ABSTRACT
Disabilities of the upper limbs due to stroke can lead to more prolonged functional problems in comparison to lower limb disabilities, and fewer numbers of investigations have been performed on this problem. Use of magnetic stimulation to produce induction currents in the brain for therapeutic purposes is a new method. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of rTMS plus routine rehabilitation on hand stiffness, and compare them with pure routine rehabilitation program in hemiplegic patients. 12 hemiplegic patients were assigned randomly to two groups. Control group, received rehabilitation program with placebo magnetic stimulation, and experimental group, received magnetic stimulation with routine rehabilitation program, 3 times/week for 10 sessions. Using Wrist Robo Hab, we assessed joint stiffness during flexion-extension of the wrist, and supination-pronation of forearm before and after treatment. In the control group we did not find any significant decrease in the resistance of flexor [p=0.207] and pronator [p=0.291] muscles. But in the experimental group the resistance of flexor [p=0.009] and pronator [p=0.035] muscles decreased significantly. rTMS can decrease stiffness of the upper limb joints and can be used in chronic hemiplegic patients, when conventional treatments are not effective
ABSTRACT
Background: epidemiological evidences have showed that low back pain fallowing load-carrying is the most common disorder in musclo-skeletal system and is common in industrialized countries.Moreover, little is known about how muscles are recruited when several option of the accomplishment of task are available. Thus this study aimed to examine the effects of external load and trunk posture on the electromyography activity of trunk muscles
Materials and methods: 10 healthy women with no history of low back pain were enrolled in this study. Two inclinometers and five channel EMG system were used to evaluate the right trunk muscle activities [rectus abdominis, internal and external oblique, erector spine, and multifidus]. Six static tasks while holding three levels of load [0, 6, 12 Kg] in two trunk position [neutral and 30 degree of flexion] were simulated for subjects
Results: with highest external load, the electrical activity of back and abdominal muscles increased significantly and with highest trunk flexion, the electrical activity of back muscles increased significantly [P<0.05]
Conclusions: co-contraction of back and abdominal muscles occurred in response to greater need for biomechanical stability. The increased extensor muscles activity during trunk flexion is necessary for stability and controlling of flexion
ABSTRACT
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]