Physical Treatments Journal
Volume:13 Issue: 4, Autumn 2023

Over-pronated foot (OPF) is a common abnormality of the foot. Sand can change lower limb muscle activities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a sand exercise program on knee muscle co-contraction in runners with OPF.

Thirty individuals (age range: 18–26 years) with OPF were randomly allocated to the equally sized control and experimental groups. The experimental group performed a sand running exercise protocol for eight weeks. Muscle activities were recorded using an electromyography system. Two variables, including directed co-contraction and general co-contraction, were calculated before and after training programs. 

In the experimental group, lower directed vastus lateralis/vastus medialis co-contraction, greater general knee co-contraction, and directed medial/lateral knee co-contraction during the mid-stance and push-off phases were found at the post-test compared to the pre-test (P<0.017). Irrespective of the time, greater directed medial/lateral knee co-contraction during the push-off phase was observed in the experimental group (P=0.043). 

Sand can be used as a suitable surface for training, as increased muscle co-activation is required to make postural adjustments during running.

Judo stands as one of the world’s oldest sports. However, the frequency of injuries in judo is also high. Crucially, identifying risk factors is necessary to prevent injuries. Despite the functional importance of strength in judo, the relationship between isokinetic strength and sports injuries has been little studied. The objective of this study was to prospectively examine the correlation between isokinetic muscle strength in elite judokas and the frequency of injuries.

The population of this cohort and prospective study included judokas of different age groups from the Iranian national teams in 2020. Fifty-three of these judokas voluntarily participated in the study. Before the camps, the isokinetic strength of the knee flexors and extensors as well as the internal and external rotators muscles of the shoulders were measured at speeds of 60 and 300°/s, and the injuries to these judokas were also recorded for nine months using a logistic regression test.

The findings indicated a significant association between the ratio of the maximum isokinetic strength of the hamstring to quadriceps muscle and judoka injuries at a speed of 60°/s. A significant relationship was also found between the ratio of the maximum isokinetic strength of the shoulder flexors and shoulder extensors in judoka injuries at a speed of 300°/s. However, no significant relationship was found between the strength ratio of the external and internal rotators of the shoulder in injuries of judokas at 60 and 300°/s (p>0.05). 

The ratio of isokinetic strength between the muscles in the lower and upper limbs can serve as a predictive indicator for injuries among judokas. Consequently, it is recommended to employ these tests to evaluate injury risk.

The successful performance of block skills is crucial for volleyball players, requiring efficient techniques that optimize time, movement, and vertical jump. The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the kinetic temporal phasic differences between middle and side blockers among elite volleyball players during block jump. 

Seventeen junior male volleyball players, consisting of eight middle blockers and nine side blockers, participated in this research. The evaluated skill was the block jump ability. Data collection involved calibrating a force plate (Kistler® 1000 Hz). An independent t-test was used to compare mean values between the two groups during jumping (p<0.05). 

The results indicated no significant differences between middle and side blockers in terms of time and force during the amortization phase. 

These findings provide valuable insights into monitoring time and force variables among middle and lateral blockers. Trainers can utilize these results to tailor task-specific training programs that optimize performance outcomes.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common problem with a significant impact on individuals and society, leading to activity limitation and chronic pain. Quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle tightness can trigger symptoms of significant LBP. Muscle energy technique (MET), a gentle manual therapy for restricted motion in the spine and limbs, aims to induce muscle relaxation, reduce pain, and improve range of motion (ROM). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of MET on pain reduction and ROM improvement in chronic LBP subjects with lateral flexion restriction.

This study was a randomized single-blind clinical trial. One hundred and two participants diagnosed with chronic LBP and lateral flexion restriction were randomly divided into two groups: Control (n=51) and intervention (n=51). The control group received conventional physiotherapy, while the intervention group was provided with a combination of conventional physiotherapy and MET (post-isometric relaxation). Pain and ROM were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and a goniometer, respectively. Both groups were evaluated before and immediately after the treatment.

The results revealed a significant reduction in pain and improvement in ROM in both groups after the treatment. No significant differences were found in the mean pain scores between the two groups (P=0.77). However, the mean scores of ROM in the intervention group showed a significant difference compared to the control group (P≤0.001).

MET combination with conventional physiotherapy significantly improves LBP and ROM of lateral flexion in chronic LBP subjects with lateral flexion restriction.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease with a very high prevalence all over the world in recent years. Therefore, this research intended to examine the impact of resistance and aerobic exercises on selected functional capacities and cognitive indicators in depressed women with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The current study was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design. In this survey, 30 women with MS (25-50 years old) with an expanded disability status scale range between 0-5.5, and depression among those who visited the neurology clinic at Guilan University of Medical Sciences (Bethat) were selected. The study included a control group (n=10) and two intervention groups: resistance (n=10) and aerobic (n=10) exercises. To evaluate the variables of stress, depression, fatigue, and functional capacities, the following questionnaires and tests were used: Perceived stress scale, Beck’s depression inventory, fatigue severity scale, 10-meter walk test (10MWT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), timed up and go (TUG), and 30-second chair stand (30 CST) tests. Exercises of aerobic were done at an intensity of 40_60% of the maximum rate of heart for 10-30 minutes. Home-based resistance training, including a hypertrophy phase (four weeks), and strength and power phase (four weeks) was conducted at an intensity of 0.5-1.5% of the subjects’ body weight. The duration of the training for both groups was eight weeks. The data were analyzed by repeated-measures two-way ANOVA by SPSS software, version 26. The significance level was set at 0.05.

Both resistance and aerobic training had a significant intra-group impact on various factors (P≤0.05). Specifically, perceived stress (p=0.01) and depression level (p=0.001), and 10-MWT (p=0.01), 6MWT (p=0.001), and 30 CST (p=0.001) results showed statistically notable improvements. Regarding the inter-group effect, notable dissimilarities were seen in depression and functional strength of lower limbs (30 CST) among the three groups (p≤0.05). Noteworthy, variations were also found in fatigue and the timed up-and-go test.

Both aerobic and resistance exercises can be considered effective interventions for improving depression, perceived stress, and functional capacity in individuals with MS.

Dynamic postural instability and subsequent functional movement dysfunctions are acknowledged as one of the primary reasons for intrinsic injuries. To prevent these injuries, individuals at risk should be diagnosed and involved in functional corrective interventions. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a six-week exercise intervention based on functional training on chest wall mobility, respiratory function, and the quality of functional movement patterns among female bodybuilders.

The current study was a semi-experimental, conducted over six weeks, investigating the effect of a functional training protocol on chest mobility, respiratory function, and functional movement patterns in 40 female volunteers aged 19-39 years. The participants were assigned to two groups, an intervention group (n=20) and a control group (n=20), using a randomization technique. Upper chest mobility (UCM), lower chest mobility (LCM), inspiratory breath-hold time (IBHT), expiratory breath-hold time (EBHT), respiratory rate (RR), functional movement screen (FMS), and closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test (CKCUEST) were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Six weeks of functional training (three sessions per week) was implemented. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) by SPSS software, version 23. 

A significant improvement was observed only in chest mobility (UCM: 3.74±1.26 vs 8.13±1.26, p<0.001 and LCM: 4.36±1.84 vs 7.63±1.53, p<0.001), CKCUEST (18.42±3.77 vs 21.67±3.23, p<0.01), and overall score of the FMS tests (14.55±1.93 vs 16.65±1.87, p<0.003), and the RR (18.00±3.43 vs 17.00±3.46, p<0.001) in the functional training group.

It seems that doing the functional exercises program can improve chest mobility, respiratory function, and the quality of functional movements of female bodybuilders. It is recommended for coaches and athletes to use these exercises along with specific bodybuilding exercises.

Rate dependence, where the initial value of a variable plays a crucial role in determining the extent and/or direction of change following an intervention, is a known factor contributing to an individual’s response to drug and non-drug interventions. Surprisingly, it is not known if there is a rate-dependent effect on outcomes following a massage therapy intervention. We assessed whether there is a rate-dependent effect on forward shoulder posture (FSP), pectoralis major length (PECL), and muscle excitation of the upper (UT), middle (MT), and lower trapezius (LT), and pectoralis major (PEC) following 4 minutes of myofascial release (MFR) to the pectoral fascia.

Fifty-nine right-handed participants (27±9 years, 30 females) with FSP, but otherwise asymptomatic shoulders with one MFR treatment administered by a registered massage therapist were recruited. FSP, PECL, and muscle excitation during a reaching task were measured before (PRE) and after the treatment (POST). Correlations were conducted on the difference between PRE and POST values and the sum of PRE and POST values divided by two for all variables.

There were no significant correlations between change scores and the average PRE and POST scores for any variable.

There is no rate-dependent effect on FSP, PECL, and muscle excitation following a 4-minute MFR intervention. These results are the first to suggest that baseline characteristics do not influence individual responses to a massage intervention. Future work should aim to determine whether speed dependence varies with different doses and types of massage interventions and patient-reported outcomes (pain, anxiety, function, etc.) and muscle/tissue characteristics (stiffness, etc.).

This study aimed to introduce a preventive strategy for minimizing sports-related injuries among students enrolled in Iranian schools, utilizing the grounded theory approach.

The qualitative research methodology using the grounded theory method was employed. Data were gathered through a combination of examining written documents and conducting semi-structured interviews with 15 esteemed professors in the areas of sports pathology and physical education instruction. The sampling process was conducted intentionally and continued until it reached theoretical saturation. To scrutinize the information collected, a constant comparison analysis approach was utilized across three distinct stages, which included open, axial, and selective coding. By scrutinizing the data, a total of 13 primary classifications along with 36 sub-classifications and 182 conceptual codes were identified.

The findings indicated that some contextual factors played a role as causal factors in the issue, including unfavorable weather conditions, students’ lack of motivation, teachers’ lack of enthusiasm for teaching, non-standardized competitions, mental and psychological difficulties, over-emphasizing competition in gameplay, teacher-student ratio disproportion, the absence of a physical education instructor, and classroom capacity. In addition, inadequate sports equipment, insufficient sports space, and environment, school principal’s attitude toward sports, officials’ attitudes, issues with temperature regulation, physical fitness factors, anatomical condition, biological characteristics, sports history, incorrect techniques, and repetitive skills were regarded as contextual factors. The model’s intermediate variables also encompassed various factors, such as the expertise and experience of teachers, their completion of first aid courses, and the presence of a sports assistant. Additionally, it included the knowledge of students and parents, the economic situation of their families, the ability of teachers to motivate and discipline the class, and their ability to ensure order in the classroom. Ultimately, some measures were proposed to prevent sports injuries among students including alterations to existing laws and regulations, an increase in the number of physical education hours, an increment in the budget, the development of an annual program, the utilization of protective equipment, the display of safety posters, medical health assessments, the formation of scientific and specialized task groups, and collaborating with other organizations. 

By implementing these strategies, it appears that physical education teachers can significantly reduce the incidence of sports-related injuries among their students.