Background and purpose: There is no specific treatment for fibromyalgia. Previous studies suggest that exercise is helpful in controlling the symptoms and psychosocial aspects of the disease. STRETCHING EXERCISES are emphasized less than aerobic and resistance EXERCISES in these patients. The main reason for re-examining this issue in current study was the contradictory feedback of patients with fibromyalgia to STRETCHING EXERCISES which was observed during recent years in clinical treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of STRETCHING exercise on the quality of life of patients and the impact of fibromyalgia. Materials and methods: This study was a per-protocol randomized clinical trial. Forty-nine patients with fibromyalgia diagnosed based on 2010 diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia who were referred to our sports medicine clinic by a rheumatologist and then a psychiatrist were studied. They were randomly divided into two groups. Twenty-five patients in the intervention group did STRETCHING exercise and received medication while 24 patients in the control group received standard medication for five weeks. SF-36 questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life and Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) was used to assess the disease state at the beginning of the study and also at weeks 5 and 9. Results: There are contradictory results about the effect of STRETCHING EXERCISES on fibromyalgia patients. The current study showed no significant differences between the two groups in the mean scores for physical health (P= 0. 4), mental health (P= 0. 88), and fibromyalgia impact (P= 0. 36). Conclusion: Isolated STRETCHING EXERCISES are not effective in improving fibromyalgia. Further studies are suggested to investigate the effect of more specific STRETCHING EXERCISES on fibromyalgia.

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is chronic pain during menstruation without the presence of a pelvic pathologic complication. Objectives: The aim this research was comparison of the effect of STRETCHING EXERCISES and combination of massage-STRETCHING EXERCISES on primary dysmenorrhea of female students of Razi University of Kermanshah. Methods: This semi-experimental study was statistical population all female students of Razi University of Kermanshah. 90 students were selected through purposive and convenient sampling method. After obtaining consent and justification of the subjects from the research stages, they were randomly divided into three groups of 30 to practice the protocol. The research instrument consisted of two primary dysmenorrhea and McGill pain questionnaires as well as STRETCHING exercise and massage protocol. The validity of the questionnaires was obtained formally using Cronbach’, s test. Exercise program for groups was performed in 8 sessions for 3 weeks. Data were analyzed by dependent t-test, one-way ANOVA and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, to check the normality of the data distribution. Results: The results showed that there were significant differences between the three methods of exercise (STRETCHING, massage and massage-STRETCHING movements) on pain severity (P = 0. 938), duration of pain (P = 0. 095) and the nature of pain (P = 0. 664) There was no significant difference. Conclusions: According to the results of the present study, massage and STRETCHING exercise and massage-STRETCHING combinations are almost as effective and effective as noninvasive methods in reducing the symptoms of sensory pain caused by primary dysmenorrhea. Assistance to girls with dysmenorrhea Selection and application of one of these methods will depend on the individual’, s abilities and circumstances.

Background: One of the main causes of musculo-skeletal disorders is muscular imbalance, particularly in urban population who do not have suitable physical activity. This can lead to spinal, lower limbs and gait abnormalities. Applying the most appropriate and effective technique to stretch the shortened muscles is very important in these patients.The current belief is that using biofeedback simultaneously with exercise therapy may increase the effect of the treatment. This has prompted the researchers to investigate the effect of feedback during STRETCHING the hamstring muscle.Materials and Methods: A randomized single blinded clinical trial was conducted on 45 female volunteers from Fateme Zahra Dormitory of Shahid Beheshti University (20-25 years old). All of the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire. Then they were randomly divided into three groups each one consisting 15 subjects. We considered three STRETCHING techniques (static stretch, dynamic stretch with audio-sensory feedback and dynamic stretch only). The treatment course took 4 weeks (every day except Thursday and Friday).The flexibility of the hamstring muscle was assessed by measuring the Range of Motion (ROM) directly by a goniometer and also indirectly by Sit & Reach test at the start and the end of the treatment courses. A t-test and Tukey-B test were used to analyze the data.Results: According to the statistical analysis, all of the three STRETCHING techniques significantly improved the flexibility of the hamstring muscles, however there was no significant differences between the techniques.Conclusion: Considering the relatively identical results of three STRETCHING excises, it seems that the use of feedback simultaneously with STRETCHING can encourage the patients to perform their EXERCISES as much as possible.

Purpose: The forward shoulder (FS) is one of the most common deformities accounted for 60% of shoulder abnormalities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 6-weekstrength training, stretch training and comprehensive training in patients with forward shoulder abnormalities.Methods: This quasi-experimental study design Pre-posttest with control group. Forty females students with excessive forward shoulder angle (FS>52) were chosen using purposive sampling method. The average of age, weight, height and body mass index of the samples were 22.22±1.77 years, 61.22±1.90 kg, 161.85±2.55 cm, and 23.37±0.9kg.m2 respectively. The subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups (each 10 subjects), 3 experimental and 1 control groups. The first experimental group performed strength training, second group stretch training and third group comprehensive training for 6 weeks. In this period, the control group did not receive any training. We used photogrammetric method to measure the angle of the forward shoulder. Shoulder angle changes of the subjects before and after 6 weeks were measured. Data were analyzed using paired T-test, One-way analysis of variance and SPSS (21) (P£0.05).Results: According to study findings, paired t-test results in the experimental group showed that the forward shoulder angle of the subjects in corrective EXERCISES significantly decreased so that after participating in 3 types of training program, strengthening (P=0.001, t=8.63), STRETCHING (P=0.001, t=6.78) and comprehensive (P=0.001, t=12.11), the angle dropped in the order of 6.10, 4.90 and 7.10 degrees. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there are significant differences (P=0.001) among the effects of different EXERCISES on the forward shoulder angle. Based on Tukey test results, the implementation of corrective EXERCISES, strengthening (P=0.001), STRETCHING (P=0.001), and comprehensive (P=0.001) showed a significant difference with the control group. However, no significant differences were observed among the groups of strength, STRETCHING and comprehensive trainings with each other.Conclusion: The results demonstrated a significant decrease in the angle of forward shoulder in the experimental group. Therefore, using this program is recommended in subjects with these deformity.

Objectives: This study aims to find and compare the effects of primal reflex release technique and STRETCHING EXERCISES on pain intensity, functional performance, and pain-free sitting duration in patients with coccydynia. Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial. A total of 46 individuals were chosen for the sample based on the inclusion criteria, and they were divided into groups A and B. Pretreatment values of patients for pain assessment were taken by the Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), Dallas pain questionnaire (DPQ), and pain-free sitting duration (PFSD). Group A received treatment with a hot pack and primal reflex release technique. Group B received treatment with a hot pack and STRETCHING EXERCISES. Each patient received a total of 12 sessions over the course of 4 weeks, 3 sessions per week. After 4 weeks of therapy, both groups were evaluated again. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 21. Results: Findings revealed that within-group differences were statistically significant (P<0. 05) for all variables. In the primal reflex release technique group, the average NPRS value reduced from 5. 565±, 1. 4086 to 1. 7391±, 1. 09617, the average DPQ value from 129. 967±, 33. 102 to 38. 000±, 26. 691 and the average PFSD duration increased from 43. 043±, 20. 323 to 368. 478±, 160. 464. In the STRETCHING group, NPRS reduced from 6. 087±, 1. 345 to 3. 695±, 1. 490, DPQ from 116. 032±, 35. 054 to 60. 608±, 22. 186 and PFSD increased from 28. 260±, 11. 928 to 94. 130±, 102. 154. The between-group analysis also indicated statistically significant differences in NPRS, DPQ, and pain-free sitting duration with P≤, 0. 001, 0. 003, and ≤, 0. 001, respectively Discussion: The study concluded that both the primal reflex release technique and STRETCHING EXERCISES were effective in reducing pain and improving functional status with a marked increase in pain-free sitting duration. However, the primal reflex release technique was found to be more useful than STRETCHING EXERCISES in terms of mentioned outcome measures on basis of their mean differences.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common cause of back surgery with many morbidities, recurrence, bone-regrowth and mortality after surgery. To evaluate the effects of STRETCHING and strengthening EXERCISES on lumbar, abdominal, knee extensor and flexor muscles in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) management, pain severity and maximal walking time was determined in 61 patients who had pseudocluadication and weakness on physical examination. LSS had been confirmed by MRI. STRETCHING and strengthening EXERCISES were done by physiotherapists at hospital clinic for 10 days and then were continued at home. 38 patients continued out of their EXERCISES at home for 4 months. Mter physiotherapy at hospital clinic, 56 patients from 61 (92%) had good pain recovery and increased maximal walking time (P<0.001).The continued home EXERCISES in 38 patients had consistently pain improved recovery and increased walking time (P<0.001). we conclude that STRETCHING and strengthening EXERCISES are valuable conservative managments in LSS for pain relief and increase walking endurance and quality of life without surgical intervention.