Effects of cognitive loading on lumbar flexion relaxation phenomenon in healthy people.

[Purpose] The objective of this research was to examine the impact of cognitive load on the flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) during trunk flexion and return from flexion task. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-two healthy subjects (18 males, 4 females) participated in the study. Each participant was exposed to 3 experimental conditions: no cognitive task, easy cognitive task and difficult cognitive task. Surface electromyography was used to measure lumbar erector spinae muscles activity level. Flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) was compared in order to assess the differences between the three experimental conditions during flexion and extension (FLX FRR and EXT FRR). [Results] The FRR was decreased with increase in cognitive difficulty; the difficult cognitive task was associated with significant lower value of FLX FRR in both sides. However, these changes were not significant in easy cognitive task. In addition, the EXT FRR was decreased in cognitive task conditions, but these results were not statistically significant except for difficult cognitive task condition in comparison to no cognitive task condition in left side. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that cognitive loading can affect FRP in healthy subjects.

Assessment of Low-Level Laser Therapy Effects After Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molar Surgery.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on pain, swelling and maximum mouth opening in patients undergoing third molar surgery. Methods: A prospective, randomized double-blind study was undertaken on 44 patients at the Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, in 2015. A low-level laser was randomly applied on one of the two sides after surgery of 15 patients. The experimental side received 18 J/cm2 of energy density, wavelength of 980 nm, and output power of 1.8 W. On the control side, a hand-piece was applied intra-orally, but laser was not activated. In addition, in order to evaluate trismus, 13 patients were treated by unilateral laser therapy and 16 patients did not receive laser therapy at all. The laser was administered intraorally on two points of vestibular and lingual sides at 1 cm from the surgery site, and extraorally at the emergence of the masseter muscle, immediately after surgery, and repeated 24 hours later. The pain, swelling and maximum mouth opening (MMO) were compared between the two groups at 24 hours and a week after surgery. Results: The mean score of pain 24 hours after surgery in the laser therapy group (2.3 ± 3.5) was significantly lower than the mean score of pain in the drug therapy (4.19 ± 3.09) (P = 0.036). Moreover, the mean score of pain at one week after surgery in the laser therapy group (0.13 ± 2.33) was significantly lower than the drug therapy group (1.43 ± 2.45) (P = 0.046). The amount of swelling according to different measurements did not significantly differ between the two groups neither at 24 hours nor at 1 week after surgery. Conclusion: Our findings showed that LLLT was useful in reducing pain and could slightly reduce swelling compared to drug therapy in impacted third molar surgery.

Immediate and delayed effects of forearm kinesio taping on grip strength.

BACKGROUND: Due to the fundamental role of gripping in most upper limb activities, grip strength promotion is a chief goal in the treatment of patients with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. Kinesio taping is a novel and effective therapeutic technique believed to facilitate muscle contraction through stimulating mechanoreceptors and increasing the sensory feedback around the taped region. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to identify the best region (flexor, extensor and flexor/extensor regions) and time (immediate, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 hours) of forearm Kinesio taping to obtain the maximum improvement in grip strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this longitudinal study, 40 healthy men and women (the mean age of 22.3 ± 2.19 years) were selected among students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran by simple, nonrandom sampling method. A dynamometer was used to measure grip strength immediately and every 30 minutes during the two hours after I-shaped application of tape (with 50% stretch) to the flexor, extensor, and flexor/extensor forearm muscles. RESULTS: Grip strength was significantly increased in various muscle groups for males (P = 0.002) and females (P = 0.000) of the forearm and at different intervals for males (P = 0.000) and females (P = 0.000). Moreover, in both men and women, tape application to the extensor region provided greater grip strength compared to taping of the flexor and flexor/extensor regions (P = 0.000 for both). Furthermore, the maximum increase in grip strength were 0.5 (10.8% increase, P = 0.001) and 1.5 h (23.9% increase, P = 0.000) after taping in males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Taping the extensor region of forearm is recommended to achieve higher grip strength. Although grip strength increased at a slower pace in females than males, the final values were higher in women.

Validation of the Persian version of Functional Index Questionnaire (FIQ) and Modified FIQ in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The aim of this investigation was to culturally translate and validate the Functional Index Questionnaire (FIQ) and Modified FIQ (MFIQ) in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). A sample of 100 patients with PFPS completed the FIQ and MFIQ, and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey in the first session. The FIQ and MFIQ were re-administered to a sample of 47 patients to evaluate test-retest reliability. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, respectively. Corrected item-total correlations and construct validity were assessed by Spearman's rank correlation. Factor analysis was performed on all items of the Persian FIQ and MFIQ to determine the number of underlying factors and the items which load on each factor. An acceptable level of test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.84, 0.85) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79, 0.82) was obtained for both the Persian FIQ and MFIQ, respectively. Item-total correlations were greater than 0.40 for all but two questions of the Persian FIQ and all but four questions of the Persian MFIQ. A total of two factors were detected for each questionnaire. There were moderate to low correlations between the Persian FIQ/MFIQ and SF-36. Persian FIQ and MFIQ are two reliable and valid outcome measures of functional limitation and it seems that they are suitable for use in clinical practice of patients with chronic PFPS.

Persian translation and validation of the Kujala Patellofemoral Scale in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

PURPOSE: To culturally translate and validate the Persian version of Kujala Patellofemoral Scale (KPS) and evaluate the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity and ceiling or floor effects of this instrument in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). METHOD: After standard forward and backward translations, 100 patients with PFPS completed the Persian versions of the KPS and Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) in the first visit. With time interval of 2-3 days after the first visit, 47 patients filled out the KPS in the second visit. Test-retest reliability and internal consistency were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(2,1)) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and Cronbach's α coefficient, respectively. The Spearman's rank correlation (r(s)) was used to assess the correlations between the Persian KPS and SF-36 subscales. RESULTS: The acceptable level of ICC >0.70 (ICC = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93-0.98) and Cronbach's α coefficient >0.70 (α = 0.81) was obtained for the Persian KPS. There were low to moderate correlations (r(s) = 0.25-0.60, p < .01) between the Persian KPS and Persian SF-36 subscales of mental and physical health components. However, correlations between the Persian KPS and SF-36 physical components were higher than correlations between the Persian KPS and SF-36 mental components. No ceiling and floor effects were seen for the Persian KPS. CONCLUSIONS: The Persian version of KPS is a reliable and valid outcome measure of disability and seems to be a suitable instrument for use in clinical practice of Iranian patients with chronic PFPS.