[Effects of the lower leg tapping on H reflexes recruitment curve parameters: a comparison of soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles motor neurons]

The application of tapping has been widely used by physiotherapists for many years as a useful rehabilitation program in the treatment of a wide variety of neuron musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore the aim of this study was to answer whether Tapping has the same effects on fast jerking muscles motor neurons as it affects slow muscle or not? In this semi-experimental study, Fifteen non-athletic healthy volunteers with the age of 27.7 +/- 3.4 ?years old in the way of available sampling were assessed. After cutting and preparing, the Y-strip Kinesiotape was applied on insertion of Achill Tendon toward medial and lateral head of Gastrocnemious muscles. The H-Reflex was used for assessment of motor neurons recruitment curve of soleus and lateral gastrocnemious muscles. Percutaneously 40 electrically pulses with duration of 1 millisecond and 3 stimulations per each stimulus intensity were induced on Tibial nerves and H-Reflex recruitment curve were recorded in 4 phases. In order to compare the parameters between two muscles the ANOVA repeated measurement was used. The required intensity to record the last H-Reflex in recruitment curve was significantly decreased in lateral Gastrocnemious compare with Soleus, 5 minutes after tapping [P=0.01] and 15 minutes after stopping the tap [P=0.03]. There was a significant difference in the average changes in other variables. But There was a significant difference in all other variables in lateral gastrocnemious compare with soleus muscle [P<0.05]. Tapping has more facilitative effects on lateral Gasterosoleus muscle specially type I motoneurons and to some lesser extent in soleus motoneurons. Therefore it seems that Tapping can be more used to facilitate fast muscles

[Evaluation of the effect of external load activation of periarthicular shoulder muscles]

In new prospect of motor control, the effect of muscle force is considered important not only in producing movement but also in inducing stability and control of activity. The aim of present study was to evaluate the electrical activity of periarthicular shoulder muscles by surface EMG in order to identify the muscular activity during series of static and dynamic pattern of movements. This Quasi experimental study was performed on 30 healthy male and female volunteers with age of 20-30 years and mean age of 23.2 +/- 2.9. The subjects were enrolled into this study by simple non-probability sampling and were exposed to different movement patterns randomly. During the experiment the surface EMG of every muscle was recorded. The external load applied to shoulder was assessed at three levels in static as well as dynamic situations. According to the results of this study, increasing the external load on the scapulothoracic muscles caused a significant increase in the activity of the muscles; except for upper trapezious muscle in descending phase of the movement [p<0.05]. After increasing the external load on shoulder in ascending phase, most of the investigated muscles showed significant differences in their activities. [p<0.05]. In static situation by application of external load only teres major muscle showed significant difference in its activity compared to the reference position [p=0.01]. It can be concluded that application of external load during ascending phase of push up is more effective than its application during descending phase. It can be claimed that during ascending phase slight increase in external load as low as 2% of body weight, would induce more alterations in muscular activity compared to higher external load such as 4% of body weight, but in static situation no significant change could be detected

[Comparison of effectiveness and durability of two stretching methods [Hold-Relax, Static Stretching] for treatment of hamstring muscle tightness]

It is quite obvious that stretching techniques enhance the joint range of motion. However the permanency of these techniques after the treatment period remains questionable. So this randomized clinical trial was done to determine and compare the permanency of Hold-Relax and static Stretching techniques on extensibility of short hamstring during 4 weeks. Twenty non-athlete girls with 18-26 years old with bilateral hamstring muscles shortness [SLR /= 0.05]. These findings revealed that there is no clear difference in terms of effects and permanency between the two techniques, so the results of our study enable clinicians to provide the more simple technique in their stretching activities that is [static stretch]