effect of forward head posture on cervical joint position sense

A number of studies have investigated the effect of age, trauma, disease and fatigue on cervical joint position sense. However, there is an absence in data regarding the role of posture on proprioception. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of Forward Head Posture [FHP] on cervical joint position sense. Twenty Forward Head Posture volunteers [14 women, 6 men], with the mean age of 23.94 [SD=3.26] years, and 17 normal head posture volunteers [8 women, 9 men] with the mean age of 23.50 [SD=2.68] years were asked to perform the Cervicocephalic relocation test [CRT] to the neutral head position [NHP]. The aim of this test was to evaluate the participants' ability to relocate the head to neutral position after they actively rotated it to left and right sides. Three trials were performed for each rotation to the left and right. In order to assess cervical joint repositioning accuracy, Absolute, Constant and Variable errors were used. No significant difference in repositioning errors was observed between experimental and control group in absolute and constant errors [P>0.05]; however, compared to normal group, Forward Head Posture subjects manifested significantly higher levels of variable errors [P<0.05]. Forward Head Posture can significantly affect the positioning consistency of cervical proprioception. Nonetheless, further investigation on the effect of Forward Head Posture on cervical proprioception in altered situations is recommended

[Effects of whole-body vibration on blood profiles in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy]

Diabetes has world wide prevalence and it is estimated that up to ten years later, more than 300 million people would suffer from it. The disease has serious secondary complications. Physical activity can decrease the complications by altering the blood profiles. Patients with diabetes are unwilling to do physical exercise. Whole Body Vibration [WBV] might be a proper substitution for exercise. The effects of WBV on patients with diabetes have not been studied enough, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of WBV on the blood profiles in patients with diabetes type 2. Twenty patients with diabetes were assigned using matched assignment either into control [n=10] or intervention [n=10] group. Intervention group received the WBV with frequency of 30 Hz and amplitude of 2.5 mm for six weeks twice a week. The control group did not receive any intervention during this period. Blood profiles were measured in both groups at the baseline and the end of the study. FBS and HbA1C decreased in intervention group in comparison with the control group but the differences were not statistically significant [P=0.44]. There were not significant statistical differences in Cholesterol, HDL, LDL and TG before and after the treatment between the two groups. The application of WBV with the above parameters might reduce FBS and HbA1C in patients with diabetes type 2. Increase in the amount of Glucose Transporter protein 4 [GLUT-4] is one of the contributing factors that these changes can be ascribed to

[Effects of wearing a lumbosacral support on velocity and torque of lumbar spine during three-dimensional trunk motion]

The use of back support is one of the common methods aimed to prevent low back pain. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of wearing a lumbosacral support on lumbar spine velocity and torque in six directions during combined trunk motion. In this interventional study, 30 young healthy men were selected simply from convenient samples. They were asked to stand in Isostation B200 system and perform three-dimensional trunk motion against a resistance of 50% of maximal voluntary contraction torque while wearing or not wearing a lumbosacral support. Under each condition of test, five successive motions of trunk were performed in downward direction [as flexion, right lateral flexion, and right rotation] and upward direction [as extension, left lateral flexion, and left rotation], and the variables of average velocity and average torque were recorded during motion. With the use of a lumbosacral support, average velocity was significantly increased in flexion [P=0.015] and extension [P=0.005], but no significant changes were found in other directions [P>0/05]. Back support decreased average torque of right rotation significantly [P=0.006], but did not significantly changed this variable in other directions [P>0/05]. Wearing a lumbosacral support can increase velocity in sagittal plane. Decreased rotation torque of trunk, as a result of using a back support, may reduce the twisting forces on lumbar spine joints