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Background: The effects of exercise volume on the pattern of muscle activity is one of the most important factors in training management and injury risk reduction. In the lower limb, the quadriceps muscle which plays a determining role in performing the stance and other karate techniques could be injured in intensive exercise and may induce anterior knee pain in athletes. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between training volume and muscle activity of vastus medialis and vastus lateralis and its association with anterior knee pain in karate elites. Patients and Methods: Male and female athletes from national junior and cadet karate team(14 to 18 years)were invited to participate in the study at the beginning and the end of the training camps. Studies involved measurement of electromyographic muscle activity of vastus medialis and vastus lateralis in both lower extremities with surface electromyography device and assessment of movement by electrogoniometery. Muscle activity was recorded in three tests of dachi, walking up and walking down stairs. Simultaneously, anterior knee pain was evaluated using visual analogue scale and anterior knee pain scale questionnaire. Results: Eight athletes of a total number of 23 reported increased ratings of pain in their right knees. No differences in muscle activity were observed in tests of Dachi and stairs between the groups with and without pain. Comparing Dachi task pattern at the beginning and end of training camps, there was no significant difference in pattern of biomechanical movement; however, reducing the amount of muscle activity in early and late phases of tasks was observed in electromyographic assessment. Conclusions: The results showed that performing the same task after a six-week training period, less muscle activity was required in all phases in two groups of tasks, including karate-specific movement (dachi) and activities of daily living (up or down stairs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and shoulder regions are common among carpet weavers. Working for prolonged hours in a static and awkward posture could result in an increased muscle activity and may lead to musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomic workstation improvements can reduce muscle fatigue and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.Material and Methods: The aim of this study is to assess and to compare upper trapezius and middle deltoid muscle activity in 2 traditional and improved design carpet weaving workstations. These 2 workstations were simulated in a laboratory and 12 women carpet weavers worked for 3 h. Electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded during work in bilateral upper trapezius and bilateral middle deltoid. The root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MF) values were calculated and used to assess muscle load and fatigue. Repeated measure ANOVA was performed to assess the effect of independent variables on muscular activity and fatigue. The participants were asked to report shoulder region fatigue on the Borg's Category-Ratio scale (Borg CR-10).Results: Root mean square values in workstation A are significantly higher than in workstation B. Furthermore, EMG amplitude was higher in bilateral trapezius than in bilateral deltoid. However, muscle fatigue was not observed in any of the workstations.Conclusions: The results of the study revealed that muscle load in a traditional workstation was high, but fatigue was not observed. Further studies investigating other muscles involved in carpet weaving tasks are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the intra-rater reliability of knee movement data in sagital plane obtained from electrogoniometer (EGM) in a basic, sport-specific task of karate. Methods: A total of 23 elite karate athletes (13 females and 10 males; mean age of 16.10±1.26 yrs) participated in this study. The task was defined as performing three consecutive Zenkutsu-dachi in two sessions. The used EGM was a twin axis of Biometrics company. EGM curves were plotted in MATLAB software separately. The indices of three points in the plots corresponding to extremes of flexion and extension of knee in the first dachi were determined. There was also another (forth) point which was not in extremes of movement. As it was repeated in all curves, it was perceived as a biomechanical event and was assessed. The phases of movement between the points were scaled between 0 to 100% of activity. Results: Repeatability of the forth point index was assessed by intraclass correlation method. Intraclass correlation of the ratio in the first testing session was 0.666 and in second was 0.448. The interval between points were considered as phases of movement. After determining three phases of dachi, it was shown that these phases pertained a specific ratio of the total plot which were 48%, 36% and 16% of total respectively. Conclusion: Dachi could be divided into three distinct phases; each of them should constitute a specific percent of the total in an elite athlete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the intra-rater reliability of knee movement data in sagital plane obtained from electrogoniometer (EGM) in a basic, sport-specific task of karate. Methods: A total of 23 elite karate athletes (13 females and 10 males; mean age of 16.10±1.26 yrs) participated in this study. The task was defined as performing three consecutive Zenkutsu-dachi in two sessions. The used EGM was a twin axis of Biometrics company. EGM curves were plotted in MATLAB software separately. The indices of three points in the plots corresponding to extremes of flexion and extension of knee in the first dachi were determined. There was also another (forth) point which was not in extremes of movement. As it was repeated in all curves, it was perceived as a biomechanical event and was assessed. The phases of movement between the points were scaled between 0 to 100% of activity. Results: Repeatability of the forth point index was assessed by intraclass correlation method. Intraclass correlation of the ratio in the first testing session was 0.666 and in second was 0.448. The interval between points were considered as phases of movement. After determining three phases of dachi, it was shown that these phases pertained a specific ratio of the total plot which were 48%, 36% and 16% of total respectively. Conclusion: Dachi could be divided into three distinct phases; each of them should constitute a specific percent of the total in an elite athlete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Strength of knee extension and squat were compared between anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACLR) patients and healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Twenty ACLR and twenty control subjects were participated in this non-exprimental study. Isokinetic peak strength of knee extension and squat in involved and uninvolved side of the ACLR patient and control group were measured. Results: Concentric and eccentric knee extension strength of the involved leg was decreased but squat strength showed no difference. Conclusion: In spite of return to sport activity and normal squat strength weakness of knee extensor muscles in the involved side of the ACLR patient was existed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hinged ankle foot orthoses (HAFO) are commonly prescribed for children with cerebral palsy (CP) to improve their ambulatory function., Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of vibration-HAFO with that of the same orthosis without vibration on gait, function, and spasticity in hemiplegic CP children., Study Design: Randomized Control Trial Design (a pilot study)., Methods: Twenty-three children with hemiplegic CP participated in this study. The control group (n = 12) used HAFO, and the intervention group (n = 11) used vibration-HAFO for four weeks. Pre-post three-dimensional gait analysis was done. Calf muscle spasticity and function were also measured., Results: Results showed significant differences between the two groups in the one-minute walking test (p = 0.023) and spasticity (after intervention [p = 0.022], after follow-up [p = 0.020]). Also, significant differences were detected between the two groups in the step width (p = 0.042), maximum hip abduction (p = 0.008), stance maximum dorsiflexion (p = 0.036) and mean pelvic tilt (p = 0.004) in the barefoot condition. Gait cycle time (p = 0.005), maximum hip abduction (p = 0.042), and cadence (p = 0.001) were different between groups in the braced condition. We couldn't find any significant within and between groups differences in knee kinematic parameters. The mean time of using vibration was 16.83 minutes per day., Conclusions: The vibration-hinged AFO is feasible, safe, and acceptable for children with hemiplegic CP to be integrated into practice. Temporospatial and clinical parameters, especially spasticity, were improved. There were slight trends toward improvement in pelvic and knee kinematics. Vibration-HAFO is of benefit to ambulatory CP children with mild and moderate spasticity. It improved the walking capacity of the children., (Copyright © 2023 International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.)

Background: Step symmetry is an important feature of human gait and is often regarded as a key index of healthy individuals' walking. This study evaluated the effects of height, white cane technique, and cane tip on symmetrical gait in blind individuals., Materials and Methods: Twenty blind and ten sighted subjects, aged 15-38 years, participated in this study. The harmonic ratio (HR) and improved HR (iHR) were measured by trunk accelerometer as gait symmetry index in three axes: anteroposterior (AP), vertical, and mediolateral of the body. These parameters were measured in the sighted group in open-eye conditions and in the blind group in five experimental conditions with different two heights (standard and long), two tips (pencil and roller), and two techniques (two-point touch and constant contact) of white cane when they walked in the 6-m path., Results: There was a significant difference between HR and iHR of the blind and sighted group, which indicates a significant reduction of symmetry loss in the blind group. Among the five different conditions studied in the group of blind people, an increase was observed in the HR and the iHR on the AP axis during the application of a standard cane with a roller tip, which indicated an increase in symmetry., Conclusion: Based on the results, a long cane with a pencil tip and a standard cane with a roller tip in the constant contact technique can increase step symmetry., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Oman Ophthalmic Society.)

Purpose: It was hypothesised that lumbar vibration stimulation applied by a vibratory orthosis improves balance in people with Parkinson's disease (PD)., Methods: The overall stability index and the percent of elapsed time in different zones and quadrants on the platform of Biodex balance system were evaluated. General conditions of eyes-open and eyes-close, each with two situations of motors On and motors Off of vibratory orthosis were considered., Results: Balance in PD patients improved in eyes-open condition rather than eyes-close. The balance also improved in eyes-open condition with motors On rather than that in motors Off. In eyes-close condition, balance was lesser in motors On than that in motors Off situation. The results also suggest that in PD patients, body trajectories on the platform of Biodex balance system follow a random-like chaotic behaviour., Conclusions: A new orthosis in rehabilitation of PD patients was introduced to enhance balance and decrease risk of fall. It promotes new ideas for rehabilitation of similar neurological diseases. The possibility of enhancing balance in PD patients in a short-term setting was evaluated. Results showed balance enhancement in PD patients in eyes-open condition. However, in eyes-close condition, we are not sure of its effectiveness.