range of motion

Low back pain is a major health problem worldwide with a clear social and economic impact and is a leading cause of years of disability and work absence. The purpose of the present study is the effect of eight weeks of motor control exercises and myofascial release on the range of motion of the lumbar spine and disability in people with non-specific chronic low back pain.

The current study is of quasi-experimental type. In this study, 16 men with non-specific chronic low back pain diagnosed by a neurosurgeon were selected in a purposeful and accessible way and were randomly and equally divided into two experimental groups (age 30.2±6.1years, body mass index 23.7±3.7 kg/m2) and control (age 26.2±4.8 years, body mass index 25.6±5.4 kg/m2) the experimental group performed motor control exercises and myofascial release three times a week for a period of eight weeks, and the control group performed motor control exercises similar to the experimental group during the same period of time. The range of motion of the lumbar spine (Modified – Modified Schober Test) and disability (Oswestry Disability Index) of participants was evaluated before and after eight weeks of training. Data analysis was done using repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni's post hoc test at a five percent error level and using SPSS software version 26.

Movement control exercises with and without myofascial release have caused a significant increase in the amount of range of motion of the lumbar spine and significant reduction in the severity of disability of the subjects, after training compared to before training (p<0.001). range of motion of the lumbar spine and severity of disability was not significantly different between the control and experimental groups (p>0.05). Also, there was no significant difference between the control and experimental groups in range of motion of the lumbar spine and severity of disability changes before and after training (p>0.05).

According to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that motor control exercises with and without myofascial release can improve the of range of motion of the lumbar spine and reduction in the severity of disability in people with non-specific chronic low back pain. although the effect of motor control exercises and myofascial release on the range of motion of the lumbar spine and reduction in the severity of disability was more than motor control exercises alone, but the amount of this effect was not significant. Therefore, it is possible that both protocols can be suggested as a useful method for the rehabilitation of people with non-specific chronic low back pain.

The human body functions as an integrated and coordinated unit, with each part capable of influencing the entire system. Modern science views the body holistically, addressing not only the treatment of symptoms but also the root cause of any disorder, often located far from the apparent site of the issue. This study aims to examine the effect of immediate release and static stretching of the gastrocnemius muscle and plantar fascia within the superficial back line on range of motion and chronic neck pain.

In this randomized clinical trial, 32 subjects with nonspecific chronic neck pain, aged 30-40 years, were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups: a control group (16 participants) and an intervention group (16 participants). The intervention group performed release and stretching exercises using a foam roller and band, respectively, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Neck range of motion in the sagittal plane was measured using a goniometer, and pain levels were assessed using a visual analog scale before and after the protocol. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and ANCOVA at a significance level of 0.05 with SPSS software.

The ANCOVA test revealed a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of neck pain (P=0.001) and neck range of motion in the sagittal plane, including neck flexion (P=0.001) and neck extension (P=0.001) among individuals with chronic neck pain. Paired t-test results showed that, in the intervention group, there were significant differences between pre-test and post-test scores for neck pain, neck flexion, and extension range of motion after participating in the stretching and myofascial release exercises on the gastrocnemius muscle and plantar fascia (P=0.001). However, no significant differences were found in the control group between the pre- and post-test stages (P>0.05).

The use of self-release interventions and stretching exercises on the gastrocnemius muscle and plantar fascia appears to increase range of motion and reduce neck pain. These results suggest tension transmission along the superficial back line, which extends from the plantar fascia to the frontal muscles of the skull, meaning intervention at any point in this chain can affect the entire pathway. This method could be beneficial for individuals with acute neck pain or in cases where direct neck intervention is not possible. By targeting other areas along this muscle chain, improvements in neck symptoms may be achieved. Over recent years, this concept has garnered significant research interest, with a proliferation of studies affirming the existence of the posterior superficial back line through laboratory and cadaver research. Clinically, factors such as the tissue's viscoelastic properties, nerve receptors, and changes in the extracellular matrix are proposed to facilitate tension transmission along muscle chains, though the precise mechanism remains a “black box” in fascia tissue research.

 One of the most common sports injuries is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. So far, research has supported the positive effect of training instructions based on an external focus of attention, but no study has been conducted on the effect of a holistic focus of attention in ACL injury prevention. This study aims to compare the effects of holistic and external focus of attention on single-leg jump length and knee flexion range of motion (ROM) of female athletes at risk of ACL injury.

This is a quasi-experimental study. Thirteen female athletes prone to ACL injury (diagnosed the by Tuck jump test) with a mean age of 23.77±4.42 years were selected purposefully. They performed three jumps under each instruction condition (control, external focus, and holistic focus) and nine jumps in total. The single-leg hop test was used to assess the jumping performance of the participants. The effect of the order of conditions was controlled by counterbalancing. Thus, after three jumps in the control condition, group 1 first performed three jumps under the holistic-focus condition and then three jumps under the external-focus condition, while group 2 performed the jumps in the reversed order. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA, followed by pairwise comparisons using the Bonferroni test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

 According to the results of ANOVA, the effect of the focus of attention on the jump distance and knee flexion ROM was significant (P=0.001, P<0.0001, respectively). The pairwise comparisons showed that the jump distance and knee flexion ROM under the external-focus condition were significantly higher than under the control condition (P=0.002), but there was no significant difference between the external- and holistic-focus conditions in the jump distance (P=0.622) and knee flexion ROM (P=0.965). The difference in the jump distance between holistic-focus and control conditions was not significant (P=0.078), but the knee flexion ROM was significantly higher under the holistic-focus condition than under the control attention (P=0.001).

 It seems that the instructions using the external or holistic focus of attention can increase knee flexion ROM, and the external-focus instructions can increase the single-leg jump performance in female athletes prone to ACL injuries.

Lower limb deformity in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is a common musculoskeletal problem and planovalgus is the most prevalent, characterized by talus median subluxation, calcaneal valgus, and supinated forefoot. According to studies, one issue in orthopedics and pathology is the accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of planovalgus deformity in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy, which has attracted researchers’ attention. Accordingly, the present study investigates the effect of planovalgus deformity on the motor performance and balance of these children.

This cross-sectional study employed a descriptive-analytical design. The convenient sampling method was used among children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy, diagnosed with unilateral planovalgus, who were referred to the clinics of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (Nezam Mafi) and occupational therapy clinics from September 2022 to February 2023 in Tehran City, Iran. Meanwhile, all participants were willing to cooperate in this research. A total of 27 participants were evaluated by an occupational therapist based on the specified criteria and gross motor function classification system (GMFCS), which included the assessments of balance, muscle strength, range of motion, and pain. Data analysis was done using the SPSS software, version 16.

The results revealed a statistically significant difference between the mean range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion and knee extension between the two limbs (P<0.001). The mean muscle strength of the quadriceps and ankle plantar flexors indicated a statistically significant difference in the affected limb (P<0.001). Additionally, the mean displacement of the center of pressure of the foot also demonstrated a statistically significant difference regarding topographical involvement (P<0.001).

Planovalgus deformity is one of the most common ankle deformities, which is of great concern for children with cerebral palsy. The results obtained from the assessments of the child’s balance and motor function demonstrated the importance of assessment strategies and early interventions to achieve better rehabilitation outcomes for children with CP and planovalgus deformity.

 Despite the advancement of medicine in managing spinal diseases and the increasing development of treatment methods, back pain has remained one of the significant public health problems in industrial and non-industrial countries. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of a course of exercise with a pelvic clock device on the endurance of central body muscles, torso range of motion, and pain intensity in middle-aged women with nonspecific chronic low back pain. 

 The present study was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population of the present study consisted of middle-aged women with nonspecific chronic low back pain in the age range of 35-50. The statistical sample of the study included 30 middle-aged women who were purposefully and accessibly selected from the study›s statistical population based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The exercise protocol was performed with a pelvic clock device for 8 weeks (3 sessions of 45 minutes per week) by a researcher in a sports club. Central body muscle endurance indices were measured using the McGill test (trunk flexural endurance test for abdominal muscle endurance) and modified Bearing Sorenson test. Also, the trunk range of motion and pain intensity were assessed using Schubert's modified test and visual analog scale. The measurement was made while the control group participated only in the pre-test and post-test stages. The paired t-test and independent t-test were used for intra-group and inter-group comparisons, respectively, at a significance level of 0.05.

 The results showed that 8 weeks of exercises with a pelvic clock device could affect the endurance of the muscles of the central body, the range of motion of the trunk, and the severity of pain in middle-aged women with nonspecific chronic low back pain. However, it did not affect the control group (P≤0.05). 

According to the present study findings, it is suggested that exercises with pelvic clock device are used as a cheap and practical modality to increase endurance of central body muscles and torso range of motion but reduce pain in middle-aged women with nonspecific chronic low back pain. It could also be used as a method of prevention.

 Previous studies have shown that core stability exercises reduce the applied force on the upper limbs in swimmers. However, the effect of these exercises on the range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, and pain in the shoulder of swimmers is unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of a core stability exercise program on shoulder pain, muscle strength, and ROM in female swimmers with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS).

 The study population consists of all female swimmers with SIS in Tabriz, Iran. Twenty eligible swimmers were selected and randomly divided into two exercise (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The shoulder pain, ROM, and muscle strength were measured by the shoulder pain and disability index, a goniometer, and the bench press (One repetition maximum), respectively. The exercise group participated in a specific core stability exercise program. The data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 24 using repeated measures analysis of variance, independent t-test, and paired t-test for within-group and between-group comparisons. The significance level was set a t 0.05. 

 After exercise, the amount of shoulder pain in the experimental group was significantly reduced compared to the control group (P=0.0001). It also had a significant effect on the ROM of the shoulder in this group. In addition, there was a significant difference in shoulder muscle strength in the experimental group before and after exercise (P=0.0001), but this difference was not significant in the control group (P=0.138). Moreover, there was a significant interaction effect of time and group in the shoulder girdle muscle strength (P=0.001).

 The core stability exercises can reduce shoulder pain and improve shoulder ROM and muscle strength in female swimmers with SIS. Performing core stability exercises is recommended to reduce pain and improve shoulder girdle function in these swimmers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the uniform effect of feedbag correction exercises on pain, motor range and angle angel of girls with ahead.

The statistical sample of the present study includes 30 people, 15 women with head forward problem were considered as experimental group and 15 women without head forward problem were considered as control group. NASM head-forward corrective exercise protocol was used as a feedback corrective exercise protocol. This protocol includes four sections of restraint techniques, stretching techniques, activation techniques, and cohesion techniques, which were performed in a period of 45 minutes in each stage of the exercise. After the initial evaluations and measurements, the experimental group did its exercises for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, each session lasting 45 minutes. During this time, the control group did not do any activity related to corrective exercises and did not use any medicine to reduce pain. Again, pain and performance measurements were taken after the protocol.. The Shapirvillek test was used to determine the normal distribution of the research variables and for statistical analysis of the research hypotheses, the covariance analysis test (ANCOVA) was used. The confidence interval for all hypotheses was 0.05 p <0.05.  

The results of the covariance test indicate a significant effect of feedbag correction exercises on pain, motor range and angle angle of girls with forward head complications (P. 0.001). 

In general, the results of this study showed the effect of feedback corrective exercises on reducing neck pain, motor range and angle angle of girls with forward head complications. On this basis, it seems that the exercises of this study can be effective in improving the motor performance of girls with the forward head

Background and Aims Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) is an abnormal pattern of movement or abnormal alignment of the lower limb that causes changes in lower limb function in the frontal plane and absorption of excessive reaction force by the knee ligaments during sports activities, which can increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury. This study aims to compare the balance, strength, and range of motion (ROM) of hip and ankle joints in volleyball players with and without DKV.Methods This is a quasi-experimental and causal-comparative study. Participants were 60 volleyball players (30 with DKV and 30 without DKV). The tuck jump test was used to evaluate their DKV. The ROM of knee and ankle joints was measured using a goniometer, while the isometric strength of the hip and ankle muscles was determined using a hand dynamometer. Then static and dynamic balances were evaluated by the Stork test and the Y balance test, respectively. Independent t-test was used to compare the means of variables between the two groups in SPSS  software, version 24.Results The results showed a significant difference in static balance (P=0.005), dynamic balance (P≤0.05), hip abduction strength (P=0.03), hip external rotation strength (P=0.01), and ROM of ankle dorsiflexion (P=0.03) between the two groups, where those without DKV performed better. The difference in other variables was not significant between the two groups.Conclusion The results indicate the importance of improving hip abduction and hip external rotation strength as well as the ROM of ankle dorsiflexion for reducing the DKV, which should be considered in designing training protocols.

Several studies have investigated gait biomechanics in people with functional ankle instability (FAI). However, the potential role of information processing (attention) in the gait control of these patients is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive load on the range of motion (ROM) of lower limb joints during walking in men with and without FAI.

The study was a non-randomized controlled clinical trial. Eighteen male subjects with FAI and 19 healthy subjects participated in this study and completed three randomized conditions (three trials per condition): normal walking on a treadmill (single task), normal walking while performing a cognitive task (dual task), and (3) performing cognitive task while sitting. Three-dimensional information of hip, knee, and ankle joint ROM in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes were measured as gait kinematic components, and the error ratio and average reaction time were measured as cognitive task indicators. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the intrasession reliability of kinematic and cognitive measures.

The ICC of kinematic variables, including the hip, knee, and ankle joint ROM, with and without applying cognitive tasks in three planes was more than 0.70. During the single task, the group with FAI showed a significantly decreased knee ROM in the transverse plane and a decreased hip ROM in the sagittal plane compared to the healthy group. During the dual task, the group with FAI showed a significantly increased hip ROM in the sagittal plane compared to the healthy group. The results of the cognitive task showed that the group with FAI had a longer reaction time in the auditory Stroop test during dual-task walking than in the sitting position.

FAI can be an important factor in motor-cognitive interactions. Using a cognitive task may be an effective strategy in the rehabilitation program of men with FAI.