Purpose Swallowing physiology exhibits several changes in advanced ages. The present study aimed to investigate and compare effects of a period of the head lift exercise (HLE) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on swallowing muscles activity in healthy elderly. Patients and methods A total of 23 older adults were randomized to either the HLE or NMES group for ten therapy sessions. They received pre- and post-therapy surface electromyography (sEMG) during water swallowing. Results For the HLE group, duration of suprahyoid muscles activity was significantly reduced at post-intervention compared to pre-intervention ( p =0.036). Moreover after treatments, duration and latency between onset and peak amplitude of suprahyoid muscles activity was significantly shorter in the HLE group compare to the NMES group (respectively, p =0.007 and p =0.003). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the HLE, against the NMES, may be effective in reducing some aging effects on the suprahyoid muscles activity, especially in elders who demonstrate prolonged duration and latency between onset and peak of the suprahyoid muscles activity during swallowing.

Introduction:The assessment of neuromuscular control strategies, especially investigating muscle timing and anticipation in muscles, is important to improve our knowledge about ankle instability and preliminary mechanisms of it. The goals of the present study were comparing reaction time, its components and anticipation time in athletes with and without chronic ankle instability after 'go signal' provided by visual choice reaction time task. Methods: Nineteen athletes [11 healthy athletes, 8 athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI)] participated in this cross-sectional study with research laboratory setting. The subjects started forward jumping protocol while electromyographic data were recorded from their leg muscles included gastroc-soleus, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, and tibialis anterior. of the tested leg and tested group: P=0.032, F=5.434; and P=0.040, F=4.937, respectively). Results: The results of two-way repeated measurement ANOVA revealed no significant difference in athletes with and without CAI except for pre-motor time and motor time of peroneus longus (interaction effectsConclusion: Some differences in timing of peroneus longus were seen, so it suggest that clinicians should pay extra attention to muscle timing and consider its recovery in rehabilitation protocols. Besides it seems that some of the non-significant results might be related to neuromuscular adaptation that occurred in field athletes. Further study with larger sample size was suggested. Level of evidence: 3b.

Background: With regard to the multidimensional concept of the voice, different assessments are needed to diagnose and treat voice disorders. Additionally, it is important to know how various aspects of voice are compared and related to each other. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) score and the acoustic measures in different types of Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD). Patients and Methods: Eighteen females including 12 with primary MTD (group 1) and 6 with secondary MTD (group 2) participated in this cross-sectional study. All subjects completed VHI and were provided voice samples including three trials of the sustained vowel /a/ at a comfortable loudness level as well as a connected speech sample. Acoustic measures were performed with Praat software and included fundamental frequency, jitter %, shimmer % and intensity. Results: Certain correlations were found between fundamental frequency in vowel and total VHI, physical, functional and emotional domains of VHI in group 1 (r = 0.636, 0.649, 0.613 and 0.592 respectively). There was good correlation between speaking fundamental frequency and total VHI and its subscales-except the physical subscale-were also correlated. In group 2, the correlations between jitter and total VHI as well as the emotional domain of VHI was very good (r = 0.829, and 0.812 respectively). Furthermore, we found very good correlation between the intensity of speech and functional domain (r = 0.812). Conclusions: VHI and acoustic parameters likely measure different aspects of voice and thus are not interchangeable. However, the correlation between VHI and some laboratory measurements increases in dysphonia of the same nature, origin and same sexuality.

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of two types of Kinesio taping on the temporal and spatial variables of gait initiation in individuals with and without Functional Ankle Instability (FAI). Materials and Methods: Thirty semi-professional athletes (15 with and 15 without FAI [control]) were recruited for this study. The gait initiation task was examined before and after the two types of Kinesio taping on a force plate. Temporal (Reaction Phase [RP], Anticipatory Postural Adjustment Phase [APAP]), and spatial variables were recorded and compared between Groups, before and after the tape application. Results: The results of multiple repeated-measure analyses of variance showed no significant differences for “factor” and “Group by factor” interaction effects for any outcome measure (P>0.05). There were no significant differences for Group effects except for the APAP (F=10.27, P=0.003). The APAA was 71.95 ms longer in the FAI Group (476.95±15.87 ms) compared to the control Group (405.04±15.87 ms). Conclusion: Kinesio taping application does not influence any of the gait initiation parameters on the force plate. Participants with FAI demonstrated longer APAP which might be due to recurrent injury and instability during sports or physical activity.

Latent Myofascial Trigger Points (LMTrPs) are defined as certain pain-free hyperirritable spots in a taut band of muscle, which lead to alternation in muscle activation pattern in both loaded and unloaded conditions. Fatigue can alter the stability of the cervical spine because of transferring loads to the passive connective tissues and also increasing muscle activity. Few studies have investigated the effects of fatigue on the parameters of the upper trapezius muscle as a more common muscle to MTrPs. This study attempts to examine the electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius muscle fatigue during shoulder elevation. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six right-handed subjects without upper extremity disorders took part in this study. The highest measured force level was assumed to be the Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) of the trapezius. A sustained submaximal contraction of the trapezius was performed. The subjects were asked to sustain a unilateral (80%) MVC isometric shoulder elevation until the force gauge monitor showed (50%) of MVC in at least three minutes. Results: The Root Mean Square (RMS norm) of the sustained trapezius contractions showed differences between the groups. The Myocardial Depressant Factor (MDF) parameters of the left and right sides of both healthy subjects and patients were significantly different (P<0.001). Conclusion: The increase in RMS is related to the recruitment of additional motor units and also an increased firing rate. These are necessary to compensate for the loss of force. This accumulation also inhibits the excitability of the muscle membrane, thereby causing a decrease in the firing rate and, consequently, a decrease in Median Frequency (MF).