Background: Gluteus medius muscle (Gmed) dysfunction has been confirmed as a functional defect in subjects with Genu Valgum Deformity (GVD). In relation to these subjects, increase Gmed activity without synergist muscles dominance is considered as part of a specialized exercise program. Methods: A total of thirty female recreational athletes with (n=15) and without (n=15) GVD participated in this study. Surface electromyography measured Gmed, tensor fascia latae (TFL), and quadratus lumborum (QL) muscles activity when subjects performed pelvic drop (PD) in three different positions of hip rotations with and without applied isometric hip external rotation force. Results: There were differences in muscle activity between GVD and healthy subjects. The Gmed/TFL and Gmed/QL muscles activity ratio altered when placing the hip in different rotation positions and applying isometric load. Conclusions: The lower extremity muscles activity is affected by GVD, and changing the positions of the hip rotation in the PD task can be associated with altered muscle activity in both GVD and healthy Groups. However, applying isometric hip external rotation during PD can be suggested as an effective intervention to increase Gmed activity.
The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation during the squat with different hip rotations (neutral, 15, 30, and 45° of internal and external hip rotation) in subjects with and without Genu Varum deformity deformity. Surface electromyography were recorded from 32 men with (n=16) and without (n=16) Genu Varum deformity. In the Genu Varum deformity group, the squats with 30, 45 and 15° of internal rotations of the hip showed significantly greater gluteus medius activation as compared to other positions. Moreover, the tensor fascia lata activity increased with greater external rotation of the hip, and significantly more than hip internal rotations (p<0.05). For vastus medialis and vastus lateralis, both hip internal and external rotation showed a significantly greater activation compared to the neutral hip positions (p<0.05). There were significant differences in the gluteus medius:tensor fascia lata activity ratio (p=0.001) and the vastus medialis: vastus lateralis activity ratio (p=0.001) between the different hip positions in the Genu Varum deformity and healthy groups. These results demonstrate that muscle activation patterns varied significantly with the position of different hip rotation in both groups. Those with Genu Varum deformity may use this information to aid in an injury prevention strategy by choosing squat positioning that favorably alters muscle activation patterns.
Purpose
The benefits of providing static stretching exercise targeting the hips in patients with non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP) are not well established. The objective of the study was to verify the effects of static stretching on function, pain and range of motion on patients with non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP).
Methods
Thirty females with NSLBP were randomly assigned to two control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 15) groups. The experimental group received 3 stretch practice sessions per week for a period of 8 weeks. The Oswestry low back pain Disability Questionnaire (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS), and passive hip range of motion (PROM) were employed before and after the intervention.
Results
The results of mixed model analysis of variance indicate that the group × time interactions was not significant (p > 0.05) for all measurement outcomes. However, there was a main effect for Time (ODI: p = 0.002, VAS: p = 0.001, PROM-R: p = 0.016, PROM-L: p = 0.001). Such that the ODI, VAS, PROM-R, and PROM-L were showed significant differences before and after the intervention in the experimental group.
Conclusions
The results demonstrated a significant difference in PROM, pain, and disability after 8 weeks of stretching exercises in participants with NSLBP and limited hip extension. Therefore, it would be reasonable to infer that NSLBP might be partly related to hip flexors tightness.
Background: The proprioception of the lumbo-pelvic region has been claimed to be a factor potentially affecting the results of the functional movement screen (FMS) test, although no evidence has been yet published for this claim. Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate the relationships of the FMS test with the proprioception of the core and anthropometric characteristics in athletes. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 58 female athletes in different fields of sports with a mean age of 21.12 ± 7.1 years, a weight of 59.25 ± 10.2 kg and a height of 164.41 ± 6.2 cm. The FMS test was used to evaluate the functional motor integrity, the six-channel gyroscope (Danesh Salar Iranian Co.) to examine the position sense of the core region, including the hip, pelvis and lower back, and tapes and digital scales to assess anthropometric features. The Spearman and Pearson correlation tests were used to analyse the data. All the statistical analyses were performed in SPSS-24 with a significance level of 95% (P < 0.05). Results: The results suggested no significant correlations among the outcomes obtained from proprioception, anthropometric dimensions and the FMS test results (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The total scores of the FMS test appear not to be significantly associated with the outcomes obtained from the position sensation of the lumbo-pelvic region and anthropometric dimensions.
Background: Jumping and landing are common activities in soccer, i.e., associated with Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries in the players, especially when experiencing fatigue. The current study aimed to compare the kinematics of the lower limb joints in jump-landing maneuver among soccer players with and without a history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods: Among active soccer players in the provincial league level in Hamedan Province, Iran, 12 individuals with the intact knee (control group), and 12 individuals with 6 to 24 months post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (experimental group) were selected by convivence sampling method as the study participants. During the jump-landing task, the range of motion and the joints' angle at the contact instance were measured before and after performing plyometric fatigue protocol using the Vicon motion capture system. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) at a significance level of P<0.05 was used for intergroup comparisons. Results: Plyometric fatigue did not affect most of the kinematic variables before and after fatigue experience. Besides, only the hip range of motion revealed a significant difference between the study groups (P=0.38). Conclusion: Fatigue had more effect on some variables in individuals with ACL reconstruction, including the left and right hips angles. Moreover, there was a significant difference in some variables between the study groups; the range of motion of the left hip, the contact angle of the right hip before fatigue experience, and the contact angle of the right and left hips after fatigue. In general, a proper rehabilitation program is recommended for athletes with ACL reconstruction to reduce the risk of recurrence of jumping movements in exercise.
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