Physical Treatments Journal
Volume:10 Issue: 4, Autumn 2020

Digital technologies, including mobile applications, websites, and wearable devices, like smartwatches are among the newest approaches in prevention, care, and treatment studies; they could provide public access to high-quality rehabilitation services. The current review study aimed to evaluate the effects of digital technologies for enhancing physical activity, as well as improving and managing pain in individuals with knee injuries and pain.

The keywords “digital care program”, “e-health”, “physical activity”, and “knee pain” were used to search the studies in the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. In total, 734 articles were found. Then, studies published in languages other than English; the articles with completely similar results; the studies on diseases other than knee problems, and those investigating children or adolescents were excluded. Thus, valid articles indexed in these databases that digital technologies were an except original in the intervention; databases that investigated the impact of digital technologies on osteoarthritis and total knee arthroplasty knee improvement, and the randomized controlled trials were included in this research. Eventually, 8 articles were evaluated in this study. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the PEDro score.

The overall outcome of the explored studies indicated that digital technologies significantly impact pain relief, and improve mobility, quality of life, and self-care in patients with osteoarthritis and total knee arthroplasty. 

Digital technologies increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs and play an essential role in creating a self-care culture. These technologies have resulted in savings in medical, commuting, pharmacotherapy, and surgery costs by communicating between patient and therapist at any time in any place.

Musculoskeletal disorders, like Low Back Pain (LBP) are associated with impaired lumbopelvic motor control. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of modified Pilates exercises on pain, disability, and lumbopelvic motor control in patients with chronic LBP. 

In this randomized controlled single-blind clinical trial, 30 chronic patients with chronic LBP were selected using the convenience sampling method. Then, they were randomly assigned to two groups of control and modified Pilates exercises. The treatment program in the modified Pilates exercises group was based on the Pilates method, and the control group performed general exercises. Lumbar-pelvic motion control index (compression biofeedback unit), muscle tardiness (Endurance test & Sorensen test), pain score (Visual Analogue Scale), and functional disability score (Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire) were measured before and after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test and Mann-Whitney U Test (P<0.05).

In the modified Pilates exercise group, pain score and disability index suggested significant differences (P=0.001). The lumbar-pelvic control index in the BKFO indicated a significant change (P=0.004). Besides, lumbar muscle endurance also presented a significant change (P=0.001). There was no significant difference between the investigated variables in the intergroup comparison (P>0.05).

The modified Pilates exercises effectively increased the level of muscle endurance and the control of lumbar-pelvic motion, and reduced pain and disability.

The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of barefoot and shod running with two different styles on ground reaction force-frequency content in recreational runners with low arched feet.

The statistical sample of this research was 13 males with Pronated Feet (PF) (Mean±SD age: 26.2±2.8 y; height: 176.1±8.4 cm; weight: 78.3±14.3 kg). A force plate (Bertec, USA) with a sample rate of 1000 Hz was used to record the reaction forces under each foot. Three test conditions in our study included shod running with rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot patterns. Repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for analyzing the data.

During forefoot running, the research subjects attained 10% higher GRF values in vertical direction, compared with rearfoot running (P˂0.001, d=2.133). Forefoot running decreased the peak vertical GRF, compared to rearfoot running (by 12%, P=0.01, d=0.826). Barefoot running decreased the peak vertical GRF, compared to shod running (by 6%, P=0.027, d=1.143). The collected results revealed a significantly lower FyMed (P<0.02, d=1.11, 14%), Fy99.5% (P<0.02, d=0.11, 8%), and greater FyNe (P<0.02, d=0.72, 10%), Fz99.5% (P<0.01, d=4.30, 124%), and FzNe (P<0.01, d=1.65, 44%) when running with rearfoot strike pattern, compared with forefoot strike pattern.

The study subjects with pronated feet experienced greater GRF values during forefoot running than rearfoot; such data may imply an increased risk of running injuries. Therefore, forefoot running is not recommended for runners with pronated feet.

Maintaining balance in the feet and wrists while helping to improve poor center of gravity adjustment, balancing and properly applying force to climb climbing requirements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of six weeks of training on neuromuscular performance balance and lower extremity function Girls rock climbing.

Purposive sampling and available with number 30 (age 18±25 years) were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group of 10 neuromuscular performances (n=10) groups. Prior to the training protocol (6 weeks), to measure performance balance and lower limb of the test subjects were used Star and functional movement screening tests. Paired t-test and analysis of covariance were used. The significant level of P≤0.05 was used.

The results showed that there was a significant difference in the balance and function of the lower extremities between the two neuromuscular and functional groups, but these differences were not significant between the two experimental groups.

The results show that the performance and functional neuromuscular training programs to improve balance and lower extremity function Girls rock climbing and lead to increased athletic performance.

Functional disability, impaired balance, and trunk muscle endurance are among the major changes in patients with Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain (NCLBP). Investigating the relationship between these factors and Functional Movement Screen (FMS) can facilitate effective pain management and functional problems in these patients. This study aimed to assess the relationships between FMS and pain, dynamic balance, and trunk muscle endurance in military personnel with NCLBP.

The present study was of a correlational research design. The study subjects were 50 male military personnel with NCLBP (Mean±SD age=33.30±3.94 y, height= 175.32±5.50 cm, & weight=74.05±3.64 kg). FMS was evaluated by FMS tests and pain severity was assessed through Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale; the dynamic balance was evaluated by Y-Balance Test (YBT), and the trunk muscle endurance was measured by the ITO test. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS. Pearson correlation coefficient at a significance level of P<0.05 was used to examine the association between the research variables.

Pain (P=0.04, r=-0.285) was negatively correlated with the FMS. The FMS was positively associated with the dynamic balance (P=0.014, r=0.346) and trunk muscle endurance (P=0.02, r=0.381).

The FMS can be recommended as a functional assessment tools to identify functional deficits in military personnel with NCLBP. The data suggested that the researchers could employ the FMS as a useful tool in designing more effective treatment plans and improving the functional capacity of individuals with CLBP.

Core stability is the ability of the lumbopelvic-hip complex to prevent spinal instability and return to equilibrium after a perturbation. The special physical condition in students and especially the female ones-makes them prone to Trunk Defects (TDs); thus, it makes them prone to numerous injuries, like problems in balance. The present study aimed to examine the effect of Core Stability Exercises (CSEs) on static and dynamic balance, strength, and endurance among female students with TDs.

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. The study samples were 30 female high-school students with TDs (Mean±SD age: 15.63±0.49 y, height: 1.60±0.04 m, & weight: 55.96±6.08 kg). All the subjects were placed in the same group. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) was used to evaluate the dynamic balance; One-Legged Stance Test (OLST) was employed to evaluate the static balance; the McGill test was applied to evaluate trunk endurance; a dynamometer was used to assess the trunk muscle strength, and tuck-jump screening test was implemented to determine students with TDs. These tests were employed at pretest and posttest phases. The research subjects followed CSEs for 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, and approximately 45 minutes per session, supervised by the researcher. The Dependent Samples t-test at the significance level of P=0.05 was used for data analysis.

The present study results indicated a significant difference in strength, muscular endurance, as well as static and dynamic balance in the study subjects after the exercise program (P=0.001).

According to the data, 6 weeks of CSEs could provide a solid foundation for the transfer of forces between the limbs. This is achieved by enhancing the strength and endurance of the core muscles of the body; accordingly, it leads to improved static and dynamic balance in female students with trunk control defect by reducing postural fluctuations. However, further extensive studies with larger sample sizes are required for providing more accurate conclusions.

Several tests have been proposed as injury predictor inventories in various sports; however, it is important to recognize which test is more appropriate to predict the injuries of a particular sport. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between selected functional tests and lower limb injuries in elite male wushu athletes.

In total, 40 wushu player were recruited from the national league (Mean±SD age: 25.1±4.9 y, weight: 67.3±7.7 kg, height: 175.3±4.7 cm). Functional Movement Screening (FMS), Tuck jump, single and double leg squats, Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), and Stork balance tests were performed in this research. All of the study variables were measured before the national competition, and after the competition, the rate of the injuries were assessed. The correlation between them was evaluated, subsequently. Descriptive data were used to describe the collected results. Besides, multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between the study variables.

Multivariate linear regression analysis data suggested that LESS, stroke balance test, single-leg squat, and SEBT failed to predict lower extremities injuries; however, Tuck jump, FMS, and double leg squat could predict lower extremities injuries.

Based on the collected results, among the studied tests, trainers and researchers are suggested to employ the Tuck jump, FMS, and double leg squat tests to predict injuries in wushu male players; this test can also be used to prevent injuries in players.