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.

[ 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

Effect of kinesiotaping and stretching exercise on forward shoulder angle in females with rounded shoulder posture

Background: Rounded shoulder posture is a common abnormal posture in upper quarter. Kinesiotape is a new intervention that recently used in rehabilitation. There are no studies have examined the effect of kinesiotape on rounded shoulder posture. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of scapular kinesiotaping and pectoralis minor stretching exercise on forward shoulder angle in female subjects with rounded shoulder posture

Methods: Twenty female students aged between 18 to 25 years old with rounded shoulder posture participated in this study. Then, the subjects were randomly and equally assigned to two groups: the stretch group and the stretch plus kinesiotape group. Both groups were trained for doing home exercise to stretch Pectoralis minor bilaterally for two weeks. Kinesiotape group received kinesiotape on scapular area additionally. Forward shoulder angle was measured in four sessions including pre-intervention [first session], immediately after the first intervention [second session], fourth day [third session] and at the end of two weeks [fourth session]. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA [4×2] was used for data analysis

Results: kinesiotape group showed significant within-group decrease in forward shoulder angle between first session with three other sessions [P

Conclusion: scapular kinesiotaping along with pectoralis minor stretching exercise improved rounded shoulder posture in subjects of the present study. kinesiotape is suggested as a complementary treatment with immediate effects on postural correction of rounded shoulder

Comparative evaluation of core and knee extensor mechanism muscle activation patterns in a stair stepping task in healthy controls and patellofemoral pain patients

Background: Patellofemoral pain [PFP] is a common affliction and complex clinical entity. Deficit in neuromotor control of the core may be a remote contributing factor to the development of PFPS. Comparative evaluation of core and extensor mechanism muscle activation patterns between healthy group and patients involved by patellofemoral pain syndrome [PFPS] in a stair stepping task is the aim of this study

Methods: In this non-randomized interventional study fifteen males with PFPS and fifteen asymptomatic controls participated. Electromyographic [EMG] activity of Vastusmedialisobliquus [VMO], Vastuslateralis [VL], Gluteus medius [GMED], Gluteus Maximus [GMAX], Internal oblique [IO] and Erector spinae [ES] were recorded and EMG onsets were assessed in both stepping up [SU] and down [SD]. The time of foot contact determined by a foot switch

Results: During SU: Onset times of all muscles except, VL and ES in the controls were significantly less than PFPS group [P<0.05]. In PFPS group the temporal sequence of ES, VL and VMO were different from control groups. During SD: Onset times of all muscles except, GMAX and ES in the control group were significantly less than PFP group [P<0.05]. The sequence of muscle activity in both healthy and PFP groups were the same

Conclusion: Our findings are in line with previous researches about the effects of core on function and control of lower extremity. Activation patterns of core and vasti muscles are different between control and PFPS group during stair stepping task. Designing exercises to correct inappropriate timing of core muscles may have a role in management of PFPS and it needs more future researches

eccentric torque production capacity of the ankle, knee, and hip muscle groups in patients with unilateral chronic ankle instability

The aim of this study was to investigate eccentric torque production capacity of the ankle, knee, and hip muscle groups in patients with unilateral chronic ankle instability [C AI] as compared to healthy matched controls. In this case-control study, 40 participants [20 with CAl ;and 20 controls] were recruited based on convenient non-probability sampling. The average peak torque to body weight [APT/PW] ratio of reciprocal eecentric contraction of ankle dorsi flexor/plantar flexor, ankle exertor/invertor, knee flexor/extensor, hip flexor/extensor and hip abductor/adductor was determined using an isokinetic dynamometer. All subjects participated in two separate sessions with a rest interval of 48 to 72 hours, in each testing session, the torque production capacity of the ankle, knee, and hip muscle groups of only one lower limb was measured. At first, 3 repetitions of maximal eccentric-eccentric contraction were performed for the reciprocal muscles of a joint in a given movement direction. Then, the same procedure of practice and testing trials was repeated for the next randomly-ordered muscle group or joint of the same limb. There was no significant interaction of group [CAI and healthy controls] by limb [injured and non-injured] for any muscle groups. Main effect of limb was not significant. Main effect of group was only significant for eccentric torque production capacity of ankle dorsi flexor and hip flexor muscle groups. The APT/BW ratio of these muscles was significantly lower in the CAI group than the healthy controls [P<0.05]. CAI is associated with eccentric strength deficit of ankle dorsi flexor and hip flexor muscles as indicated by reduction in torque production capacity of these muscles compared to healthy controls. This strength deficit appeared to exist in both the injured and non-injured limbs of the patients

Effects of diabetes mellitus type I with or without neuropathy on vestibular evoked myogenic potentials

Diabetes mellitus type I is a metabolic disorder that affects multiple systems including the inner ear. Patients with diabetes mellitus commonly complain about dizziness, floating sensation, tinnitus and sweating. The aim of this study was to compare vestibular evoked myogenic potentials [VEMPs] between diabetic patients with or without neuropathy. Subjects included 14 patients with diabetes mellitus type I with polyneuropathy, 10 patients with diabetes mellitus type I without polyneuropathy and 24 healthy volunteers. Range of age in participants was 15-40 years old. The VEMPs were recorded with 500 Hz tone bursts with intensity at 95 dB. There was statistically significant difference between the groups in P13 and N23 latencies [P<0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in absolute and relative amplitudes. Prolonged latencies of the VEMP suggest lesions in the retrolabyrinthine, especially in the vestibulospinal tract

test-retest reliability of the onset of core and vasti electromyographic activity while ascending and descending stairs in healthy controls and patellofemoral pain patients

Patellofemoral pain [PFP] is a common affliction and complex clinical entity. It is hypothesized to result from abnormal patellar tracking caused by altered motor control. Deficit in neuromotor control of the core may be a remote contributing factor to the development of PFP. Application of reliable EMG measures would be helpful to handle this theory. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of the core and vasti EMG onsets, while ascending/descending stairs. Ten males with PFP and ten healthy controls participated in this study. Vasti and Core EMG onsets during stair stepping were assessed two times a day. Intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs] and standard errors of measurement [SEMs] were calculated. Ten males with PFP and ten healthy controls participated in this study. Vasti onsets of control cases [ICC 3,1 >/= 0.70] except Quadratus Lumborum [QL] which showed a moderate reliability [ICC for ascending=0.59 and for descending = 0.61]. In controls, Vasti in both tasks showed the highest absolute reliability. During ascending, high reliability [ICC >/= 0.70] in PFP group was demonstrated for all EMG onsets except Gluteus maximus [GMAX] and QL which showed a moderate reliability [ICC = 0.69 and 0.63 respectively]. In this group while descending stairs, all EMG onsets showed high relative reliability [ICC >/= 0.70]. Moderate to high absolute reliability was obtained for onset times while ascending/descending stairs in PFP group. During both ascending/descending, high reliability was found for all EMG reliability. Most EMG onsets during stair ascending/descending had moderate to high

necessity for a complete Cardiac Rehabilitation program to achieve better improvement in physical function and cardiac parameters

Uncompleted Cardiac Rehabilitation [CR] schedule may lead to recurrence of cardiac events and its-related re-hospitalization, decreased quality of life and increased risk of co-morbidities. Current study came to address the effects of a complete exercise-based CR program on physical function and cardiac parameters to clarify whether different sessions could result in better health condition. Data were collected prospectively on 16 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery and enrolled in an exercise-based CR program the charts of the patients who attended 10 sessions of CR were reviewed as the case group [n = 8] and those who participated in at least 20 sessions of program were reviewed as the control group [n = 8]. Both groups received services of a multi-disciplinary CR and cardiac parameters were measured at baseline, as well as at the completion of 10 and 20 sessions. It was revealed significant increases from baseline to fo1lols.-up for metabolic equivalents in both groups after attending CR programs; however increases of this index were higher following 20 sessions adjusted for baseline characteristics. Resting heart rate was significantly decrease in the group underwent completed CR program in the presence of main confounders; however this parameter was significantly unchanged in another group. Participation in complete CR program is necessary to make achieving optimal improvement in vital indices such as metabolic equivalents and resting heart rate and therefore incomplete CR sessions may not warrant this efficacy