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SummaryBackground: to date, an assessment of morphometric features, muscle stiffness and blood flow in the upper trapezius among healthy females at rest and contraction states has not been conducted. So, in the current research, the intra-rater reliability of ultrasonographic features of upper trapezius in healthy females was examined. Method: in this study stiffness and thickness of the upper trapezius in rest and contraction states were measured by ultrasonography on 12 healthy female subjects (28.33±5.05 years old). Color Doppler imaging was used to assess muscle circulation in the rest state only. Every step and calculation of measurements was repeated 3 times with the same rater. Therefore, in total 36 measurements were done for each variable.Results: according to the analysis, the value of intra class correlation coefficient (ICC) for total variables showed an excellent level of reliability. Thickness at contraction had maximum reliability (ICC= 0.993) and Minimum Diastolic Velocity had the lowest reliability (ICC=0.771). Conclusions: the results of current research demonstrated that real time ultrasonography is a reliable method for measurement of various parameters of upper trapezius, including morphometric features, its stiffness and blood supply in nonsymptomatic females. These mentioned variables can likely be used for objective assessment and provide numerical reference value for clinical plans.

Introduction. Myofascial pain syndrome is a common regional pain characterized with myofascial trigger points (MTrP) in the skeletal muscle fibers. Deep dry needling (DDN) is an effective method used by variety of clinicians in deactivation of these points. The aim of present study was to determine clinical effectiveness and to evaluate gray scale ultrasonography, Sono Doppler and ultrasound elastography images of upper trapezius following the DDN. Methods. Thirteen women with MTrP in the upper trapezius (28.85±7.70 years old) participated in the present study. Participants were treated with DDN during one session. Clinical outcomes were cervical range of motion (ROM), pain intensity, and pain pressure threshold (PPT). Ultrasonographic outcomes were MTrP area, intramuscular blood circulation and upper trapezius thickness and stiffness. Results. A significant decrease of pain intensity was observed after intervention in all subjects (p<.001). PPT and side bending cervical ROM had significant improvement in post treatment (p<.001). Subjects showed significantly lower stiffness and higher intramuscular circulation immediately after the DDN (p<.001). Conclusions. The present study demonstrated that DDN had immediate influences on muscle circulation, viscoelastic properties of the upper trapezius, and clinical outcome measurements. The findings of this study provide objective evidence of the effectiveness of DDN.

BACKGROUND: Force perception as a contributor to the neuromuscular control of the knee joint may be altered after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the force perception accuracy in the knee joints of patients with ACL injury and healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with ACL injury and 26 healthy subjects participated in this case-control study. Participants were asked to produce 50% of the maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the knee muscles as a target force and reproduce it in their limbs in flexion and extension directions. RESULTS: There were significant interactions between group and condition as well as group, condition, and limb in the force perception error respectively (P< 0.05). The highest amount of error was seen in the contralateral limb of the ACL injury group when the reference force was produced in the injured limb (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that the force perception accuracy in the knee flexor/extensor muscles of individuals with ACL injury is impaired. Moreover, error is most evident when the patient produces force in the injured limb and replicates it in the uninjured limb in both flexion and extension directions. Therefore, the rehabilitation programs should encompass neuromuscular training in both quadriceps and hamstrings after ACL injury.

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