Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences
Year:2016 | Volume:11 | Issue:6 |Papers Count:10

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and results in functional impairment because of pain and articular tissue degeneration. The present study compared the reports of pain among subjects with symmetric and asymmetric moderate knee osteoarthritis using the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP) measure.Materials and Methods: The 20 subjects with moderate knee osteoarthritis were purposefully assigned to symmetric and asymmetric knee groups. After obtaining informed consent forms form the subjects, demographic information was collected they completed the Persian version of the ICOAP measure. Subjects’ responses to each item, score in each section, and total scores were compared between the two groups. The results were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test.Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of constant and intermittent pain scores and total score (P<0.05). Nonetheless, the comparison of each item showed that constant (P=0.04) and intermittent pain (pain that comes and goes) (P=0.02) had greater negative impact on sleep in the asymmetric group. In addition, more severe intermittent pain (P=0.04) was reported in the asymmetric group.Conclusion: It seems that despite the lack of any significant difference between the types of pain resulting from knee osteoarthritis, the subjects’ complaints of pain intensity and its impact on sleep quality differ.

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis is a common age-related disorder. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of symmetrical involvement of the knee joints on subjects’ report of symptoms, pain intensity, daily activities, and quality of life (QOL) using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in subjects suffering from moderate knee osteoarthritis.Materials and Methods: The 20 subjects suffering from moderate knee osteoarthritis were purposefully divided into two groups of symmetric and asymmetric knee joints involvement. After obtaining informed consent forms, demographic information was obtained and each subject completed the Persian version of KOOS. The scores were compared using Mann-Whitney U test both for each individual item and for each section.Results: The pain intensity in going up stairs (P=0.030), sitting or lying (P=0.040), difficulty in getting in and out of the car (P=0.010), rising from bed (P=0.009), turning over in bed (P=0.020), rising from a sitting position, putting on socks/stockings, and bathing (P=0.050) was higher in the symmetric group. In addition, the symmetric group had more complaints of lack of confidence in their knee (P=0.030). Thus, daily function and QOL scores were significantly lower in the symmetric group (P=0.040, P=0.020, respectively).Conclusion: It seems that the ability to perform daily functions and QOL were significantly lower in the symmetric group than the asymmetric group. Further investigations are recommended in this respect for a better understanding of the functional limitations of these individuals in daily life.

Introduction: When, as a result of a great amount of practice, a skill is performed significantly better than similar skills within the same class, it is called an especial skill. The goal of this study was the examination of the influence of visual context on the emergence of the especial skill of free throws in basketball among experienced and low experienced players.Materials and Methods: In the present study, 10 experienced and 10 low experienced basketball players took 150 shots from 5 different distances from the basket including the free throw line. The players took their shots in 3 different visual contextual conditions (light, one point lighting, and dark). The linear regression, one-sample t-test, and the curve linear regression were used to analyze the data.Results: The results of the linear regression analysis of the data of the 4 distances showed a significant negative relation between distance and performance accuracy in the experienced group (P<0.05, r=-0.68). In addition, the result of dependent t-test showed that the experienced group only illustrated a superior performance from the free throw line when the visual context was light and one point lighting (P<0.05), but their performance was not superior when the visual context was dark. In low experienced players, a negative linear relationship was observed between the different distances and their performance scores (P<0.05, r=-0.41). Moreover, the results showed that the curve linear regression analysis fit the data of the experienced group better (P<0.05, r=-0.70).Conclusion: These findings showed the role of visual information in the emergence of the especial skill effect in experienced individuals.

Introduction: In addition to numerous physical disabilities, children with cerebral palsy suffer from sociopsychological problems such as behavioral problems. The risk of depression in mothers of children with cerebral palsy is increased, while mothers have the most important role in the development of the children. Thus, this study has investigated the relationship between behavioral problems in children with cerebral palsy and depression in mothers.Materials and Methods: In this study, 76 children with cerebral palsy and their mothers were evaluated. Children’s behavioral problems and maternal depression were evaluated using Rutter's Teacher Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: Among the study subjects, 67.7% of children had behavioral problems. No significant correlation was observed between the behavioral problems of children with cerebral palsy and maternal depression (r=-0.08, P=0.49).Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it seems that behavioral problems in children with cerebral palsy may not be the cause of depression in mothers.

Introduction: Foot insoles are widely used to reduce excessive pressure exerted on the plantar surface of the foot and prevent diabetic foot ulceration. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the metatarsal pad on pressure on the forefoot area.Materials and Methods: This randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted on 18 volunteers (5 women and 13 men) with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Plantar pressure was recorded while participants walked over a plantar pressure platform in three random conditions of barefoot, with a placebo intervention, and with a metatarsal pad. The processed variables were statistically analyzed using repeated measure one-way ANOVA.Results: The metatarsal pad caused a significant reduction in mean pressure on the forefoot compared to the barefoot and placebo conditions (P<0.001). The metatarsal pad also significantly reduced the time-pressure integral in the forefoot compared to the barefoot and placebo conditions (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the time-pressure integral of the total plantar surface between the three conditions.Conclusion: The metatarsal pad transfers the forefoot load to the midfoot area, thereby, reducing the pressure exerted on the forefoot. This finding implies that using a metatarsal pad can be an effective intervention to prevent diabetic foot ulceration.

Introduction: The aim of this research was to analyze the researcher’s experiences of living with visual impairment through the auto ethnography approach.Materials and Methods: The auto ethnography approach was employed in the present research. Data were collected through narratives of the second researcher that were audio-recorded through interviews. The first author analyzed the data using a thematic analysis approach.Results: The 64 codes that were identified during analysis were categorized under the two major themes of barriers and sources of resilience.Conclusion: Individuals with visual impairment can show a high level of resilience and achieve academic, occupational, and social success, but they need to overcome the barriers to and enhance their sources of resilience.

Autoethnography is a research method that analyzes the self within a social context. This method, which has been traditionally used in sociological research, has recently found its place in health research. The aim of this research was to introduce autoethnography and its application in health and rehabilitation fields. In the present study, articles of prominent researchers in autoethnography were reviewed and definitions, procedures, ethical principles, and writing styles of this method were introduced. Autoethnography is a qualitative research method that connects individual experience to popular culture. Using this method, professionals with disability can make the broader community aware of their needs, and thus, become an advocate for suitable rehabilitation programs for the group they belong to. Consideration of the first-hand experiences and views of individuals with disability has important implications for health and rehabilitation professional.

Introduction: There is a lack of knowledge on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework in Iran. Thus, the aim of the present study was to familiarize speech and language pathologists with this framework and the quality of previous studies in this respect through a purposive review of published studies on the application of the ICF framework regarding speech and language impairments in preschool children.Materials and Methods: The keywords used included ICF and communication disorder, ICF and language impairment, and ICF and speech impairment. The main data banks searched included PubMed and Web of Knowledge and the search limit consisted of studies published between the years 2005 and 2015.Results: Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, 6 of the 96 published documents were eligible to be reviewed. All studied papers asserted that the ICF framework, through providing a comprehensive view, provides a concept of children’s speech and language impairment which can create a coherent interaction between empirical evidence and clinical observations. Therefore, it evaluates all obstacles and facilitators of communication for the child. This will result in a more effective and targeted assessment and treatment of speech and language impairments in children. Of all the themes present in the ICF framework, 735 themes were used in the reviewed articles, most of which were related to the activities and participation domains.Conclusion: Due to its components and their interaction, the ICF framework prevents the sole focusing of physicians, in a traditional and medical sense, on the structure and function of body organs. It provides a comprehensive view on the performance, function, and coordination of individual and environmental factors for the child. The review of these texts shows that they also emphasize the application of this comprehensive approach in the accurate assessment and treatment of speech and language impairments. The quality analysis of the studies showed that the majority of the studies regarding this topic were published in a non-experimental and non-research format.Moreover, very few experimental studies have been performed in this regard, which did not surpass descriptive studies in terms of quality.