Physical Treatments Journal
Volume:12 Issue: 3, Summer 2022

Ankle sprain is one of the most common sports injuries and many people suffer from chronic ankle instability after ankle sprains. Changes in the function of the lower limbs following chronic ankle instability make a person susceptible to re-injury of ankle sprains. This is a systematic review of studies that investigated the kinematic changes of the lower limbs in people with chronic ankle instability during unilateral jump landing tasks.

Articles in English were searched in Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and Cochrane Library databases without a time limit until 2021 with keywords related to “chronic ankle instability,” “kinematics,” and “single-leg jump-landing.” The inclusion criteria included the subjects being male and female with ankle instability and the type of single-leg jump-landing task. The modified checklist of Downs and Black (1998) was used to evaluate the quality of the studies.

Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and the study quality review, 15 articles out of 762 studies, which investigated the kinematics of the lower limbs in the performance of unilateral jump landing, were comprehensively examined.

According to the findings of this study, individuals with chronic ankle instability showed kinematic changes in the lower limbs during various unilateral jump landing tasks. These changes are possible factors for the recurrence of ankle sprain injury. The findings show the necessity of developing and creating a rehabilitation program that comprehensively considers the kinematic changes.

In December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic urged governments to take unprecedented precautions to restrain the rapid spread of the disease. Those precautions included home quarantine, banning all public gatherings, closures of all recreational and sports facilities, and many other measures, which significantly impacted the global community. The present study aims to evaluate physical and mental health problems ensuing the quarantine period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in athletes.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 501 male and female athletes aged 18 to 35 years. To collect data, we used three standardized online questionnaires: sports injury, SF-36 quality of life (QoL), and Goldberg’s general health questionnaire.

In this cross-sectional study, 501 participants were recruited (375 female and 126 male athletes). Most injuries were related to the ankle (23%) and the knee (12.82%). The Mean±SD score of the QoL questionnaire was 30.43±3.79. The Mean±SD score of the general health questionnaire was 36.81±4.19.

The prevalence of physical injuries, especially in the knee and ankle joints, was high. Physical inactivity, lack of exercise, and psychological conditions governing society could cause changes in athletes’ physical performance and might be accompanied by musculoskeletal disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most studies have examined the effect of aerobic exercises on improving depression and performance. However, due to the importance of the relationship between corrective exercise and spine alignment, especially in depressed men, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a selected corrective program on the upper crossed syndrome in men with depression.

The present study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in Shahrekord City, Iran. To perform this research, 30 depressed people with the upper crossed syndrome were purposefully selected and divided into experimental and control groups. The Beck depression inventory was used to measure their depression. The amount of forward head and shoulder angles were determined by the photogrammetry method, and a flexible ruler was used to measure the dorsal curvature of the spine. After evaluating the variables in the pre-test, the experimental group received the selected corrective exercise program for 8 weeks, 3 days a week. During this period, the control group did not do any exercises. Finally, after executing the selected protocol, the mentioned variables were measured again in the post-test. In inferential statistics, an analysis of covariance was used to compare inter-group differences.

After performing corrective exercises, the results showed a significant difference between the groups (P<0.05). The change in the corrective exercises group was significantly greater in the angles of kyphosis (P=0.001), forward head (P=0.001), forward shoulder (P=0.001), and level of depression (P=0.001) than those in the control group.

The results revealed that 8 weeks of selected corrective exercises positively affect depression. According to the results, 8 weeks of corrective exercises can significantly reduce the angle of the head forward, round shoulder, and hyperkyphosis in depressed men with the upper crossed syndrome. So, these corrective exercises can be recommended to specialists as a treatment.

Karate is one of the most popular martial arts around the world, and flatfoot deformity is one of the most common disorders in people participating in this sport. This disorder can negatively affect the function and joint position sense (JPS). This study aimed to investigate the effect of 6 weeks of comprehensive corrective exercise training on the function of the lower limb and JPS in female karatekas with flatfoot.

In this field trial study, 40 female karatekas with flexible flatfoot postures were recruited and randomly divided into two groups of exercise and control. The Staheli index test was performed for all subjects to assess the condition of the foot posture, as one of the inclusion criteria also, single leg 6-m timed hop test, single leg triple hop for distance test, and ankle joint JPS were used to evaluate the function of the lower limb. Then, the exercise group performed 6 weeks of corrective exercises, but the control group did not perform any specific exercises during this period. After 6 weeks, the tests were repeated. A covariance analysis test was used to evaluate the between-groups differences, and paired sample t-test was used to evaluate the within-group changes.

Corrective exercise group in the post-test had a better performance than the pre-test in the Staheli index test, JPS, the single leg 6-m timed hop test, and single leg triple hop for distance test (P=0.0001). However, in the control group, no significant difference was observed between the two stages of the test (P>0.05). Also, by comparing groups in the post-test via the Staheli index test, JPS, single leg 6-m timed hop test, and single leg triple hop for distance test. It was found that the experimental group achieved better results than the control group (P>0.05).

Six weeks of comprehensive corrective training has significantly improved foot posture, JPS, and function of the lower limb in female karatekas with flatfoot. Thus, comprehensive corrective exercises can be used in this group to improve foot posture, JPS, and function of the lower limb.

Dynamic knee valgus and poor technique during landing are not only key risk factors for lower extremity injuries especially knee injury, but also can reduce the performance of athletes in the field. Sportsmetrics soccer training is one of the successful knee injury prevention and enhancement performance protocols for female soccer players. Because the effect of sportsmetrics soccer training has not been investigated on the performance and knee valgus during landing in female soccer players, we aimed to investigate this subject.

The current field-trial study was conducted on 24 female soccer players with dynamic knee valgus that were randomly divided into two groups: the training group (TG) and the control group (CG). The assessment tests were the agility t-test, 40-yard test, vertical jump test, double leg squat test, and valgus landing error scoring system test (LESS). The TG group participated in sportsmetrics soccer training regularly for 6 weeks, three 90-min sessions a week. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze the obtained data (P<0.05).

Six weeks of sportsmetrics soccer training in the TG group not only reduced dynamic knee valgus during landing (51% reduction, F=171.8, P=0.01) but also improved performance factors significantly: agility (0.50 s reduction, F=23.29, P=0.01), power (2.50 cm increase, F=13.20, P=0.01) and speed (0.30 s reduction, F=23.66, P=0.01).

Sportsmetrics soccer training is strongly suggested for soccer players exposed to knee injuries due to dynamic knee valgus during landing.

Students have important talents whose flourishing is a necessary and basic condition for the success and development of today’s societies. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates training on cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and students’ hope for education.

This study is a randomized clinical trial. A total of 30 male students in the sixth grade of elementary school, aged ≥11 years, were initially allocated to either a pilates group (n=15, who underwent a 16 week Pilates exercise program) or to a control group (n=15, who did not receive any intervention). The data collection tools were the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the questionnaire of academic hope by Campbell and Cowen (2001), and the short form of mental wellbeing questionnaire by Ryff and Singer (2006). We performed the analysis of covariance for data analysis using SPSS software, version 21 at a significant level of 0.05.

Results of the analysis of covariance showed between-group differences for cognitive function (F1, 27=3.8, P=0.01), mental wellbeing (F1, 27=232.46, P=0.001), and hope for education (F1, 27=29.26, P=0.001). Therefore, Pilates training increased cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and hope for education in students.

Pilates training significantly increases cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and hope for students’ education. Therefore, it is suggested to use Pilates training for school students.

Back pain is one of the most common injuries that affects many people worldwide. Core stability exercises are among the training methods for treating back pain. Suspension training with TRX (total body resistance exercise) has recently become popular among athletes and coaches. The present study aims to compare the effect of common core stability exercises with suspension exercises using TRX in amateur male soccer players with non-specific chronic back pain.

The current research is a clinical trial study. The study population comprised amateur male soccer players with non-specific chronic back pain. Of whom, 30 were selected as a sample using Cochran’s formula and according to the inclusion criteria. Then, they were randomly divided into two equal groups of suspension exercises on the unstable level (15 people) and core stability on the stable level (15 people). The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to obtain the pain intensity, and the surface electromyography device and force plate were used to check the activity start time. first, the pre-test evaluations were done in the Mofaghian Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, and then the subjects performed the study exercises for 8 weeks. Moreover, after 8 weeks of training, the post-test was performed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze anthropometric characteristics, the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality of data, covariance, and the Mann-Whitney tests to compare the results between two groups at a significance level of 0.05.

The results of the covariance analysis test showed a significant difference in the start time of the electromyography of the muscles between the two groups of suspension exercises and common core stability exercises after 8 weeks of exercises (rectus abdominis, P=0.01; multifidus, P=0.001; transverse abdominis, P=0.001, and external oblique, P=0.001). Also, the results of the Mann-Whitney U test for comparing the pain intensity between the two groups showed a significant difference (P=0.02).

Considering the greater effectiveness of suspension exercises compared to common core stability exercises and the existing reports that suspension exercises have a low risk of injury in connection with unnecessary high loads, the use of these exercises in people with low back pain is recommended than using a stable surface.