Background and aim: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common synovial joint diseases (i.e. weight bearing joints) of the human body. This problem probably is more common in Iranian society that is used to sit on the floor and carpet. Following knee OA, patients complain of pain, inflammation, decrease of range of motion and muscle weakness. Therefore, they can not independently do their activity of daily living (ADL). Consequently, the side effects of physical incapability may render to psychological problems and this in respect do affect on their quality of life.Various treatments such as pharmalogical, surgical and physiotherapy have been recommended at different stages of OA by specialist. In the present study, the effect of physical therapy agents (considering the point that physiotherapy has no or negligible side effects) have been studied on OA. 

Materials and methods: 40 patients participated in this study the patients were refereed by orthopedic surgeon to the physiotherapy clinic of the Faculty of Rehabilitation. University ethical committee approved the procedures. Patients were randomly divided in two groups and physiotherapy treatments were applied as following:

Group I.  Low Level Laser Therapy, heat, exercise.

Group II. Placebo (i.e. inactive Laser), heat, exercise.

Results: The result of current study shows that both methods of physical therapy were quiet efficient on 7 variables that measured in this study (p< 0.05).  However, the result of this study showed that in laser group, pain and speed of gait were more effectively influenced (p< 0.000 and p<0.048 respectively) in comparison with routine physiotherapy. Consequently, patients can fairly independently do their activity of daily living and this in respect may reduce the psychological side effects of illness. 

Background and Aim: Since utilization of different patterns to perform voluntary movements influence human function, the aim of this study was to compare the selected kinematic parameters of active males in voluntary and involuntary gait initiation.

Materials and Methods: In this quazi-experimental study 13 young male subjects with age (23.3±3.1) years, height (1.75±.13) m, weight (68.9±7) kg and body mass index (22.4±1.8) k/m2, performed initiation of gait in 6 trials included three voluntary and three involuntary. Kinematic parameters measured by motion analysis system. K-S test was used to ensure the normal distribution of data and dependent T- test to compare within group variable at P0.05 level.

Result: The results showed that use of perturbation that leads to the initiation of motion, increased distance (p: 0.00) and velocity (p: 0.00) and reduced the time of gait initiation (p: 0.00), swing time (p: 0.00), stance time (p: 0.00) and double support time (p: 0.00), increased the amount of hip (p: 0.00) and knee flexion (p: 0.00) and decreased the amount of ankle dorsiflexion (p: 0.00). In addition, the displacement of the center of mass in the medio-lateral and vertical directions was decreased (p=0.03) and increased (p=0.01) respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate significant changes in most of the spatio-temporal parameters of gait initiation as a result of using Perturbation that leads to the initiation of motion. The results of this study can be recommended to be used in the field of gait initiation studies as well as in clinical cases to diagnose the normal and abnormality.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Background and Aim: One of the most common complaints of gait disorders in children is intoeing gait. The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of gait plate insole on gait angle of intoed children.

Materials and Methods: Angle of gait was measured in 17 children aged 4 to 10 years with intoeing gait in 3 modalities: barefoot, ordinary shoes and gait plate insole with ordinary shoes for 3 times consecutively with Rs scan pressure platform.

Results: Gait plate insole with ordinary shoes as well as ordinary shoes alone caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in angle of gait in intoed children. As gait plate insole with ordinary shoes and ordinary shoes increase angle of gait 11.16 and 3.85 degrees respectively versus barefoot.

Conclusion: Use of gait plate insole in association with ordinary shoes can improve gait appearance in children with intoeing gait.

Keywords: Intoeing gait, Gait plate insole, Angle of gait, Gait angle

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