The Effect of the Neuromuscular, Strength, and Combined Training on Balance and Performance in Female Basketball Players

Purpose: This investigation aimed to compare the effect of neuromuscular, strength, and combined training on dynamic balance and sports performance, including power, sprint, and agility in female basketball players. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 42 female professional basketball players (age: 19-25 years) were assigned to three groups of Neuromuscular (NM), Strength (ST), and Combined training (CM), and one control group. The Multivariate Analysis of the Variance (MANOVA) was used to compare between-groups data. Dynamic balance and performance measurements (vertical jump, agility, and sprint) of athletes were assessed before and after six weeks of intervention by Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Sargent vertical jump device, Shuttle Run device, and sprint 27-meter test.  Results: Results of the MANOVA showed all between-group differences for dynamic balance, sprint, and agility were only significant between the control group and NM, ST, and CM groups (P≤0.05). In addition, the CM group was significantly different compared to the NM and ST groups (P≤0.05). Balance and high jump within-group differences showed a significant increase in the NM, ST, and CM groups in the high jump variable (P≤0.05). For sprint and agility, within-group results showed a significant decrease in the NM, ST, and CM groups (P≤0.05). Besides, the larger effect size was seen in the combined group for all variables. Conclusion: It seems that neuromuscular, strength, and combined training is similarly effective in improving the balance and functional performance of female basketball athletes and there is not a significant difference between them

Comparing Knee Joint Position Sense in Patellofemoral Pain and Healthy Futsal Women

Background: Proprioception, or joint position sense, probably plays an important role in joint function. A number of studies have shown that proper joint position sense can decrease the risk of injuries in sports. It is not very clear how patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) can affect athletes joint position sense (JPS). Regarding the importance of proper joint position sense for movement performance and injury prevention in athletes, the aim of this study was to evaluate knee JPS in athletes with PFPS and compare it with asymptomatic individuals under non-weight bearing (sitting) conditions. Methods: The study design was comparative in which 15 patients and 15 healthy athletes participated. JPS was evaluated by active and passive replication of knee angles for 30, 45 and 60° of knee flexion target angle while visual cues were eliminated. Each test was repeated three times. By subtracting the test angle from the replicated angle, the absolute error was calculated as a dependent variable. T-statistical test was used to compare data between two groups and P value of 0.05 was considered as the level of statistical significance. Results: No significant difference (P<0.05) in active (A) and passive (P) knee JPS was found between two groups for three (30°, p-value (A =0.79, P=0.68), 45°, P value (A=0.12, P=0.54) and 60°, P value (A=0.74, P=0.71)) target angles. Conclusion: According to results, both groups had the same JPS ability, it seems PFPS does not affect the knee JPS at least in athlete cases. It would be possible that deficiency of JPS compensated for the physical activity or on the other hand, maybe pain intensity was not high enough to interfere with JPS accuracy. According to our results, PFPS doesn’t reduce IPS but further investigation is needed to disclose if other factors such as skill level, intensity of pain or joint pathology are effective on JPS accuracy or not

The Effect of Effleurage Massage on Grip Endurance and Strength of Fatigued Healthy Young Women

مقدمه: دست یکی از مهم‌ترین اندام‌های انسان است که در بسیاری از فعالیت‌ها مانند عمل گرفتن، از آن استفاده می‌شود. از سوی دیگر، انجام فعالیت طولاني مدت عضلات منجر به خستگی می‌گردد. یکی از راه‌های کاهش این خستگی، انجام ماساژ است. مطالعات انجام شده در خصوص تأثیر ماساژ بر قدرت و تحمل عضلانی محدود می‌باشد. علاوه بر این، همخوانی در نتایج مطالعات مشابه در دسترس، وجود ندارد. بنابراین، هدف از انجام پژوهش حاضر، استفاده از یک روش ساده ماساژ و بررسی تأثیر آن بر قدرت و تحمل عضلانی به دنبال خستگی بود. مواد و روش‌ها: 49 نفر از دانشجویان دختر 18 تا 30 ساله دانشکده علوم توان‌بخشی شیراز، به روش تصادفي برای شرکت در پژوهش انتخاب شدند. آزمون‌ها شامل اندازه‌گیری حداکثر قدرت و زمان تحمل مشت کردن بود. تأثیر ماساژ و استراحت به تنهایی، بر این دو متغیر در 2 جلسه مجزا بررسی گردید. برای متغیر حداکثر قدرت عضلانی، از آزمون Paired t و جهت متغیر زمان تحمل عضلانی از معادل ناپارامتری آن، یعنی آزمون Wilcoxon استفاده گردید. در نهایت، داده‌ها در نرم‌افزار SPSS مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته‌ها: در پژوهش حاضر، قدرت مشت کردن پس از خستگی کاهش یافت. انجام ماساژ افلوراژ پس از خستگی، به طور معنی‌داری نسبت به گروه شاهد باعث افزایش قدرت مشت کردن گردید (050/0 > P). نتیجه‎گیری: انجام ماساژ افلوراژ، منجر به بهبود قدرت مشت کردن پس از خستگی ‌گردید؛ در حالی که بر میزان تحمل مشت کردن اثری نداشت. کلید واژه‌ها: ماساژ افلوراژ، خستگي عضلاني، قدرت، تحم