Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences
Year:2011 | Volume:7 | Issue:1|Papers Count:14

Introduction: Numerical learning is now considered as an essential educational component and any deficit in mathematical understanding strongly relates to impaired functioning, not just at school but also in everyday life. There is, however, a paucity of empirical studies about basic cognitive factors that can specifically influence the growth of mathematical skills in school-age children of early grades. So, the underlying cognitive factors that are associated with growth of math ability at different stages of one’s educational development have yet to be empirically determined. Phonological awareness may affect the development of mathematical skills since strategies of speech-sound processing are used to treat problems in this academic domain.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic study in which 70 first graders with normal IQ were randomly chosen. There was no history of hearing and/or language disorders and failure in primary school among these subjects. All participants underwent a phonological awareness test and Iran key Math Mathematics Test. Obtained data were statistically analyzed with SPSS software.Results: There was a significant correlation between total score of phonemic awareness skill and that of mathematic skill (r=.97). Moreover, the scores of all phonemic awareness subtests significantly related to those of mathematic subtests. The strongest relationship were observed between counting and middle phoneme deleting (r=74) and geometry and segmenting had the weakest relationship with each other (r=.42).Conclusions: The results of present study replicated those obtained through other researches. However, correlation coefficients of this study are different from those reported in other studies. This can be due to several factors among which difference in the count of variables, difference in the categorizing of phonological awareness and mathematical skills and using different test can be noted.

Background: there is a paucity of data regarding the efficacy of group education for parents of children with autistic disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of parental group education in increasing their knowledge about the disease and ways to help autistic children and decreasing their depression, anxiety and stress.Materials and Methods: twelve parents who had a child with autistic disorder and was referred to Ruzbeh Hospital for treatment participated in a group education program consisting of five two-hour sessions. Before initiating and after completing the program the participants were evaluated via following assessment tools: The Speech-Language-Hearing History Profile, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale, Participant satisfaction Scale, and a tailored questioner for assessing parents’ knowledge level before and after training.Result: Study data showed a significant increase in parents’ knowledge level (p<0.001). The quality of this program was mentioned to be appropriate by the participants. There was no improvement in any measures of the depression, anxiety, and stress.Conclusion: Group educational training could be effective in increasing knowledge of parents with autistic children about autism. Additional studies with more samples from different age groups are recommended.

Introduction: Chronic neck pain is one of the most common problems among computer users. The aim of this research was evaluation of the effect of 8 weeks selected exercise therapy and self treatment with pamphlet programs on the strength and range of motion (ROM) of the neck in the patients with chronic neck pain.Methods: sixty-six patients with chronic neck pain (mean (±SD) age 39.19 (±3.1) years were recruited is this research study. The isometric strength of the neck muscle was measured by use of manual dynamometer (power track commander II) and for measuring ROM, agoniometer was used. For analyzing data, first the differences of quantities of per and post tests were measured, then evaluated by ANOVA (P<0.05).Results: the results of this research study showed that the difference between the mean values of the strength of the neck muscles was significant. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the neck ROM between the two group of the participant (except in rotation to the left side). The self- treatment by pamphlet group had a significant difference just in rotation to the right side in contrast to that in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Ovarally, it can be concluded that the selected exercise therapy schedule under trainer observation has more useful results in improving muscle strength and ROM in different directions compared to self- treatment by pamphlet programs.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine changes in sole arch index and their effects on non-contact lower-extremity injury rates among male karateka.Materials and Methods: forty-five male karateka with knee or ankle injuries were chosen from 288 male athletes attending 6 athletic clubs in Kerman-Iran. Injury-related data were collected via a data recording sheet and sole arch index was measured through Chippaux-Smirak Index (CSI) method.T-Student and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis of data.Results: The study’s results showed that the most frequent location and time of injury were respectively in knee joint (62.2%) and during training sessions (82.3%). the severity of injuries was minor (57.8%) in most cases. Moreover, sole arch index in right leg was abnormal in 68/9% of subjects while 31.1% of them had a normal index in that leg. When left leg was concerned, abnormal and normal indices was evident in 77.8% and 22.2% of subjects respectively. In general, highest percentage of abnormal sole arch index was found in left leg (77.8%). statistical analysis of data by Chi-square test demonstrated that there is no relationship between sole arch index in right and left legs. Again, application of Chi-square test to obtained data showed that there is no relationship between sole arch index and severity of injury. In addition, statistical data analysis through t-test was indicated that there is a significant difference between noncontact lower extremity injury rates when sole arch index is considered (p>0.05).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, abnormal sole arch index may significantly affect non-contact lower-extremity injury rates in male karate athletes.

Introduction: Bnign laryngeal lesions are relatively commonly occurring problems which are often noted after changes in voice. Since they are non-invasive and yield objective easy-to-collect data, acoustic laboratory methods are used along with perceptual assessments for evaluation of voice. Studying acoustic characteristics is useful in diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders. With regard to the fact that polyps and reflux laryngitis result in similar auditory features of voice, this study aimed to find acoustic differences between these two conditions.Materials and Methods: in a cross-sectional non-interventional retrospective study, a number of patients (both males and females) with vocal fold polyps and reflux laryngitis with the age range of 74 -20years were studied. To determine voice characteristics of all participants, the vowel / æ / was analyzed using the software Praat.Results: The amounts of mean fundamental frequency (MF0), fundamental frequency range (RF0) and shimmer were higher in males with polyps than those with reflux laryngitis. RF0, shimmer and HNR values were significantly different in both groups. Comparison of MF0 and jitter variables of males with polyp and with reflux laryngitis with all voice characteristics of females in both groups showed no significant difference.Conclusion: Shimmer, RF0 and HNR values in men with polyp were different from these values in those patients with reflux laryngitis and these features are more affected in polyps than in reflux laryngitis. So these characteristics can be considered as the differential features (differentially diagnostic) in these two groups of patients.

Introduction: this study was aimed at assessing the effect of a new thoracolumbar orthosis on patients with Scheuermann's kyphosis referred to Iran medical university of Tehran in collaboration with a clinic of technical ortopedea in Isfahan.Material and method: This new version of orthosis had a dynamic system as compared to previous ones which enabled the spine to extend. a questionnaire along with a radiographic picture of spine were used for evaluating the efficacy of this kind of orthosis. Measurement of the Cobb angles was also performed in 3 stages.Results: mean difference correction of Cobb angle for dynamic thoracolumbar orthosis was 29.5% and mean difference correction of Cobb angle for Milwaukee was 35.5%. Difference of Cobb angle was measured by Cobb angle before application orthosis and by second month of its usage.Conclusion: results showed that not only was the new dynamic thoracolumbar orthosis effective in orthosis correction and improved Cobb angle at 2 months follow-up but also it was well accepted by the user thanks to its beautiful structure.

Introduction: This research was done to comparison Directionality of drawing fixed shapes in Preschoolers and primary school according to role of handedness.Materials and Methods: In this research Causality – Comparison, 160 children (80 girls and 80 boys) with mean age of 7.96 in preschool and primary school selected with randomly cluster sampling. The tests were used, Handedness Questionnaire of Chapman and Champman (1987) & Directionality Scale. For the analysis of data was used Chi square test.Results: The results showed that are related Directionality of drawing Fixed shapes and Handedness (P=0.001) and are Varies Directionality of drawing Fixed shapes in preschool and school children (P=0.007, 0/009). The results also showed that Directionality of drawing Fixed shapes in preschool and school children is affected Handedness (P =0.010, 0.009).Conclusion: Right Hand or Left Hand are the factors affectingon performance and habits and movements of individuals and Since a right-handed and left hands have different representations of their hand, So we face with two different cognitive structure and strategy in the left hand and right hand. This research is important in applications in diagnosis problem of draw shapes and write of the Persian alphabet , Recommended the continuation of such research in special groups, including the blind, mentally retarded people with learning disabilities can achieved to normal and abnormal patterns in Drawing shapes on Iranian children.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common entrapment neuropathies of upper extremity. This study compared the efficacy of a new dorsal wrist splinting versus commonly prescribed palmar splinting in CTS (both in neutral position) and evaluated the value of the motor nerve conduction measurement as a prognostic indicator for CTS.MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a single blind Randomized control trial study which was carried out in 22 idiopathic CTS patients. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: Dorsal Splint group (N=12) and palmar splint group (N=10). Subjects in both groups wore these two kinds of splints for 4 weeks. Motor conduction pertaining to median nerve was evaluated in two different points of time: at the beginning of study for determining the baseline and at 4 weeks follow-up. Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, independent T test and paired T test were used for statistical analysis of data. Analyses were conducted with SPSS (16).RESULTS: After four weeks, median nerve motor distal latency and conduction velocity improved significantly in both groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups due to motor electro physiologic improvement.CONCLUSION: Four weeks after initiation of study, significant electro physiologic improvement was observed in both study groups. Comparing the efficacy of the two treatment methods, it became evident that motor neurophysiologic improvement was equal with both splints in neutral position of wrist.

Background and purpose: Amputation is one of the most deleterious events that one may experience throughout his/her life. Gait patterns adopted by Amputees with prosthesis can cause such various types of pain as back pain, hip joint pain and contralateral pain. Knowledge about existing problems associated with amputated limb can be useful in making decisions about appropriate treatment plans and rehabilitation programs for these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes and prosthesis satisfaction in persons with war-related above-knee amputations.Material and methods: Sixty-one Iranian subjects with above knee amputation were requested to fill out the Persian version of Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) and to judge whether they were satisfied with their current prosthesis.Results: Phantom sensation, phantom pain, residual limb pain, lateral limb pain and back pain was respectively reported in 88.5%, 77%, 36.1%, 33% and 72.1% of the subjects. Moreover, it became evident that 19.67% of the subjects were truly satisfied with their current prosthesis.Conclusion: According to study results, phantom sensation, phantom pain, back pain, residual limb pain and pain in the lateral limb are the most prevalent outcomes of war related amputations. Satisfaction rates were higher than moderate in more than half of the patients studied.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and achievement motivation among successful and unsuccessful athletes in West Azerbaijan Province.Methods: Two-hundred athletes were divided into two groups of successful athletes (n=100, 50 males and 50 females) and unsuccessful athletes (n=100, 50 males and 50 females) while the term «successful» means that the subject has win medals at national and international official competitions and «unsuccessful» means he/she has not been able to do so. Gill and Deter's sport orientation scale (SOQ) (1998) and revised self-esteem questionnaire (Cupper-Smith, 1968) were the assessment instruments used in this study. Pearson Correlation and t-test (α<0.05) were applied for the statistical analysis of data.Results: The results showed that there is a significant correlation between self-esteem and achievement motivation in both studied groups. Moreover, successful and unsuccessful athletes significantly differed in terms of self-esteem and achievement motivation so that self-esteem and achievement motivation were significantly higher in successful athletes compared to unsuccessful athletes.Conclusion: It seems that athletes’ beliefs interfere with their performance. Therefore equal attention must be paid to fitness and sport skills and motivational variables through appropriate physical education and providing conditions in which athletes feel competence and motivation and experience success. Coaches are advised to provide timely feedback, necessary support and constructive criticism in order to give their students the opportunity to be aware of their capabilities and increase their achievement motivation accordingly.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early perceptual-motor enrichment on later development of gross motor processes in infants.Materials & Methods: Fifteen healthy full-term infants with the age range of five to eight months were randomly recruited from a nursery and then assigned to two groups according to their age: training (n=8, age=6.5±2 mo) and nontraining (n=8, age=6.5±2 mo). Both groups were homogeneous in terms of age. Subjects in training group underwent thirty-six one-hour training sessions in a perceptual-motor enriched environment (supplied with various manipulable and movable tools) for 12 weeks. At the end of program, the subjects’ gross motor skills were evaluated for the first time using Peabody motor development scale. For the following three months, all infants were kept in similar and normal conditions. At the end of this period, the infants’ gross motor skills were evaluated for the second time via the same scale. Data were analyzed through mixed ANOA 2 (group) × (stage).Results: Study results indicated that in terms of gross motor age equivalent, the main effect of group (F (1,10)=15.5, P=.003) and the main effect of assessment stages (F (1,10)=56.95, P=.001) was significant. Interaction between group and assessment stages (F (1, 10) =1.95, P=.19) was not significant. Considering gross motor scaled score, however, the main effect of group (F (1, 10) =8.53, P=.015) and the main effect of assessment stages (F (1, 10) =151.60, P=.001) was significant. Interaction between group and assessment stages (F (1, 10) =.66, P=.43) was not significant.Conclusion: Generally speaking, these results show that training and experience has positive effects on the development of later gross motor skills in the infant.

The performance of the upper limb amputees is significantly reduced in contrast to that of normal subjects. In order to compensate the functional limitation of the amputees various kinds of prostheses have been designed and developed, which are divided in to mechanical, cosmetic and myoelectric ones based on their functional abilities. Unfortunately, most of the upper limb amputees prefer to not use any prostheses or only use the cosmetic ones. The aim of this research is to find the association between the type of prostheses, the level of amputation with the acceptance rate of the prostheses.Method: 76 upper limb amputees were recruited in this research study. They have been referred to Rehabilitation centers in Isfahan, Tehran and Shiraz cities. The acceptance rate of the upper limb prostheses was evaluated by use of a questioner which has been developed in this regards.Results: the results of this research study showed that the correlation between the level of amputation, type and the acceptance rate of the upper limb prostheses is not significant. Moreover, the amputees at wrist and above elbow levels do not have too much interest to use their prostheses.Conclusion: it has been concluded that the willingness of the upper limb amputees to use their prostheses can be increased by improving the cosmesis and the functional abilities of the artificial limbs. Moreover, it is recommended to manufacture the prostheses from the lighter materials.

Introduction: After low back pain, the neck pain is the most prevalent pain among (especially elderly) peoples. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of one period of exercise program on subjects neck ROM and chronic neck pain.Materials and Methods: For executing this study 60 elderly patient (24 Males and 36 Females) with mean age 56±4.5 years old and 71±4.4 kg with chronic neck pain randomly were selected. Executed exercise program was stretching (for three month) and strengthening exercises (for three month) to accompany with external support in remedial period. Training protocol started with one set of 8 repetition (in first session) and ended with three sets of 16 repetitions (in final session). For measurement of neck muscles flexibility, neck pain, neck range of motion and neck extensor muscles strength were used flexometer, visual analog scale (VAS), Leighton flexometer and dynamometer respectively. Independent and paired t test were used for statistical analysis (p≤ 0.05).Results: The results showed that after accomplishment of exercise program, neck rang of motion and neck extensor muscles strength was increased but cervical lordosis degree and pain score was decreased.Conclusion: Based on this study results, we concluded that exercise program can decrease the amount of pain in people with neck pain. The probable mechanisms that through them exercise program have better results in patients with neck pain, we can refer to increasing cervical muscles strength, increasing range of motion and decreasing cervical lordosis degree.

Background: There is ample evidence supporting the effectiveness of exercise in management of chronic low back pain. Recently, there has been a growing interest in Pilates exercise among researchers and other professionals involved in this subject. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Pilates exercise on chronic low back pain.Material and Methods: twenty-eight patients with chronic low back pain were randomly assigned to Pilates (n=15, mean age 40.20±8.07 yrs) and control group (n=13, mean age 38.30±7.84 yrs). The Pilates group underwent a six-week Pilates training program and the control group received routine treatments. Level of pain and General health status were respectively measured through Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ28) before and after the intervention. Covariance test with the variety factor (pre-test) in the level of α=0.05 was applied for statistical analysis of data.Results: after 6 weeks of treatment, the mean score of pain (p=0.024), and general health (p=0.04), as observed in Pilates group, was less than the usual-treatment group.Conclusion: The findings from the present study indicate that the selected Pilates exercises was more effective than the usual treatment methods in reducing pain level and improving general health in the patients with chronic low back pain. Therefore prescribing Pilates exercise for patients with chronic low back pain is suggested.