The Effects of Curl-Up and Straight Leg Raising Exercises in Different Hip Joint Positions on Abdominal Muscle Thickness.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of combining 2 exercises at different angles of the hip joint on the thickness of the transverse abdominis and internal oblique muscles. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy adults (22.7 ± 2.5 years of age; 64.93 ±8.8 kg; body mass index: 22.2 ± 2 kg/m2) performed the curl-up exercise and straight leg raise with external rotation of the hip and dorsiflexion of the ankle simultaneously. The thicknesses of transverse abdominis and internal oblique muscles were measured from right and left sides while resting, in curl up, curl up with 10º flexion of hip, curl up with 15º flexion of hip, and curl up with 10º flexion and 15º abduction of the hip. The means of muscle thicknesses were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni tests in the 5 positions. Results: The thicknesses of transverse abdominis (P < .001) and internal oblique (P < .001) muscles were significantly greater in curl up with 10º flexion and 15º abduction of hip compared with the other positions. There was no significant difference between abdominal muscle thicknesses in measuring from either side. Conclusion: Doing the curl-up exercise with 10º flexion and 15º abduction of the hip may be beneficial in strengthening deep abdominal muscles.

Lower limb muscular activity during walking at different speeds: Over-ground versus treadmill walking: A voluntary response evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the overall lower limb muscular activity pattern during treadmill walking compared to over-ground walking. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted on 25 healthy young females. Surface electromyography was recorded from gastrocnemius, hamstrings, vasti and gluteus medius muscles during walking over-ground and treadmill at 3 different speeds (comfortable, slow and fast). The pattern of muscle activity was compared between two walking conditions at different speeds by the voluntary response index method. Voluntary response index is composed of two numeric values: magnitude which represents the strength of overall muscular activity, and similarity index which represents the resemblance of overall muscle activity. RESULTS: The main effect of walking conditions and speed as well as their interaction effect (P < 0.001) on magnitude of muscle activity were significant but not for similarity index. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of muscular activity during walking on treadmill and over-ground was similar but walking on treadmill induced higher muscular activity in the lower limb musculature.

Lidocaine-Prilocaine Cream as Analgesia for IUD Insertion: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Triple Blinded Study.

INTRODUCTION: Copper IUD is a long term and reversible contraception which equals tubal ligation in terms of sterilization. One of the barriers to using this contraception method is the fear and the pain associated with its insertion. Eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) 5% is a local anesthetic that contains 25 mg lidocaine and 25 mg of prilocaine per gram. Application of topical analgesic cream to the cervix for laser surgery, hysteroscopy and hysterosalpingography is known Aims: this study aimed to determine the effect of EMLA on IUD insertion pain. METHODS: This triple blind clinical trial was conducted on 92 women in a clinic in Hamedan in 2012. After applying the cream on the cervix, pain in three steps, after using Tenaculum, after inserting hystrometr and after inserting IUD and removing IUD insertion tube were assessed with visual analog scale and were compared in EMLA group and placebo group Statistical analysis used to determine and compare the pain of independent t tests, Mann-Whitney U test and repeated measures analysis of variance and chi-square tests to determine the homogeneity of variables and Fisher's exact test was used. RESULTS: Insertion hystrometr was determined as the most painful IUD insertion. The mean pain at step 2 (inserting hystrometr) was (3.11±2.53) in EMLA group, (5.23±2.31) in placebo group. EMLA cream significantly reduced the pain after using tenaculum (P<0.001), pain inserting Hystrometr (P< 0.001) and pain at IUD insertion and removing insertion tube (P< 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Topical Application of EMLA 5% cream as a topical anesthetic on the cervix before insertion IUD reduced the pain during this procedure.

A study on the effects of general fatigue on head and neck proprioception in healthy young adults.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is one of the factors causing disturbance in proprioception which can be manifested in two ways: general and local. Due to the important role of cervical proprioception on body stability and posture, research on the effects of general fatigue on proprioception helps to better understand its mechanism and to improve the strategies to prevent injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the effects of general fatigue on head and neck proprioception in young healthy adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This clinical study was done by implementing pre- and post-test measurements in 112 young healthy subjects aged between 18-30 years and able to walk at a speed of 10Km for 5 minutes. They were randomly divided into an experimental and control group. The patients in the control (not exposed to a general fatigue task) and experimental (exposed to a general fatigue task) groups were matched for age, height and weight. In the first step, the zero absolute reposition angle of the head and neck was measured in all participants. Then the subjects in the experimental group did a five-minute run on the treadmill to achieve the level of general fatigue, following which the head and neck reproduction angle was measured in all subjects for the second time. RESULTS: There was a statistical significant difference between pre- and post-test absolute angular error in the experimental group; however, there was no noticeable difference between the pre- and post-test data in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: 1. General fatigue increased the repositioning angular error of head and neck. 2. Neck proprioception decreased due to general fatigue. 3. General fatigue increased the risk of neck injury.