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Background and Objective: Athletes suffer from poor physical fitness in some sports fields, which can cause long-term pain in their hands. This study was carried out to compare the musculoskeletal abnormalities in professional wushu athletes and wrestlers with non-athletes.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 30 wrestlers, 30 Wushu athletes and 30 non-athlete subjects in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Kyphosis and lordosis angles evaluation was performed by using flexible ruler. Evaluation of forward head and forward shoulders perform from side view with digital cameras and angles analyzed by AutoCAD 2010 software.
Results: The forward head in wushu athletes and wrestlers was significantly more than non-athletes (P<0.05). Also, forward shoulder in wrestlers and wushu athletes was significantly higher than non-athletes (P<0.05). In addition, kyphosis angle in wushu athletes and wrestlers were significantly higher than non-athletes. Also, Lordosis in wrestlers was higher than non-athletes (P<0.05). Uneven shoulder in wushu athletes was more than non-athletes (P<0.05).
Conclusion: This study showed that head, shoulder and spine status can be influenced by type of sport.

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Background and Objective: Stiffness and restricted range of movement (ROM) affect muscle balance and body alignment. The purpose of this research is the study the relationship between Iliopsoas tightness and hip active range of motion, extensor-flexor muscle strength and thoracolumbar curves.
Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 15 adolescent's male soccer players with short length of Iliopsoas muscle as case group and 15 healthy adolescents witch matched based on age, height, weight, BMI, dominant leg and sport experience as control group. The range of motion was measured with universal goniometer, kyphosis and lordosis with flexible ruler and muscle strength with manual dynamometer.
Results: The range of motion of the hip extension and the strength of the Iliopsoas muscle in the case group were statistically lower than the control group (P<0.05). The rate of lumbar lordosis and the ratio of gluteus maximus to the strength of the Iliopsoas muscle in the case group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the range of motion of hip flexion, dyspnea kyphosis, and gluteus maximus muscle strength in the studied groups.
Conclusion: Adolescents with Iliopsoas tightness have limited hip extension and greater lumbar lordosis and weaker Iliopsoas strength in comparison to healthy counterparts.

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Background and Objective: Developmental disorder and environmental factors are considered as the main causes in postural abnormalities in children and adolescents. This study was done to evaluate the role of BMI, physical activity and the use of electronic device in the status of trunk abnormalities in male adolescents.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 480 boys of 13 to 15 years old in Golestan province, northern Iran. Trunk abnormalities were measured using a spinal mouse. Physical activity was assessed using a standard physical activity questionnaire. Use of electronic device was measured using the form of rate of use of electronic device.
Results: Kyphosis abnormality in 13, 14 and 15 years-old male adolescents were reported 70%, 65% and 75%, respectively. In addition, 60% of 13 years-old, 40% of 14-years-old, and 50% of 15-years-old adolescents had lordosis abnormality. There was a direct and significant correlation between kyphosis abnormalities with BMI and using electronic device as well as a reverse significant correlation between lordosis abnormality and BMI was demonstrated.
Conclusion: This study indicated that trunk abnormalities are relatively common in male adolescents in Golestan province, northern Iran. Also, BMI and the use of electronic device can also affect these abnormalities.

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Background and Objective: The use of lumbar braces affects kinetics and kinematics. This study evaluated the effects of two types of simple and sensor thoracolumbosacral braces on electromyography activity of selected muscles in patients with kyphosis during running.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 15 males with kyphosis. The subjects performed a running task in three conditions: without braces, with simple braces, and with sensor braces. An 8-channel wireless electromyography system was used to record the activity of the muscles of the lower back and lower limbs during running.
Results: There was no significant difference between the tested conditions in response to loading, middle support and swing; however, during push-off, the median frequency of the gastrocnemius muscle was greater when running with a simple brace compared with running without brace (P<0.05). In addition, the median frequency of the semitendinosus muscle was significantly higher while running with sensor brace compared with simple brace (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Using brace, especially sensor brace, can improve muscle activities in patients with kyphosis.

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Background and Objective: One of the ways to correct kyphosis is to use braces. This study was done to determine the effects of two types of simple and sensor thoracolumbosacral braces on ground reaction force components during walking in males with kyphosis.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 15 males with kyphosis did three walking trials on the force platform without a brace, with a simple brace and with a sensor brace. Ground reaction force data were collected using Bertec force plates.
Results: There was no difference in peal forces, free moment and loading rate values during walking with and without braces.
Conclusion: Using a brace does not affect walking kinetics in males with kyphosis.
 

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Background and Objective: Using lumbar orthoses changes the running mechanics. An essential biomechanical factor in rehabilitation and injury prevention is the co-contraction of the knee and ankle joints. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of 2 types of thoracolumbosacral braces on ankle and knee joint co-contraction in people with kyphosis during running.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 15 men aged 18-25 years suffering from kyphosis greater than 40 degrees in the Biomechanics Laboratory of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili Health Center during the summer of 2020. Each participant randomly performed 3 running tests in each condition: without a brace, with a sensor brace, and with a simple brace. The test consisted of electromyographic data of the selected lower limb muscles, which also recorded the contraction of the knee and ankle muscles in the right leg when running at a constant speed.
Results: The results showed a reduction of the general knee co-contraction while using a sensory brace compared to without the brace by 6% during the loading phase (P<0.05). Additionally, using a simple brace compared to the condition without a brace, the ankle-directed contraction during the push-off phase decreased by 38% (P<0.05). Directed vastus medialis and lateralis co-contraction while using a sensory brace increased by about 49% compared to without the brace at the loading phase and increased by about 47% at the mid-stance phase without a brace condition compared to the simple brace condition (P<0.05).
Conclusion: General knee co-contraction after using a sensory brace was lower than when a simple brace was used.