Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences and Research
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Mar 2023

Considering the high prevalence of flat feet and cavus feet abnormalities among people and the adverse effects resulting from these complications on both balance and function, a systematic review on the effectsof various exercise programs on postural control and dynamic balance of these individuals seems to be essential. Thus, the current systematic review and metaanalysis examined the effects of exercise training programs on postural control and dynamic balance among individuals with flat feet and cavus feet.

Relevant articles were identified through searches across the eight databases of PubMed, SCOPUS, LILACS, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science,PEDro, and Google Scholar. The search period ranged from the beginning ofavailable date to November 2021. Manual searches and a complete investigation of the references of papers were also performed.

The current systematic review and meta-analysis included 13 studies.Meta-analysis results indicated that the exercise programs had a significant effect on posture control (P=0.001) and dynamic balance (P=0.001) among individuals with flat feet and cavus feet. The effect size of Hedges’s g of the exercise programs on postural control was 1.81 with a confidence interval of 95% (1.40-2.22). The effect size of Hedges’s g of the exercise programs on dynamic balance was 1.32 with a 95% confidence interval (0.98-1.67).

The present systematic review found that exercise programs had a significant effect on the postural control and dynamic balance of individuals with flat feet and cavus feet abnormalities. Study results have revealed that to better correct abnormalities and thus further improve postural control and dynamic balance, the period of exercise program should be increased. Moreover, exercise programs should also focus on greater involvement ofneuromuscular systems and direct effects on the central nervous system so that a greater effect on improving postural control and dynamic balance can be observed.

Although the most common symptoms of Covid-19 are otolaryngological symptoms, including cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell and taste, there are reports of autological and audiological manifestations of the disease such as hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness and, etc. The present study aims to review existing studies on the occurrence of hearing loss, its types, and possible causes in Covid-19 patients.

Studies have shown that the likelihood of conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and sudden deafness increases following Covid-19 infection. Upper respiratory tract infection, followed by acute otitis media, can significantly cause conductive hearing loss in Covid-19 people. Studies have reported various reasons for sensorineural hearing loss and sudden deafness. It contains direct viral damage to peripheral organs, vascular disorders, and the use of ototoxic drugs.

Because persistent hearing loss has devastating effects on quality of life, early detection and early intervention are essential. According to the available reports, hearing loss can be one of the complications of Covid-19 infection. Still, due to the lack of sufficient evidence and heterogeneity among studies, this hypothesis has not been proven yet. Therefore, longitudinal studies on a more significant number of patients using appropriate assessment instruments are recommended.

Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are characterized by debilitating muscle weakness, the inability to move, and resultant psychological disadvantages. The current study investigated the acute effects of resistanceexercise (RE) and their impact on psychological health and peak muscle contraction (PMC) in patients with CHF. This randomized controlled trial was performed between October 2019 and December 2020. Fifty-seven patients with CHF (NYHA Class II, III) underwent initial assessments of the 6-minute walking test (6MWT),psychological response to exercise, and PMC. They were randomly divided into three groups, namely R1, R2, and the control group. The intervention consisted of a short aerobic exercise comprising 15 minutes of walking at an intensity of 50%-reserved heart rate for all three groups and an additional RE with the intensity of 50%-1RM and 75%-1RM for groups R1 and R2, respectively. No significant difference among the groups were observed in 6MWT,peak muscle contraction, and psychological response to exercise after the intervention (P≥0.05). PMC and psychological response to exercise improved significantly in all groups; however, only group R2 showed a significant increase in 6MWT after the intervention. Positive well-being (PWB) had a positive correlation with peak muscle contraction of the left knee extensors and dorsiflexors, and psychological dystress (PD) and FAT were negatively correlated to walking distance and PMC of the left knee extensors and dorsiflexors. Performing just one session of exercise had significant beneficial impacts on PMC and psychological response in patients with CHF, regardless of exercise type or RE intensity. However, walking distance (6MWT) increasedsignificantly in the R2 group (75% of 1-RM), indicating that performing higher resistance exercise is safe and leads to functional advantages in CHF patients.There was a positive relationship between PWB and 1RM and a negativerelationship between both psychological distress (PD) and fatigue and 1RM.

Knee osteoarthritis is the most degenerative joint disease and can consequently cause a defect in balance control. Controlling balance is necessary to prevent physical and psychological damage. The current study investigated the effects of the Mulligan mobilization technique on static and dynamic balances in patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis.
In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 31 patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis were selected and then randomly assigned to two groups of treatment (16 patients) and control (15 patients). Static and dynamic balances and pain score were evaluated in these patients once before and once after 10 sessions of treatment. Independent and paired t-tests were used for statistical analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Pain decreased significantly in both groups after intervention (p<0.001). The treatment group experienced significantly greater reduction in pain than the control group (p=0.005). A significant improvement was found in both static (p=0.01) and dynamic (p=0.006) balance in the treatment group after the intervention. Additionally, the improvement in static (p=0.04) and dynamic (p=0.02) balance was greater in the treatment group compared to the control group.
The results of the present study reveal that Mulligan mobilization technique can improve balance in patients with moderate and severe knee osteoarthritis.

Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders.The consequences of hearing loss in children and its effect on the mothers of affected children on the one hand and the emphasis of previous research onthe effectiveness of educational interventions along with the lack of comparative studies on the other hand prompted us to conduct this research. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of parenting education and life skills training on the mental health of mothers with hearing-impaired children in the Covid-19 crisis and quarantine virtually.

This study was a randomized clinical trial. The research sample consisting of 46 mothers who have children with hearing loss were divided into two groups: a positive parenting training group and a group that was trained ina life skills program. The workshops of both groups were accomplished online due to the limitations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Data collection tools were three questionnaires of parenting, life skills, and general health that werecompleted in both pre-test and post-test stages. For data analysis, SPSS software version 26 was used.

The results indicate that parenting education significantly reduced anxiety and depression in mothers with children with hearing impairment.

This research showed that parenting education increases the quality of life of mothers with children with hearing impairment and confirmed the positive effects of such education.IRCT Registration Number: IRCT20201014049023N1

Low back pain (LBP) is a global public health issue. Physiotherapy is one of the most imperative conservative approaches for LBP patients. Beliefs of physiotherapists are seen to have a significant impact on treatment choices;however, beliefs that are not based on current evidence may lead to erroneous clinical decision-making. The present study explored the beliefs of physiotherapy students about low back pain. This cross-sectional study was designed to detect the presence of myths among Indian undergraduate physiotherapy students using a predesigned survey outlining the “myths of back pain.” Bachelor of Physiotherapy studentsfrom different academic years of various colleges across India’s north zone participated in the study. Survey questions were designed to identify the myths related to disease pathophysiology, treatment, and diagnostic tools.
A total of 265 physiotherapy students participated in the study. Among the participants, 31.7% were males, and 61.3% were females. The data revealed that most physiotherapy students hold incorrect beliefs, with major myths being (1) LBP is caused by poor posture when sitting, standing, and lifting; (2) LBP will become persistent and deteriorate in later life; and (3) LBP is caused by weak core muscles, and having a strong core protects against future LBP. There were some differences in a few myths based on academic years. Physiotherapy students have wrong beliefs associated with LBP. Educational programs should work towards developing courses that dispel these erroneous “beliefs.”

Throwing movements are repetitive motions in overhead athletes that cause soft tissue adaptations and ultimately lead to shoulder joint damage. The current study purposed to determine the torque of internal and externalrotation of joint shoulder in overhead athletes with and without impingement syndrome in the ball throwing position.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 63 male overhead athletes (33 with and 30 without shoulder impingement syndrome(. Simulated maximum functional torque was evaluated while the athlete threw a ball into a net from a sitting position. A 6-camera Vicon Motion Capture system incorporated markers on the upper limb and trunk. A kinematic model of the upper limb was used in OpenSim software with inverse dynamics to obtain maximum torque.

The internal and external rotation and elevation torques differed significantly in athletes with shoulder impingement syndrome compared to those without impingement syndrome (P<0.001, P=0.012, and P<0.001,respectively), while no significant difference was seen in shoulder depression (P=0.283) between the two groups.

The current findings suggest that there may be adaptations to shoulder strength and torque in response to throwing a ball that ultimately cause injury to the shoulder.

Upper extremity (UE) lymphedema, which negatively affects patients’ personal and social well-being, is the most common complication after breast cancer treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated the adverse effectsof surgical interventions for breast cancer on spinal postures and UE disability;however, no studies have examined the relationships between UE volume and postural changes and between UE volume and UE disability in patients withlymphedema. Furthermore, some spinal postural changes in patients with forward head posture (FHP) remain unassessed in these patients. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between the volume of the affected UE with FHP, kyphosis, shoulder protraction, and UE disability in lymphedema patients. The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 32 women with unilateral UE lymphedema. UE volume and kyphosis were measured by volumetry and a flexible ruler, respectively. Cervical angle was used to assess FHP. To measure shoulder protraction and FHP, data obtained from markers and photography was analyzed in ImageJ software. The disability of the affected UE was assessed by the Persian version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation test. Significant positive correlations were observed between UE volume and UE disability as well as kyphosis. Significant negative correlations between UE volume and shoulder as well as cervical angle were also seen. UE disabilityhad a significant negative correlation with shoulder angle but no significant relationship with kyphosis or cervical angle. An increase in the affected UE volume due to lymphedema is related to an increase in UE disability, kyphosis angle, FHP, and shoulder protraction. In addition to treatments for UE volume reduction in lymphedema patients,accurate posture evaluation is also recommended.

Several peripheral and central factors are believed to contribute to the pathology of tension type headache (TTH). The current study aimed to identify a connection between TTH and flat feet. In this cross-sectional comparative study, a total of 61 people with chronic TTH (13 male and 48 female) and 61 matched controls participated. The frequency of flat feet in the two groups was the primary outcome of this study. The presence of myofascial trigger points in the head and neck areas and the degree of neck disability were also assessed in both groups. Pearson’s chisquare test and logistic regression models were used to determine the relative contribution of demographic and clinical predictive variables to the TTH. The chi-square test showed that frequency of flat feet, uni- or bilateral,was significantly higher (x2=17.5, df=2, P<0.001) in the TTH group compared with the control group. Further analysis revealed that people with flat feet are 4.32 to 5.05 times more likely to develop TTH than people who have normal foot posture. The probability of developing TTH was 7.93 times higher in participants with 4 or more trigger points than in participants with less than 4 trigger points. Similarly, the probability of participants with a Neck Disability Index score of 4 or more developing TTH was 11.96 times higher than those with a score less than 4. The current findings indicate a probable link between the presence of flat feet and chronic TTH.