Physical Treatments: Specific Physical Therapy Journal
Year:2016 | Volume:6 | Issue:2|Papers Count:7

Purpose: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the main causes of disability in adults. Approximately 80% of LBPs lead to chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). Damages to back region may be due to weak musculoskeletal structure, impaired muscle or joint flexibility, changes in muscle tone, and reduced strength and endurance. A set of exercises by small ball was designed by the corresponding and first authors to improve the balance of muscular activity. The current study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of small ball exercise program compared to Williams exercises, in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain.Methods: Among the patients referred to the physical therapy clinics in Tehran, Iran, 30 cases (16 males and 14 females) were selected, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, through accessible sampling method in 2014-2015. Demographic information was recorded. The patients were randomly allocated into one of the intervention groups. For both intervention groups, a 10-session routine electrotherapy was applied (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hot pack, and ultrasound).Additionally, in the intervention group 1, patients received small ball exercises, but the intervention group 2 received Williams exercises (as the control). Treatment was conducted by a physiotherapist and a research fellow assessed pain intensity based on visual analogue scale (VAS) and disability index (Oswestry). Assessments were performed before starting the intervention, after treatment, and then after 2 weeks of follow-up. Paired and independent samples t tests were employed to conduct the statistical analysis by SPSS18.Results: There was no significant difference between the groups based on the baseline characteristics.In both groups, pain and disability showed significant improvement (P<0.05). But in small ball exercise group, reduction in pain (P=0.004) and disability (P=0.03) were more noticeable even after 2 weeks of follow-up. The applied treatment program was reported more acceptable and effective by patients.Conclusion: The current study, while proving beneficial effects of Williams exercise with routine physiotherapy in patients with CNSLBP, showed that substitution of these exercises by small balls exercises could enhance the effect of treatment on pain and disability. Small ball exercise program also showed better outcome in the follow-up, and was ranked higher regarding its impact, ease of implementation, and desirability by the patients.

Purpose: Rehabilitation and physiotherapy have a major role in reducing the pain and increasing the functional ability in patients with shoulder joint pain. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Action Potential Simulation (APS) and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in patients with Chronic Mechanical Shoulder Pain (CMSP).Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 32 patients with CMSP were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned into APS group and TENS group, both of them received 6 sessions of intervention. The study instruments included pain intensity and shoulder Range Of Motion (ROM), America Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form, and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index. The stability of scapula and shoulder function (shoulder dyskinesia) were measured before and after the intervention. The obtained data were analyzed using t tests by SPSS19 (P<0.05).Results: Pain intensity, shoulder ROM, and stability of scapula decreased in both groups.However, there were no significant differences between groups (P>0.05). In addition, shoulder function did not change after intervention in both groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: With regard to study findings, APS and TENS are effective in pain reduction but none has preference over the other in treatment approaches.

Purpose: Core stability training (CST) has increased among athletes. The study hypothesis is that neuromuscular training and exercises of central area of trunk, pelvis and hip can reduce injury risk, and specifically peak vertical ground reaction forces in drop landing task. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate kinetics during single leg drop landing test following a CST intervention.Methods: The present research was a quasi-experimental study with pretest/posttest and a control group. After giving their informed written consent, 30 athletes (15 in the experimental group, and 15 in the control group) volunteered to participate in the training program consisting of CST sessions, 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Training group was performed the CST during 8 weeks but control group did not perform these exercises. Kinetics variables in pretest and posttest during single-leg drop landing were measured by motion analysis and force plate device. To compare the obtained data, mixed ANOVA repeated measure at significance level of P<0.05 was used. All analyses were done by SPSS 22.Results: The results revealed that the peak vertical ground reaction forces, loading rate, and average loading rate significantly reduced following 8 weeks CST intervention (P<0.05).Conclusion: This study shows evidence that core stability training improves landing kinetics, and may reduce lower extremity injury risk in athletes.

Purpose: Human hands, thanks to their fine movements, are efficient tools to work, play, and do daily life activities, especially in students with specific requirements such as the ones with hearing impairment.Methods: Thirty-two students (14 males and 18 females) with hearing impairment with the mean age of 8.43 years participated in the current research. The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted in a cross-sectional format using convenience sampling method. The research tools included demographic questionnaire, the Conners scale, and Purdue pegboard test. The data were analyzed by SPSS 23, and the results were evaluated based on mean value comparison tests for 2 groups (2 independent samples T-Test), and also more than 2 groups (ANOVA).Results: Average (SD) scores of different parameters were obtained as follows: speed of dominant hand, 6.67 (1.20); speed of non-dominant hand, 4.81 (1.42); coordination of hands, 1.34 (2.96); hand skill, 14.48 (3.64), and assembly, 8.26 (5.31). Gender, handedness, and cause of hearing impairment did not play a significant role in the acquired scores of the hand skills (P>005).Average scores of both hands’ skill was significantly different between the rural and urban groups (P=0.013), and the average score acquired for hand skill in the rural group was higher than that of the urban group. Also, concerning the relationship between the parents’ education and hand skill, a significant relationship was observed between the mothers’ education and the students’hand skills (P=0.006).Conclusion: The effects of mothers’ education and living place on fine motor movement were more significant than the other causes such as hearing impairment, handedness, and gender.Therefore, the necessity of rehabilitation and instructional interventions of fine (delicate) hand movements is emphasized for hand performance improvement in daily life activities, education, as well as ambient and recreational experiences.

Purpose: Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, and lifting is oneof its risk factors. The activities of lumbar muscles as the main muscles involved in lifting are important with regard to identification of the allowable limits and the injury mechanisms as well as the motor control aspects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the lifting speed on the lumbar muscles activities during the lifting of the light loads by squat method.Methods: In this study, 27 healthy men were tested using electromyography (EMG). The data were collected from the erector spinae and the multifidus muscles. The signal processing was performed using MATLAB software after normalization to MVC and the statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 16.Results: The muscles activities at fast, medium, and slow speeds were not significantly different (P>0.05); however, the difference between the numerical values of muscles activities at low and high speeds were clearly visible in the diagram. The highest activity was observed in multifidus muscles and then in erector spinae muscles.Conclusion: The results indicated that the lifting speed does not have significant effect on the activity of lumbar muscles during the lifting of light loads, but it should be noted that it can be a risk factor in the long term for individuals who are lifting a lot of loads in a day.

Purpose: Wearing high-heel shoes has become a habit among women of the present era. Statistics show that around 60% of women wear high-heel shoes at least thrice a week. High-heel shoes cause postural changes and damage body joints. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of high-heel shoes on the head protrusion angle.Methods: This study was conducted at University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. A simulated instrument to high-heel shoes was used in this research. Participants of this study were 25 healthy female students with the average (SD) age of 26.64 (3.86) y, average (SD) weight of 57.04 (7.06) kg, average (SD) height of 164.04 (5.76) cm, and average (SD) body mass index of 21.17 (2.14) kg/m2. A digital camera was used and fixed on a 1-m tripod at the distance of 2.40 m from the used instrument on the heel. A software (Corel Video Studio ProX4) was used to get the pictures from the movie for each cm increase in heel height and 9 pictures were taken from 0 to 8 height points. AutoCAD 2012-English software was used to take measurements at 9 levels.Results: The obtained data and the correlation between variables were analyzed by using ANOVA. Statistical analysis showed a significant reduction in the head protrusion angle. Results also showed significant relationship (P<0.05) between heel height and study variables.Conclusion: The present study showed the relationship between reduction in head protrusion angle and increase in heel height.

Purpose: The present research was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of group play therapy on social skills of female students with intellectual disability.Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest design and the control group. The study population included all female students with intellectual disability in Shiraz, Iran enrolled in academic year 2013-2014. Out of them, a sample of 30 students were selected through convenience sampling method and were randomly placed in the experiment and the control groups (each group 15 students). Pretest was taken from both groups and the experiment group received training for group play therapy in 10 sessions, while this training was not provided to the control group. At the end, a posttest was taken from both groups. For measuring social skills, the social skills scale (social skills rating system) was used. The collected data were analyzed using analysis of covariance by SPSS 21.Results: According to the findings, the mean score for social skills and their subscales significantly increased in the experiment group (P<0.01).Conclusion: The findings indicated the effectiveness of group play therapy on social skills of female students with intellectual disability. Therefore, we recommend that by designing and implementing group play therapy, social skills be improved in these students.