Correction: Gender-Related Differences in Reliability of Thorax, Lumbar, and Pelvis Kinematics During Gait in Patients With Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain

In this article, the affiliation of the first author should be changed.

Gender-Related Differences in Reliability of Thorax, Lumbar, and Pelvis Kinematics During Gait in Patients With Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate test-retest reliability of trunk kinematics relative to the pelvis during gait in two groups (males and females) of patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) using three-dimensional motion capture system. METHODS: A convenience sample of 40 NCLBP participants (20 males and 20 females) was evaluated in two sessions. Participants were asked to walk with self-selected speed and kinematics of thorax and lumbar spine were captured using a 6-infrared-cameras motion-analyzer system. Peak amplitude of displacement and its measurement errors and minimal detectable change (MDC) were then calculated. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were relatively constant but small for certain variables (lower lumbar peak flexion in female: inter-session ICC=0.51 and intra-session ICC=0.68; peak extension in male: inter-session ICC=0.67 and intra-session ICC=0.66). The measurement error remained constant and standard error of measurement (SEM) difference was large between males (generally ≤4.8°) and females (generally ≤5.3°). Standard deviation (SD) was higher in females. In most segments, females exhibited higher MDCs except for lower lumbar sagittal movements. CONCLUSION: Although ICCs were sufficiently reliable and constant in both genders during gait, there was difference in SEM due to difference in SD between genders caused by different gait disturbance in chronic low back pain. Due to the increasing tendency of measurement error in other areas of men and women, attention is needed when measuring lumbar motion using the method described in this study.

Measurement of Milwaukee Brace Pad Pressure in Adolescent Round Back Deformity Treatment

STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study, we measured the pad pressures of the Milwaukee brace in adolescent hyperkyphosis treatment. PURPOSE: We evaluated the skin-brace interface forces exerted by the main pads of the Milwaukee brace. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: A fundamental factor associated with brace effectiveness in spinal deformity is pad force adjustment. However, few studies have evaluated the in-brace force magnitude and its effect on curve correction. METHODS: Interface forces at four pads of the Milwaukee brace were measured in 73 patients withround back deformity (mean age, 14.04±1.97 years [range, 10–18]; mean initial Cobb angle,67.70°±9.23° [range, 50°–86°]). We used a modified aneroid sphygmomanometer to measure the shoulder and kyphosis pad pressures. Each patient underwent measurement in the standing and sitting positions during inhalation/exhalation. RESULTS: The mean pad pressures were significantly higher in the standing than in thesitting position, and significantly higher pressures were observed during inhalation compared toexhalation (p=0.001).There were no statistically significant differences between right and left shoulder pad pressures (p>0.05); however, the pressure differences between the right and left kyphosis pads were statistically significant (p<0.05). In a comparison of corrective forces with bracing for less or more than 6 months, corrective force was larger with bracing for less than 6 months (p=0.02). In the standing position, there were no statistically significant correlations between pad pressures and kyphosis curve correction. CONCLUSIONS: In the sitting position, there was a trend toward lower forces at the skin-brace interface; therefore, brace adjustment in the standing position may be useful and more effective. There was no significant correlation between the magnitude of the pad pressures and the degree of in-brace curve correction.

[Effect of group exercising and adjusting the brace at shorter intervals on cobb angle and quality of life of patients with idiopathic scoliosis]

Objective: Bracing along with exercising is the most effective protocol in patients with idiopathic scoliosis which have Cobb angles of 25 to 45 degrees. However, since the psychological aspects of scoliosis treatment may affect the quality of life, and the exact time for adjusting the pads of Milwaukee brace is unknown; Therefore the aim of this study was evaluating the effect of exercising in a group, with adjusting the brace in shorter intervals, in compare to routine protocol, in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis

Materials and Methods: Thirty-four patients with idiopathic scoliosis which had Cobb angles of 50 to 15 degrees were included in this study and were divided into experimental and control groups. The patients of two groups participated in an eleven-week treatment program, differ between the two groups. Quality of life scores of both groups were evaluated before and after intervention using SRS-22 questionnaire, as well as scoliosis angles before and after the intervention according to the primary and secondary radiographic X-rays

Results: Statistical analysis was performed using Paired T-Test in each group, and Independent T-Test between the two groups before and after treatment. The severity of scoliosis curvature and satisfaction domain of the experimental group was reduced significantly in compared with the control group, after intervention [P=0.04]. Moreover in the case of the quality of life in patients with Cobb angles less than 30 degrees, compared with patients with Cobb angles greater than 31 degrees, in the domains of selfimage, satisfaction, and total score, the difference was significant [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Adjusting the brace at shorter intervals along with exercising as a group, during the eleven weeks of treatment, has increased satisfaction and reduced the scoliosis Cobb angles of patients

[ evaluation of cervical position sense in forward head posture subjects and compares it with normal subjects]

Objective: One of the most common faulty posture of cervical spine is forward head posture [FHP]. According to biomechanical changes in the muscles and ligaments of the neck which are rich source of mechanoreceptors, proprioception possibly impaired in forward head posture. Assessment of neck repositioning angles can be an indicator to assess proprioception of this region .The aim of this study was to investigate cervical proprioception in forward head posture subjects in sagittal plane and compare it with normal subjects

Materials and Methods: This is a case -control study and subjects were selected simply from student of Iran University of medical science. Eighteen subjects with FHP [mean age 23.18 years] and twenty two normal subjects [mean age 22.72 years] were participated in this study. Photography of sagittal view was done in standing to determine the amount of FHP, craniovertebral angle [CVA] was calculated and the angle less than 49 degree was considered as FHP. Reposition error of target angle [50% range of motion] and neutral angle in sagittal plane with close eyes in sitting posture was evaluated with motion analysis system. Absolute and constant error of repositioning were obtained and analyzed

Results: Absolute error did not show significant difference between two groups [P>0.05] but constant error of neutral angle when return from forward flexion showed significant difference between two groups [P<0.05]. Also a significant correlation was found between body mass index [BMI] and CVA .This means that increase in BMI could be decrease CVA [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that subjects with FHP had more repositioning error in some cervical movements related to the healthy individuals

[Evaluation activities of superficial neck muscles during fast upper limb movements in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain and a control group]

Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in industrial society. There are complex changes in motor control of cervical spine in neck pain patients. The aim of this study was to compare the latency of activation of neck muscles during upper limb movement between neck pain patients and healthy subjects. Eighteen chronic non-specific neck pain patients and eighteen healthy subjects who were matched in age, weight and height participated in this study. Subjects were standing on the ground and performed flexion and abduction movement of the right arm until at least 90 degree in five trials and consequently surface electromyography of neck muscles was recorded. Activation time of neck muscles was determined in comparison with the activation time of deltoid muscle [as an event] and then compared between two groups. Findings of this study showed that in patients with chronic neck pain and healthy subjects during upper limb flexion and abduction movements, the superficial neck muscles were activated after deltoid activation. As well as in the neck pain patients compared to the healthy subjects superficial neck muscles onset was significantly appeared with delayed [P<0.05]. In patients with neck pain compared to healthy controls, the neck muscles were significantly delayed in responses to the internal perturbations of fast upper limb movements. It may be to increase the risk of injuries of neck region during fast upper limb movements

Survey of Flea Infestation in Dogs in Different Geographical Regions of Iran

Medically important arthropods, including fleas, play an important role in causing clinical disorders and disease in man and domestic animals. This study was conducted to determine the seasonal flea infestations for domestic dogs from different geographic regions of Iran. A total of 407 fleas, belonging to 5 different species, were recovered from 83 domestic dogs from 3 regions. There was a distinctive pattern of species distribution and infestations with the highest infestation rates observed in a temperate climate and higher rainfall. Additionally, fleas were observed over all seasons, except February and March, with the highest infestation rate observed in August (24.7%) and the lowest rate in January (1.7%). They also parasitize dogs with a different spectrum of species. The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (67.5%), exhibited the highest prevalence among all flea species found on dogs. Thus, climatic conditions and seasonal patterns impact on flea infestation and must be considered in developing control programs.