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Introduction: Neck pain is a common problem in human societies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of six weeks of functional cognitive training on the cognitive factors of people with non-specific chronic neck pain. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 24 patients with chronic neck pain were randomly divided into two groups of cognitive functional exercise and control. Cognitive factors were assessed before and immediately after six weeks of cognitive training using pain self-efficacy questionnaire, pain catastrophizing scale, fear-avoidance believes inventory, and depression, anxiety, and stress-21 questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t tests. Results: Comparison of two groups after treatment showed a significant difference in all cognitive variables; so that all factors were improved in the intervention group (P = 0.001). Paired t-test results also showed a significant difference in all variables in the intervention group, before and after the test (P = 0.001); but no significant difference was observed for the control group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that functional cognitive training can be used as a novel method to improve the cognitive factors among the people with chronic neck pain.

Objective: Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit is one of the important risk factors in throwing athletes that can cause adverse effects on glenohumeral joint biomechanics during throwing activity and overhead activity. Methods: In this descriptive study, 30 male student Hanballers (age=18 to 25 years) were categorized into healthy (n=15) and Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (n=15) groups. Upper quarter y balance test (YBT-UQ) was used for measuring functional instability of dominant shoulder. MANOVA test was run for comparing the performances of the two groups. Results: In all directions, the stability of the shoulder in Hanballer with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit was significantly lower than that in the healthy group. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, functional stability of the unstable shoulder of Hanballers with Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit is lower than the functional stability of the healthy subjects; therefore, we suggest that the upper extremity stabilization exercises, specially the closed kinetic chain exercises be added to the shoulder rehabilitation programs.

Purpose: This study was accomplished to investigate the electromyographic activity of 3 plyometric exercises (tuck jump and single leg hop in sagittal and frontal planes) to find out the appropriate procedures for strengthening biceps femoris and gluteus medius muscles. Methods: The kind of study is applied and data were collected from the supervised exercises of 15 male athletes without injury of lower extremity from Tehran University, which participated voluntarily in this research. It was assumed that subjects expend the extreme potential during their activities. Statistical analysis was made using repeated measures ANOVA to investigate the muscle activity in feedforward and feedback phases of landing with SPSS 20. Results: Significant differences (P≤0.05) were found between treatments in relation to feedforward and feedback phases of muscles activities. Single leg hop in sagittal and frontal planes showed the highest activity of biceps femoris and gluteus medius in feedforward phase, respectively. Nevertheless, tuck jump demonstrated the lowest activity of these muscles in both phases. Conclusion: According to the results, single leg hop in sagittal and frontal planes could be the most appropriate exercises for improving strength and neuromuscular system of gluteus medius and biceps femoris. We should take special attention to these 2 plyometric exercises in exercise programs. However, tuck jump in comparison with 2 other exercises show less efectiveness.

Purpose: The proper neuromuscular recruitment patterns of hip and knee muscles are essential for dynamic stabilization of the knee. According to the kinematic chain, weakness in the performance of one motor segment can affect other segments of motion. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the isometric strength of selected muscles of lower extremities in the hyperpronated foot with the same muscles in healthy male athletes. Materials and methods: The present study is descriptive and correlational. Forty male athletes in two groups of hyperpronated foot and healthy male athletes (20 in each group) participated in this study. Pronated foot was examined by navicular drop and isometric strength of selected muscles in lower extremities was examined by Manual Muscle Test system (MMT). Then, the ratio of isometric strength of each muscle to body weight was compared between two groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 20 and the independent t test was used to compare the variables between the two groups. Results: The results showed that isometric strength of muscles, hip abductors (P = .002), external rotators of hip (P = .007), and quadriceps muscles (P = .031) have decreased significantly in the the group of hyperpronated foot. Conclusion: The hyperpronated foot changes the muscle strength of lower extremity. These changes may be due to neuromuscular compensation because of the changes in the medial longitudinal arch. More research is needed to determine whether these changes in muscle strength are related to lower extremity injury.