Comparing the Effects of Three Methods of Foot Massage on Movement Performance, Risk of Falling, and Quality of Life (QoL) In Men With Blindness

Background and Aims  Weakness in receptors involved in proprioception can limit the range of motion of the ankle and knee, as one of the most important causes of lower limb movement disorder and the risk of falling. People with sensory disorders such as visual impairment, have limitations in performing daily activities, and their physical activity, muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance, balance, and athletic performance decrease. This study aims to compare the effects of three foot massage techniques on movement performance, risk of falling, and quality of life of visually impaired men, and assess the persistence of their effects.Methods This is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest/posttest/follow-up design. Thirty men with blindness were randomly divided into three intervention groups including foot massage with a ball (n=10), foot massage with a brush (n=10), and foot massage with hands(n=10). They received foot massage for 21 days, massage day for 10 minutes (5 minutes for each foot). The Tinetti test was used to assess movement performance. The timed up & go test was used to measure the risk of falling, and the 36-item short form survey (SF-36) was used for evaluating the quality of life in the pretest, posttest, and follow-up (Short-term persistence) phases. One-way analysis of variance was used for between-group comparisons and repeated measures analysis of variance was used for within-group comparisons.Results There was no significant difference among groups in the quality of life and the risk of falling. There was a significant difference among them only in movement performance, where the group received foot massage with hands had higher performance. The results of repeated measures analysis of variance for the factor of time showed that the three methods improved movement performance, quality of life and reduced the risk of falling. All three methods had a significant effect on the study variables (P<0.05).Conclusion Three methods of foot massage have a significant effect on movement performance, risk of falling, and quality of life of men with blindness, by strengthening their proprioception receptors

Effect of Subliminal Auditory Stimulation on Components of Auditory Late Responses and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data in Adults with Normal Hearing

Background and Aim: The use of subliminal stimulation for unconscious effects on the target population is of great importance. while several studies have generated proper visual and auditory stimuli for subliminal stimulation, no study was found on the long-term effects of it. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the long-term effects of auditory subliminal presentation on the central nervous system structures using fMRI and Auditory Late Responses (ALRs). Methods: Participants were 26 students with a mean age of 24.03±2.32 years. There was four group in study. First, fMRI was done and ALRs were recorded for all of them. Then, music files containing words embedded in them was presented subliminally to participants in groups A and B for 10 days, group C received music file without any subliminal stimuli and group D was control group. It was repeated after 10 days. Results: The subliminal stimuli had significant effects on the amplitudes of P1, N1, P2, and P3 waves (F3=25.03, 25.41, 39.11, and 14.60; p<0.001). Between-group comparison showed significant changes in groups A and B compared to groups C and D (p<0.05). The difference in the recorded potential mean values showed the highest change for recording electrodes in the prefrontal, frontal, and central regions and the lowest change in parietal and occipital regions. There was no significant change for a latency component. Conclusion: Subliminal stimuli, presented appropriately and continuously, can leave longterm effects on the central nervous system structure causing extensive changes in the people’sattitude to a certain subject

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stability Exercises on Balance and Walking Function in the Elderly

Objectives: Walking and balance control are determining factors in the independence of the elderly because they are the main components of daily physical activity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stability (DNS) training on balance and gait function in the elderly. Methods: This study had a pre-test/post-test design. It was a quasi-experimental study performed on 30 older men aged 60-70 years in Qom Province, Iran, in 2021. The elderly was randomly divided into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. The Experimental Group (EG) participated in three 45-min sessions of dynamic neuromuscular stability training every week for 6 weeks, and the Control Group (CG) continued their normal daily routine. Berg balance scale (dynamic balance), modified stork stand (static balance), and temporal and spatial gait parameters were used to collect information before and after applying the training protocol. The obtained data were analyzed using ANCOVA statistical method and the paired t test. Results: There were significant differences between pre-test and post-test in EG regarding the variables of dynamic balance, static balance (P=0.001), and gait function, but in the CG, no significant difference was observed for these variables (P>0.05). Also, there was a significant difference between the mean scores obtained in the balance and gait tests between the two groups (P<0.05), and EG performed better in the post-test. Discussion: DNS training due to the great variety of movement in different parts of the body and the effect on improving strength, flexibility, range of motion, and physical fitness can also improve balance and gait function in the elderly. According to the present study results, one of the best ways to reduce the costs and physical, psychological, and social problems caused by aging is to use DNS training for the elderly

Comparison of Landing Kinematics of Athletes male with Flat and Natural Foot by Using Landing Error Scoring System and Tuck Jump

سابقه و اهداف: امروزه دانستن تغییرات کینماتیک زوایای مفاصل اندام تحتانی در تکالیف پرش ـ فرود، می‌تواند اطلاعات مفیدی برای پیشگیری از بروز آسیب‌های اندام تحتانی در افراد دارای کف‌پای صاف فراهم آورد. لذا هدف تحقیق حاضر، بررسی کینماتیک فرود ورزشکاران دارای کف‌پای صاف و طبیعی با استفاده از سیستم امتیازدهی خطای فرود بود. روش‌ بررسی: تحقیق حاضر از نوع علمی مقایسه ای بود. در پژوهش حاضر ۲۶ مرد ورزشکار دارای کف پای صاف و ۲۶ مرد ورزشکار دارای قوس طبیعی پا شرکت کردند. میزان قوس کف پا از طریق شاخص استاهلی اندازه‌گیری شد. براساس این شاخص مقادیر 0/89 &gt; SI&gt; 0/53 به عنوان کف پای طبیعی و &nbsp;SI&gt; 0/89 به عنوان کف پای صاف بررسی و ارزیابی کمی شد. داده‌های کینماتیکی با استفاده از دوربین‌های ثبت حرکتی ثبت شد. آزمون‌ مورد استفاده در تحقیق حاضر سیستم امتیازدهی خطای فرود(LESS) بود. جهت بررسی تفاوت میانگین در متغیرهای وابسته بین دو گروه سالم و مبتلا به ناهنجاری کف‌پای صاف از آزمون t تست مستقل و برای بررسی نرمال بودن توزیع متغیرها با آزمون شاپیرو ویلک استفاده شد. تمامی بررسی‌های آماری به وسیله نرم افزار SPSS نسخه ۲۰ در فاصله اطمینان ۹۵ درصد با آلفای کوچکتر یا مساوی ۰/۰۵ انجام شد. نتایج: نتایج تحقیق حاضر نشان داد بین گروه‌های پژوهش در آزمون پرش-فرود تفاوت معناداری وجود داشت به این صورت که گروه دارای کف‌پای صاف نمرات بیشتری (عملکرد ضعیف‌تری) را نسبت به گروه کف‌پای طبیعی نشان داد (p&lt;0/05). نتیجه گیری: بر اساس نتایج حاصل از آزمون پرش-فرود می‌توان نتیجه گرفت که تغییر در وضعیت قوس پا و در نتیجه در راستای بدن، احتمالا زوایای مفاصل اندام تحتانی را طی فعالیت‌های روزانه و ورزشی تحت تاثیر قرار می‌دهد که می‌تواند الگوی آسیب را تغییر دهد. How to cite this article: Abolfathi E, minoonejad H, Karimizadeh Ardakani M, mohamadkhani K. Comparison of Landing Kinematics of Athletes male with Flat and Natural Foot by Using Landing Error Scoring System and Tuck Jump. Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat. 2021;9(3):230-7.Background and Objectives: Nowadays, knowing the kinematic changes of lower limb joint angles in jump-landing tasks can provide useful information to prevent lower limb injuries in people with flat foot. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the kinematics of landing of athletes with flat and natural soles using landing error scoring system. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 26 male athletes with flat foot and 26 male athletes with normal arch of the foot participated. The arch of the foot was measured by using the staheli index. Based on this index, values of 0.89&gt; SI &gt; 0.53 as normal foot and SI &gt; 0.89 as flatfoot were evaluated and quantified. Kinematic data were recorded using motion capture cameras. The test used in the present study was landing error scoring system. Independent t-test was used to evaluate the mean difference in dependent variables between the two groups of healthy and flat-footed anomalies and Shapiro-Wilk test was used to evaluate the normality of the distribution of variables. All statistical tests were performed by SPSS software version 20 at 95% confidence interval with P value less than or equal to 0.05. Results: The results of the present study showed that there is a significant difference between the research groups in the jump-landing test (LESS) in that the flat-bottomed group showed higher scores (poorer performance) than the normal arch of the foot group(P&gt; 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the jump-landing test (LESS), it can be concluded that changes in the position of the arch of the foot and therefore in the alignment of the body, probably affect the angles of the lower limb joints during daily activities and sports, which can change the pattern of damage. &nbsp; &nbsp;How to cite this article: Abolfathi E, minoonejad H, Karimizadeh Ardakani M, mohamadkhani K. Comparison of Landing Kinematics of Athletes male with Flat and Natural Foot by Using Landing Error Scoring System and Tuck Jump. Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat. 2021;9(3):230-7. &nbsp

Comparison of the effect and durability of foot massage methods on the balance of the blindness

Objective: Weakness in the sensory-deep receptors of the sole is one of the essential factors in lower limb movement disorders and balance in blindness. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effect and durability of foot massage techniques on the balance of the blindness Methods: The present study was a one-way blind with a pretest-posttest design. The statistical sample consisted of 30 blind boys aged 20-30 years randomly divided into three groups of 10 people. The protocol of massage methods was performed on the samples for 21 days. Biodex balance system was used to evaluate the balance. The normality of the data was analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to analyze the differences within the group. The ANOVA test was used to examine the differences between the groups at the significance level of 0.05. Results: The results of the intra-group test showed that all three methods of foot massage improved static and dynamic balance in the blind (P0.05) only on the general surface index. There is a significant difference in the dynamics of hand massage compared to the other two massages (P<0.001). Conclusion: Due to the significant effect of foot massage methods on the balance of the blind, foot massage can be used as an effective factor in strengthening the sensory receptors of the foot and ultimately improving the balance of the blind

Comparison of the preconditioning effect of different exercise training modalities on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The study of exercise preconditioning can develop strategies to prevent cardiovascular diseases and outline the efficient exercise model. However, the exercise type with the most protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury is unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of three kinds of exercise preconditioning on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in adult rats and explored the possible underlying mechanisms. Male Wistar rats subjected to ten weeks of endurance, resistance, and concurrent training underwent ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (120 min) induction. Then, infarction size, serum levels of the CK-MB, the redox status, and angiogenesis proteins (VEGF, ANGP-1, and ANGP-2) were measured in the cardiac tissue. Results showed that different exercise training modes have the same reduction effects on infarction size, but ischemia-reperfusion-induced CK-MB was lower in response to endurance training and concurrent training. Furthermore, cardiac VEGF levels increased in all three kinds of exercise preconditioning but ischemia-reperfusion-induced ANGP-1 elevated more in endurance training. The cardiac GPX activity was improved significantly through the resistance and concurrent exercise compared to the endurance exercise. In addition, all three exercise preconditioning models decreased MPO levels, and ischemia reperfusion-induced MDA was lower in endurance and resistance training. Overall, these results indicated that cardioprotection of exercise training against ischemia-reperfusion injury depends on the exercise modality. Cardioprotective effects of aerobic, resistance, and concurrent exercises are due to different mechanisms. The preconditioning effects of endurance training are mediated mainly by pervasive angiogenic responses and resistance training through oxidative stress amelioration. The preconditioning effects of concurrent training rely on both angiogenesis and oxidative stress amelioration

Ameliorating Effects of Exogenously Applied Proline on Seed Composition, Seed Oil Quality and Oil Antioxidant Activity of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Drought Stress

This study was carried out to appraise whether or not the exogenous application of a potential osmoprotectant, proline, could ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress on maize seed and seed oil composition, as well as oil antioxidant activity. Water stress reduced the kernel sugar, oil, protein and moisture contents and most of the seed macro- and micro-elements analyzed in both maize cultivars but it increased the contents of seed fiber and ash. Water stress increased the oil oleic acid content with a subsequent decrease in the amount of linoleic acid, resulting in an increased oil oleic/linoleic ratio for both maize cultivars. However, no variation was observed in oil stearic and palmitic acids content due to water stress. A considerable drought induced an increase in seed oil &amp;#945;-, &amp;#947;-, &amp;#948;- and total tocopherols and flavonoids were observed in both maize cultivars. However, oil phenolic and carotenoid content as well as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity decreased. Foliar-applied proline significantly increased the content of seed sugar, oil, protein, moisture, fiber and ash in both maize cultivars under well irrigated and water deficit conditions. Furthermore, exogenous application of proline increased the oil oleic and linoleic acid contents. The concentrations of antioxidant compounds namely phenolics, carotenoids, flavonoids and tocopherols estimated in the seed oil increased due to foliar-applied proline under water deficit conditions that was positively correlated with the enhanced oil DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Moreover, the increase in the contents of these antioxidant compounds and oil antioxidant activity due to the foliar application of proline was noted to be more pronounced under water deficit conditions