ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Original Research

Authors

Ghassemi   S.A. (*1)
Rahnama   N. (2)
Daneshmandi   H. (3)






(*1) Sport Injuries & Corrective ExercisesDepartment, Physical Education & Sport Sciences Faculty, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish, Iran
(2) Sport Injuries & Corrective Exercises Department, Physical Education & Sport Sciences Faculty, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
(3) Sport Injuries & Corrective Exercises Department, Physical Education & Sport Sciences Faculty, University of Guilan, Guilan, Iran

Correspondence

Address: Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Niyayesh Street, Mirmohana Boulevard Kish, Iran. Postal Code: 7941639982
Phone: +98 (51) 38810231
Fax: +98 (51) 35010430
sayyedalighassemi@yahoo.com

Article History

Received:  December  31, 2018
Accepted:  September 3, 2019
ePublished:  December 21, 2019

BRIEF TEXT


Optimal performance of motor activities requires static and dynamic balance. Maintaining balance is more important for amputees who have lost some of their level of confidence and strength [1, 2]

... [3]. Research has shown that decreased balance will lead to impaired walking and increased risk of falls and fractures and sudden death [4]. There have been several reports suggesting that such risks are more likely to occur in people with lower limb amputations [5]. ... [6-9]. In a study on 435 cases with above-the-knee amputations, Miller et al. found that 52.4% experienced a fall in the past year, while 49.2% feared of falling. Thus, in general, they stated that falling and fear of falling is a pervasive problem among amputees [10, 11]. Fick et al. examined the balance of children with amputation and found that walking speed, distance, and balance function in these children were significantly lower than in healthy children [12]. … [13-26].

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of core stability exercises on static and dynamic balance and strength in amputee veterans with unilateral below-knee amputation (BKA).

This research was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with control group.

This study was carried out in Mashhad city in 2018 among amputee veterans with BKA.

The study population consisted of 36 persons who were selected by purposeful sampling and were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. Sample size was determined based on the previous studies, available population, and homogenization [27].

The training program was selected based on the McGill et al. protocol and then adjusted and adapted by referring to the experts. Then, in a pilot study period among the samples, the relevant feedback was again incorporated into the training program. Static and dynamic balance in the subjects was evaluated by a Biodex balance system (USA). Its reliability has been reported 0.93 for the lateral balance, 0.94 for the overall balance index, and 0.95 for the anterior-posterior balance index [29]. A dynamometer was also used to assess muscle strength, by which the muscle strength of the trunk flexors, trunk extensors, hip flexors, hip extensors, hip abductors, hip adductors, knee flexors and extensors was measured. Biering-Sorensen test, side bridge test, anterior muscle strength assessment, and Planck test were used to assess core stability. The training program consisted of three 55-min sessions for 8 weeks focusing on core-strength exercises. After the training period, the variables of the research were re-evaluated to assess the effect of the exercises. Data were analyzed by SPSS 19 software. At first, the normal distribution of data was assessed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Then, independent t-test and between-group t-test were used to investigate the differences between the variables of the study.

There was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of demographic variables (p> 0.05; Table 1).In the experimental group, the mean of post-test scores was significantly different from that of the pre-test (p <0.0001), but in the control group, the mean of pre-test and post-test scores were not significantly different (p> 0.05). There was also a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the post-test (p <0.0001; Tables 2 to 4).

... [30, 31]. The results of the present study are in agreement with the results of Kahl et al. [32], Kashiro et al., Ibrahim Hassan [33], Sekandiz et al. [26], and Lakuno et al. [34]. Although many of the samples in this study were selected from healthy individuals or athletes, but in some studies, the effects of core stability exercises on patients with low back pain [35], the elderly [36],and other groups of people with disabilities have been studied, which confirm the results of the present study. However, their results should be cautiously generalized to the amputees. ... [37-42]. Miller et al. stated that amputees have a low balance confidence, which affects their life and it is necessary to design and implement a special training program for them to overcome this fear and increase balance [43]. ... [44-46].

It is suggested to generalize our results and examine other variables related to this type of exercise in the subjects in future research.

Controllable limitations of this study included gender, age, amputation, and volume and intensity of the exercise program, whereas the uncontrollable limitations were mental and psychological conditions of the subjects, diet, and daily activities.

Core stability exercises in amputees with unilateral BKA increase the core strength, which can increase balance by lowering the body's center of gravity oscillations and reducing fear of falling in amputees with lower limb amputations.

The present study was extracted from a PhD thesis by the researcher at Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, guided by Dr. Nader Rahnama and the consulted by Dr. Hassan Daneshmandi.

None

All participants signed the consent form.

The present research was extracted from the researcher's PhD thesis.

TABLES and CHARTS

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