Comparing the effects of anticipatory postural adjustments focused training and balance training on postural preparation, balance confidence and quality of life in elderly with history of a fall.

BACKGROUND: Impairment of postural adjustments in elderly is associated with decreased functional mobility, balance confidence and quality of life. AIMS: We studied the effects of anticipatory postural adjustments focused training on postural preparation, balance confidence and quality of life of the elderly. METHODS: It was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. The sample included 60 males with history of falling (at least once in the past 6 months). They were matched and randomly assigned into three groups: perturbation, balance, and no training. The electrical activity of the muscles was measured by electromyography. The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale and the SF-36 questionnaire were used to assess balance confidence and quality of life, respectively. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used for data analysis (significant level 0.05). RESULTS: The type of training had significant interaction effect on muscle latency (F(2, 46) ≥ 71.06, P ≤ 0.001, η2 ≥ 0.75). Compared to the other two groups, perturbation training group showed significantly more improvement in ABC scale (F(2, 46) = 14.94, P ≤ 0.000, η2 ≥ 0.39). It also significantly showed more improvement than no training group in all areas of SF-36 questionnaire, except for mental health (F(2, 46) ≥ 6.56, P ≤ 0.03, η2 ≥ 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the use of perturbation training, as it reduced the probability of falling (by decreasing muscle latency and increasing posture preparation), improved the balance confidence for daily activities, and improved the quality of life.

Photogrammetric Analysis of Upper Cross Syndrome among Teachers and the Effects of National Academy of Sports Medicine Exercises with Ergonomic Intervention on the Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Hyperkyphosis is often accompanied by forward head and shoulder postures. Together, these three disorders are called "Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS)". We aimed to perform a photogrammetric analysis of UCS among teachers and to determine the effects of National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) exercises with ergonomic training interventions on the syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: A semi-experimental study. METHODS: Photogrammetric analysis was performed using the UCS software among teachers in order to determine the angles of forward head, rounded shoulders, and hyperkyphosis. Twenty-three teachers were selected purposefully and enrolled in Fasa City in 2018. They were randomly divided into experimental (n=12) and control (n=11) groups. Experimental group attended 12 wk of NASM exercises with ergonomic intervention but the control group did not participate in any regular exercise. The data were analyzed using paired t-test and differential independent t-test (P<0.05). RESULTS: The results indicated a significant decrease in forward head (P=0.001), shoulder angles (P=0.000) and hyperkyphosis (P=0.003). The applied intervention had a 90% positive effect in reducing the forward head angle, an 88% positive effect in reducing the rounded shoulder angle and a 90% positive effect in reducing the kyphosis angle. However, the results for the control group did not show a significant difference for forward head, rounded shoulders, and hyperkyphosis angles. CONCLUSION: The UCS software application can be used as an accurate instrument for measuring the extent of the UCS. Moreover, using NASM exercises can lead to a reduction in the UCS among teachers.