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Background and aim: Rehabilitation treatments have significant role in reducing the disabilities of Cerebro Vascular Accident (CVA). Due to great role of upper limb in the function of individuals particularly in Activity of Daily Living and the effect of stability of shoulder girdle on hand function, the aim of this study was to study the effects of Progressive Resistive Exercise on shoulder extensor and abductor muscles isometric strengths in adult hemiplegic.                                                                                  

Material and methods: 17 adult hemiplegics patients (50-70yrs., mean =60.52, SD=7.22) with RT side dominancy and 6 months after stroke, participated in this study. All procedures were approved by ethical committee of TUMS and written consents were also taken. Patients were familiarized with the procedure and shoulder extensor and abductor muscles isometric strengths were measured by dynamometer.                                            

Results: According to results of our study, shoulder extensor and abductor muscles isometric strengths showed significant differences between mean scores of pre and post intervention (P<0.05). Progressive Resistive Exercise improved 34% in shoulder extensor muscles isometric strength and 27% shoulder abductor muscle isometric strength.                                 

Conclusion: Results of our research showed that progressive resistive exercise approach is a useful method for increasing the isometric strength of shoulder extensor and abductor muscles. Therefore, it might be concluded that improvement of strength of shoulder muscles could result in stability in shoulder girdle and consequently might affect on hand function in hemiplegic patients.                                                             

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Background and Aim: Rehabilitation interventions have significant role in reducing the disabilities of Down syndrome. Due to great role of balance in the function of individuals particularly in Activity of Daily Living and the effect of strength on balance, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Progressive Resistive Exercise on functional balance in children with Down syndrome.
Material and Methods: Fifteen girls children aged between 8 and 12 years, with Down syndrome participated in this study by available sampling method. The subjects participated three times per week in a six-week progressive strengthening program. During intervention, 3 of them excluded. Balance were measured by Berg Balance Scale and right/left hip abductor and flexor, knee extensor and flexor muscles isometric strengths were measured by Nickolas hand-held dynamometer. Paired-sampled T-Test was used for data analysis.
Results: The results of this study showed that the mean of functional balance and muscles isometric strengths were significantly increased after intervention (P<0.001).
Conclusion: It seems that the results of this study confirm the effect of progressive resistance training on progressing functional balance, and 8-12 years old children with Down syndrome can benefit from these exercises.

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Background and Aim: Some studies indicated that training in elderly persons is very important for decrease of aging changes. Many investigations have reported the increase in muscular strength as a consequence of training performed on the contralateral limb. There are few clinical trials that quantify the effect of cross training in elderly adults .The aim of the study was to evaluate of unilateral biceps brachialis strength training on countralateral peak force in elderly persons
Materials and Methods: A total of 12 elderly females (age = 73.08) with no history of strength training and upper limb movement impairments enrolled in this study. Subjects performed unilateral elbow flexion exercises in dominant upper limb, using progressive resistance training three times a week for six weeks. After determining the maximal isometric force of elbow flexion , the subjects performed 3 sets of 10 repetitions of the 60-70% maximal force. The isometric force of elbow flexion were measured at the start and after 2 weeks by tensiometer. Paired t test was used to analysis the data
Results: The results showed that progressive unilateral elbow flexion training led to an increase in maximal isometric force of biceps brachialis muscles at two sides (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The increased muscle strength observed during training indicates positive effect of training in old adult. The increased muscle strength in untrained limb suggests the capacity of neuromuscular adaptation in old adult that it can be used in cases of limb immobility.