Physical Treatments Journal
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Winter 2020

Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease and the most common form of joint inflammation. Moreover, it is the most common cause of functional disability in the elderly. Among the multiple and predisposing factors influencing the disease are demographic indicators and occupational factors. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between age, pain severity, Body Mass Index (BMI), occupation, and educational level, and the severity of functional disability in patients with Knee Osteoarthritis (KO).

This descriptive study was performed on 97 KO patients referring to the Novin private physiotherapy clinic of Semnan University of Medical Sciences from April to March 2017. The study participants were selected through a simple nonprobability sampling technique. Literate individuals with the educational level of guidance school and above and diagnosed with KO were included in the study. Individuals with a history of inflammatory arthritis diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, soft tissue rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia syndrome, bursitis, tendonitis, the neurological and vascular conditions of the lower extremity, mental problems, and malignancy were excluded from this research. The data related to the variables such as age, gender, occupation, history of osteoarthritis, pain intensity, involved side, educational level, and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for knee disability were collected by a self-report questionnaire. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. Using SPSS, Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationship between the study variables.

Spearman’s correlation coefficients revealed no significant correlation between the KOOS scores and age, occupation, and educational level. The obtained results suggested a poor significant association between KOOS and BMI; however, there was a strong significant correlation between KOOS and pain intensity Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (P<0.05).

The severity of functional disability in patients with KO based on KOOS questionnaire scores, was well correlated with pain severity, but poorly associated with age and BMI. The obtained data indicated no significant relationship between disability and occupation and educational level.

Taekwondo is a martial art and contact sport in which the athletes’ goal is to strike the opponent with maximal force. This fact exposes taekwondo practitioners to the permanent risk of injuries. Therefore, the current prospective study aimed to investigate the internal risk factors of lower extremity injuries in the adolescent male taekwondo players.

In total, 60 adolescent taekwondo players of Iran Premier League voluntarily participated in this research. Before league commencement, navicular drop, Q angle, knee hyperextension angle, the dorsiflexion/plantarflexion range of motion, hamstring flexibility, and their dynamic balance were measured. Then, the injuries of these taekwondo players were recorded during the study time.

The injury incidence rate was 7.9 per 1000 hours of exposure (95% confidence interval, 5.33-10.40). The logistic regression analysis data indicated a significant relationship between the Q angle and injuries incidence rate (odds ratio=1.33, P=0.031). The taekwondo players whose Q angles were >14.5 degrees were 1.33 times more prone to lower limb injury. However, no significant relationship was observed between the other risk factors of the study cases and injuries incidence. 

Regarding the research findings, the Q angle could predict lower limb injuries in the studied taekwondo players. Therefore, it is suggested that this index be considered in the preparticipation evaluation process and preventive strategies.

Wrestling, due to its contact and oppressive training nature, is subject to massive injuries. The present study aimed to compare musculoskeletal injuries between professional Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers.

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. The statistical population consists of male Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers (N=86; age: 15-20 years) in Guilan Province, Iran. The study participants had a history of at least two continual years of wrestling training of 3 weekly sessions and participating in national and international competitions. The modified Fuller and Hawkins questionnaire was applied for recording recent two-year injuries. Using the descriptive statistics, the retrieved data were summarized and classified in tables. Besides, the difference between the study variables was determined by the Chi-squared test in SPSS.

A statistically significant difference was observed in neck injuries between the investigated Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers (P=0.01). Additionally, a significant difference was observed in the frequency of training per week (P=0.01), techniques (P=0.001), and injury mechanisms (P=0.02) between the two study groups.

The present study findings revealed a significant difference in neck injury between Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestlers. Furthermore, a significant difference was detected in the frequency of training, techniques, mechanism of injury, and the injury rate between the study groups. Designing appropriate training sessions and plans and teaching the principles of warm-up and procedures for preventing additional damage in wrestlers are suggested to coaches

Visually-impaired individuals encounter difficulties in balance control and quality of life, and experience more instability, compared to healthy people. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of vestibular exercises training program on postural control, risk of falling, and quality of life in individuals with visual impairment. 

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and a control group design. In total, 24 men with visual impairment were randomly divided into the control and experimental groups. The experimental group performed a 4-week vestibular exercise program for 3 weekly sessions of 50 minutes. The Biodex Balance System, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) were respectively used to evaluate the postural control, risk of falling, and quality of life of the study samples, before and after the exercise intervention. Univariate analysis and Paired Samples t-test were used to determine the differences between the two groups.

The present study results suggested that vestibular exercises improved balance and quality of life, and decrease the risk of falling in visually-impaired people; there was a significant difference between pretest and posttest values in the experimental group. However, no significant difference was observed in the control group in the mentioned variables. The Univariate analysis results revealed that the experimental group obtained higher scores on balance, risk of falling, and quality of life, compared to the control group.

Vestibular exercises significantly improved postural control and quality of life, and decreased the risk of falling in the studied samples. It is recommended that these exercises be included in the rehabilitation programs for visually-impaired individuals.

The present study examined the relationship between muscle strength and range of motion in lower extremity with balance and risk of falling in the elderly.

This was a cross-sectional study. The statistical population included healthy elderly (Mean±SD age: 65.64±4.95 y) in Rasht City, Iran. The study was conducted on 65 healthy elderly males who met the study inclusion criteria and were selected by convenience sampling method. In this study, to measure static and dynamic balance, Sharpened Romberg test and Get Up and Go test were conducted, respectively. Additionally, the falling risk was measured by the Berg Balance Scale. Moreover, the maximum isometric force of the muscle groups in the lower extremities was measured using a hand-held dynamometer, and the range of motion was measured by a goniometer. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics by SPSS.

The present study results demonstrated that the muscle strength of hip extension, hip abduction, hamstring, quadriceps, and ankle plantarflexion had a significant relationship with static balance; while being negatively related to dynamic balance (P≤0.05). Furthermore, we observed a significant and negative relationship between the muscle strength of ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic balance and risk of falling (P≤0.05). There was also a positive and significant relationship between the range of motion hip extension, knee flexion, plantar flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion and static balance, while indicating a negative and significant relationship between these variables and dynamic balance and risk of falling (P≤0.05).

The muscle strength hip abduction, hip extensions, hamstring, quadriceps, plantar flexion, ankle dorsiflexion and range of motion hip extension, knee flexion, ankle plantar flexion, and dorsiflexion seem to affect balance maintenance and fall risk in the elderly.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is the most common knee ligament injury during exercise, with a frequency of 36.9 per 100000 individuals. The characteristics of this injury are proprioception dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate the knee proprioception after the reconstruction of ACL in soccer players.

The study sample of this study was 20 elite male soccer players with an ACL injury experiencing post-reconstruction. The knee joint position sense of the study subjects was measured by Isokinetic (Gymnex model) at 30°, 45°, and 60° between the operated and non-operated knee. An Independent Samples t-test was used to compare the mean scores of the measured variables at the significance level of P≤0.05.

The obtained results suggested that the mean value of the angle reproduction test at 30° on the operated knee was significantly more than that of the non-operated knee (P=0.003). Moreover, the mean value of a passive angle reproduction test was significantly more than that of the active angle test in the operated knee (P=0.001). There was no significant difference between the mean value of 45° angle repair results in the non-operated and operated knee (P=0.99). The difference between active and passive tests in the operated knee on 45° was significant; the study subjects demonstrated higher mean scores in the active test (P=0.02). Additionally, the half-value in angle reproduction in 60° in the operated knee was significantly less than that of the non-operated knee (P=0.01). Eventually, there was no significant difference between the results of the test at this angle in the passive and active angle reproduction in the affected knee (P=0.22).

The obtained data revealed that the knee joint position sense of the operated knee joint, compared to the non-operated knee in elite soccer players, along with the reconstruction of the ACL, was weaker than those of the non-operated knee.

Adult Onset Still’s Disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease of unrecognized etiology and pathogenesis that presents in 5% to 10% of patients as Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) accompanied by systemic manifestations. We reported a compelling case of a 39-year-old African male who presented with a one-month duration FUO along with skin rash, sore throat, and arthralgia. After an extensive workup, potential differential diagnoses were ruled out, and the patient was diagnosed with AOSD based on the Yamaguchi criteria.After the application of Ultrasound (US) and exercises on both ankles as well as left knee, left elbow, and left wrist, there was an improvement of Visual Analogue Scale by 66.6%, Five Repetition Sit to Stand Test (FRSTS) improved 50%, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test improved 87.5%, and there was also an improvement in the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), and muscle testing. This result was due to the anti-inflammatory effect of the US, leading to decrease pain and improve function in the individuals.