Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders causing pain and functional impairment. The purpose of the study is to compare the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), conventional physical therapy (CPT), and exercise therapy (ET) on pain and function in patients with KOA. The study was designed as an assessor-blind randomized controlled trial. Ninety-three patients (aged between 50 and 75 years) with proved KOA were included and randomly allocated into three groups, and received 12 sessions of HILT, CPT, or ET. The outcomes were pain intensity measured by visual analog scale (VAS), knee flexion range of motion (FROM), timed up and go test (TUG), 6-min walk test (6MWT), and functionality of knee measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) questionnaire. Statistical analyses were done to compare the amounts at the baseline, immediately after treatment and after 12 weeks. HILT was significantly more effective than the other groups in decreasing the VAS, increasing FROM and improving the scores of WOMAC (total and function subscale) both after treatment and after 12 weeks. The effect of HILT and CPT on the TUG, 6MWT, and WOMAC pain subscale was not significantly different after treatment, and both were better than ET. HILT was significantly better than the others after follow-up, particularly more effective on the stiffness subscale of WOMAC. HILT combined with exercise therapy, as a useful therapeutic approach, could have positive influences on KOA patients.

Background and aims: The purpose of this umbrella meta-analysis was to quantitatively summarize meta-analyses of randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies regarding the effects of probiotics supplementation and Helicobacter pylori (H....

Background: This study is one of the first to specifically analyze cardiorespiratory fitness and its association with age, weight, height, body fat percentage (BFP), body mass index (BMI), team performance, and player position for a large number of soccer players in an Asian top league. Methods: 213 players (age = 25 ± 5 years, height = 181.2 ± 6.8 cm, weight = 76.1 ± 8.1 kg, BFP = 11.3 ± 3.1) affiliated with 16 soccer clubs from Iran’s Premier League (i.e., the highest level of club football in Iran), were tested for maximal aerobic power (VO2 max), first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2), and ventilatory efficiency at rest (VO2 rest). The nonparametric Spearman's correlation test was performed to check for correlations, and the resulting rank correlation coefficients (rs) and probability value (P) are presented. Results: In terms of mean ± standard deviation, the 213 male players participating in this study have VO2max = 55.3 ± 5.4 mL.kg-1.min-1, VT1 = 57.3 ± 4.2 (% max), VT2 = 92.6 ± 3.4 (% max) and VO2rest = 7.1 ± 1.4 mL.kg-1.min-1. No correlation between VO2max and team performance or BFP was observed. The correlations between VO2max and age (rs= -0.23, P = 10-3), height (rs = -0.34, P ≅ 0), weight (rs = -0.42, P ≅ 0) and BMI (rs = -0.30, P = 10-5) were considered statistically significant. The difference between VO2max of players in different positions was also statistically significant. Goalkeepers possessed the lowest VO2max, with a mean value of 49.8 mL.kg-1.min-1. Defenders had the lowest mean VO2max value players (equal to 54.7 mL.kg-1.min-1) amongst outfield players, and midfielders had the highest mean VO2max (= 56.9 mL.kg-1.min-1). The other indices of cardiorespiratory fitness (VT1, VT2 and VO2rest) had no statistically significant correlation with the physical characteristics of the soccer players, team performance and player position. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that VT1, VT2, and VO2rest are not distinguishing factors amongst different categories of age, weight, height, team performance, and player position, but VO2max varies with age, weight, height, and BMI. The study also shows that there is a high correlation between the physical demands of player positions during a game and the aerobic capacity of players in those positions, and this must be taken into account in soccer training.

Background: Rotator cuff injuries are one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. There are different therapeutic approaches in this disease. The evidence of the positive effect of exercise therapy in this pathology is inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a complete exercise protocol on improvement of the patients with rotator cuff injuries. Methods: The patients with shoulder pain received the 12-week exercise protocol in 4 phases if they had confirmed rotator cuff injuries in clinical examination and shoulder MRI. Pain was measured by visual analog scale (VAS) and function was measured by two questionnaires; disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and western Ontario rotator cuff index (WORC). Range of shoulder joint motion (ROM) was measured in five directions by goniometry. All of the outcomes were evaluated before intervention and in 6, 12, 24 weeks after starting the intervention. Ethic: This study was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20100718004409N13). A written consent was taken from All participants before the study. Results: In this study Twenty-four patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy and tear were analyzed finally in terms of effectiveness of exercise therapy. The average of their age was 51.7 years old. 14 patients (53.8%) with Supraspinatus tendinopathy, 6 patients (23%) with Supraspinatus tear, 3 patients (12.5%) with Supraspinatus plus biceps tendinopathy, and one patient (4.16%) with Subscapularis plus Biceps tendinopathy were assessed. The pain score (Visual Analog Scale) decreased at all fallow-ups specially after 24 weeks (3±0.1) versus before intervention (8±0.1) (P value < 0.001). Shoulder range of motions by goniometer and also the patients function based on WORC and DASH Questionnaires were improved after 24 weeks versus before intervention that was significant statistically and clinically (P value < 0.001). Conclusion: A 12- week exercise protocol including strengthening, stretching, PNF and dynamic stabilizer exercises was effective on pain reduction and improvement of function and shoulder joint range of motion improvement in the patients with shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathy and partial tear. The improvement of the variables lasted 6 months.