Koomesh
Year:2016 | Volume:18 | Issue:2 (62) (REHABILITATION SUPPLEMENT)|Papers Count:9

Introduction: Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive method for observing changes in muscle thickness of the abdominal muscles. Accurate measurements depend on the control of all potential sources of error. In this study we investigated whether the level of stomach fullness might be a source of error not only in the resting thickness but also in contractile thickness (abdominal hallowing maneuver) abdominal muscles.Materials and Methods: Thirty healthy male subjects ranging in age from 18 to 26 years volunteered for this study. Ultrasound image of the four abdominal muscles on both sides were obtained at rest (at the end of exhalation) and during abdominal hallowing maneuver before and after food consumption. Abdominal muscle thickness was assessed using a 3.5 MHZ linear head transducer in B-mode condition.Results: The mean thickness for right and left rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles at rest before food consumption were 10.8-10.7, 6.2-6.1, 8.6-8.3, 4.1-4.1 mm, respectively and after food consumption were 10.3-10.3, 5.6-5.5, 7.3-7.3, 3.4-3.6 mm, respectively. The mean thickness for right and left rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles during Abdominal Hollowing Maneuver before food consumption were 11-10.8, 6.1-6.3, 10-10. 5.3-5.5 mm, respectively and after food consumption were 10.5-10.6, 5.7-5.7, 8.8-8.7, 4.4-4.5 mm, respectively.Conclusion: After food consumption the thicknesses of all abdominal muscles in both sides are decreased, and therefore, food consumption must be considered when measuring abdominal muscle thickness using sonography.

Introduction: It appears that the level of fear of movement changes deep trunk muscle activity in the patients with low back pain (LBP). There is no study to investigate the relationship between deep trunk muscle activity and fear of movement in the patients with LBP. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between abdominal muscle activity and pain, disability and fear of movement during standing postural tasks in females with chronic nonspecific LBP.Materials and Methods: Forty four females participated were asked to maintain their balance during standing on the platform stability levels of Biodex Balance System (BBS). Concurrently, ultrasonography (US) data about abdominal muscles thickness measurement were transferred and saved to process offline. The pain intensity, disability and fear of movement were assessed by valid scales and questionnaire.Results: There was not significant correlation between abdominal muscle thickness changes and pain and disability intensity (P>0.05), while significant and inverse correlation between deep abdominal muscle thickness changes and fear of movement was observed in the patients (P<0.05), although this correlation is weak (r= -0.36- -0.32).Conclusion: It seems that increases in fear of movement decrease significantly deep abdominal muscles activity in the patients with LBP. This relationship demonstrates the importance of cognitive behavioral therapy and controlling fear of movement on improvement of deep abdominal muscle activity in the patients with LBP.

Introduction: Plantarflexor muscles produce propulsive force in the second half of stance phase; deficient motor output from these muscles would lead to inadequate propulsion at push off and decreasing walking speed. This study has examined the effects of walking on a treadmill at varying gradients and speeds on ankle muscle timing in healthy middle-aged adults.Materials and Methods: Fifteen healthy middle-aged adults (10M/5F; average age 56.53±7.20 years; body mass index 28.52±3.70 kg/m2) participated in the study. Participants walked on a standard treadmill at three different walking speeds (self-selected, self-selected+20%, self-selected+40%) and positive inclines (0o, 3o, and 6o). The onset muscle timing of Medial Gastrocnemius (MG), and Tibialis Anterior (TA) muscles recorded at push off phase of the gait.Results: A linear mixed model (LMM) regression analysis was used to analysis. The onset of MG and TA muscles activity delayed at faster speeds on the nonodominant side (p<0.05). However, there is no changes with increasing treadmill speed and slope on muscles onset timing on the dominant side (p>0.05).Conclusion: Data showed that there is a bias towards using dominant side to overcome challenging walking conditions in middle-aged adults.

Introduction: Teachers often speak to high volume for a long time both in the noisy environments and in the stressful situations; therefore, their tissue of vocal cords are exposed to damage. The voice problems may have the adverse impacts on the quality of education, employment, economic and communicative conditions and also on the emotional status. In this study, the effects of voice problems on the teachers’ job performance communication, social and emotional status were investigated through comparing the teachers’ knowledge with/without dysphonia from their voice problems.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 243 teachers at primary schools. The participants on the basis of response to the four – choice items and in relation to the rate of his/her voice problems (always, often, sometimes and rarely) were divided into two groups with/without voice problems (VP = always and often) and lack of voice ones (NVP = sometimes and rarely). To collect the data, the questionnaire with a=0.91 was used, and to investigate the relationship between the voice problems and the performance of teachers.Results: The findings showed that the voice problems among the teachers had a significant relationship with teaching, job attitude, ability for communication, social ability and their emotions (P<0.05). In other words, voice problems increase the chance of occurrence of the above effects.Conclusion: The teachers with voice problems compared with those without voice ones have more difficulties in job performance, communication, social and emotional status and also in their quality of life. In fact, these problems need to be considered in evaluating and treating the voice disorders.

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease characterized by deterioration of articular cartilage. Pharmacological treatments mainly emphasize on the regeneration of articular cartilage. Glucosamine sulfate is used as a cartilage protective substance with controversial results. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of glucosamine phonophoresis on the knee osteoarthritis.Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 41 female patients aged 45-75 years (21 unilateral and 20 bilateral cases). Patients randomly assigned into one of three groups. Group 1: This group received standard treatment with ultrasound (US)/off (n=15); Group 2: This group received standard treatment with US/on (n=12) (US was in continuous mode at frequency of 1 MHz and 0.3 watt/cm2 intensity, 5 min duration increasing gradually during the treatment sessions) and Group 3: This group received glucosamine phonophoresis (with equal ratio of %50 gel and glucosamine, and US/on as the same parameters). All treatment sessions were done daily on the dominant knee and for 30 sessions. Standard treatment included daily and on the dominant knee infrared, transcutaneous ekectrical stimulation and exercise. Pain, active knee flexion range of motion, swelling of knee joint, morning stiffness and quality of life (QOL) of all participants were measured before and after the intervention.Results: The data showed significant improvement in OA criteria (more decreased pain; swelling and morning stiffness, improvement in knee flexion and QOL index) in the intervention group than other placebo groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: Considering the etiology of disease, administration of treatments aimed on healing of articular cartilage seems to be more effective in the prevention of disease progression. Phonophoresis of glucosamine combination could be promising.

Introduction: Changes in invertor and evertor muscle torque is one of the sensory-motor disabilities along with functional ankle instability (FAI). According to positive advantages of whole body vibration (WBV) on muscle torque, this study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of WBV on evertor to invertor muscle concentric ratio in people with FAI.Materials and Methods: 30 female with FAI assigned randomly into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 6 weeks WBV (3 times per weeks). Then they were evaluated according to their evertor and invertor muscle concentric torque. Concentric muscle torque was evaluated by Biodex Isokinetic.Results: There were no significant differences between concentric torque of evertor and invertor muscles (P>0.05). WBV could improve concentric torque of invertor and evertor muscles in the ankle of people with FAI (P<0.05).Conclusion: 6 weeks WBV (18 sessions) can increase concentric torque of evertor and invertor muscles in people with FAI.

Introduction: Although movement disorders and abnormal postural are the main features of children with cerebral palsy but many of them have sensory problems too, so the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sensory process and motor skills in children with cerebral palsy.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, 56 children with cerebral palsy aged 5 to 10 were studied. The gross motor function was assessed using the gross motor function classification system, manual ability was assessed using manual ability classification system, intensity of spasticity was evaluated using modified ashworth scale and sensory process was assessed by sensory profile questionnaire.Results: The results of this study showed that the gross motor function and manual ability of children with cerebral palsy are related to low muscle tone and tolerance, poor sensory registration, and sedentary, significantly. Findings also demonstrated a significant relationship between manual ability and oral sensory sensitive in children with cerebral palsy (p<0.01).Conclusion: According to the significant relationship between motor skills and sensory processing in children with cerebral palsy, it is recommended to evaluate both motor and sensory skills during the management and rehabilitation of these patients.

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis is (MS) a neurological disorder with damage in central nervous system. This disease begins between ages of 20-40. A common problem in patients is voice disorders that have negative impact on the quality of life of patients. The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life in MS patients with the voice disorder.Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive-analytic study. Participants included 30 people with multiple sclerosis who referred to Semnan (Iran) clinics of neurology. The patients who were their EDSS score between 1-6 and at least 3 years of onset disease last were enrolled. All Patients were asked to produce the vowel /a/ and /i/ at a comfortable loudness level and a constant pitch at least three seconds in three trials and sample sounds were analyzed for acoustic parameters by Praat software, then voice handicap index (VHI) was presented to all participants to complete.Results: The finding of this study indicated that, there is not statistically significant correlation between acoustic parameters and VHI.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that voice disorders have no significant effects on the quality of life in patients with MS, but these disorders should be detected and treated during the rehabilitation of these patents.