Purpose: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) increases the risk of secondary degenerative changes and subsequent total hip arthroplasty. The postoperative quality of life in patients with DDH who have been born and grown with this disability and adapted to it during the life, is one of the most challenging issues. This study aimed to compare the quality of life of patients with DDH before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) operation. Methods:This research has a quasi-experimental/interventional design. A group of 20 patients with DDH, who underwent THA operation in Akhtar and Shafa yahyaiyan hospitals, were evaluated before operation and 6 months after it using SF36 quality of life questionnaire. Results:Findings showed significant improvement in all SF-36 subscales scores, including physical function, role physical, role emotional, vitality, mental health, social function, bodily pain, general function, and general health as well as total score (P=0.002). SF-36 mean(SD) scores before and after surgery was 27.41(22.75) and 79.12(28.03), respectively. Conclusion:THA operation improves the quality of life of patients with DDH.

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Introduction: Immobility and limited usage of operated limbs lead to weakness and atrophy of the muscle after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, training programs for preventing biomechanical risk factors such as lower limb alignment and increased muscular contraction are very limited. Thus, the current study was carried out to evaluate the recovery of quadriceps muscle strength and the improvement of knee function using adjuvant electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) after ACL reconstruction. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted among 40 patients (20=EMG-BF group, 20=Control group) with ACL reconstruction, who were referred to Akhtar Hospital from 2021 to 2022. In the EMG-BF group, EMG BFB was added to the standard rehabilitation protocol, and in the control group, the standard rehabilitation protocol with full postoperative weight-bearing, knee brace (zero degree of extension, 90 degrees of flexion), and electrical stimulation with maximal voluntary isometric knee extension was performed. Each group was intervened for 4 weeks and three sessions of 30 minutes per week. It should be noted that each patient participated in 16 outpatient physiotherapy sessions after surgery. Nicholas Hand-Held Dynamometer (HHD) was used for measuring quadriceps strength, and Knee Outcome Survey-Activities of Daily Living (KOS-ADLs) and Knee Outcome Survey Sports Activities Scale (KOS-SAS) questionnaires were used for assessing the knee function. Results: Four weeks after the treatment, the EMG-BF group showed a significant increase in quadriceps strength (P=0.0001). Quadriceps strength had a significant difference before and after 4 weeks of intervention (P=0.0001), but in the control group, no significant difference was observed (P=0.368). The EMG-BF group had a significant increase in KOS-ADLs and KOS-SAS scores after 4 weeks of intervention (P=0.0001). Conclusion: In our study, isometric strengthening of quadriceps with adjuvant EMG-BF significantly increased the strength of quadriceps and knee function during 4 weeks. EMG-BF is a low risk, low cost, and less invasive intervention and has high safety and adjustment ability. It is a valuable adjuvant method for achieving better functional recovery in a shorter time.

Objectives: Physical exercise is a promising intervention to improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of dementia and other related neurodegenerative disorders. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an upper limb-focused physical exercise intervention on cognitive function and daily living activities in older adults. Methods: Forty older residents of a nursing home participated in this clinical trial and were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=20) or the control (n=20) groups. Participants in the experimental group received a physical exercise intervention for six weeks. This intervention included resistance training of the upper limbs using free weights. Evaluations were performed at baseline and after three and six weeks of the resistance training. Stroop test and Barthel index were used to evaluate cognitive function and daily living activities, respectively. Results: Upper limb resistance training significantly improved cognitive function in the experimental group, but there was no significant difference between the groups in the ability to perform daily activities. Discussion: The present study revealed that resistance training of the upper limb can yield cognitive improvement in older adults. Upper limb strengthening seems to have the potential to improve cognitive performance in the elderly and can be recommended as a regular exercise activity. However, further studies with more comprehensive outcome measures are needed.

Background: Following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, proprioceptive deficiency may be responsible for functional balance defects and joint instability. Recently, using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or biofeedback has been recommended for athletes with ACL rupture. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tDCS and biofeedback modalities while performing contraction exercises in athlete with an ACL rupture. Methods: Thirty-three athletes with ACL rupture were randomly divided into three groups of tDCS, biofeedback, and control, with 11 people in each group. All groups underwent a ten-session training of intermittent contractions of the lower extremity muscles in a standing position at different knee angles, including 30, 45, and 90 degrees of knee flexion during four weeks. The control group received no tDCS or biofeedback modalities except the contraction exercises. All subjects were evaluated both before and at the end of interventions. The proprioception measured as rate of absolute error in the knee joint reconstruction was assessed by the digital photography technique at knee flexion angles of 30, 45, and 90 degrees. The functional balance was assessed by the star excursion balance test in eight different directions. All measurements were carried out on the injured limb. Results: The results showed no significant difference among three groups regarding all variables related to the proprioception and functional balance (P > 0.05). Intra-group comparison (before and after intervention) indicated that biofeedback significantly improved both the functional balance in all directions and the proprioception of the injured knee at three knee flexion angles (P < 0.05). Moreover, tDCS significantly improved the functional balance in six directions, except anterior-lateral and posterior, and also improved the proprioception at all angles of knee flexion. Conclusions: Although the results did not show a large difference among groups, both tDCS and biofeedback modalities, along with intermittent isometric exercises, may have reduced knee absolute error at the knee flexion angles of 30, 45, and 90 degrees as well as improved the functional balance. Therefore, it was recommended that these modalities should be included in rehabilitation program targeting ACL-deficient knee subjects.