مطالب

Background: Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that can impact a person's ability to walk and move comfortably. Pronated foot posture has been suggested as a potential contributor to low back pain, and this study examines its impact on muscle activity during gait in individuals with low back pain. Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether pronated foot alters the activity timing of trunk and lower limb muscles during gait in low back pain patients. Materials and Methods: The sample of this study included 32 men with low back pain and pronated foot. Participants were divided into control (n=15, with foot pronated only) and experimental (n=17, with both low back pain and foot pronated) groups. The experimental group did resistance training with Thera-band for 12 weeks, 3 sessions per week. A wireless electromyography system with 9 pairs of bipolar surface electrodes was used to record the electromyography activity timing of back and lower limb muscles (sample rate: 2000 Hz). Two-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant between-group differences were found at baseline onset of EMG activity timing for gastrocnemious medialis ( P <0.001), gluteus medius ( P <0.001) and erector spinae at 3rd lumbar vertebral level ( P =0.001) muscles. Results indicated significant main effects of “Time” for erector spinae at 3rd lumbar vertebral level offset ( P =0.023), significant main effects of “group” for tibialis anterior offset ( P = 0.039) and for erector spinae at 3rd lumbar vertebral level offset ( P = 0.010). Conclusion: The selected training program changed the timing of erector spinae at 3rd lumbar vertebral level in older adults with both low back pain and pronated feet during walking.

Background : Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most rampant x-linked recessive lethal genetic disease with prevalence of approximately 1 out of 3500-5000 newborn boys worldwide. DMD is mutations-induced in gene encoding dystrophin that prevent the production of the muscle isoform of dystrophin (Dp427m). Aim: This study aims to evaluate the impact of hydrotherapy on health-related quality of life and body composition changes, as well as how it affects on skeletal muscle strength in boys with DMD. Materials and Methods:  Eight boys, ranging from 6 to 12 years old with DMD were enrolled in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to either a hydrotherapy group as the intervention group (Group 1; n=4) or a non-exercise group as the control group (Group 2; n=4), to receive 12 sessions of a hydrotherapy program. The patients were assessed for changes in muscle strength in the lower limbs and back, left and right quadriceps, left and right-hand grip, LBM, SMM, and general mobility and balance, before and after hydrotherapy. Results : Significant improvements in general mobility and balance were observed, along with a significant increase in muscle strength and lean body mass ( P <0.05). Conclusion : This study suggests that hydrotherapy with a precise protocol of low to moderate intensity can improve general mobility and balance, increase muscle strength in the lower limbs and back, left and right quadriceps, left and right-hand grip, and LBM in patients with DMD. The increase in strength is accompanied by increase in LBM, which not only has implications for function but also has much broader impacts on the health-related quality of life in patients.

Background: Taekwondo is a traditional Iranian martial art currently practiced in over 206 countries around the world. Aim: The present study aims to provide fundamental information on injuries in Iranian elite Taekwondo athletes. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 Iran Taekwondo national team athletes (means±standard deviations: Age: 28.8±10.7 years, Height: 175.7±9.2 cm, Weight: 69±14.7 kg) participated in this retrospective study. The data was collected based on the injury surveillance system during 2021. The questionnaire included personal information and Taekwondo-related injuries information. Data was illustrated using descriptive methods and was analyzed using the Chi-Square test ( P <0.05). Results: The overall injury occurred during training was more than competition ( P <0.05). The occurrence of acute injury was higher than chronic ( P <0.05), and the most prevalent types of injuries were strain, rupture, and muscle spasm. The number of injuries that occurred in the lower extremity was higher than in other parts ( P <0.05), and the knee was the most vulnerable joint ( P <0.05). The most important cause of injuries was fatigue ( P <0.05). The non-contact injury was the most significant injury mechanism ( P <0.05). The severity of injury in Iranian elite Taekwondo athletes was high ( P <0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that injuries during training were more than competition, acute injury was more than chronic, strain was the most common type of injury, and the most vulnerable joint was the knee. Fatigue was the leading cause of injuries in elite Taekwondo athletes. So, in designing an injury prevention program, these factors should be considered.

Background : Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a marker of prenatal androgen exposure that has been associated with behavioral parameters. Individuals with low 2D:4D are more aggressive and tend to engage in more physical activity. Aim: We examined the relationship between 2D:4D and physical activity, sensation seeking and aggression in mature and immature boys. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of Mazandaran male students aged 9 to 17 years in 2019-2020. The sample was 218 healthy, cluster randomly selected boys (13.77±2.4 y/o) from three schools with no health issues. 2D:4D digit ratio, physical activity, aggression, sensation seeking were measured. Pearson correlation analyzed variable associations. Significance was considered at P ≤0.05. Results : Low 2D:4D ratio was associated with higher physical activity (r≈-0.27), sensation seeking (r≈-0.3), and aggression (r≈-0.21), during childhood and adolescence ( P <0.05). These relationships among right and left hand 2D:4D ratios with physical activity and sensation seeking remained consistent across maturity levels ( P <0.05). Only immature boys had a significant association between 2D:4D ratios and aggression (r≈-0.29, P <0.05). Physical activity was positively associated with sensation seeking (r≈0.25, P <0.05), but not aggression in mature and immature boys. Conclusion : Prenatal testosterone organizes boys' physical activity and behavioral parameters, influencing the later development of sensation-seeking and aggression and greater participation in physical activity. The study has limitations such as a small sample size and a self-report method for assessing aggression. Future research should focus on behavioral observation methods with larger sample sizes.

Background: Hyper kyphosis is a common postural issue that affects many women, often leading to negative body image. Aim: The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of an 8-week corrective exercise program on the body image of women with hyper kyphosis. Materials and Methods: The research method used in this study was quasi-experimental. The study population consisted of female students aged 18 to 26 years with hyper kyphosis at Shahid Rajaee University. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=20) or the control group (n=20). Hyper kyphosis was measured using a flexible ruler, while body image was assessed using the Body-esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults. The questionnaire had a reliability coefficient of 0.83 as measured by Cronbach's alpha. After 8 weeks of corrective exercise, both the experimental and control groups completed the questionnaire again. The control group did not receive any training during this time. The data were analyzed using the mixed ANOVA method with SPSS-26 software at a significance level of 95%. Results: The results of the mixed ANOVA analysis showed that the main effect of the training group and the interaction between the group and test stages were significant in the post-test stage for the dependent variable of total body image (F=6.82, P =0.013), appearance (F=6.72, P =0.014), attitude (F=8.81, P =0.005), and kyphosis angle (F=18.91, P =0.000). However, there was no significant effect of training on weight satisfaction. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that eight weeks of corrective exercise significantly reduced the hyper kyphosis angle ( P =0.01), resulting in an improvement in the subjects' posture and a decrease in deformity. This improvement in appearance led to an increase in satisfaction with their appearance, as demonstrated by improvements in their body image.