Journal of Sport Sciences and Health Research
Volume:1 Issue: 3, 2011

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between leg muscle strength, trunk muscle endurance, rang of motion of lower extremity and anthropometric factors with balance ability in female athletes. Forty healthy athlete women (mean age 20.5 3.86 years, height 161.20 7.26 cm and weight 53.91 5.57 kg) participated in this study. Biacromial breadth, bi iliac breadth, ankle bimalleolar breadth, static and dynamic balance, rang of motion of lower extremity, trunk muscle endurance and maximum unilateral squat strength were measured. There was a significant and positive correlation between static balance scores with hip adduction and between dynamic balance and hip flexion (P<0.05). Also, there was a significant and negative correlation between static balance scores with hip flexion, hip abduction, ankle breadth and between dynamic balance with leg length and bi iliac breadth (P<0.05). In conclusion, when using the SEBT or BESS for experimental or clinical purposes, some factors such as ankle breath, bi iliac breadth and hip ROM should be attended to allow for a more accurate comparison of performance among participants.

Ankle injury is one of the most common sports injuries in contact sports. The purpose of this study was to establish a profile of ankle injuries in futsal, basketball, volleyball and handball female players (2006-2007). The data for the injury were collected using injury report forms that were completed by team physicians. Chi-square test was used to analyze the data. Out of 287 players who participated in this study, 40 ankle injuries were reported out of which 67.5% were ankle sprain. Most of ankle injuries occurred in volleyball (35%), basketball (32%) and futsal (22.5%) and lowest in handball (10%) (2=6.2, P>0.05). The majority of ankle injuries occurred via landing (60%) and cutting and changing direction (27.5%) (2=14.1, P<0.05). Most of injuries occurred by contact (57.7%), specially contact to another player (78.3%) (2=0.9, P>0.05). About 52.5% of ankle injuries were not associated with previous injuries. Players who played more than 4 years as a professional athlete sustained more injures, and they also had more previous injuries (2=0.5, P>0.05). Centers in basketball, spikers in volleyball and line players in handball sustained more ankle injuries. It can be concluded that the rate of ankle injuries in sports with landing and cutting maneuver is high, especially in professional players who perform these maneuvers more than other players. So, ankle injury should be prevented to minimize injuries.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Pilates exercises on patients with chronic low back pain. For this purpose, 28 women suffering from chronic low back pain following informed consent participated in the study in two groups (control group: N=13, experimental group: N=15). The Pilates group performed Pilates exercises for 6 weeks and the control group received the routine treatment. Pain, disability and trunk flexor and extensor muscle strength were determined by visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (ODQ) and ITOO test. Analysis of covariance and Turkey's post hoc test were used to analyze the data (P ≤0.05). The results revealed that after six weeks of treatment with Pilates exercises, the mean pain (p=0.024) and inability (p=0.016) of the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group. Additionally, measures of trunk flexor and extensor muscle endurance of Pilates group were greater (P<0.001) than the control group. Based on the findings of this research, a series of Pilates exercises have positive effects on relieving pain, decreasing disability and increasing endurance of core muscles. Therefore, it appears that Pilates exercises could be more effective than routine methods in treatment of patients with chronic low back pain. These results and findings in addition to other studies demonstrated that Pilates exercises along with other treatment methods may have efficient outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of interval back crawl swimming to correct kyphosis in teenagers. Training protocol consisted of back crawl swimming for 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week (totally 18 sessions). For this purpose, out of 683 high school students, 98 kyphotic students were identified and their kyphosis was measured by a flexible ruler. During the next phase, 47 subjects with experience of participating in educational swimming classes were identified. Then, back crawl swimming skill test was performed and 38 subjects with optimal skill were identified. Then, 15 subjects with the highest degree of skill were selected purposefully for the experimental group and 15 subjects were randomly selected for the control group. The mean age in the control group was 16.4+4.65, and in the experimental group was 16.2±7.42. Subjects’ average kyphotic degree in the control and experimental groups were respectively 45.83±2.18 and 46.19±3.72. Subjects’ kyphosis was measured at the beginning (pretest), in the middle (after 3 weeks of training) and at the end of training program (posttest) by the flexible ruler. Experimental group performed the training protocol for 6 weeks, 3 sessions on the second week while the control group did not perform any training protocol. Training protocol included warm-up (5 minutes) and freestyle swimming (5 minutes); then, interval back crawl swimming was performed in 5 stages (each stage 10 minutes) consisting of back crawl swimming (6 minutes) along with stretching in the water (2 minutes) with a rest interval (2 minutes). At the end of the protocol, subjects cooled down for 5 minutes. The one-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data. The results of this study indicated that back crawl swimming had a positive effect on altering and improving kyphosis in high school students (P≤0.05). The results indicated that back crawl swimming significantly decreased kyphosis degree. Therefore, we concluded that this method of training can have a positive effect on improving and treating kyphosis in high school students, so coaches and trainers can use this method to alter and treat this abnormality in teenager student.

Through careful examination and identification of types of injuries in any sport field, helpful influential recommendations can be provided for athletes and coaches to correct defective and harmful techniques, and to observe suitable scientific principles of exercise and treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among functional and anatomical injuries of upper extremity in elite volleyball players with an emphasis on classification, type, degree and potential of functional injuries of upper extremity. 107 volleyball super league players (47 women and 60 men) participated in this study. The questionnaire of personal characteristics, classified and domestic DASH (disability of arm, hand, shoulder) questionnaire and an upper extremity injuries recognition questionnaire were applied. The independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Injuries were classified into four groups (A: activity limitation, I: impairment, P: participation restriction, AP: activity limitation and participation restriction). The degree of functional injuries of A, I, P, PA in volleyball players was %17.8, %24.8, %19.7, %47.7 respectively while the potential for incidence of functional injuries of A, I, P, PA in volleyball players respectively was reported %29.9, %20.5, %26.9, %36.6. There was no significant difference in A, I, P, PA between men and women (P>0.05) while the increased incidence of joint injuries resulted in the increased incidence of A, I, P, PA in male players (P≤0.05). Also, there was no significant relationship between tendon injuries and A, I, P, PA (P>0.05). The increased incidence of bone injuries resulted in the increased incidence of A, I, P, PA (P0.05). It can be concluded that the most functional injury and the potential for the incidence of functional injuries was AP injury. The increased incidence of joint injuries resulted in increased incidence of A, I, P, AP in men while the increased incidence of bone injuries resulted in increased incidence of A, AP.

The aim of this study was to survey the relationship between Q-angle and non-contact injuries of lower extremity in male karate players. Out of 288 male karate players (Kumite) with black belt or higher in 6 professional karate clubs in Kerman, 45 karate players who had lower extremity injuries participated in this research. Injury data were collected via data collecting forms and Q angle was measured with a goniometer in supine position. To analyze data, t – student test, Spearman correlation coefficient and Chi – square test were used (P<0.05). The results showed that injuries were most commonly located in knee (62.2%), occured in training (82.3%) and the severity of injuries in most cases was reported as minor (57.8%). Likewise, the results showed that the Q angle in the right leg in 46.7% of subjects was higher and in 24.4% was lower while in the left leg in 31.1% of subjects was higher and in 24.4% was lower. Data analysis with t – test showed a significant difference in non-contact injuries of lower extremity between the two groups with normal and abnormal Q angle, and Spearman correlation coefficient demonstrated no significant relationship in Q angle between right and left legs. Moreover, Chi – square test showed that despite high percent of abnormality of Q angle, there was no significant difference between Q angle and severity of injury (P<0.05). Results of this study showed that abnormal quadriceps angle (Q angle) may affect non-contact injuries of the lower extremity in male karate players.

The purpose of this research was to study sole arch index and its relationship to non – contact ankle sprain in athletes. For this purpose, 120 male athletes who have held championship of wrestling and karate for more than one year (mean of 20.68±2.63 age, 73.97±6.61 cm height and 70.80±10.30 kg weight) participated in this study. The data were collected by a questionnaire and Chippaux – Smirak Index (CSI) was used to evaluate sole arch index. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Mann – Whitney test and Spearman correlation coefficient (P≤ 0.05). The rate of sprain in wrestlers was 36.6% while in karate players was 46.66%. The left foot (the dominant foot) in karate players with 60.71% had the highest incidence of sprain while the right foot (the dominant foot) in wrestlers with 77.27%. The severity of the non – contact sprain of the ankle was not the same in karate and wrestling and the results showed that the severity was higher in wrestling than in karate (P=0.001). The results indicated a significant difference in the sole arch between injured and healthy karate players: healthy athletes had a decreased sole arch of their right leg when compared to injured athletes (P=0.236). The results of this study showed that the severity of injury was different in sports depending on the type and nature of that sport, and that, by knowing the features of different sports, effective steps could be taken to prevent and reduce the rate of ankle sprain in athletes. In addition, paying attention to the natural structure of the foot is very important as any disorder in the structure of the foot leads to an inappropriate distribution of pressure on the foot which in turn causes ankle sprain in these athletes. Therefore emphasizing the features of sole arch, one can, to some extent, relieve these athletes of the problems of the non – contact ankle sprain.

Postural control and dynamic balance are essential in daily activities and optimal performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of time of day on static and dynamic postural control in athletes. Twenty healthy athletes (10 females: age 21.9±1.59, height 161±4.49, weight 54.1±5.76 and 10 males: age 20.4±0.96, height 174.2±8.17 and weight 66.3±7.66) participated in this study. Subjects had no lower extremity injuries, head injuries and vestibular disorders. Dynamic postural control was assessed with star excursion balance test (SEBT) which included 8 directions. In this study, the anterior, posterior, lateral and medial directions were chosen. The single leg balance test (SLB) was used to measure static postural control in the dominant leg. During a day, static and dynamic postures were measured at 10:00, 15:00 and 20:00. There was a significant difference in static postural control between female and male athletes at 15:00. The findings showed a significant difference in static and dynamic balance of females at 20:00 when compared to 10:00 and 15:00 (P≤0.05). Studies have shown that eccentric and concentric strengths reach their highest level in the evening. In this study, balance reached its highest level in the evening. Therefore, it seems that one of the reasons for the different in postural control at various times of the day was difference and change of strength. However, other factors could be the reason for this difference and further studies are needed to find these factors.