Effect of Twelve Sessions of Tai Chi Exercise on Static and Dynamic Balance in Young Girls

Background: Tai Chi is Chinese martial art strengthening the performance of individuals. Objectives: The purpose of present study is to determine the effect of a Tai Chi exercise period on static and dynamic balance of young girls. Methods: For the purpose of this research, 32 young girls were voluntarily selected and randomly divided into two groups: Tai Chi training group (21 subjects; mean ± SD; age 22.05±2.4 weight 53.67±6.3 kg, height 1.60±0.5 m) and control group (11 subjects; mean ± SD; age 23.37±0.9 weight 53.64±7.8 kg, height 1.62±0.4 m) players. Static and dynamic balance were measured using Biodex Balance System SD three days before and after a 12-session training period with similar conditions in terms of time and place (75 minutes each session). Results: Mixed repeated measure test showed a significant difference between pre and post-tests in open eye single-foot, closed eye single-foot, open eye two-foot, and closed eye two-foot stances (p=0.001). However, no significant difference was revealed in the control group (p0.05). While there was better balance state in all stances of Tai Chi group, no significant difference was observed between the groups in this respect (p0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this research indicated the effectiveness of Tai Chi exercises on static and dynamic balance of young girls. Although there was no significant difference in effect of exercise between training and control groups, mean percentage of changes in training group revealed the effectiveness of exercise in training group compared to control. Therefore, Tai Chi exercises can be recommended to treat and prevent injury due to poor balance. We suggested performing Tai Chi more than 12 session in order to enhance it influences

Assessment and Comparison the Effect of Exercise in Different Depth of Water On Postural Stability and Balance Recovery Strategies of Older People: A Clinical Trial

Background and Aims Water exercise is one of the most important interventions to reduce the risk of falls in the elderly. However, the effect of exercise in different depths of water has been less studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effect of 8 weeks aquatic exercise in shallow and deep parts of the pool on postural stability and balance recovery strategies of the elderly.Methods In this quasi-experimental study, a total of 45 elderly males (60-70 years old) were randomly selected and classified into a control and 2 intervention groups of shallow and deep-water exercises. The intervention groups participated in a water exercise program for 8 weeks, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Postural stability and balance recovery strategies of all groups before and after the intervention were evaluated using Biodex balance system and Motion Analysis system, respectively. Finally, the Mixed ANOVA test was used for data analysis(P≤0.05).Results The results showed a significant increase in postural stability after conducting both types of water exercise programs(P0.05). The results also showed that there was no significant difference between the scores of two intervention groups(P>0.05).Conclusion In brief, it seems that both types of shallow and deep-water exercises can significantly improve the postural stability of the elderly. While these exercises cannot significantly change their balance recovery strategies. However, due to the more effective role of shallow water exercises in transferring balance strategies from the hip to ankle joint, it is recommended to pay more attention to the role of these exercises in improving the balance of older people

Effects of Six Weeks of Modified and Standard Nordic Hamstring Exercises on Electromyography of Hamstring, Hip And Trunk Muscles and Sprint Performance in Young Male Football Players

Background and Aims hamstring injury is the most common injury in football. Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) is one of the best hamstring injury prevention strategies. This study was aims to compare the effect of six weeks of standard NHE and modified NHE on electromyography of hamstring, hip and trunk muscles and sprint performance in young male football playersMethods In this study, participants were 26 male football players in Kerman, Iran who were selected using purposeful and convenience sampling methods and randomly divided into two groups of NHE (Age: 16.31±0.51 years, Height: 173.08±5.15 cm, weight: 59.85±5.71 kg) and modified NHE (Age: 16.41±0.54 years, Height: 173±6.84 cm, weigh: 64.20±8.76 kg). Sprint performance was measured by the 20-meter sprint test, and muscles activity was measured by electromyography. Repeated-measure analysis of variance was used for data analysis.Results In the modified NHE group, there was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest phases in the electrical activity of biceps femoris (P=0.001), semitendinosus (P=0.001), gluteus maximus (P=0.016) and erector spinae muscles (P=0.001). In the NHE group, although the activity of muscles increased by 13% in the biceps femoris, 11% in the Semitendinosus, 9% in the gluteus maximus and 4% in erector spinae muscles, the difference was significant only in the biceps femoris (P=0.001) and Semitendinosus (P=0.024). The results also showed a significant difference between the two groups in electrical activity of biceps femoris (P=0.021), semitendinosus (P=0.046) and erector spinae muscles (P=0.039). Conclusion Both standard and modified NHE are effective in preventing hamstring injury by increasing the electrical activity of the Biceps femoris and Semitendinosus, but the modified NHE is more effective in prevention of injury by changing the parameters of NHE and increasing the training load

Effectiveness of Injury Prevention Programs on Developing Quadriceps and Hamstrings Strength of Young Male Professional Soccer Players

Muscular strength is an important factor which is crucial for performance and injury prevention in mos

تأثیر هشت هفته تمرینات صندلی بر عرض و طول گام بزرگسالان مبتلابه فلج مغزی پاراپلژی

مقدمه: عوامل منفی بسیاری در بیماران مبتلا به فلج مغزى وجود دارد که موجب انحراف مبتلایان از الگوی طببعی راه رفتن می‌شود. توانایی راه رفتن، یکی از شاخص‌های تعیین استقلال در فعالیت‌های روزمره این بیماران به شمار می‌رود. از این‌رو، بررسی ویژگی‌های کینماتیک راه رفتن (طول گام، عرض گام، سرعت و تواتر گام‌برداری) مورد توجه محققان قرار گرفته است. هدف از انجام تحقیق حاضر، بررسي تأثیر تمرينات صندلی بر طول و عرض گام در افراد مبتلا به فلج مغزی بود. مواد و روش‌ها: 40 زن و مرد مبتلابه فلج مغزی پاراپلژی به صورت هدفمند و با تعداد مساوی در دو گروه شاهد و تجربی قرار گرفتند. قبل و بعد از یک دوره تمرینات صندلی هشت هفته‌ای، شاخص‌های کینماتیکی طول و عرض گام با سیستم سه بعدی آنالیز حرکت (Motion Analysis) اندازه‌گیری شد. از آزمون Repeated measures ANOVA جهت تجزیه و تحلیل داده‌ها در سطح معنی‌داری 05/0 > P استفاده گردید. یافته‌ها: طول و عرض گام در گروه با تمرینات صندلی بهبود یافت (001/0 = P) و در بررسی‌های بین گروهی تفاوت معنی‌داری بین دو گروه در طول (020/0 = P) و عرض گام (042/0 = P) مشاهده گردید. نتیجه‎گیری: به نظر می‌رسد که تمرینات صندلی منجر به بهبود طول و عرض گام در افراد مبتلا به پاراپلژی می‌شود. بنابراین، انجام چنین تمریناتی در جهت بهبود مهارت گام‌برداری این بیماران توصیه می‌شود

Comparison of Knee and Hip Kinematics during Landing and Cutting between Elite Male Football and Futsal Players

To design an accurate sport injury prevention program, alterations in the knee and hip kinematic variables involved in injury mechanisms should be known. The main purpose of the current study was to compare knee and hip kinematic variables during landing and cutting among male football and futsal players, and to discuss them within an injury description frame. Twenty football (20.5 ± 2.1 years., 74.5 ± 6.9 kg and 1.79 ± 0.07 m) and twenty futsal players (20.3 ± 2.0 years., 73.5 ± 7.1 kg and 1.78 ± 0.07 m), with at least three years’ experience of playing in the Kerman Province League, participated in this study. Hip flexion, knee flexion and knee valgus angle during two main movements with risk of injury, such as landing and cutting, were measured using a motion capture system with passive markers at 120-Hz sampling frequency. Landing and cutting maneuvers were administered in as natural way as possible. Results showed significant differences in landing and cutting maneuvers between groups in hip flexion, knee flexion and knee valgus angle. Results indicated that footballers have less extension of hip and knee joints than futsal players in landing maneuvers, which may be due to the higher requirement of jumping−landing maneuvers when playing football. In cutting maneuvers, footballers showed less hip and knee flexion than futsal players, whereas the knee valgus angle in cutting maneuvers was lower in futsal players. More information on the injury mechanisms of landing and cutting in football and futsal are needed to improve the design of injury prevention programs

Effects of 8 weeks of balance training, virtual reality training, and combined exercise on lower limb muscle strength, balance, and functional mobility among older men: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Poor muscle strength, balance, and functional mobility have predicted falls in older adults. Fall prevention guidelines recommend highly challenging balance training modes to decrease falls; however, it is unclear whether certain modes are more effective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether traditional balance training (BT), virtual reality balance training (VR), or combined exercise (MIX) relative to a waitlist control group (CON) would provoke greater improvements in strength, balance, and functional mobility as falls risk factor proxies for falls in older men. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that 8 weeks of MIX will provoke the greatest improvements in falls risk factors, followed by similar improvements after BT and VR, relative to the CON. Study design: Single-blinded randomized controlled trial NCT02778841 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier). Level of evidence: Level 2. Methods: In total, 64 community-dwelling older men (age 71.8 ± 6.09 years) were randomly assigned into BT, VR, MIX, and CON groups and tested at baseline and at the 8-week follow-up. The training groups exercised for 40 minutes, 3 times per week, for 8 weeks. Isokinetic quadriceps and hamstrings strength on the dominant and nondominant legs were primary outcomes measured by the Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer. Secondary outcomes included 1-legged stance on firm and foam surfaces, tandem stance, the timed-up-and-go, and gait speed. Separate one-way analyses of covariance between groups were conducted for each outcome using baseline scores as covariates. Results: (1) MIX elicited greater improvements in strength, balance, and functional mobility relative to BT, VR, and CON; (2) VR exhibited better balance and functional mobility relative to BT and CON; and (3) BT demonstrated better balance and functional mobility relative to CON. Conclusion: The moderate to large effect sizes in strength and large effect sizes for balance and functional mobility underline that MIX is an effective method to improve falls risk among older adults

The prevalence of low back pain and its relationship with physical activity, age and BMI in Fars Payam-e Noor University staff

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of low back pain and to evaluate its relationship with physical activity, age and BMI in Fars Payam-e noor University (PNU) staff. Materials and Methods: Of the total number of 709 Fars PNU employees, 182 men and women working in 12 branches of this university across Fars Province-Iran were chosen objectively. Low back pain data were collected via Quebec questionnaire. Chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient and ANOVA test were used for statistical analysis of data (significance level set at P < 0.05). Results: The study results showed a high prevalence of low back pain (86/3%) among studied sample, especially in the age range of 30 to 40 years. There was a significant difference between people with LBP and those without LBP (P = 0.000), but no significant difference between faculty members and university staff was observed (P > 0.05). Low back pain was negatively related to physical activity (P = 0.02). Moreover, there was no significant correlation between LBP and either age or sex (P > 0.05). Most subjects had normal body mass indexes (BMI). In addition, statistical analysis of data through ANOVA indicated a significant relationship between BMI and low back pain (P = 0.02). Conclusion: The Results indicate that employees who had regular physical activity have less low back pain. Given positive relation between regular activity and less low back pain we recommend that employees allocate some time for regular physical activity in their weekly schedule in order to prevent low back pain. Keywords: Low back pain, University staff, Regular activit

Effects of HarmoKnee Injury Prevention Training Program on Knee Isometric Strength of Young Professional Male Soccer Players

Introduction: Based on the crucial role of muscle strength in performance and injury prevention, insufficient muscle strength has been implicated in injuries to soccer players’ lower limbs. This study investigated the effects of an injury prevention training program on knee isometric strength of young professional male soccer players. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four young professional soccer players with at least five years of experience in playing soccer professionally on a regular schedule were divided into two groups: experimental group (12 players) and control group (12 players). Participants in experimental group underwent a knee preventive intervention program (called “HarmoKnee program”) three times per week for eight successive weeks. A Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer used to study the hamstring and quadriceps strength at 30˚, 60˚ and 90˚ knee angles. Paired t-test, independent sample t-test and two way repeated measures were used for statistical analysis of data (P < 0.05). Results: The results of this study showed that in experimental group, quadriceps peak torque (PT) increased significantly at 60˚ and 90˚ (P < 0.05). Significant differences were found between hamstring's PT at 30˚ and 60˚ in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Quadriceps muscles PT of the experimental group were significantly different at different angles (P = 0.000). For all cases, quadriceps PT was highest at 90˚ (292.1 Nm). For the hamstring muscle's PT, significant differences were found among three angles in the experimental group (P = 0.000). The most hamstring PT was revealed in 30˚ of the knee joint (155.1 Nm). Conclusion: It is concluded that the HarmoKnee prevention program is a useful program for improving knee muscle strength in young male professional soccer players. Data from this research can help trainers to decide whether players need physical therapy to improve their balance and strength and also are helpful in designing injury prevention programs for young professional soccer players. Keywords: Professional soccer player, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Isometri