Main effect of fatigue was significant (F=37.62, P<0.01). Both groups showed reduced reach distance after fatigue in posterolateral and posteromedial directions. Fatigue and group Interaction was not significant (F=0.045, P>0.05). The Interaction of fatigue and directions of star excursion balance test was not significant (F=1.169, P>0.05).

Conclusion: Fatigue reduced the dynamic postural control in both gender. However, this reduction was not different between the groups. It seems that other factors rather than the effect of fatigue on postural control contribute to the difference in the risk of injury between men and women.

Keywords: Functional fatigue, Balance, Gender

Background and Aim: Standing stability is resulted by normal functioning of various neuro-muscular and musculo-skeletal systems. Patients with below knee amputation cannot use ankle strategy due to limb loss and they have to rely on other mechanisms to improve their standing stability. The effect of prosthesis foot on standing stability of patients with below knee amputation is not well understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of below knee amputees and determine the influence of prosthesis foot on stability

Materials and Methods:  Fourty subjects participated in this study. Participants were divided into three groups including:  (a) normal individuals, (b) amputees using SACH foot and (c) amputees using single axis foot. The stability of subjects was evaluated by use of a Kistler force plate. The subjects were asked to stand on the force plate for one minute and look forward with their hand at their sides. The stability was evaluated by use of some parameters such as excursion of Center of Pressure (COP) and path length and velocity of COP in mediolateral and anteroposterior directions. The difference between the stability of the subjects was determined using One-way ANOVA and Post Hoc test.

Results: There was a significant difference between stability of the three groups during standing with regard to path length and velocity of COP in mediolateral and anteroposterior directions (P < 0.05). No significant difference was reported with regard to all of the measured parameters when comparing normal individuals and amputees with single axis foot (P >0.05).

Conclusion: Below-knee amputees standing stability who are using single axis foot have the same standing stability compared to normal subjects; moreover, stability of amputees who are using SACH foot was surprisingly better than normal subjects in some of the parameters including path length and velocity of COP in mediolateral and anteroposterior directions.

Keywords: Standing stability, Below knee amputation, SACH foot, Single axis foot, Force plate

Background and Aim: The structure and function of the hamstring and quadriceps can contribute to the development and process of patellofemoral pain syndrome. As open and closed kinetic chain exercises have different effects on the knee joint, the aim of the current study was to investigate motor control of knee joint in both kinetic chains according to voluntary response index aspect.

Materials and Methods: 12 healthy knees and 12 injured knees (6 females in each group) were examined. Surface electromyography were performed in knee muscles including vastus medialis oblique, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and biceps femoris while the subjects were doing flexion-extension of knee joint by isokinetic dynamometer system and one leg semi-squat movement. Then voluntary response index was calculated.

Results: There were no significant difference between the patients and healthy groups (p>0.05). In the patient group, correlation between similarity index and magnitude was seen.

Conclusion: Probably in the low intensity patellofemoral syndromes, voluntary response index could not differentiate between healthy and the patient groups. In the patients with patellofemoral syndrome group, correlation between similarity index and magnitude may represent co-contraction in their muscles.

Keywords: Patellofemoral pain syndrome, Motor control, Voluntary response index, Surface electromyography

Background and Aim: Perception of words is one of the parameters that examine to assess the language skills, due to lack of appropriate test in this field, informal assessing was done and evaluating of Perception of words has been challenged. The aim of this study is to design and determine the characteristics of Picture perceptive Objective Vocabulary Test for normal Persian-speaking 6-13 years-old children in order to examine the perception of words accurately.

Materials and Methods: In this methodological study that was done cross-sectional, a list of words that had the ability to visualize, prepared. To determine the content validity index, 7 speech therapists were surveyed and were chosen 240 images of words, finally this test was done on 118 children (57 girls, 61 boys) in seven age groups. Reliability of this test was assessed by repeatability and internal consistency and correlation between children’s scores and their age was determined by Spearman’s correlation.

Results: Content validity index  for total of 240 words were 1. In assessing reliability of this test Spearman’s correlation and internal consistency were 0.87 and 0.83 obtained respectively. There was a significant correlation between children’s ability to respond and their age (p<0.0005).

Conclusion: Pictures test for assessing the ability for perception of words in different categories of 6-13 years old children have appropriate content validity and reliability. In the age range of the study, child's ability to perception of words increases with age.

Keywords: Picture Perceptive Objective Vocabulary Test, children, Validity and Reliability

Background and Aim: Having a proper posture is one the aspects of good health which has important role in activity of daily living and sport skills. Spine abnormality is the most prevalent disorder and hyperkyphosis is more propagated one. The purpose of present study was to compare the effect of conventional corrective exercise and physioball exercise on improvement hyperkyphosis and vital capacity in girl students.

Materials and Methods: 44 girl students (13±0.83 age) with the hyperkyphosis were participated in this study. Participants did not have any history of surgery, trauma or pain in their limbs. In pre-test and post-test, curvature of the back  measured by a flexible ruler and  vital capacity measured by a digital spirometer.

 Students in terms of the curvature of the back were divided in to three subgroups of experimental 1 (Corrective exercises physioball), experimental 2 (conventional corrective exercise), and the control group (did not participated in any exercise program). The training program was done eight weeks, 3 times per week.

Results: The result of ANOVA showed that there are significant differences between pre-test and post-test. The results of Tokey showed that there are significant differences between both experimental groups compare to control group in hyper kyphosis and vital capacity in post-test. However there is not different between 1 and 2 experimental groups (P&ge;0/05).

Conclusion: Performance training with physioball and without physioball are useful for improvement of hyperkyphosis and vital capacity in young female students. There is not different between two groups.

Key words: Corrective exercise, Vital capacity, Physioball,  Hyperkyphosis