Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

  The Effect of Mental Practice on Increasing Maximal

  Muscle Strength in 20-30 year old Healthy women

  R. Hedayati MSc^1*, GR. Oliaee PhD², MR. Hadian PhD², S. Talebian Moghaddam PhD³
H. Baghery PhD²

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  1- Academic Member, Faculty of Rehabilitation, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  2- Associated Professor, Dept. of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  3- Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiology, Faculty of Rehabilitation, University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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  Backgrond: Researches have been carried out for several years, to find a way to treat muscular disorders, including weakness and atrophy which are consequences of the lack of movements. Clinicians are looking for a way to prevent these weaknesses and atrophies specially, when active movements are forbidden. It seems that mental practice can be a good answer to this problem. The aim of this study was to identify the efficacy of this kind of exercises on increasing muscle strength.

  Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 30 young healthy females (20-30 years old), who were randomly divided into case and control groups. The case group performed imaginary maximal contractions of the elbow extensors for 3 weeks while the control group performed mathematical exercises at the same period of time. The amount of muscle extension torque of elbow was determined by Isostation B200 Dynamometer, before and after the intervention. The statistic analysis was performed with non-parametric tests of Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon.

  Results: Mental practice of strengthening tasks produced 50 percent increase in the isometric torque of elbow extension while control group showed only 7 percent increase in their torques .

  Conclusion: It seems that we can use mental practice to increase or keep the muscle strength. It is suggested that physiotherapists combine this new method with the other common methods in their rehabilitation programs.

  Key words: Mental Practice, Muscle Strength, Imagery

  * Corresponding author Tel: (021)2516494

  Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, 2004, 3(2): 119-125

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  The Effect of Cold on the Strength of Anterior Forearm Muscles

  N. Tahan MSc [1] , Kh. Khademi Kalantari PhD-PT [2] , Gh. Nasaj MSc [3]

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  Background and Objective : Cryotherapy has long been introduced as a common method for preventing and reducing edema caused by traumatic injuries. Many studies have been conducted regarding other effects of cold such as its effects on muscle strength which provided controversial results over the past decades. The aim of this study is to investigate whether cold is capable of changing the muscle strength.

  Materials and Methods : The research was conducted on 30 volunteers with the mean age of 22 years. In a standard situation, the volunteers were asked to make their maximum grip force. Cold was applied over their anterior forearm using an ice pack for 15 minutes. The maximum grip force was measured before and within 0 to 120 minutes after cold application.

  Results : The strength of the anterior forearm muscles decreased rapidly after cold application. The maximum reduction of muscle strength, in average 18%, was observed after 10 minutes. This was followed by a gradual increase of grip force. After 120 minutes the force was increased to about 5% above the baseline force that was before cold application.

  ‍ Conclusions : Regarding the slight increase in the muscle strength and its long delay, cryotherapy of muscles cannot be considered as a practical method in rehabilitation of patients. However, this method would be of great importance for athletes.

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  Key words : Muscle strength, Cryotherapy, Grip, Ice pack

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  [1] - Academic Member, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran

  [2] - Assistant Professor, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran

  Corresponding author: Tel :(021)77542057, Fax(021)77561409, E-mail: khosro_khademi@yahoo.co.uk

  [3] - Academic Member, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Ahvaz University, Ahvaz