Background: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a frequent complication of ankle sprain that may be associated with long-term consequences. Although taping and bracing are common interventions that are widely used by clinicians and athletic trainers for patients with CAI, no studies have compared the effects of kinesiotaping and bracing on balance performance in these patients. The present study aimed to compare the effects of ankle kinesiotaping, a soft ankle orthosis, and a semirigid ankle orthosis on balance performance in patients with CAI. Methods: Sixty patients with CAI were randomly assigned to 4 groups that received kinesiotaping, a soft orthosis, a semirigid orthosis, or no treatment (control group). Dynamic and static balance were measured with the modified Star Excursion Balance Test, single leg hop test, and single leg stance test before and after a 4-week intervention period. Results: Significant between-group differences were seen in all evaluated outcomes ( P ≤ .003). The lowest reach distances in all directions in the modified Star Excursion Balance Test were found in the control group, and these patients also had a significantly shorter measured distance in the single leg hop test, and more errors in the single leg stance test compared with the 3 intervention groups. No significant differences were found among the 3 intervention groups. Conclusion: Use of kinesiotaping and a soft or a semirigid ankle brace for 4 weeks were all beneficial in improving static and dynamic balance in individuals with CAI. None of the interventions was superior to the other 2. Level of Evidence: Level I, randomized controlled trial.

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Objective Musculoskeletal disorders are a wide range of symptoms including pain and disability that are related to workspace and devices. Repeated activity, adopting fixed and inappropriate postures for a long time and activities including powerful movements of extremities are factors associated with WRMSDs. It seems professional drivers suffer from shoulder and upper extremities symptoms because of repetitive and long working hours with steering wheel and gear. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the shoulder, arm, and hand disability among bus and taxi drivers. Materials & Methods This research was a cross-sectional, descriptive analytic study. In this study, the prevalence of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders in the urban bus and taxi drivers was investigated and compared. Subjects were included 300 professional drivers aged 25-55 years (mean±SD=41.24±8.28 for bus drivers and 41.22±8.09 for taxi drivers) who were divided into two groups (150 bus drivers and 150 taxi drivers). The method of sampling was simple. The inclusion criteria were: two years' experience in professional driving and driving for eight hours or two four-hours a day for four days a week. Shoulder, arm, and hand disability were assessed based on DASH and a demographic questionnaire. DASH questionnaire asks about individual's symptoms (such as pain severity during sleep or activity, weakness, and stiffness) as well as their ability to perform certain activities (individuals' problem in daily activities and also social and occupational activities). Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 21, t-test, Chi-square, and Spearman correlation tests. Results According to statistical findings, 33.66% of taxi drivers and 33.67% of bus drivers had musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulder, arm, and hand. In bus drivers, 46.66%, 48.66% and 4.66% and in taxi drivers 47.33%, 45.33%, 6.66% had no, light, and moderate problem in daily activities, respectively and just 0.66% of taxi drivers had severe problems in these activities. In bus drivers,32.66%, 64% and 3.33% and in taxi drivers 34.66%, 60.66% and 4.66% had no, light, and moderate symptoms, respectively. In bus drivers, 36%, 40.66%, 18%, 5.33% and in taxi drivers 36%, 41.33%, 18%, 4% had no, light, moderate and severe problems in occupational and social activities, respectively and just 0.66% of taxi drivers were unable to perform these activities. There was a correlation between work hours per week (r=0.24, P=0.003) hours of sleep per day and night (r=0.24, P=0.003) and age (r=0.16, P=0.041) with musculoskeletal disorders in bus drivers. Also, there was a correlation between hours of sleep per day and night and musculoskeletal disorders in taxi drivers (r=0.19, P=0.016). There was no significant difference between disability, symptoms, and function of taxi and bus drivers (P=0.97) Conclusion This study demonstrated increasing the sleep hours and decreasing the work hours per day and week can reduce the possibility of shoulder, arm, and hand symptoms.

Background Anterior cruciate ligament plays a significant role in knee joint stability. It is claimed that the incidence of knee osteoarthritis increases in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knee joints reaction force in ACL rupture group compared to normal subjects. Method Fifteen patients with acute ACL rupture and 15 healthy subjects participated in this study. The ground reaction force (GRF) and kinematic data were collected at a sampling rate of 120 Hz during level-ground walking. Spatiotemporal parameters, joint angles, muscle forces and moments, and joint reaction force (JRF) of lower extremity were analyzed by OpenSIM software. Results The hip, knee and ankle joints reaction force at loading response and push-off intervals of the stance phase during walking was significantly higher in individuals with ACL rupture compared to healthy controls (p value < 0.05). Walking velocity (p value < 0.001), knee (p value = 0.065) and ankle (p value = 0.001) range of motion in the sagittal plane were significantly lower in the patients with ACL rupture compared to healthy subjects. The mean value of vertical GRF in the mid-stance, the peak of the hip adduction moment in loading response and push-off phases, the hip abductor, knee flexor and vastus intermedius part of quadriceps muscle forces were significantly higher compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.05) while vastus medialis and vastus lateralis produced significantly lower force (p < 0.001). Conclusions Based on results of this study, lower limb JRF was higher in those with ACL rupture compared to healthy subjects may be due to the compensatory mechanisms used by this group of subjects. An increase in knee JRF in patients with ACL rupture may be the reason for the high incidence of knee OA.

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