مجله پژوهش در علوم توانبخشی
سال چهاردهم شماره 5 (آذر و دی 1397)

By reduction or absence of the medial longitudinal arch in flatfoot deformity, a large part of the contact forces of the body weight transmit to the upper joints. The present study investigated weight distribution on the feet and the external moment around the ankle in women with flatfoot.

The statistical population included women students aged 19 to 25 years in Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. The control group was composed of twelve healthy women, and 37 with flatfoot deformity were divided into three experimental groups. Those in the experimental group 1 had unilateral flatfoot deformity, group 2 had rigid bilateral flatfoot deformity, and group 3 had flexible bilateral flatfoot deformity. The displacement of the center of pressure in the mediolateral and anteroposterior directions was calculated for assessing weight distribution on the feet and the external moment around the ankles. Force plate and 8 motion analysis cameras were used to collect data. MATLAB and SPSS software were used to calculate the displacement of the center of pressure and statistical analysis, respectively.

Experimental groups 2 and 3 and the control group significantly used the right foot for carrying body weight (P < 0.001); while in the experimental group 1, there was no significant difference in weight distribution on a flat or normal foot. There was no significant difference in the mean displacement of the center of pressure between the experimental and control groups. Only in experimental groups 2 and 3, there was a significant difference between the mean displacement of the center of foot pressure under the right and left feet (P = 0.020).

Women with bilateral flatfoot are more subjected to external moment acting on one foot, which is the same foot that bears body weight in a standing position for a longer time.

The quality of stability which refers to balance defined as the power to maintain center of mass in relation to base of support. Considering the fact that elderly who are visually impaired encounter problems related to keep balance and its effect on their social activities, the aim of the current research is to study the effect of physical exercise on using audio-vibratory alarming feedback device on controlling balance among the elderly who are visually impaired.

Thirty elderly visually impaired whose being impaired is confirmed through taking Snellen test and properties were randomly chosen and divided into two groups to exercise in two situations with physical exercise and physical exercise using biological feedback device. The exercise was of two types of tasks- standing alone or walking along with kinetic and thinking tasks. The elderly chosen for this test participated in post and pre balance test using stabilometr. The groups exercised for 12 weeks and twice a week. To analyze data, we applied analysis variance using repetitive measures (ANOVA).

The results have shown that physical exercise without using biological feedback device have an effect on visually impaired elderly (P = 0.001) Also, physical exercise using biological feedback device have an effect the balance of visually impaired elderly (P = 0.001). The results of independent t between the two groups in post-test test showed a significant difference on balance. I.e. the exercise group using device has shown a better performance related to the balance. (P = 0.035).

We concluded that doing exercises using alarming feedback device can improve balance criteria. In this regard, multi-sensory manipulations based on substitution and adapting approaches can lead to even better results and increase its effectiveness.

The importance and prerequisite of anticipation in success is not overlooked in many sports skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of anticipation skills, visual search behavior, and verbal reports of skilled and non-skilled badminton's players in smash hits.

The participants in this study were 22 women aged 20-30 years divided into two groups of skilled (n = 10) and non-skilled (n = 12). Participants viewed 18 video clips from smash hits in different positions and anticipated the landing in less than 3 seconds. Visual Search Behavior (number, duration, and position of fixation) of skilled and non-skilled players was surveyed using the Pupil Model Vision Detector that recorded a spot of gaze at 60 HZ (60 frames per second). After completing the test, using the questionnaire, they recorded the verbal reports of the participants in order to compare them with the visual search results. To compare the data, independent t and Friedman’s tests were used.

There was not a significant difference in anticipation accuracy between the two groups. In the study of visual search behavior, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the number (P = 0.010) and duration (P = 0.005) of fixations in the position of rockets. However, there was no significant difference regarding the number and duration of fixations on the position of the wrists, balls, and legs, as well as the other positions. The results of the verbal report indicated that the focus of the attention of skilled players on anticipation skills was the position of the rocket.

Generally, in the case of anticipation skills, it can be said that skilled players spent more time looking for rocket position. Using these results in the trial of non-skilled individuals can be useful in promotion of correct anticipation, and facilitating the process of learning skills.

With the aging, changes will occur in the health dimensions of elderly. Due to these changes, the elderly is prone to damage and decreased quality of life. As a result, health promotion behaviors become more important. Religion and spirituality can have a positive impact on mental and physical health. As age grows, religious beliefs and spiritual health also increase. Similarly, the adherence to religious beliefs and instructions increases the motivation of the individual to create and strengthen self-care behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between daily spiritual experiences and self-care among the elderly.

This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 200 elderly people in Gonbad-eKavos City, Iran, in year 2017, using non-random sampling method. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire of daily spiritual experiences and a self-care questionnaire for the elderly. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, ANOVA, and independent t tests.

The mean scores of spiritual experiences and self-care among the elderly were 81.31 ± 9.63 and 51.97 ± 5.22, respectively. There was not any significant relationship between the two variables based on the Pearson correlation coefficient (P = 0.91). There was a significant difference between the daily spiritual experiences and job (P = 0.007), as well as between the self-care and marital status (P = 0.020).

The level of spiritual well-being was high among the elderly; and considering their religious culture and beliefs, we can help them to improve their quality of life by identifying and strengthening their spiritual needs.

The contemporary studies seek to describe the appropriate environments for athletic talent development by changing procedure instead of talent identification, which is a tedious process that sometimes does not yield the desirable result. Accordingly, some studies have described the athletic talent development environment, but only a few studies have described Paralympic athletic talent development environment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to describe Para-Asian and Paralympic athletic talent development environment.

The current research was a descriptive-correlational study. The study participants consisted of 150 athletes (46 women and 104 men) who participated in the teenage and youth Para-Asian and Paralympic games between the years 2014-2018. The participants were selected using convenience sampling method. In this study, Talent Development Environment Questionnaire for Sport was used. This questionnaire comprises seven subscales: “long-term development focus”, “quality preparation”, “communication”, “understanding the athlete”, “support network”, “challenging and supportive environment”, and “long-term development fundamentals”. The obtained data were analyzed using one-sample t test.

The means of the four subscales of “long-term development focus” (P = 0.001), “communication” (P = 0.001), “challenging and supportive environment” (P = 0.001), and “long-term development fundamentals” (P = 0.001), were higher than average. The means of the two subscales of “support network” (P = 0.450) and “understanding the athlete” (P = 0.360) were at a moderate level. The mean of “quality preparation” (P = 0.035) was less than average.

In talent development environment for athletes with disability, more attention should be paid to providing the athletes with continuous and always-available support of coaching staff as well as services and facilities. Additionally, the coaches should pay more attention to the athlete’s physical and mental health; so that the athlete feels his/her health is important to the coach.

We aimed to design a triple-blinded randomized clinical trial study to asssess the effect of low-level laser (LLL) on pain and function in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

This designed study will involve 60 patientswith PFP syndrome. Eligible subjects will be divided randomly into control (physical therapy), physical therapy plus active LLL, and physical therapy plus placebo laser. The physical therapy program will be exactly the same for all groups including exercise and education for ten sessions, every other day. The LLL group will receive 808 nm, 200 mW, 4 J Ga-Al-As laser over 5 points for 20 seconds per point. The laser will be deactivated in placebo group, and for the control group, the laser will not be used. The outcomes include pain and function, which will be measured using visual analogue scale (VAS), the Persian version of the Kujala patellofemoral questionnaire, and the step down test. Following Shapiro-Wilk test, the paired t and one-way ANOVA tests, if data distribution followed normal distribution, or the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney tests, if data distribution did not follow normal distribution, will be administered at the significance level of less than 0.05.

Therapeutic exercises is the treatment of choice for PFP syndrome. LLL is a commonly favorable modality prescribed as a part of physical therapy program for musculoskeletal disorders. However, the effect of laser in subjects with PFPS has not been thoroughly investigated. In designed study, it will be examined whether adding LLL to standard physical therapy has a clinical benefit in subjects with PFPS.

The levels of physical activity and exercise are two important factors to improve health in people with intellectual disability. Several studies addressed the level of physical activity, and the benefits, cautions, and principles of exercising in this group of disabled people. The aim of the current study was to review the articles related to both topics of intellectual disability and exercise to provide a suitable framework for improving physical activity in people with intellectual disability.

Databases including PubMed, PEDro, Science Direct, and Magiran were considered to search, using the keywords physical activity, exercise, intellectual disability, and Down’s syndrome to find related articles. Finally, twenty two studies which met the inclusion criteria were selected, and the related data including the level of physical activity, and the benefits and principle of exercise prescription were extracted.

Despite approved benefits of physical activity, the level of exercise in people with intellectual disability was lower than other peer groups. In people with intellectual disability, especially people with Down’s syndrome, medical conditions such as cardiovascular, physical, mental, and health disorders should be assessed before prescription of any exercises. Aerobic, resistance, and balance training are the most important exercises in people with intellectual disability.

Exercise has a pivotal role for improving health in people with intellectual disability. These people have to pass some medical examinations before prescription of any exercise program.