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Background and Aim: Muscle fatigue is a factor that caused muscle injuries. Ability to perform movement without error and controllability has important role in reduction of injuries. Reproduce ability of motion is reduced after muscle fatigue. Evaluation of motor control can produce suitable conditions for assessment of these changes and help us treatment guide lines for prevention of injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate motor control changes following onset of fatigue in patients with anterior knee pain as a physiological aspect.
Materials and Methods: Fifteen voluntary female (10 healthy, 5 patients with bilateral syndromes) participated in this study. During dynamic fatigue test (open and closed chain movements), muscle activities were recorded from bilateral vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris (20 healthy and 10 patients quadriceps muscles) by surface electromyography (sEMG). Five dynamic cycles of motions were selected before and immediately after fatigue and then average of three middle cycles were compared for Symmetry Index (SI) as motor control assessment.  Also Median Frequency (MDF) were computed as an indicator for onset of fatigue. 
Results: MDF reduced significantly in both groups. This reduction was markedly showed in patients group. Reduction of SI was significant after fatigue test. Comparison of SI between groups indicated that before fatigue there was significant difference but after fatigue test was not significant.  
Conclusion: Dynamic motions can produce muscle fatigue and reduction of MDF. High central control system used different synergies following pain and functional impairment. Synergy patterns change after dynamic motions fatigue and cause reduction of SI. This change is dependent to pain and functional impairment and has not a stable pattern. 

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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: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition. Women with patellofemoral pain syndrome would present significant weakness in many of hip muscle groups when compared with the healthy group. The objective of the present study was to compare the strength of hip abductor, extensor and external rotator muscle groups in sedentary women with bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome to a matched control group of sedentary women without patellofemoral pain syndrome. 

Materials and Methods: Twelve women with bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome as experimental group and other twelve matched women as control group participated in this study. Maximum isometric strength for three hip muscles including abductor, extensor and external rotator muscle groups was measured bilaterally in all subjects using a dynamometer fixed on a platform and finally averaged between two limbs and compared with the control group.

Results: The hip abductor, extensor and external rotator muscle groups of experimental group were statistically weaker than that of the control group (p< 0.001).

Conclusion:  It seems that lower limb muscles including hip muscles of women with patellofemoral pain syndrome become weaker due to disuse conditions. 

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Background and Aim: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in industrial society. There are complex changes in motor control of cervical spine in neck pain patients. The aim of this study was to compare the latency of activation of neck muscles during upper limb movement between neck pain patients and healthy subjects.

Materials and Methods: Eighteen chronic non-specific neck pain patients and eighteen healthy subjects who were matched in age, weight and height participated in this study. Subjects were standing on the ground and performed flexion and abduction movement of the right arm until at least 90 degree in five trials and consequently surface electromyography of neck muscles was recorded. Activation time of neck muscles was determined in comparison with the activation time of deltoid muscle (as an event) and then compared between two groups.  

Results: Findings of this study showed that in patients with chronic neck pain and healthy subjects during upper limb flexion and abduction movements, the superficial neck muscles were activated after deltoid activation. As well as in the neck pain patients compared to the healthy subjects superficial neck muscles onset was significantly appeared with delayed (P<0.05).

Conclusion: In patients with neck pain compared to healthy controls, the neck muscles were significantly delayed in responses to the internal perturbations of fast upper limb movements. It may be to increase the risk of injuries of neck region during fast upper limb movements.

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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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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: Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in adults around the world and plays a great role in inducing disability in elderly. Patients suffering from severe knee osteoarthritis usually complain of pain and severe functional disability. For these patients, conservative treatments are often induces least remedy for pain and improvement of functional ability. This study evaluates the effects of knee mechanical traction on pain, edema, range of movement and functional ability in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, forty women with severe knee OA (grade 3 & 4 on the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale) were recruited and randomly divided into two groups with different treatment protocols (common physiotherapy treatment and common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction). Functional capacity and level of pain were assessed by 6-minute walking test and visual analog scale respectively. A goniometer was used to measure knee range of movement and edema was also evaluated by use of measuring tape.

 Results: Common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction compared to common physiotherapy treatment leads to significant decrease in pain (P<0.01) and increase in functional capacity (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction is a more effective treatment than common physiotherapy procedure in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.

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Abstract Background and aims: One of the complications of breast cancer treatment is ipsilateral upper extremity lymphedema. Secondary lymphedema is a chronic condition that leads to loss of function and disorder of Quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Complex Decongestive Physical Therapy (CDP) on pain severity and quality of life in patients with secondary upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer treatments. Material and methods: A total 30 women (age 29-70 yrs.) with secondary lymphedema after breast cancer treatments participated in this study. They were referred by general and cancer surgeons to Physical Therapy clinic based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were treated with complex decongestive physical Therapy. This protocol comprises of manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), compression garments, remedial exercise and skin care for 4-weeks, once per day, 5 days per week. Quality of life and severity of pain were evaluated before and after treatment. The quality of life was assessed with QLQ-C30 questionnaire. The severity of pain was also assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: After 4 weeks treatment severity of the pain are decreased after treatment. The physical and social roles of quality of life (QLQ-C30) were significantly increased (p<0000). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, utilization of complex decongestive physical therapy (CDP) In upper extremity lymphedema is a useful method for pain relief and increment of quality of life. Keywords: Upper extremity lymphedema, Complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP), Severity of pain, Quality of life

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Background and Aim: Some of the patients with chronic low back pain commonly do not experience full recovery with the conventional physical therapy. It is revealed that may be there are some items in subjects with low back, which are not studied well till now. Since there are some evidences about breathing pattern disorder in low back pain patients, the purpose of this study was to compare between some important breathing pattern index in non-specific chronic low back pain and healthy subjects .

  

Materials and Methods : In this descriptive analysis study, there were 16 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain and 16 healthy subjects. Both groups were matched and selected by some of the demographic characteristics. Respiratory data including respiratory rate, volumetric, time depended and chemical index were calculated by K4b2 instrument.

  

Results: They have significant differences in some of the respiratory parameters including respiratory rate, inspiration and expiration times and total time of respiration between two groups, whereas inspiration total time ratio, volumetric and chemical index do not have significant differences.

  

Conclusion: Existence of disorders in some parameters of respiratory patterns in patients with low back pain are revealed that survey of respiratory system in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain can be effective in diagnosis and treatment process in physiotherapy centers.

  

Keywords: Low back pain, Breathing, Respiratory chemistry.

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Background and Aim : Hemiplegic shoulder pain is a common problem that its prevalence varies from 48% to 84%. This disorder limits the patient’s ability to achieve the optimal function. The objective of study was to assess the relationship between hemiplegic shoulder pain with neuromusculoskeletal disorders in post stroke hemiparesis

  

Materials and Methods: This study was an observational-analytic that fullfilled on fifty patients with acute stroke. The post stroke period was 28 days. The following items were evaluated:shoulder subluxation with X-ray, shoulder spasticity with Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), soft tissue injury with orthopaedic tests and RSD with clinical features.

 

Results: Hemiplegic shoulder pain was present in 28 patients(56%). Seventeen patients (85%) showed shoulder subluxation, 18 patients (72%) had supraspinatus tendonitis ,13 patients (65%) had biceps tendinits, 4 patients (14/2%) had ACJ involvement, 3 patients (10/7%) had elbow flexor spasticity, 2 patients (7/1%) had shoulder adductor spasticity ,2 patients (7/1%)had shoulder internal rotators spsticity , 4 (14/2%) patients had RSD.

  

Conclusion: Results from this study show that one factor does not play role in causing hemiplegic shoulder pain and this disorder is multifactorial. Prevention of shoulder pain and performing appropriate physiotherapy can play a role in improving stroke patients’ function.

 

Keywords: Stroke, Shoulder pain, Sublxation, Muscle tone, Shoulder –Hand syndrone

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Background and Aim: Low back pain (LBP) is the most common and expensive musculoskeletal problem in industrialized societies. One in ten people suffers from LBP once in his life. It is self-limited up to 90%, but it is common to repeat. By the way, sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is the origin of low back and pelvic pain in many cases and one of the most important elements in normal musculoskeletal function during gait cycle. Muscles are important to stabilize this joint plus to bones and ligaments. Some of the muscles (Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Multi Fidus, Erector Spinae) contributing in gait cycle are important to transfer load through SIJ. The aim of this present study is to compare muscle activity timing during initial and mid stance phase of gait cycle.

  

Methods and Materials: Sixteen low back pain cases and fifteen healthy subjects participated in this study. A footswitch is placed beneath foot at the suffered side in LBP cases and dominant foot in control group. Two markers were on the 5^th metatarsal bone and lateral maleolus. Electrodes are placed on selected muscles according to SENIAM. Digital camera and EMG Datalink were turned on simultaneously and subject started to walk with his own favorite speed in a specific direction and path. Onset and time to peak of selected muscles were recorded during gait by Datalink and processed by its software.

  

Results: Low back pain cases showed delayed muscle onset, although it was not significant (P=0.4). Time to peak of all selected muscles in loading response event in LBP group was longer and significant (P=0.01). There was also significant difference in time to peak of all selected muscles during mid-stance event (P= 0.005) except biceps femoris muscle.

  

Conclusion: Delayed onset and longer time to peak during initial and mid stance phase of gait can be interpreted as a compensatory strategy to control trunk movements effectively, provide sufficient stability and transfer load to lumbar area efficiently.

  

Key words: Muscle activity, Low back pain, Gait, Trunk muscles, Lower Limb Muscles

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Background and Aim: Regarding to high prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in athletes and its effect on their athletic function, an accurate evaluation before planning the rehabilitation program seems necessary in athletes with LBP. It should be considered that human movements are like as a kinetic chain. It means that any problems in every parts of this chain can cause dysfunction in the other parts of the chain. Not taking attention to the relationships between different parts of this chain may result in suboptimal rehabilitation. Therefore, focusing treatment on the entire parts of the kinetic chain besides the injured part, may prevent recurrenceof the dysfunction. Since in the kinetic chain hip muscles act as a link between lower extremities and trunk, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate and compare muscles strength of hip joint in female athletes with and without non-specific chronic LBP.

  

Materials and Methods: Fifteen healthy female athletes and 15 female athletes with non-specific chronic LBP participated in this study. Their age was between 18-30 years. Hip extension, abduction and external rotation strength in all participants were measured. A hand-held dynamometer (HHD) was used to measure muscle strength. Since fixing HHD by examiner’s hand is fraught with error, it is fixed by a stable frame.

  

Results: The maximum strength value of hip extension and abduction in female athletes with LBP were significantly lower than these measures in healthy group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were seen in the maximum value of hip external rotation strength between two groups (P > 0.05).

  

Conclusion: The results of the present study show that hip extension and abduction strength in female athletes with LBP were lower than these measures in healthy group. Therefore, hip strength measurements besides the examination of the spinal column seem to be necessary in evaluation and rehabilitation of the patients with LBP.

  

Key Words: Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain, Hip Muscles Strength, Athlete

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Background and Aim: Low back pain (LBP) is the most common and expensive musculoskeletal problem in industrialized societies. One in ten people suffers from LBP once in his life. It is self-limited up to 90%, but it is common to repeat. By the way, sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is the origin of low back and pelvic pain in many cases and one of the most important elements in normal musculoskeletal function during gait cycle. Muscles are important to stabilize this joint plus to bones and ligaments. Some of the muscles (Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, Multi Fidus, Erector Spinae) contributing in gait cycle are important to transfer load through SIJ. The aim of this present study is to compare muscle activity timing during initial and mid stance phase of gait cycle.

  

Methods and Materials: Sixteen low back pain cases and fifteen healthy subjects participated in this study. A footswitch is placed beneath foot at the suffered side in LBP cases and dominant foot in control group. Two markers were on the 5^th metatarsal bone and lateral maleolus. Electrodes are placed on selected muscles according to SENIAM. Digital camera and EMG Datalink were turned on simultaneously and subject started to walk with his own favorite speed in a specific direction and path. Onset and time to peak of selected muscles were recorded during gait by Datalink and processed by its software.

  

Results: Low back pain cases showed delayed muscle onset, although it was not significant (P=0.4). Time to peak of all selected muscles in loading response event in LBP group was longer and significant (P=0.01). There was also significant difference in time to peak of all selected muscles during mid-stance event (P= 0.005) except biceps femoris muscle.

  

Conclusion: Delayed onset and longer time to peak during initial and mid stance phase of gait can be interpreted as a compensatory strategy to control trunk movements effectively, provide sufficient stability and transfer load to lumbar area efficiently.

  

Key words: Muscle activity, Low back pain, Gait, Trunk muscles, Lower Limb Muscles

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Background and Aim: The calculated parameters of the center of pressure (COP) are suitable indicators for evaluating balance in patients after rehabilitation. Therefore, determining the reliability level of each parameter is a matter of great importance. This study tried to determine the reliability of some parameters of the COP sway in patients with myofascial neck pain in different postural situations.

  

Materials and Methods: The present study is a test-retest reliability design. Twenty patients with myofascial neck pain performed a single and a double leg test with open and closed eyes on a force plate and with open eyes on foam in three sessions with a 30 minute intervals for 30 seconds. Antero-posterior and medio-lateral sway range, mean velocity and mean area of sway were calculated.

  

Results: The mean velocity showed high reliability (0.98) in all situations, but the other parameters were variable in different situations.

  

Conclusions: The results showed that some COP parameters are highly reliable in assessment of patients with myofascial neck pain.

  

Keywords: Reliability, Myofascial neck pain, Center of pressure, Force plate

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Background and Aim : Chronic non-specific low back pain is one of the important health problem in military and different factors have been reported in its emergence. The aim of this study is to determine the association between low back pain and education level, Body Mass Index (BMI), exercise, smoking status ,work status and bad postures in military men.

  

Materials and Methods : In this non-experimental case-control study, 92 subjects (mean age= 29.16 year, SD= 8.55 year) with chronic non-specific low back pain and 93 subjects (mean age= 26.80 year, SD=9.22 year) without low back pain were selected by simple non-probability method from military centers in Tehran. Evaluation tools of this study included a self-administrated questionnaire, weighting scale and metal tape measure.

  

Results : According to the results of bivariate logistic regression, risk factors of exercise (P= 0.003), smoking status (P= 0.042), grade of BMI (P= 0.034), bad posture grades including heavy objects lifting movements (P= 0.007), bending movements (P= 0.003), rotating movements from the lumbar (P= 0.011), carrying bulky objects (P= 0.034), carrying heavy objects (P= 0.05) and working in squatting position (P= 0.005) had a significant association with low back pain. Job status (P= 0.999), education level (P= 0.056) and bad postures grades movements like wringing clothes (P= 0.958) had not a significant association with low back pain.

  

Conclusion : Doing regular exercise and having normal BMI decrease the risk of suffering from low back pain in the military while smoking and doing injurious physical activities during work (lifting heavy objects, bending movements and rotating from the lumbar, carrying bulky and heavy objects, and working in squatting position for a long time) increase the risk of suffering from low back pain.

  

Key Words : Chronic non-specific low back pain, Military forces, Biomechanical risk factors, Exercise

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Background and Aim: Low back pain is the most common and most costly musculoskeletal disorder among nurses. The studies have showed that ergonomic risk factors are the main cause of back injury. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the incidence of low back pain in nurses with participating in manual handling of patients and determination of its relationship with ergonomic risk level of inpatient wards in a subspecialty hospital in Tehran.

Materials and Methods: Thirty nurses who were active in manual handling of patients, (aged between 25to43), participated in this study. The Nordic standard questionnaire and Slump clinical test were used for evaluation of low back pain and pressure on the nerve root, respectively. MAPO (Movement and Assistance of Hospital Patients) quantitative index was used for evaluating the ergonomic risk level of manual handling of patients in 16 sectors of a hospital including 174 wards.

Results: The results showed that ergonomic risk level was high. Ninety percents of evaluated wards were in red band. Based on results of Nordic questionnaire, %66.7 of nurses had experienced back pain in the past 12 months. Based on the results, 46.7% of  nurses who were active in sectors with high ergonomic risk have been suffering of back pain in the past 12 months and 53.3% of theirs slump test were positive. The Chi-Square test confirmed that there is a significant relationship between low back pain prevalence and risk level from the MAPO index in parts. (p=0.004)

Conclusion:  Findings from this study showed that there was a relationship between ergonomic conditions of hospital’s sectors with back pain in nurses. Therefore, it is expected to improve ergonomic conditions particularly supply of adequate human resources, supply of auxiliary equipments for patient transmission, repairs timely and implementation of reforms constructive is associated with reduced incidence of back pain in nurses.

Key words: Ergonomic risk level, MAPO index, Slump clinical test, Low back pain, Nurses.

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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:  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

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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

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Background and Aim: Rotator cuff tendon rupture is the most frequent cause of shoulder pain and disability, especially in middle and old age. Physiotherapy is known as non-surgical or conservative treatment for it. The goal of this research was to investigate the effect of physiotherapy treatment in full-thickness tear of Supraspinatus tendon on shoulder pain and shoulder active range of motion.

Materials and Methods: In this before and after clinical trial, 17 patients (5 men and 12 women) with average age of 54.35±7.13 years old whom had full-thickness tear of Supraspinatus tendon were treated within 30 physiotherapy clinical sessions. The physiotherapy protocol for patients was included of heat, ultrasound and electrical stimulations modules and exercise therapy program was consisted of three components of stretching, strengthening and endurance. Patients in the first, twentieth and at the end of the thirtieth session were evaluated for pain and range of motion. Pain variable by visual analogue scale and range of motion variable by goniometer were evaluated.

Results: Within subjects ANOVA (parametric) and Friedman (nonparametric) tests showed a significant difference in pain and range of motion between before and after physiotherapy (P <0.01).

Conclusions: This study showed that physiotherapy may reduce pain and improve range of motion of shoulder in surgery candidate patients with full-thickness tear of Supraspinatus tendon and decrease client needs to surgery. However, studies with longer follow-up are recommended to evaluate this outcome.

Keywords: Supraspinatus tendon tears, Physiotherapy, Pain, Range of motion, Visual analogue scale, Goniometer