[Evaluation of comparison of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles stiffness and peak torque between anterior knee pain patients and healthy subjects]

This study was performed to compare the stiffness of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles in subjects with anterior knee pain and normal subjects. In this non experimental and case-control study, 20 persons with anterior knee pain were selected simply from convenient sample and 20 healthy persons were selected by matching method. proximal and distal stiffness of hamstring and rectus femoris muscles were measured using an isokinetic device in the passive mode. Also, maximal concentric peak torque during flexion and extension movements of hip and knee, in two groups were compared by independent T-test and correlation analysis. There was no significant difference between anterior knee pain and proximal compartment of rectus femoris [P=0.320] and hamstring [P=0.125] stiffness, but there was significant difference between anterior knee pain and distal compartment of rectus femoris and hamstring stiffness [P<0.001]. Significant relationship was found between anterior knee pain and muscles strength [P<0.001]. No correlation was found between strength and stiffness of rectus femoris [P=0.356] and hamstring muscles [P=0.643] in patients group, but in healthy subjects this relationship was found [P<0.001]. In patients with anterior knee pain, hamstring and rectus femoris muscles stiffness increased and muscle strength decreased. Increasing of muscle strength was effective on stiffness in healthy subjects, but there was no relation between them in patients group. Also rectus femoris and hamstring muscles possibly have different proximal and distal neuromuscular compartments

[Study the effect of "constraint-induced movement therapy" on symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters in hemiparetic patients]

Balance and gait disorders are common motor complications after stroke. Studies have revealed that conventional physiotherapy cannot manage these disorders efficiently, so more studies addressing causes of these complications and presenting efficient treatment protocols are crucial. Concerning the significant effect of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on treatment of upper limbs motor impairments in hemiparetic patients, the goal of this study is to assess the effect of "Constraint Induced Movement Therapy" on symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters and velocity of gait in hemiparetic patients. Thirty hemiparetic patients [aged from 40 to 60 years] participated in this study. Patients were divided randomly into 2 groups. They received constraint induced movement therapy [group1] and mass practice [group 2] for 3 weeks. Experimental assessments of patients included stride velocity and symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters [spatial step symmetry, temporal stance symmetry, temporal swing asymmetry, overall temporal asymmetry] that were recorded and compared before and after treatment. In addition, the amount of weight bearing asymmetry was assessed via dual force platform. In both groups, stride velocity increased [p=0.03, p=0.01]. In group A, spatial step symmetry increased [p=0.02].Temporal swing asymmetry and overall temporal asymmetry decreased [p=0.01]. In group B, only temporal swing asymmetry decreased [p=0.02]. Physical therapy by "constraint induced movement therapy" can improve symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters efficiently through overcoming the "learned non use" phenomenon and improving the somatosensory deafferentation to motor controller centers

[Knee extension syndrome: a focus on symptoms and treatments]

Anterior knee pain [AKP or AnKP] is one of the most common disorders of knee. Many studies have been implemented about anterior knee pain and effect of different treatments on this disorder. Todays, this general term has been divided and studied more closely. Knee extension syndrome is one of the common disorders in orthopedic and physical therapy that diagnosed with increased stiffness of quadriceps muscle and causes anterior knee pain. The purpose of this review article is to evaluate this disorder more closely. A literature search was carried out using MEDLINE and SCIENCE DIRECT cite and JOSPT journal database to assess existing literature about anterior knee pain. Furthermore, literatures about the different standpoints of anterior knee pain and effectiveness of different treatments and interventions of anterior knee pain and knee extension syndrome have been identified. Fifty articles have been surveyed: forty-two articles evaluated the effect of different treatments on anterior knee pain. Five articles evaluated the various aspects of anterior knee pain more closely and three ones related to knee extension syndrome. According to these studies results, the causes of anterior knee pain can be classified in two categories: 1] anterior knee pain associated with patellofemoral disorders and 2] anterior knee pain non-associated with patellofemoral disorders. The knee extension syndrome is the cause for anterior knee pain but non-associated with patellofemoral disorders. In this disorder, the tilt angle of patella could be increased and this factor can increase the patients' pain. In contrast to general belief that focuses on tensor fascia lata- ilotiobial band complex [TFL-ITB complex], the rectus femoris muscle stretching should be focused more, because the ilotiobial band has a less effect on patellar tilt

[Effect of functional brace on threshold of motion sense in patients with Anterior Aruciate Ligament tear]

Anterior Cruciate Ligament [ACL] tear is one of the most common injuries at knee joint. Threshold of motion sense included inputs that are received by mechanical receptors at dynamic position. The objection of present study was to find the effect of functional brace on the Kinesthesia motion sense in patients with ACL rupture. In this Quasi- experimental study, 20 patients with ACL tear, with aging range between 18 to 44 years old were recruited. Patients were selected in a simple non probability sampling manner. Using Continuous passive motion for testing the Kinesthesia motion sense, as a dependent variable. Data was analyzed with Paired t-test and Colmogrof-Smirnof tests. Threshold of motion sense at affected knee before and after bracing was 3.93 +/- 1.67, 4.45 +/- 1.86 in open eyes and 3.82 +/- 1.61, 4.13 +/- 1.96 in closed eyes [P<0.05]. This study showed that the functional brace did not play in important role in the improvement of threshold of motion sense in patients with ACL tear

Comparison of muscle fatigue effect on electromyographic onset latency of trapezius muscle in posterior - anterior perturbation between patients with chronic neck pain and healthy persons

Fatigue process in patients with neck pain was happened more quickly than healthy persons and neck muscle fatigue increased body sway during standing, but there is less evidence about the behavior of these muscles in dynamic conditions such as external perturbation, so this study was done to investigate the effect of muscle fatigue on onset latency of upper trapezius muscle in posterior-anterior perturbation among patients with chronic neck pain and healthy individuals. In this quasi experimental and interventional study 16 patients with chronic neck pain [intervention group] and 16 healthy individuals [control group] were selected by simple and convenient sampling and based on inclusive and exclusive criteria. Data collection was done by using questionnaire and doing some tests and the main equipments were dynamometer, accelerometer and surface electromyography. The weight equal to 30% of maximum voluntary contraction used to produce fatigue process and 10% of body weight used to produce perturbation. Independent T test, Paired T test and Repeated ANOVA were used for data analysis. There was significant difference in onset latency of upper Trapezius muscle in posterior - anterior perturbation between two groups, before [P=0.006] and after [P=0.026] fatigue. This means that the onset latency was increased in healthy individuals and decreased in patients after fatigue. Also, there was significant difference in onset latency of Trapezius muscle in posterior - anterior perturbation between before and after fatigue in patients group [P<0.001] and healthy persons group [P=0.04]. Pain can change the onset latency of trapezius muscle and possibly it can decrease muscle activity in deep muscle and change the pattern of muscle activation. Fatigue as an exaggerated risk factor can decrease onset latency of superficial muscle in patients with chronic neck pain to stabilize the system, that it can increase the risk of injury

effect of patellar taping on knee joint proprioception in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Proprioception has been found to have a relation to subjective knee function and patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome [PFPS] seem to have larger deficits than asymptomatic individuals little is known about whether taping can restore defects in proprioception or by which mechanisms it can improve anterior knee pain. To determine the effect of patellar taping on knee joint proprioception a pre and post intervention repeated measures design was conducted on 25 male with PFPS [23.6 +/- 3.04 years] and 25 healthy male [23.5 +/- 3.1 years]. Active angle reproduction, passive angle reproduction, and threshold to detection of passive movement tests were measured. Each of the tests was done under taped and no-taped conditions in 20 and 60 degree of knee flexion. We found significant difference between taped and no-taped conditions in active angle reproduction test for both groups [P < 0.05]. The other tests did not show any significant difference [P > 0.05]. Obtained results suggest that patellar taping may improve knee proprioception during active angle reproduction. Two groups could benefit from taping but further researches are needed to determine whether the present results are applicable to other situations or not

Study on determination of reproductive potential in Iranian sturgeon broodstocks [Acipenser persicus borodin, 1897]

Reproductive potential had studied by determining of oocytes germinal vesicle [G.V] position amongst number of Iranian sturgeon spawners. To determine G.V. position the oocyte was bisected and examined under a dissecting microscope. The procedure made with a surgical scalpel or a single edge razor blade and making a cut along the animal vegetal axis. The different position of the G.V were observed and evaluated by classification index as following a] Spawners that were good candidates to spown by hormonotherapy in the regular spawing season were in stage IV and their classification index were less than 0.07 or 1/14/[p<0.07]. the results that were indicated with the eggs fertilization rate [%] were 90% 85% and 83% respectively. b] Spawners with classification index more than 0.07 were underdeveloped and didn't respond adequately to spawning induction a few of these spawners elected for further ripening but its fertilization rate were low as 70%- 76% respectively. Also the results of this study showed when the G.V. has migrated to the end of animal pole and is positioned in the cortical ooplasm with a dark spot area the, oocytes are considered capable of responding to the hormonal stimuli necessary for ovulation and best fertilization