Mohammad Bayattork

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of micro-exercise interventions on neck/shoulder pain, neck disability, muscle activity, quality of life, and work-related outcomes among sedentary workers. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to July 2025. Nineteen studies (n = 2732) met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Micro-exercises significantly reduced combined neck/shoulder pain (4 studies; g = -0.79, 95% CI -0.98 to -0.60; I² = 39%), neck pain (11 studies; g = -1.36, 95% CI -2.09 to -0.64; I² = 98%), shoulder pain (2 studies; g = -0.81, 95% CI -1.59 to -0.03; I² = 96%), right shoulder pain (3 studies; g = -1.72, 95% CI -2.90 to -0.55; I² = 98%) and left shoulder pain (3 studies; g = -1.83, 95% CI -3.05 to -0.62; I² = 98%). Improvements were also found in neck disability (4 studies; g = -0.45, 95% CI -0.73 to -0.17; I² = 29%) and overall quality of life (2 studies; g = -0.57, 95% CI -0.94 to -0.20; I² = 0%). Negative values indicate benefit favoring the intervention. No significant effects were found for muscle activity (2 studies). Work-related outcomes were mixed, as work disability (1 study) measured by Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) indicated significant reductions in two of three intervention groups in one study (- 4 points, 95% CI - 8 to - 1; p < 0.05 and - 7 points, 95% CI - 10 to - 3; p < 0.01), while work ability and absenteeism showed no significant change (each 1 study). The certainty of evidence ranged from moderate (for combined neck/shoulder pain and neck disability) to very low (for shoulder pain, muscle activity, and work-related outcomes) according to the certainty of evidence (GRADE) approach. Substantial heterogeneity and potential publication bias (Egger's p = 0.028; Begg's p < 0.001) suggest that the pooled estimates should be interpreted with caution. Micro-exercises appear beneficial for reducing neck/shoulder pain and improving function among sedentary workers, with effect sizes exceeding minimal clinically important difference thresholds for pain. However, the certainty of evidence is moderate to very low due to high heterogeneity and potential publication bias. Evidence for work-related outcomes is mixed as work disability measured by Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) presented significant improvements in two of three intervention groups in one study, suggesting a possible benefit; however, work ability and absenteeism did not show significant results. Larger, well-designed trials are needed to strengthen the evidence for both clinical and occupational outcomes.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.Purpose: This study aimed to define the normal values of the lumbar lordosis curve (LLC) and investigate its association with sex, age, and body mass index (BMI).Overview of Literature: The importance of the human spine’s sagittal alignment, particularly in the lumbar region, has been argued from the physiological and pathophysiological points of view. The LLC size is an important predictor of lumbar pathologies. Lumbar curvature misalignment, particularly increased lumbar lordosis or hypolordosis, can, in the long term, lead to spinal instability and development of disorders such as low back pain and spondylolisthesis Therefore, knowledge about the normal LLC value and its association with age, sex, and BMI, appears crucial.Methods: The study recruited 2,497 asymptomatic volunteers (1,264 women and 1,233 men) aged 5–85 years. Participants were assigned to different groups based on their sex, age, and BMI. The LLC was measured using a Flexicurve.Results: Normal LLC values were established for different sexes, age, and BMI groups. Overall, normal LLC ranges from 10.2° to 74.9° with a mean of 42.34°±13° (male, 38.57°±11.44°; female, 46°±13.38°). LLC was generally higher by 7.5° in women than in men. A significant three-way interaction of sex, age, and BMI with LLC was found. The association of age and BMI with LLC was also significant.Conclusions: Our results can be used as a reference by physicians, healthcare, etc., when the LLC values in different ages and sexes are measured noninvasively. In other words, this information can be used as reference when determining whether the obtained LLC is within the normal range.

Numerous scoliosis research studies have investigated postural control changes in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis and compared them to healthy controls. However, the results have been controversial. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare whether postural control in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients is different from their age-matched healthy counterparts. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted comprising 121 adolescents (11 to 17 years) divided into five groups, including those diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis (n = 95) and healthy control peers (n = 26). According to the type (single or double), location (thoracic or lumbar), and severity (mild = Cobb's angle ≤ 25°, moderate = 26° ≤ Cobb's angle ≥ 45°) of AIS, the groups included: group 1: mild single curve in the thoracic region, group 2: mild single curve in the lumbar region, group 3: mild double curves, group 4: moderate double curves, and group 5: healthy control. Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)/ /NeuroCom International, Inc., Clackamas, OR, USA was used to assess the postural control parameters. The assessment included the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), the Adaptation Test (ADT), the Motor Control Test (MCT), the Weight-Bearing Squat test (WBS), and finally the Unilateral Stance Test (UST). The study analyzed data from 121 participants (36 boys, 85 girls) across five groups. No significant differences were found between the AIS and control groups concerning the type of curve or when comparing single and double curves. A one-way ANOVA indicated that variables related to the SOT were normally distributed, while other tests did not show normal distribution. Comparisons controlled for BMI, curve type (single or double), and severity of the major curve revealed no significant differences in postural control variables between AIS and control groups. Notable p-values include SOT 1 (p = 0.964), SOTstrategy 1 (p = 0.192), SOT 2 (p = 0.733), SOTstrategy 2 (p = 0.497), SOT 3 (p = 0.057), SOTstrategy 3 (p = 0.693), MCT (p = 0.089), USleftOpen (p = 0.087), and USrightOpen (p = 0.057). This study's findings indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in postural control when performing activities of daily living among adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis compared to their healthy aged-matched peers. Therefore, there is no need for additional training to improve postural control in these adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. However, the importance of identifying the postural control mechanisms in these populations is considerable for treating scoliosis.

Context: Recently, the use of Virtual reality (VR) and Augmented reality (AR) tools for assessing athletes’ performance in returning to sports and neuromuscular training has experienced significant growth across all age groups. Through this technology, by utilizing laboratory facilities and creating a three-dimensional simulated sports environment that closely resembles the reality and conditions of each sports discipline, athletes can train and undergo evaluation under controlled conditions. The VR and AR systems have been used recently to prevent and rehabilitate Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries and assess the motor control of injured individuals. This scoping review aimed to investigate the impact of VR and AR exercises on ACL injury prevention, ACL rehabilitation, and expediting the return to sports process. Evidence Acquisition: The scoping review follows the reporting system of systematic and meta-analysis studies (PRISMA-ScR) and utilizes the guidelines provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute for conducting various stages of work and data extraction. This study was registered in the PROSPERO database with code CRD42023446354. The search for English articles was conducted in electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, SPORT Discuss, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane, using keywords such as virtual reality, rehabilitation, injury prevention, simulation, augmented reality, ACL, and anterior cruciate ligament until the end of June 2022. Inclusion criteria encompassed any primary research involving both athletes and non-athletes across all levels (from beginners to professional) and all ages and genders (male and female) who have experienced unilateral anterior cruciate ligament injury and have undergone any type and degree of sports or therapeutic intervention using VR and AR systems. Results: Twenty-six out of 204 comprehensive studies were reviewed based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results showed that biomechanical parameters related to ACL injury were measured using various methods such as real-time biofeedback, virtual reality, and augmented reality. The factors investigated showed significant changes after exercise in VR and AR environments. Conclusions: Anterior cruciate ligament injury (or any other sports injury) cannot be summarized in a single musculoskeletal dimension involving mechanical or movement dysfunction. The failure of current approaches to prevent ACL injuries, rehabilitation, and risk assessment is due to the neglect of cognitive and neurological aspects of the injury. New methods such as augmented neuromuscular training (aNMT), multidimensional rehabilitation approaches, and the utilization of virtual reality technology and novel training strategies based on the strengths of VR and AR systems (such as optimal strategy) can compensate for this scientific and practical gap.

Background: Although most attention has been paid to the effectiveness of corrective exercises and bracing to improve thoracic hyperkyphosis, no study, to the best of our knowledge, has compared the effects of exercises plus bracing to bracing alone.Objective: To compare the effect of corrective exercises and bracing and bracing alone on the Cobb angle of thoracic kyphosis.Design: A parallel‐group, blinded, randomized, controlled trial.Participants: The participants included 180 adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis who were randomized into corrective exercises plus bracing (N = 60), only bracing (N = 60), and a waitlist control group (N = 60).Intervention: Intervention groups received their programs for 24 weeks, whereas the control group was placed on a waitlist for 6 months before receiving a delayed intervention.Main Outcome Measurements: The primary outcome was change from baseline to 6 months in Cobb angle measured from standing lateral spine radiographs.Results: Significant differences were observed in the Cobb angle of thoracic kyphosis between all groups at the posttest (p <.001). In post hoc analyses, we found significant differences between the corrective exercise plus bracing group (15.5° decline) and the bracing only group (8.8° decline), p <.001; both groups had bigger improvements than the control group, which increased by 1.2° (p <.001).Conclusion: The combination of corrective exercises and bracing demonstrated better overall outcomes in Cobb angle compared to only bracing, as well as waitlist control in adolescents with thoracic hyperkyphosis.

Objective To evaluate the effects of online-supervised versus workplace corrective exercises on neck–shoulder pain (NSP), sick leave, posture, workability, and muscular activity among office workers with the upper crossed syndrome (UCS). Methods We performed a parallel-group randomized control trial at Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran, assigning 36 office workers to online-supervised, workplace, and control groups (mean (SD) age 38.91 ± 3.87, 38.58 ± 7.34, 37.00 ± 8.12). Inclusion criteria were alignment alteration (forward head (≥ 45°), rounding shoulder (≥ 52°), rounding back (≥ 42°), and pain intensity ≥ 3 in neck and shoulder. The two intervention groups performed 8-week exercise program, while the control group continued usual activities. Primary (NSP and sick leave) and secondary outcomes [postural angles, workability, and muscular activity were measured by VAS, outcome evaluation questionnaire (OEQ), photogrammetry, workability index, and EMG, respectively, at the baseline and an 8-week follow-up]. Results ANCOVA results revealed improvements for the online-supervised group versus control for NSP (P = 0.007), postural angles (P = 0.000, P = 0.001, P = 0.005), workability (P = 0.048, P = 0.042), and upper trapezius activation (P = 0.024, P = 0.016), respectively. Using paired t tests, both intervention groups improved from baseline to follow-up for NSP (P = 0.000, P = 0.002), forward head posture (P = 0.000, P = 0.000), round shoulders (P = 0.001, P = 0.031), and round back (P = 0.034, P = 0.008), respectively. Related parameters of workability (P = 0.041, P = 0.038), upper trapezius (P = 0.005, P = 0.005, P = 0.022), and serratus anterior (P = 0.020, P = 0.015) changed only in the online-supervised group. Conclusion Online-supervised corrective exercise seems to improve a range of parameters related to work performance. These findings are highly applicable in light of the ongoing COVID pandemic; many workers have to work from home.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) including upper crossed syndrome (UCS) are considered as the leading cause of work-related issues worldwide among office workers. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of workplace-based versus online-supervised home-based corrective exercises among office workers with UCS. To this end, 45 subjects within the age range of 30–45 years are randomly assigned to three groups in the present parallel-group, randomized control trial using a pretest-posttest design. These groups include the subjects who receive online-supervised exercise and workplace exercise containing three sessions of intervention for 8 weeks and the control group receives no intervention while performing routine activities. The primary outcome variables are neck-shoulder pain (NSP) and consequent sick leave due to NSP, followed by alignment, workability, and the surface electromyography of upper, middle, and lower trapezius (UT, MT, and LT), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and serratus anterior (SA) as the secondary variables. The present study seeks to assess the effect of workplace versus online-supervised corrective exercise interventions among 45 office workers suffering from UCS. It is expected to improve and reduce the related symptoms including postural malalignment and imbalance muscles after 8 weeks of corrective exercises. If effective, the findings may lead to adherence and work performance among the office workers, and individuals subjected to UCS can use the benefits of an online-supervised intervention. In addition, the findings may be useful in different workplaces as the evidence for employers to benefit from the reduction in the related costs and side effects of work-related neck/shoulder disorders including work disability, productivity loss, time expense, social insurance, work absenteeism, and treatment costs. Finally, clinicians and corrective exercise therapists can consider it as a clinical based-evidence intervention for their further actions. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20200729048249N1. Registered on 5 October 2020 (https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/49992/view)

The current study aimed to investigate that whether young people with mild intellectual impairments (II) having various levels of IQ have different physical fitness and body composition. Moreover, this study aims to answer this question that is there any association among IQ level, Body Mass Index, and physical fitness ...

Background and ObjectiveMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) including upper crossed syndrome (UCS) are considered as the leading cause of work-related issues worldwide among office workers. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of workplace-based versus online-supervised home-based corrective exercises among office workers with UCS. Methods and DesignTo this end, 45 subjects within the age range of 30-45 years are randomly assigned to three groups in the present parallel-group, randomized control trial using a pretest-posttest design. These groups include the subjects who receive online-supervised exercise and work-place supervised exercise containing three sessions of intervention for eight weeks and the control group receives no intervention while performing routine activities. The primary outcome variables are neck-shoulder pain and sick-leave due to pain, followed by alignment, workability, and the surface electromyography of upper, middle, and lower trapezius (UT, MT, and LT), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and serratus anterior (SA) as the secondary variables.DiscussionThe present study seeks to assess the effect of work-place versus online-supervised corrective exercise interventions among 45 office workers suffering from UCS. It is expected to improve and reduce the related symptoms including postural malalignment and imbalance muscles after eight weeks of corrective exercises. If effective, the findings may lead to adherence and work performance among the office workers, and individuals subjected to UCS can use the benefits of an online-supervised intervention. In addition, the findings may be useful in different work-places as the evidence for employers to benefit from the reduction in the related costs and side effects of work-related neck-shoulder disorders including work disability, productivity loss, time expense, social insurance, work absenteeism, and treatment costs. Finally, clinicians and corrective exercise therapists can consider it as a clinical based-evidence intervention for their further actions. Trial registrationIRCT No. IRCT20200729048249N1 dated 2020.10.05 approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/49992/view).