Physical Treatments: Specific Physical Therapy Journal
Year:2020 | Volume:10 | Issue:3|Papers Count:7

Purpose: Genu valgum deformity a common lower extremity deformity. The weakness of the lower limb muscles followed by the internal rotation of the femur and external rotation of the tibia, shift the gravitational pull to the outside of the knee. This lower limb alignment deformity could increase the distance of ankle medial malleolus and the Q angle. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of TheraBand training on the Q angle and distance of ankle medial malleolus in individuals with genu valgum deformity. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test and control group design. The study population consisted of girls in the age range of 9-13 years with genu valgum deformity. The study subjects were randomly divided into the experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The experimental group participated in TheraBand exercises for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. However, the control group received no training during this period. Before and after 8 weeks, the Q angle and distance of ankle medial malleolus were measured by goniometers and coulis, respectively. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the collected data in SPSS. The significance level was considered at 0. 05. Results: The obtained statistical results suggested that TheraBand training significantly decreased the Q angle and the distance of ankle medial malleolus in the explored subjects with genu valgum deformity (P=0. 001 & P=0. 04, respectively). However, no significant difference was observed in the control group. Conclusion: The obtained data revealed that TheraBand training could improve the genu valgum position. Therefore, this training protocol could be implemented to improve the deformity in this population.

Purpose: The growing popularity of media devices such as smartphones and computers has made humankind to acquire forward head posture increasingly. This study aimed to compare static and dynamic postural stability between people with and without forward head posture. Methods: 15 male students with normal posture (24± 4 years, 173± 6 cm and 70± 6 kg) and 15 male students with forward head posture (25± 3 years, 178± 7 cm and 68± 5 kg) were selected purposefully according to the Cranio-vertebral angle. Biodex Stability System was evaluated used to measure Static and dynamic postural stability. Results: The results showed a significant difference between the two groups in dynamic postural stability in both open and closed eyes conditions(P<0. 05), whereas no significant difference was observed in static postural stability in both open and closed eyes conditions (P>0. 05). Conclusion: Individuals with forward head posture performed weaker in dynamic postural stability than normal ones, as a result, forward head posture is considered as one of the factors disturbing dynamic postural stability.

Purpose: The present study aimed to compare two sports injury surveillance systems per the sports injury recording system of the sports medicine federation. Methods: A sports injury surveillance system was implemented to collect injury data. Athletic trainers recorded athletes’ sports injuries in soccer, volleyball, handball, taekwondo, and wrestling for 6 months in their user account via a smartphone-based application. The sports recording system routinely collected data alongside the sports injury surveillance system. Finally, the collected results were compared with the federation’ s sports injury recording system. Results: Overall, 81 sports injuries were reported to the surveillance system. The incidence rate of 1. 39 injuries per 1000 registered athletes was calculated in a sports injury surveillance system. This incidence rate was equal to 0. 32 injuries per 1000 athletes registered in the sports injury recording system. Contusion and bruising were the most frequent injuries. However, there was no data on injury type in the sports injury recording system. Fingers and knees were the most commonly reported body parts in the sports injury surveillance system; however, knee and thigh were the most commonly recorded parts in the sports injury recording system. There was also a significant difference between the results of the two systems (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Different implementation and reporting methods as well as having injury definition may affect the results. Employing easy access and user-friendly tools may facilitate injury recording.

Purpose: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is among the most frequent knee problems in active individuals. PFPS is a multifactorial syndrome with various treatments. This study compared the effects of two training methods of central stability and hip on pain and performance among women with PFPS. Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study, 27 women with PPS aged between 20 and 30 years were selected as the statistical sample. The study subjects were randomly divided into three groups; core stability training, hip training, and controls. Two experimental groups performed the selected training in 8 weeks and three sessions per week. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) were used to measure pain and function in the study participants, respectively. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) at a significance level of P≤ 0. 05. Results: The MANCOVA results suggested a significant improvement in the measured variables in the experimental groups, compared to the controls (P<0. 05); However, there was no significant difference concerning the effect and durability between the two experimental groups on the severity of pain (P<0. 05); however, function significantly improved in the core stability training group (P<0. 05). Conclusion: The obtained data indicated the beneficial effects of both core and hip training on pain intensity and function in the explored female patients with PFPS. This effect could be due to the increased control and coordination of the knee’ s proximal joints. The comparison between the groups of the core and hip training highlighted that core training had a greater impact on the function than the hip.

Purpose: Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is among the most prevalent complaints observed in healthcare clinics. This group of patients encounters Pelvic Drop (PD) and Dynamic Knee Valgus (DNV); its’ causes have been reported as pain and decreased muscle strength. The current study aimed to explore the effects of a 12-week Sensorimotor Exercise (SME) on pain, strength, PD, and DNV in males with PFPS. Methods: This randomized double-blind clinical trial involved 32 patients with PFPS. The study samples were randomly divided into the experimental (n=16) and control (n=16) groups. To assess pain, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used. Moreover, quadriceps muscle strength was measured by the hip abductor hand dynamometer. To analyze PD and DNV, camera and Kinova software were used during stairs descent. The experimental group performed 12 weeks of SME for 3 one-hour weekly sessions. However, the control group received no therapeutic intervention during this time. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Results: The data analysis results suggested that pain significantly reduced in the experimental group, compared to the control group, after twelve weeks of SME (P<0. 001). Besides, quadriceps muscle strength (P<0. 002) and hip abductor muscle strength (P<0. 001) improved, and PD angle (P<0. 002) and DNV (P<0. 003) were reduced. Conclusion: SME reduced pain and facilitated the frequency and time of muscle activation. It also increased the strength of the gluteus medius muscle as the main stabilizer of the pelvis chain and led to a reduction in PD and DNV. Thus, SME could be used as a comprehensive protocol treatment to improve various disorders in patients with PFPS.

Purpose: This quasi-experimental and applied research was conducted in 2019. The statistical population of this study included female patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) who were members of the Iranian MS Association. Methods: The study subjects were selected among those with a moderate level of disability (between grades 2 & 5). From the statistical population, initially, 60 individuals were selected by a simple and accessible method; however, for some reason, some samples dropped out during the research. In total, 14, 15, and 19 individuals included the balance, Cawthorne-Cooksey, and control groups, respectively. They were selected based on the study inclusion and exclusion criteria. The three groups were evaluated for static balance by the stork test; then, their mobility was measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test at the pretest phase. Next, the two experimental groups performed the exercises for 6 weeks and 3 sessions per week. Besides, at the end of the exercise protocol, the three groups conducted the mentioned test again at the posttest step. To compare the between-groups data at the posttest, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) test were used to compare the differences between the research groups at a significance level 0. 05. Results: The present research results indicated that the balance and Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises performed in the experimental groups revealed statistically significant changes in the two studied factors (both P=0. 001). Moreover, the LSD test results signified that in the mobility test, there was a significant difference between the control group and balance exercises group (P=0. 001) and the control group and Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises group (P=0. 001). Additionally, in the static balance test, a significant difference was observed between the control group and balance exercises group (P=0. 003) and the control group and Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises group (P=0. 001). Finally, it was revealed that female patients with MS presented better balance and mobility after performing the exercise sessions. Conclusion: The obtained data suggested that specialists could use the explored selected balance exercises and Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises to improve balance and mobility in patients with MS.

Purpose: Jumping and landing are common activities in soccer, i. e. associated with Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries in the players, especially when experiencing fatigue. The current study aimed to compare the kinematics of the lower limb joints in jump-landing maneuver among soccer players with and without a history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods: Among active soccer players in the provincial league level in Hamedan Province, Iran, 12 individuals with the intact knee (control group), and 12 individuals with 6 to 24 months post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (experimental group) were selected by convivence sampling method as the study participants. During the jump-landing task, the range of motion and the joints’ angle at the contact instance were measured before and after performing plyometric fatigue protocol using the Vicon motion capture system. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) at a significance level of P<0. 05 was used for intergroup comparisons. Results: Plyometric fatigue did not affect most of the kinematic variables before and after fatigue experience. Besides, only the hip range of motion revealed a significant difference between the study groups (P=0. 38). Conclusion: Fatigue had more effect on some variables in individuals with ACL reconstruction, including the left and right hips angles. Moreover, there was a significant difference in some variables between the study groups; the range of motion of the left hip, the contact angle of the right hip before fatigue experience, and the contact angle of the right and left hips after fatigue. In general, a proper rehabilitation program is recommended for athletes with ACL reconstruction to reduce the risk of recurrence of jumping movements in exercise.