{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,25]],"date-time":"2026-07-25T15:45:30Z","timestamp":1784994330225,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,27]],"date-time":"2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748304000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"\nPurpose<\/jats:title>\nVisual impairment poses considerable challenges to mobility and everyday tasks, frequently leading to a more sedentary lifestyle and reduced physical fitness levels. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of a tailored aquatic exercise protocol on muscle activation and strength in visually impaired individuals.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n\nMaterials and methods<\/jats:title>\nThirty women who were blind (mean age\u2009=\u200929.03\u2009\u00b1\u20092.20 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental (EX) group and a control (CO) group. The EX group participated in three weekly 60-minute aquatic sessions, while the CO group maintained regular activities. Electromyography (EMG) activation and onset time were measured in the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris. Muscle strength was also assessed in the ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors, as well as the knee flexors and extensors.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n\nResults<\/jats:title>\nThe EX group showed increased EMG activation for the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris in both anterior-posterior (2.23 MVIC%, 95% CI: 1.13 to 3.34, p\u2009<\u20090.001) and posterior-anterior directions (2.35 MVIC%, 95% CI: 1.80 to 2.91, p\u2009<\u20090.001) compared to CO group. Onset time decreased significantly in the EX group relative to CO group (anterior-posterior: -108.07\u2009ms, 95% CI: -117.23 to -98.89, p\u2009<\u20090.001; posterior-anterior: -98.72\u2009ms, 95% CI: -106.54 to -90.90, p\u2009<\u20090.001). Muscle strength significantly increased in the EX group compared to the CO group, with greater strength in ankle dorsiflexors (4.42\u2009N\/kg, 95% CI: 3.42 to 5.42, p\u2009<\u20090.001) and knee extensors (2.72\u2009N\/kg, 95% CI: 1.04 to 4.40, p\u2009<\u20090.001).<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n\nConclusions<\/jats:title>\nThe aquatic exercise program improved neuromuscular function and strength in women with visual impairments, supporting its use in rehabilitation.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n\nTrial registration<\/jats:title>\nIRCT2017022132705N1<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0322395","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,27]],"date-time":"2025-05-27T17:33:03Z","timestamp":1748367183000},"page":"e0322395","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Effects of an aquatic protocol on electromyography activation and strength of lower limb muscles in blind women: A randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Asma","family":"Salari","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mansour","family":"Sahebozamani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdolhamid","family":"Daneshjoo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohammad","family":"Alimoradi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mojtaba","family":"Iranmanesh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3323-3444","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Nicola","family":"Relph","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7948-3807","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Guillermo","family":"Mendez-Rebolledo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,27]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0322395.ref001","first-page":"585","article-title":"The Effect of Core Stability Training Program on Balance in Blind Female Athletes","volume":"20","author":"A Salari","year":"2013","journal-title":"Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences"},{"key":"pone.0322395.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2097","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/awm157","article-title":"Equilibrium during static and dynamic tasks in blind subjects: no evidence of cross-modal plasticity","volume":"130","author":"M Schmid","year":"2007","journal-title":"Brain"},{"key":"pone.0322395.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-15687-8_17","article-title":"Wearable assistive devices for the blind.","volume-title":"Wearable and autonomous biomedical devices and systems for smart environment: issues and characterization","author":"R. 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