Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences
Year:2013 | Volume:9 | Issue:7 (SUPPLEMENT)|Papers Count:10

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to examine different physical activity levels on the static and dynamic balance of dominant and non-dominant leg in females.Materials and Methods: Twenty four over-active females (Mean±SD; age: 22.4±1.35 years, height: 164.5±6.10 cm, mass: 56.46±5.35 kg), 24 active females (Mean±SD; age: 22.08±0.71 years, height: 159.75±5.37 cm, mass: 59.76±5.48 kg), and 24 passive females (Mean±SD; age: 21.02±1.21 years, height: 160.96±4.38 cm, mass: 59.14±5.78 kg) participated in this study, voluntarily. They do not have any injury in lower extremity, head and vestibular system. Stork and Star excursion balance tests were used to assess the static and dynamic balance, respectively.Results: The findings of this study showed a significant difference between over-active, active and passive subjects in static and dynamic balance tests, separately (P£0.05), while there were no significant differences between the dominant and non-dominant leg in all different groups (P³0.05).Conclusion: According to current results, therefore, it is recommended for sedentary females to increase their activity level which is the most component of life to raise their balances.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of slow and real motor mental imagery trainings on subjects' performance.Materials and Methods: Thirty participants were assigned to one of the following groups: 1) low-speed imagery, 2) real-peed imagery and 3) the control group without imagery. Following pre-test evaluations, participants were enrolled in 3 sessions of imagery training including 30 trails of football dribbling. At the termination of the third session of imagery training, the participants performed a retention test.Results: Results showed that both low-speed and real-speed imagery decreased the time of performance and there was no significant difference between the groups regarding performance error.Conclusion: Based on the present results, the assimilation effect was not proved in our study. It seems that the decrease of imagery speed in beginners results in devoting more attention to the cognitive elements of the movement, and thus enhances their performance.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the lumbopelvic movement pattern between two groups of low back pain patients with and without rotational demand activity during active hip external rotation test.Materials and methods: Thirty nine male subjects with non-specific chronic low back pain were participated in this study. They were included fifteen subjects (mean age=31.5 years) with rotational demand activities such as tennis, squash and twenty four subjects (mean age=31.2 years) without rotational demand activities. Kinematic data from lumbopelvic-hip region during active hip external rotation test was collected by 3-D motion analysis system. Variables including ROM of hip external rotation, lower extremity external rotation, pelvic rotation, and pelvic rotation during first half of hip rotation and timing of pelvic and hip movement were calculated by MATLAB and after this; independent T-test was used to compare the same variables between two groups of study.Results: Lumbopelvic rotation in individuals with rotational demand activity was significantly more than other group (p=0.03). But other variables between two groups were not prominently different (p>0.05).Conclusion: Lumbopelvic movement pattern in subjects with low back pain is mainly different in comparison with other group.

Introduction: Many factors are related to the disability of subjects with chronic low back pain. Fear-avoidance of injury and movement are the most important risk factors to increase the disability followed by decreased physical activity in these patients. The aim of current study was to compare the level of disability and fear-avoidance between two groups of low back pain patients with and without specific sport and recreational activities.Materials and methods: Thirty nine male with non-specific chronic low back pain (15 subjects with rotational demand sport and recreational specific activities and 24 subjects without rotational trunk and hips demand sport and recreational activities) were participated in present study. Levels of disability, pain, fear-avoidance, habitual physical activity and pain intensity of all participated were measured by selected and verified Persian questionnaires. Data were analyzed by SPSS, version 17.Results: Levels of disability and fear-avoidance in group with specific sport and recreational activity were significantly lesser than group without rotational activities (p<0.05). Level of habitual physical activity in group with rotational activities was greater (p<0.05) than other group. There was no difference between groups in pain intensity (p>0.05).Conclusion: Participation in habitual and sport activities may help to decrease the level of disability in subjects with chronic low back pain by effect on the level of fear-avoidance. The presence of difference between groups of low back pain may also show a need for sub-classification of chronic low back pain in same group.

Introduction: Spinal misalignment is a common problem in the present societies. This led to forward head posture which is one of the most prevalent dysfunction in the cervical region. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of selected stabilization exercises to improve forward head posture.Materials and Methods: Twenty six female students (20-27 years old) diagnosed by forward head posture were participated in this clinical trial study. They were randomly divided into two groups of control and experimental. The body land marks of tragus and spinous process of C7 were detected by white markers. The case group did cervical stabilization exercises for 8 weeks. The angle of forward head was measured just before and after each exercise session. Subjects in control group did not receive any intervention during this duration. Data were collected and analyzed by SPSS, version 17.Results: The data revealed that mean difference angle in forward head posture in case group before and after intervention was decreased significantly than control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Stabilization exercises maybe an effective intervention to reduce the head forward angle. Therefore it can be useful to improve forward head posture.

Introduction: The shoulder is one of the most vulnerable joints for handball players. Frequent throwing movements can change its muscular strength balance and range of motion. However, the balance of strength and range of motion are important factors in injury prevention. The purpose of this study was to compare the internal-to-external ratios of strength rotation and ROM rotation in the dominant and non-dominant hands of injured and healthy handball players.Materials and Methods: In this study, 68 handball players were selected and subsequently divided into the following two groups based on their answers to a questionnaire: injured players (age: 24.27±4.43, BMI: 23.32±2.08, sports experience 11.27±3.90) and healthy players (age: 23.85±3.82, BMI: 23.19±2.08, sports experience 10.82±3.22). A hand-held Dynamometer and a Leighton Flexometer was respectively used for measuring the strength and ROM of the participants.Results: The results indicated that the strength and ROM ratios of internal and external rotation in the dominant hands of the injured and healthy subjects differed significantly (p£0.001 and p=0.004, respectively). However, no significant difference was observed in their non-dominant hands regarding these variables (p=0.32 and p=0.9, respectively). It was found that there were significant differences between the dominant and non-dominant hands of injured players regarding strength (p=0.01) and ROM ratios (p£0.007). similar significant differences between the dominant and non-dominant hands of the healthy players were evident when they were compare with each other according to the strength (p£0.001) and ROM ratios (p=0.04).Conclusion: Repeated over-head throwing movements can cause the imbalance of muscle strength and ROM in the shoulder in the long–term. Designing preventive programs for controlling and limiting this risk factor should be one the main concerns of trainers and medical stuff.

Introduction: Physical activity induces various body organs and systems such as Neurohormonal and endocrine due to altering energy consumption rate. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aquatic and non-aquatic aerobic exercises on beta endorphin plasma level and pain perception threshold in athletes.Materials and Methods: Seventeen female volleyball players with at least 3 years of continuous sport activity (Mean age+/-SD; 27.52±4.12 years, weight+/-SD; 61.44±5.29 kg, height+/-SD; 170.59±4.86 cm) were voluntarily participated in this study. They all signed the consent form. Pain threshold assessment and blood sampling were carried out before, immediately and 30 minutes after aerobic training in two sessions in and out of water. Data were analyzed using repeated measurement of ANOVA and LSD post-hoc test was used to determine which mean differences were statistically significant. Also dependent paired t-test with difference score was done to compare between groups.Results: According to the results, beta endorphin responses and pain perception threshold were significantly increased before and after exercise in both environments (p<0.001). Beta endorphin level in aquatic group was significantly less than non-aquatics, immediately and 30 minutes after the aerobic exercise (p>0.01). Pain threshold did not show any significant difference between groups neither in the immediate nor the follow up phase (p>0.05).Conclusion: Aerobic exercise can increase the beta endorphin responses and pain perception threshold regardless of the environment. It seems that despite beta endorphin plasma level, exercise-induced pain threshold is not dependent on the environment.