مطالب

Introduction: The return to sport after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) is among the main issues encountered by rehabilitation medicine, injured athletes, and coaches. A main factor preventing safe return to sports is a biomechanical asymmetry between the limbs during reconstruction, which plays a significant role in the risk of re-injury. Accordingly, injury-related biomechanical changes were systematically examined in individuals with ACLR as performed functional tasks. Materials and Methods: Articles relevant to biomechanical asymmetries between (ACLR & uninjured) limbs in English were searched in the Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed MEDLINE, and Scopus databases without time limit until 2021, using the following keywords: “Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction”, “ACL reconstruction”, “biomechanical”, “Kinetic”, “Kinematic”, and “Asymmetry”. Results: In total, 122 articles were found, of which 18 met the inclusion (PRISMA) criteria. Most of the kinetic and kinematic parameters were observed in the intervals of 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months after ACLR between the athletes’ vertical Ground Reaction Force (vGRF), peak hip abduction moment, peak knee valgus angle, peak knee flexion moment and angle, during the functional tasks; also changes were detected in the articles up to 28 months, although research in this area was limited. Conclusion: The present systematic review suggested that biomechanical variables may vary among the limbs of patients with ACLR, between 18 and over 28 months. Accordingly, an asymmetry between the limbs increases the risk of re-injury. Therefore, a better understanding of the biomechanics of the limbs in the time intervals after ACLR can provide a safer and sooner return to sports activities.

Introduction: Energy Consumption (EC) and Body Mass Index (BMI) are the major complications associated with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), which can be improved by exercise rehabilitation. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of using rebound therapy (exercise on a trampoline) on EC and BMI in individuals with SCI. Materials and Methods: Sixteen individuals with SCI (ASIA classification: A=6, B=6, C=2, D=2) were selected and randomly divided into two groups of experimental (rebound exercise) and control. The experimental group performed the exercise program by a modified trampoline for 12 weeks (10-30 minutes; 3 sessions a week). EC was measured by the Physiological Cost Index (PCI) and BMI was calculated by standard formula before and after the exercise intervention. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed by Repeated-Measures Analysis of Variance (RM-ANOVA) in SPSS. Results: The results of RM-ANOVA revealed significant interaction in both criteria (P<0.01). In other words, the experimental group changes were substantial, compared to that of the control group. Conclusion: The collected results indicated that rebound therapy could, in effect, improve the SCI individuals’ EC and BMI. Furthermore, it was suggested that rebound exercise can be a useful sports rehabilitation method for patients with SCI.

Introduction: This research aimed to compare the effects of the Williams and core stability training on dynamic balance and back pain in women with chronic back pain.  Materials and Methods: In total, 45 women with chronic back pain were selected as the available sample and were randomly divided into 3 groups of 15 participants, including core stability, Williams, and control. Before the beginning and the end of the training period, the dynamic balance with the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and low back pain with Québec Questionnaire was measured. To analyze the obtained data, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used in SPSS at P<0.05. Results: The present study findings revealed a significant difference in core stability and Williams training on dynamic balance and improvement in the extent of low back pain in the study participants. There was a significant difference between the training groups in dynamic balance; however, there was no significant difference in the improvement of low back pain between the experimental groups. Conclusion: To improve dynamic balance, a core stability training program is recommended, and Williams’ flexor movements are more appropriate for reducing low back pain.