[Effects of star excursion balance training on ankle functional stability via agility hop test in patients with unilateral chronic ankle instability]

The high prevalence of Unilateral Chronic Ankle Instability [UCAI] in human society and particularly in athletes, and possibility of its related side effects to become chronic led to decrease their ability to fulfill the expected roles in different aspects of life. So, in order to return them back to sport activities, a reliable functional test is needed. Hence, the purpose of this research program was decided to study the effect of Star Excursion Balance Training [SEBT] on the distance reached by the uninvolved leg while standing on the involved leg, and its effect on dynamic balance of subjects with UCAI via agility hop test. Twenty four patients with UCAI, were randomly assigned to the study and were divided into two groups of 12 subjects. The control and test group participants underwent the conventional and modern physical therapy interventions respectively. Comparison of results regarding the SEBT scores of the test group is witness of improvement of dynamic balance in these patient. These results suggest that despite the improvement that was shown with respect to increase in the reached distance by the unaffected leg, the significant difference between two treatment methods, was evident only in 4 out of 8 directions of anterior, anteromedial, posterior and posteromedial [P

[Effect of therapeutic exercise associated with facilitative taping of selected shoulder girdle muscles on the activity level of these muscles in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome]

There is impairment in the level of muscle activity of scapular and rotator cuff muscles in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Exercise therapy is one of the important methods of treatment in these patients. In addition, the application of tape has been suggested in the rehabilitation of patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. The purpose of this study was to study effects of therapeutic exercise associated with facilitative taping of selected shoulder girdle muscles on the activity level of these muscles in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. This study was performed on two groups of 12 subjects from patients with shoulder impingement syndrome, by non-probability convenient sampling method. Electromyography recorded from selected muscles in both groups during movements of flexion and abduction. Electromyography was recorded after a period of exercise therapy associated with tape for one group and without tape for the other group. Comparison of level of electromyography activity of middle and lower trapezius and infraspinatus muscles during flexion and abduction tasks in tape group, before and after treatment shows increase to 17.54% [p=0.41] and in non tape group before and after treatment increases to 2.94% [p=0.38]. The results of our investigation revealed that there is no significant influence of tape application on level of electrical activity of muscles studied during flexion and abduction tasks in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome

Functional balance in diabetic neuropathy

Proprioceptive loss in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients [DPN] has been known to cause postural imbalance, which may affect the quality of functions and activities of daily living of these patients. The aim of this study was to compare functional balance in diabetic neuropathic patients and normal subjects. Fifteen DPN patients whom neuropathy was diagnosed by Diabetic Neuropathy Examination [DNE] and 15 healthy gender-, age- and BMI-matched, subjects were evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale [BBS]. In addition to the overall functional balance, five groups of BBS tests based on the probable effects of proprioceptive loss on various functions were taken into more consideration. These test groups were: The ability to control weight shifting [CWS], ability to transfer [T], and ability to control balance under different base of support [BOS] and visual [V] conditions. Comparison of the two groups showed significant decreases in BBS, CWS, T, BOS, and V scores the DPN patients, compared to healthy controls [P < 0.05]. There were significant negative [sig. level: 0.001] good to strong correlations between DNE score and BBS, CWS, T, BOS, and V, Scores [Pearson's correlation coefficient: -0.88, -0.91, -0.87, -0.76, and -0.70, respectively] in patients. To control their balance, DPN patients rely on visual information, and the current findings demonstrate that DPN results in a functional imbalance, exposing these patients to the danger of falling during of their daily living activities, the condition becoming more acute as severity of neuropathy aggravates

[Normalized electromyography of shoulder muscles during selected functional tasks of upper limb in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome]

Precise muscle activity pattern is required to maintain normal shoulder function and any alteration in muscle activity can result in movement impairment. The purpose of this study was to assess normalized electromyography [EMG] of shoulder muscles during selected functional tasks of upper limb in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Test group consisted of 15 subjects with shoulder impingement syndrome selected by nonprobability convenient sampling and control group consisted of 15 matched healthy subjects. In each group selected exercises including open kinetic chain with and without external load and closed kinetic chain with axial load were done and during each exercise surface EMG from selected muscle was recorded. There was significant difference between the two groups in the activities of upper trapezius, infraspinatus and three regions of deltoid muscle [P<0.05].changes in normalized EMG were task dependent. Among all selected exercises, D2E showed minimum changes and tripod showed maximum changes in muscle activity domain. Decrease in activity domain of infraspinatus and trapezius muscles in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome causes impairment of shoulder function. D2E with causing minimum changes and Tripod with causing maximum changes in muscles activity domain are suggested respectively as the first and the last activity patterns in the treatment of these patients