The effect and Follow – up results of 8 weeks of operational-skill training on the dynamic balance of firefighters

Introduction: Rescue worker is one of the jobs that is associated with stressful factors. Among the relief occupations, firefighters are faced various physical and chemical hazards, such as high temperatures, chemicals, noise, etc., due to their responsibilities for firefighting and safety services. Therefore, the main goal of this research was the effect and follow–up results of 8 weeks of operational-skill training on the dynamic balance of firefighters. Materials and Methods: The subjects of the research were 34 male firefighters of Tehran who had at least five years of continuous shift experience in the experimental group with an age range of 29.00±2.55 years, height of 178.41±4.62 cm, weight 77.39±4.66 kg, and body mass index 16. 24.31±1 kg per square meter, and in the control group with an age range of 28.71±2.39 years, height 177.47±3.32 cm, weight 76.00±4.12 kg, and body mass index 02/0 were 24.13±1 kg/m2, were selected. Results: The functional balance board of firefighters was used to evaluate dynamic balance. The research base was in the 114th station of the Tehran fire department. The analysis of the data obtained from the research was done by the statistical method of analysis of variance with repeated measures and to compare two groups by Bonferroni's post hoc test at the error level of 0.05 and using SPSS software version 24. According to the results of the research, after the intervention, there was a significant difference in the experimental group (p≥0.05); but no significant difference in the control group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Operational-skill training can improve and promote the important factors of injury prevention (fatigue, reaction time, and balance) among firefighters. Therefore, fatigue can affect reaction time and imbalance, which will result in musculoskeletal injuries among firefighters, so it is recommended to improve the mentioned factors of injury prevention. And for the lasting effect, operational skill exercises should be used. Finally, it can be said that operational-skill exercises can improve the dynamic balance of firefighters

Effects of Weight-bearing Exercise on a Mini-trampoline, and Foot-ankle Therapeutic Exercise Program on Foot-ankle Functionality in People With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Purpose: This study aims to investigate and compare the efficacy of two training programs of weight-bearing on a mini-trampoline, and ankle exercise therapy on foot-ankle functionality in people with peripheral neuropathy. Methods: The present research is a clinical trial study that has been conducted using two intervention groups and one control group. The statistical population of this study includes 48 women living in Tehran City, Iran with type 2 diabetes and moderate or severe neuropathy. The Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI) and foot health status questionnaire (FHSQ-BR) were used to collect data. The first experimental group performed mini-trampoline exercises, while the second group performed ankle therapeutic exercises at home for eight weeks. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANOVA) and correlated t-test. Results: The findings showed that mini-trampoline exercise and ankle exercise therapy had a significant effect on relieving foot pain (P0.05). No significant difference was found in the control group after 8 weeks for the relevant variables (P>0.05). Conclusion: Exercises on the mini-trampoline and ankle therapeutic exercises at home can be effective in improving patients’ quality of life as a simple, affordable, low-risk, and quick-improvement treatment program that focuses on the use of segmental exercises for foot functionality

Evaluation of shoulder girdle strength more than 12 month after modified radical mastectomy and axillary nodes dissection

Background: Muscle strength is necessary for upper body normal function. Upper extremity function impairments have been reported in breast cancer (BC) survivors. It is not possible to know precisely if cancer adjuvant therapy such as radiation and chemotherapy had any effect on the unaffected arm. The aim of this study was to compare shoulder girdle strength among women with BC and similarly aged women without cancer. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three postmenopausal women (51 ± 6.46 years) with BC who underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy and 30 healthy postmenopausal women (53.26 ± 5.05 years) were selected. Muscle strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer for flexion, horizontal adduction, internal and external rotation, scapular abduction and upward rotation, scapular depression, and adduction. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (P < 0.05). Results: The findings indicated significant differences between groups of 6 of the shoulder girdle strength measure (flexion (P = 0.003), internal rotation (P = 0.001), external rotation (P = 0.040), scapular abduction and upward rotation (P = 0.001), scapular depression and adduction (P = 0.025), and shoulder horizontal adduction (P = 0.00)). Patients showed significantly lower strength compared with healthy controls (flexion = 34.3%, abd = 64.2%, int.rot = 51.2%, ext.rot = 32.4%, hor.add = 58.06, and depression = 35.2%). Conclusion: The results indicate that the shoulder girdle strength in women with BC decreased compared with healthy women without BC. Therefore, during the treatment of patients with BC, designing of training programs and rehabilitation programs need to be performed on shoulder girdle strength factors in patients undergoing mastectomy with axillary surgery and radiation therapy

The Effectiveness of Schroth vs SEAS Exercise Methods for Correcting Idiopathic Scoliosis in Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the most common type of scoliosis and the most complex deformity of the spine. The promising results of Schroth and Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS), among other methods of exercise therapy, have attracted the attention of many researchers and therapists. However, there is still vague evidence of their effectiveness and their superiority. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of Schroth and SEAS exercises on correcting AIS. Methods: Searching was conducted in databases, including Cochrane, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 2005 to December 2021 using keywords related to AIS. Inclusion criteria were the papers using Schroth and SEAS exercises as an intervention. The PEDro scale was used for evaluating the quality of the papers. Results: Ten papers with an average PEDro score of 6.2 were licensed to enter the study. Five Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) and one Clinical Controlled Trial (CCT) reported a significant reduction in Cobb Angle (CA) (greater than 5°) using the Schroth method (moderate). Moreover, two CCTs and one RCT indicated a significant reduction in CA (greater than 5°) using the SEAS method (limited). However, no paper was found for choosing superiority between Schroth and SEAS (no evidence). Conclusion: Although there is limited to moderate evidence in the studies, it seems that both Schroth and SEAS exercises were effective in improving AIS, which was more prominent in the study of the Schroth method. Nevertheless, accessing high-quality papers is necessary for achieving more accurate results in the future