Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Year:2020 | Volume:9 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:31

Background and Aims: Since fatigue is known as a common phenomenon during exercise and it is hypothesized that it often impairs motor function and causes various injuries, the purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of local and global fatigue on the myoelectric variables of selected lower limb muscles in healthy young men active in single leg jump-landing task. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 able-bodied healthy young males participated in the current quasi-experimental study. Wingate and Bruce tests were used to create local and global fatigue, respectively. Electrical activities of selected lower limb muscles (Gluteus Medius, Vastus lateralis, Tibialis Anterior, Peroneus Longus, Gastrocnemius and soleus muscles) were recorded using electromyography device, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures tests were used for data analysis. The significance level was set at P≥ 0. 05. Results: The results showed a significant difference between the effects of local and global fatigue on the mean normalized middle serine muscle activity (P=0. 046) and medial Gastrocnemius muscle midline frequency (P=0. 019). However, there was no significant difference between mean and maximum normalized activity and frequency of middle serine, Vastus lateralis, anterior tibia, fibular longus, and soleus (P<0. 05). Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, it seems that the effects of the types of local and global fatigue on lower limb muscle performance during single jump-landing exercise are similar.

Background and Aims: Sway Back Posture (SBP) is one of the most common postural disorders in young people. Considering the importance of the role of the abdominal wall muscles in preserving and maintaining normal posture, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between this postural disorder and the function of the abdominal wall muscles. The present study aimed to compare the ultrasonic thickness of the abdominal wall muscles between women with and without SBP. Materials and Methods: A total of 111 women, aged 18-30 years were divided into two groups of 37 with SBP and 74 without SBP, participated in the current analytical study. Kendall method was used to evaluate postural status. To measure the degree of lumbar lordosis and anterior pelvic tilt, a flexible ruler and pelvic inclinometer were used, respectively. The rest thicknesses of the abdominal wall muscles, including the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis, were measured using B Mode ultrasonography in both supine and standing positions. Results: There were no significant differences in resting thickness of all abdominal muscles between the two groups in the supine position (p≥ 0. 05). In the standing position, only the external oblique muscle showed a significant difference (p = 0. 03). In women with SBP, lumbar lordosis was greater and the pelvic tilt was less than that of women without SBP (p<0. 05). In both groups, muscle thickness increased as body mass index increased (p <0. 05). Conclusion: The lack of a change or reduction in the thickness of the abdominal wall muscles in women with SBP can be due to the stability created by the passive elements; consequently, there is no need for muscle activity. Accordingly, evaluation of the contractile thickness of the abdominal wall muscles in people with SBP is recommended.

Background and Aims: Considering the effects of binocular anomalies in patient's daily activities, including those with isoametropia and anisometropia, and as the first option for correcting refractive errors, the present study was conducted to investigate if wearing glasses for a month could make a difference in binocular anomalies in patients with considerable refractive errors. Materials and Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, 56 patients aged 8-38 years old (28 patients with anisometropia and 28 patients with isoametropia) who visited our office either for annual check-up or having other eye symptoms were included. Patients included did not have strabismus or microtropia and were examined by an ophthalmologist to check for possible pathologies. Patients’ refraction (objective and subjective) showed an amount of refractive errors that needed glasses or a change in the current eye glasses. Their sensory fusion, stereopsis, Near Point of Accommodation, and accommodative facility were examined exactly after wearing newly prescibed glasses and once more after one month of use. The results were evaluated between groups and then among the groups. Results: The mean age of the participants was 24. 3 (SEM=1. 7) for patients with anisometropia and 21 (SEM=1. 4) for isoametropic patients. There was no significant statistical difference between anisometropic and isoametropic groups in any of the measured variables both in the first and second examinations (Table 1). Stereopsis and accommodative facility improved significantly in both groups (p<0. 05). But there was no significant difference in Near Point of Accommodation (p>0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, we observed improvement in stereopsis and accommodation facility in the two groups after using glasses. As a result, after one month of using corrective glasses, in addition to improvement in binocular vision, some symptoms such as blurred vision, headache and ocular fatigue disappeared.

Background and Aims: Achievement motivation, psychological capital, and physical activity are among the important structures in all areas of life, especially the quality of work life of employees, for better performance in the work environment. In this regard, quality of working life of teachers of students in exceptional schools is an important fact to study. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of predictability of achievement motivation, psychological capital, and physical activity on the quality of work life of teachers of exceptional schools in Markazi province in 2018. Materials and Methods: A descriptive and correlational study was carried out on the statistical population of all employed teachers (no=400) in exceptional schools in Markazi Province between 2018-2019. For this purpose, 196 teachers were selected using simple random sampling method. Data collection tools included Hemans Achievement Motivation, Luthans psychological capital, Beck's Physical Activity, and Watton's Quality of Work Life. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were used in SPSS, version 19. Results: There was a significant correlation between psychological capital (r=0. 79, p=0. 001), achievement motivation (r=0. 63, p=0. 001), physical activity (r=0. 51, p=0. 001), and quality of work life. Also, the results showed that psychological capital (B=0/79), achievement motivation (B=0/27), and physical activity (B=0/20), respectively can significantly predict the change in the quality of work life in teachers of exceptional schools and these variables account for 71% of the quality of work life variance Conclusion: It can be concluded that psychological capital, achievement motivation, and physical activity play major roles on the quality of work life in teachers of exceptional schools.

Background and Aims: Running related injuries have different causes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the frequency spectrum of ground reaction forces during stance phase of running in children with forward head posture and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: A total of 28 male children were divided into two groups of healthy controls (n=16) and forward head posture (n=12). Two Kistler force platforms (sampling rate: 1000 Hz) were used to record the ground reaction forces during barefoot running. Independent sample t-test was used for statistical analysis. The significance level was set at 0. 05. Results: Findings indicated that running speed in children with forward head was lower than that in the control group (P<0. 001). The number of essential harmonics to reach 95% of total energy of the vertical ground reaction force signal in dominant limb in the healthy group was greater than that of forward head group (medium effect size; P=0. 001). The frequency content with 99. 5% power of the number of essential harmonics of free moment in the forward head group was greater than that of the control group (large effect size; P=0. 005). Other components of running ground reaction force frequency content were not statistically different between the two groups (P> 0. 05). Conclusion: Due to lower walking speed in children with forward head posture, lower frequency content indicated lower center of gravity sway. Also, these lower walking velocity and frequency content demonstrated lower mechanical efficiency in children with forward head posture.

Background and Aims: Psychological well-being is one of the most important needs of the elderly, which can affect various aspects of their lives. Religiosity increases the psychological well-being, but the causes of this occurrence are not clearly known. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the role of self-compassion in the relationship between religiosity and psychological wellbeing. Materials and Methods: According to Guadagnoli & Velicer (1998), a sample of 300 male elderly was selected through simple random sampling method in Kermanshah, Iran. The elderly responded to the following three questionnaires: psychological well-being, self-compassion, and attitude toward religion. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate descriptive indexes. To investigate the relationship between research variables, Pearson correlation coefficient was used using SPSS software, version 23. Also, to analyze the data, structural equation modeling was used to test the mediation routes in the proposed model, and to answer the research hypotheses about the indirect effects of attitude towards religion through Self-Compassion, AMOS, version 23, was used. Results: The results showed that the direct effect of attitude to religion and psychological well-being without the presence of the intermediary variable (Self-Compassion) is significant and confirmed (β =0. 48). That is, religiosity can increase well-being without the presence of a mediator variable. Also, the direct effect of attitude toward religion on Self-Compassion (β =0. 46), the direct effect of Self-Compassion on well-being (β =0. 80), and the indirect effect of attitude toward religion on psychological well-being through self-compassion (β =0. 37) were found to be significant. Conclusion: The present study, after drawing a pattern for determining the relationship between attitude toward religion and psychological well-being, clarified the relationship between attitude toward religion and self-compassion, as well as their relationship with psychological well-being. This way, attitude toward religion was observed to have a positive impact on the psychological well-being of the elderly by increasing self-compassion. Therefore, attention to the role of self-compassion is important in explaining the relationship between attitude toward religion and psychological wellbeing and can improve the psychological well-being of the elderly by creating individual and mental capacities to increase self-compassion.

Background and Aims: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of TRX training on the balance, fatigue intensity, speed, and muscle strength of women with multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: In the current study, a semi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with an intervention group and a control group was carried out. The statistical population of the present study was all women with MS within the age range of 20 to 40 years old in Tehran who are members of the MS Society of Iran. The sample included 24 women, aged 20-40 years old, and a disability score between 0-4. 5 who were recruited via nonprobability and availabile saimpling method. Participants were randomly assigned to TRX training (n=12) and control group (n=12). Muscle strength, dynamic balance, as well as speed and fatigue intensity were also measured in the statistical population. In the end, we used descriptive statistics to describe the data of each group and to determine the center of gravity using mean and standard deviation. The Shapiroilk test was used to check the normality of the data, and to compare the differences between the control and experimental groups, independent t-test was used at the alpha level of 95% (p<0. 05). Results: The results showed that eight weeks of TRX training had a significant effect on muscle strength, fatigue intensity, and the rate and balance of women with multiple sclerosis. Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that TRX training affects the balance, fatigue intensity, muscle strength, and muscle strength of women with multiple sclerosis, and it is suggested that our findings be used to treat the disease.

Background and Aims: Martial arts have the highest prevalence rate of sport injuries. Most injuries in Taekwondo occur in lower extremities. Scientific findings have reported a high prevalence of ligamentous injuries in the athletes’ knee joint in martial arts. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of six weeks of agility exercises on maximum ground reaction force of the knee, knee proprioception, as well as balance and performance in Taekwondo athletes of Alborz Province. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 athletes (Age: 13. 47± 2. 63 years, weight: 45. 92± 5. 56 kg, and height: 155. 56± 4. 72 cm) were selected and randomly assigned into two groups (15 in each group). A voluntary consent was obtained and a demographic information form was used to collected the demographic information Force plate was used to assess the kinetic variable (maximum ground reaction force). Single hop and triple hop functional tests were used to determine the functional performance. Also, universal goniometer was used to measure the proprioception of the knee and Y balance test was used for evaluating the dynamic balance. After group allocations, pre-test was conducted to measure the research variables. After pre-test, the agility exercises program (having four stages and based on jumping movements) was applied in the experimental group for six weeks. Subsequently, the post test was performed to measure the variables of the research, with a procedure similar to the pre-test. Results: It was found that participating in six weeks of the interventions may result in decreased maximum ground reaction force of the knee (P=0. 00) (approximately 4% reduction), improved knee proprioception (P=0. 00) (approximately 55% error reduction), and dynamic balance (poterolateral) (P=0. 02) (approximately 20% improvement) in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of the current study indicated that the effects of agility exercises on the mentioned factors was significant. Therefore, the interventions can be considered as a safe and effective method for improving mentioned factors in Taekwondo athletes. Also, these exercises with their positive effects on the mentioned factors may improve other contributing factors.

Background and Aims: The aim of the present study was to compare the effect and sustainability of eight weeks of corrective exercises, postural reeducation, and their combination on lumbar hyperlordosis in young females. Materials and Methods: A semi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, and two months follow up design was carried out. Participants included 55 female students, aged 18 to 25 years old, with increased lumbar lordosis, having an angle equal to or greater than 54 degrees. Then, they were randomly divided into four groups (corrective exercise, postural reeducation, combination of exercise and postural reeducation, and control). Exercise and combined groups participated in three training sessions for eight weeks, and postural reeducation and combined groups received education sessions twice a week for eight weeks, while the control group received ordinary daily living activities. The degree of lordosis was measured using a flexible ruler before and after eight weeks of intervention, and then after two months of follow-up. All statistical tests were performed at the significant level of P <0. 05. Results: The results of repeated measure of ANOVA indicated a significant difference between pre test and post-test in the three groups of exercise, reeducation, and their combination in reducing lordosis. The post hoc test results showed that posttest and follow up of exercise groups, postural reeducation, and combination program, compared with the control group, had a significant difference in lordosis compared with pre-test, a sign of improvement of the complications. The sustainability effect of exercise, postural reeducation, and combined program showed that all three types of programs had similar effects on the lumbar hyperlordosis and had no significant differences. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be argued that the use of corrective exercises, combined, and postural reeducation program are likely to be effective in improving hyperlordosis, but the effect of the corrective exercise program was more than those of the other interventions and it is suggested that those with this disorder can use any of these corrective protocols to improve this complication.

Background and Aims: Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a common injury in lower extremity. It can force the athlete stay away from the competition for a long time and causes secondary problems like knee osteoarthritis. One factor that can result in the prevention of this injury is movement pattern correction. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of movement pattern correction on performance, balance, and proprioception in active females prone to anterior cruciate ligament injury. Materials and Methods: Participants were 30 women who were prone to anterior cruciate ligament injury (assessed via tuck jump test), with the mean age of 24. 81± 1. 83 yrs, height 164. 03± 4. 33 cm, and weight 63. 6± 3. 82 kg, who were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n=15) and control (n=15). Balance was measured using Y balance test, proprioception was assed using universal goniometer, and participants’ function was measured using Triple hop test. These variables were measured at the baseline and after the interventions following the same procedure after eight weeks correction of movement pattern exercise. T-student and independent t-test were run in SPSS software, version 21, for analyzing the data at the significance level of p <0. 05 Results: The results of statistical analyses showed significant differences after movement pattern correction exercise regarding proprioception (P = 0. 001), balance (P = 0. 001), and function (P = 0. 001) in the participants in exercise group and no significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: Movement pattern exercise can affect the muscles and correcting the alignment of the lower extremity can lead to controlling the movements that cause ACL injury. Also, considering the effect of these exercises on improving balance, proprioception, and performance of the exercise group, it is suggested that these exercises be used to prevent ACL injury in the future.

Background and Aims: It has been shown that Body Mass Index (BMI) has a negative effect on the competence in performing fundamental movement skills. The purpose of the present study was to compare the motor competence in obese, overweight, and normal primary school Children in Tehran. Materials and Methods: A total of 402 children were examined. BMI was determined using height and weight measurements according to the World Health Organization reference. Motor competence was measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky-2 short form. Also, One-way Variance and Tukey post-test tests were used to differentiate between the variables. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean scores of total motor competence as well as gross motor competence and different BMI. Also, according to the results of Tukey post-test, there were significant differences in the error level of p<0. 05 between visual control, power, bilateral coordination, balance, speed, and agility sub-tests; however, there were no significant differences between different levels of BMI in other subscales and fine motor competence. Conclusion: Given that BMI affects fundamental motor skills and physical activity participation, and vice versa, it seems that one of the ways to prevent and reduce obesity and overweight in children is to increase motor competence.

Background and Aims: There are three types of footstrike patterns that runners use including rearfoot strike, mid-or forefoot strike. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of running with different patterns on loading rate, impulse, and free moment values in three dimensions during stance phase. Materials and Methods: A total of 13 healthy men (age: 26. 6± 2. 8 years; weight: 78. 4± 7. 2 kg) were included in the present trial and semi-experimental study. Ground reaction force data was recorded using a Kistler force platform (sampling rate: 1000 Hz). Two-way ANOVA with a significance level of ɑ =0. 05 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The results of the current study showed that the vertical ground reaction force during the mid-stance phase of the rearfoot strike without shoe was more than that of the rearfoot strike with shoe. External force in the heel contact phase showed a significant decrease while running forefoot strike versus running with a rearfoot strike pattern. The vertical loading rate was higher when running with shoes compared to without shoe in the rearfoot strike pattern. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that the rearfoot strike pattern has reduced the amount of external component and thus the amount of foot pronation relative to the forefoot strike pattern, which can reduce the risk of injury.

Background and Aims: Stroke is the most important neurological disease in old people. Cognitive impairment, such as attention deficit, is one of the common problems in stroke patients. So, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of computer-based cognitive rehabilitation on sustained attention, divided attention, and selective attention function in patients with stroke. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental investigation was carried out using a pretest-posttest design and a control group. A total of 30 stroke patients aged 30-65 meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group was trained for 21 sessions using Captain’ s Log Cognitive Rehabilitation Software, but the control group did not receive any intervention. Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test was used as pretest and posttest. Results: Data analysis, using single-variable covariance, showed a significant difference between experimental and control groups in attention scores (selective attention, sustained attention, and divided attention). Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, it can be deduced that computer cognitive rehabilitation programs can be used to improve the components of attention in people with stroke.

Background and Aims: Many studies have been conducted with a high degree of variability in the response to insulin-like growth factor-1 and myostatin in various exercise trainings. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to survey the acute effect of resistance training with and without blood flow restriction on the muscle hypertrophy indicators. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 female basketball players with the age range of 23-30 years were randomly divided into three groups (10 athletes in each group): traditional resistance training (80% 1RM), resistance training with blood flow restriction (30% 1RM), and control group (blood flow restriction without exercise). The exercise started with a set of 30 repetitions and ended with two sets of repetitions until fatigue with a 30-second rest period. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after the exercise. Paired sample t-test was used to compare intra-group changes and one-way ANOVA was used to compare between group changes. Results: Intra-group changes indicated no significant change in serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (P>0. 05) and a significant decrease in myostatin (P<0. 05) in the two training groups as compared to the pretest. In between group comparison, there was a significant increase only in myostatin levels in both training groups compared to the control group (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Based on the results, the effect of blood flow restriction exercise training on serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and myostatin in female athletes was similar to that of exercise training without blood flow restriction. It seems that for those who are in rehabilitation period or cannot lift heavy weight, low intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction can be used instead of high intensity resistance training.

Background and Aims: Since walking and other tasks are simultaneously among the most common human activities, and considering the fact that that a large part of the elderly falls are during two tasks, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of walking speed and cognitive load on gait stability in the elderly. Materials and Methods: A total of 10 healthy volunteer elderly (5 males and 5 females) without a history of falls took part in the study. They were asked to perform 3 walking trails on a treadmill, including walking at 3 paces (preferred, fast, and slow) with/without cognitive load. Cognitive task was performed by subtracting 3's from a random three digit number. The gait-stability ratio (GSR) was calculated for each of the above conditions. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine the mean differences at the significance level of 0. 05. Results: The findings showed that the cognitive performance score decreases with increasing speed and at faster speeds, compared with speed with cognitive load, GSR was found to be higher (p<0. 01). Conclusion: The results showed that the elderly, through different walking strategies, especially the shorter phase, provide more dual support while walking, so that they will fall less with increasing steadiness.

Background and Aims: Several factors lead to unethical functioning in occupational therapy. The aim of the present study was to explore factors affecting unethical performances at the clinical work of occupational therapists in the field of adult physical dysfunction. Materials and Methods: A total of 10 graduated occupational therapists with at least two years of experience were selected using purposeful sampling method. Data were gathered through semi-structured interview in private clinics and occupational therapy sections. Data were analyzed using content analysis approach. Results: Data analysis led to the emergence of two categories both of which represent the factors affecting unethical practice in the clinical work of occupational therapists in adult physical dysfunction field. These categories include: environmental factors and individual factors. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that lack of awareness of occupational therapists regarding the principles of professional ethics related to occupational therapy and also the lack of comprehensive rules in this regard are important causes of the unethical practices by therapists. These important factors make the occupational therapists encounter numerous ethical problems related to the rights of clients during their clinical experiences and more research is needed in order to provide the necessary strategies for preventing and promoting the practice of professional ethics among occupational therapists.

Background and Aims: It seems that by involving a greater number of muscle fibers of the muscle spindle and through the benefit from elastic characteristics of muscles, Traband training can result in different functional adaptations in muscles. The study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of training with and without Traband on a range of motion, proprioception, strength, and quality of life in middle-aged inactive women with knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 individuals (42. 89± 5. 43 years, height 162. 63± 3. 78 cm, weight 58. 08± 4. 49 kg, and body weight 21. 99± 1. 89 kg/m2) were selected as a sample and randomly divided into three groups of 10 Traband, without Traband, and control. KOOS questionnaire was completed before the training protocols and range of motion, knee proprioception, and muscle strength of legs and lower legs were measured. At the end of the eighth week of the test, measurements were repeated as posttest. Analysis of covariance was used to check the results. Also, the t-test was run for before and after the test comparison, at a significance level of P ≤ 0/05. Results: Comparison of the Traband group with the control group without Traband showed that there was a significant difference in the range of motion, profound sense, knee opener muscle strength, and quality of life (P < 0/05). Conclusion: The results showed that exercise with Traband by patients with osteoarthritis is completely feasible and effective, and the exercise is likely a safe and effective exercise to improve proprioception, range of motion, muscle strength, and quality of life in women with knee osteoarthritis.

Background and Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of semi-rigid foot orthoses on lower limb joints (ankle, knee, and hip) stiffness during loading response, mid stance, push off, and entire of stance phase in male children with flexible flatfoot while walking. Materials and Methods: A semi-experimental study was conducted on 14 male children with flexible flat foot selected from available community. Data were collected under two specific test conditions including walking in shoes and shoes which were embedded with foot orthoses using semi rigid orthoses. Six Vicon cameras with a frequency of 100 Hz were used to quantify gait kinematic and also two force plates were used to record the ground reaction force components. Three-dimensional lower limb stiffness values during walking were calculated. Results: Foot orthoses reduced ankle joint stiffness during loading response in sagittal plane (p=0. 003) and increased it during push off phase in horizontal plane (p=0. 001). Also, during the entire stance phase, foot orthoses reduced ankle joint stiffness in sagittal plane (p=0. 033) and increased it in horizontal plane (p=0. 039). In the knee joint, stiffness values during mid-stance in sagittal plane (p=0. 014) decreased after using foot orthoses. Furthermore foot orthoses increased knee joint stiffness values in horizontal plane during mid stance (p=0. 000), push off (p=0. 001), and stance phases (p=0. 001). Hip joint stiffness was increased in frontal plane (p=0. 044) during loading response by foot orthoses. Conclusion: Generally, semi rigid orthoses improved the ankle joint stiffness values in sagittal plane and it increased the ankle and knee joints stiffness values in horizontal plane.

Background and Aims: Intonation is one of the main aspects of speech prosody, which plays an important role in speech intelligibility. Previous studies have shown that the expression of intonation in children with cochlear implant is the most difficult feature of speech prosody. Regarding the importance of intonation in emotional transmission, sentence type, and communication intentions, the aim of the present study was to examine the speech intonation in cochlear implant and normal hearing children in the imitation and reading tasks. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive-analytic study was performed on 30 cochlear implant children versus 30 normal-hearing children. The sound was recorded in a quiet room. The participant was asked to utter the sentence “ /dare baroun miyad/” in the happiness mood. Then, they were asked to do the same task imitating from the sound which had been recorded earlier. Data recording was done using Praat software and data analysis was done using SPSS software. Results: The mean of fundamental frequency for the two groups in reading (P=0. 004) and imitation (P=0. 007), duration in reading (P=<0. 001), and imitation (P=0. 003) and intensity of the two groups in reading (P=0. 01) had a significant difference. Meanwhile, the longest duration was related to the cochlear implantation group and the highest fundamental frequency and intensity was related to the normal group. Conclusion: Intonation is one of the damaged aspects of speech in children with cochlear implantation, which results in children’ s inability to translate emotions verbally. According to the present study, these children's intonation was damaged in imitation and reading tasks. Therefore, it is recommended that, in addition to the segmental aspect of speech, therapists carry out interventions on the speech intonation of these children.

Background and Aims: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders and psychological problems in children referred to psychiatric clinics. The purpose of the present study was to address the effect of attentional games, cognitive rehabilitation, and mixed practice on attention and cognitive functions of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with pre-test and post-test design. To this purpose, 40 children aged 9-12 years old with attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder were selected and randomly assigned into four groups of Cognitive Rehabilitation training, attentional games, mixed practice, and control. In the pre-test, each participant performed the tests for working memory (N-Back test), sustained attention (continuous performance test), and executive functions (London Tower test). Participants practiced for 16 sessions (each session for 60 minutes), according to their grouping Test on working memory, attention, and cognitive functions. After the last training session, participants performed the post-test which included the re-run of the tests for working memory (N-Back test), attention (continuous performance test), and executive functions (London Tower test). Results: The findings showed that in the variable of executive functions, working memory and attention, the mixed group approximately outperformed the two other experimental groups in all subtests (p <0. 05), but the other groups did not differ significantly (p <0. 05). Conclusion: Mixed group in almost all subscales led to improved working memory, attention, and executive functions of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These results were interpreted according to the usage of profits of two other practice conditions during mixed practice.

Background and Aims: Several strategies can reduce unethical practices in the occupational therapy. The aim of the present study was to identify strategies for imoproving ethical performance in the clinical work of occupational therapists in the field of adult physical dysfunction. Materials and Methods: A total of 10 graduated occupational therapists with at least two years of experience were selected using purposive sampling method. Data were collected making use of semi-structured interviews in private clinics and occupational therapy wards. Content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: Data analysis showed emergence of two categories both of which represent the strategies for promoting ethical performance in the clinical work of occupational therapists in the field of adult physical dysfunction. These categories include: organizational strategies and individual strategies. Conclusion: The findings of the current study showed that in order to resolve ethical problems in the occupational therapy sector, it is necessary to formulate and approve necessary rules for the management of private and public occupational therapies and to issue these rules to the responsible organs for supervision and even to add a course on ethics to a the Bachelor's degree program and/or to establish periodic ethics workshops in occupational therapy for graduates as well as to address ethical issues related to the field of occupational therapy in all theoretical and practical lessons and trainings in order to increase the awareness of occupational therapy students so as to establish ethics among them.

Background and Aims: Lumbar pain and postural abnormalities are among the most important issues in the workplace. In the meantime, staffs with a static and steady state of work will be more likely to suffer. In case of proper solutions, these problems can be reduced and possibly eliminated. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of six weeks of chair exercises on the kinematics variables during walking, physical structure, and pain among the staffs at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. Materials and Method: A quasi-experimental study was carried out at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. A sample of 27 people including 10 males and 17 females (age: 40. 81 ± 4. 51 years, height: 164. 15± 8. 47 centimeters, mass: 75. 18 ± 6. 75 kg) selected purposefully took part in the study. The step length, step width, and step frequency were measured using a 3D Motion Analysis system with 6 optoelectronic cameras and a recording frequency of 120 Hz. To measure lordosis, a flexible ruler was used and to measure pain, forward shoulder from a double quadrilateral and Nordic questionnaire was used. To analyze the data, dependent t-test was used at the significance level of P <0. 05. Results: The results revealed significant differences between pretest and posttest averages for these variables: stride length, step width, frequency step, back pain, shoulder lordosis, and shoulder forward. Also, the length of the step size increased in the post-test. The size of other variables, however, declined. Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, chair exercises have a positive effect on the kinematic variables, the reduction of lumbar lordosis, and forward shoulder, as well as the reduction of the lumbar pain in the staffs. Accordingly, these exercises can be used to improve the kinematic variables, body structure, and pain relief in the lumbar region.

Background and Aims: The memory-based cognitive rehabilitation program is becoming a useful and practical method to improve executive functions in students with hearing impairment and it seems that using this program has been associated with desirable outcomes. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effectiveness of memory-based cognitive rehabilitation program on executive functions in students with hearing impairment. Materials and Methods: A semi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test design, and control group was conducted. The participants were 24 male children with hearing impairment selected from schools in Shahre-e-Kord city using convenient sampling. Participants were divided into experimental and control groups, each group consisting of 12 children. The experimental group received 10 sessions of memory-based cognitive rehabilitation program, while the control group did not receive this program. The instrument used was Nejati cognitive abilities questionnaire (2013) and the data were analyzed using analysis of covariance in SPSS, version 24. Results: Findings showed that there was a significant increase in the mean executive function scores of the experimental group post-intervention in comparison with the control group, and the memory-based cognitive rehabilitation program had a significant effect on the participants’ ’ executive functions (P<0. 001). Conclusion: The memory-based cognitive rehabilitation program improved executive functions in students with hearing impairment. Therefore, based on the findings of the present research, it can be suggested that beside other educational and rehabilitation methods for students with hearing impairment, applied memory-based cognitive rehabilitation be used, too.

Background and Aims: The ability to communicate through speech is one of the unique abilities of human beings. People who have lost their ability to speak for any reason cannot communicate effectively. The Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods have been proposed as a suitable solution to help these people. The aim of the present study was to investigate the level of awareness of the rehabilitation team at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences with regard to Augmentative and Alternative Communication services. Materials and Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, the awareness of 31 specialists of rehabilitation team working in hospitals and rehabilitation centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences was studied using a researcher-made questionnaire. The content validity of the questionnaire was 76. 31. To describe the data, SPSS software (version 22) was used. Results: The results showed that 38. 7 percent of respondents did not have any kind of familiarity with Augmentative and Alternative Communication or had little familiarity with these services. Only 6. 4% of respondents had so much familiarity with this term. The participants were most familiar with a simple communication system, including paper and pencil (80. 6%). Conclusion: According to the results, the specialists had limited familiarity with Augmentative And Alternative Communication services and the target community of these services; Therefore, these specialists need to be trained in this field, both theoretically and in practice.

Background and Aims: The purpose of the present study was to compare self-compassion, humor, and alexithymia between mothers of children with atherosclerosis and mothers of normal children in Ahvaz city. Materials and Methods: A causal-comparative study was conducted on the statistical population of all mothers of healthy children and all mothers with children with autism referring to the centers for the organization, treatment, and rehabilitation of stomach nerves in Ahvaz city during 2016-2017. The research sample was selected through convenience sampling method. Two groups of mothers with autistic children (n= 60) and normal mothers (n= 60) were selected. The instruments used were a Self-Compassion Inventory (SCS), Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), and Toronto Emotional Scale (TAS-20). ANOVA was used to test the hypotheses and the significance level was set at p≤ 0. 05. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between self-compassion and emotional negligence of mothers with autistic children and those with healthy children, but there was no difference between the two groups regarding humor. Conclusion: The findings can be important for psychological interventions for mothers of autistic children.

Background and Aims: Upper extremity movements and hands can alter or interfere with walking patterns, but they are usually ignored in gait analyses. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of upper extremity splinting on walking speed and cadence. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 healthy individuals (Mean± SD: 29. 56± 5. 34years, BMI: 24. 06± 3. 25 kg/cm2) were asked to walk in front of the Vicon motion analysis system at their usual speed and then at the same speed with the dominant and then non-dominant hand position on the splint. Then, using MATLAB software, data were extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics (Mean and SD), Shapirovik test (to check the normality of data distribution), and paired t-test to compare walking speed and cadence. Results: The results of the t-test showed a significant difference between the normal swing and dominant hand position in the splint as well as the natural swing and the non-dominant hand position in the splint in the moving average variable walking speed. However, in terms of cadence, despite the mean decrease, there was no significant difference between any of the conditions and patterns compared to the natural pattern. (p≤ 0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be suggested that sling should not be used to maintain normal walking speed in unnecessary cases in different patients, because these individuals may experience changes in walking patterns, imbalances, and falls due to increased walking speed.

Background and Aims: Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) have poor sensory motor function compared to healthy children. Poor motor performance in daily activities is not consistent with the child’ s age and intelligence, and is not due to medical condition. DCD is one of the most prominent impairments in the development of motor skills in preschool and elementary children. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of transcranial electrical stimulation and selected exercises on balance in children with developmental coordination disorder in different sensory conditions. Materials and Methods: An experimental study with pre– posttest design and control group was conducted on 20 children, 7 to 14 years old, who were randomly divided into intervention and control groups after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After examining the participants’ balance evaluated by Sensory Organizing Test of Computerized Dynamic Posturorghraphy apparatus in six different sensory modes, the intervention group underwent transcutaneous electrical stimulation and motor program for 8 sessions and 3 sessions per week, and the control group received mock electrical stimulation and motor program. Next, the post-test was performed to evaluate the balance performance between the two groups. Results: The results of the study showed that the two groups have significant differences in Normal Vision and Fixed Support (P = 0. 001), Absent Vision and Fixed Support (P = 0. 006), Sway-Referenced Vision and Fixed Support (P = 0. 023), condition Normal Vision and Sway-Referenced Support (P = 0. 007), and Sway-Referenced Vision and Sway-Referenced Support (P = 0. 021) conditions. Also, the two groups were not found to be significantly different in Absent Vision and Sway-Referenced Support (P = 0. 102) condition. Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, transcranial electrical stimulation can be a new method of pre-physical activity on the balance of children with developmental coordination disorder and can help improve balance in these children.

Background and Aims: Clinical disorder of coronary artery disease is mainly due to atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. The process of atherosclerosis is an inflammatory response to endothelial damage of the artery wall. Biomechanical factors and hemodynamic damages are the main causes of endothelial tissue damage. The spread of atherosclerosis can lead to destruction and sometimes loss of heart function. The purpose of the current study was to provide a systematic review of the studies conducted to investigate the effect of exercise rehabilitation on the coronary artery biomechanical variables of atherosclerotic patients. Materials and Methods: In the present study, after a thorough search among relevant articles published in reliable databases such as Science Direct, Elsevier, PubMed, Springer, SID and Magiran published between 1998-2018 in two English and Persian languages using the terms exercise rehabilitation, biomechanics, atherosclerosis, and coronary arteries, a total of 38 articles with direct relevance to the subject under the study were selected for the analysis. Results: A review of the findings in these studies suggests that, due to the occurrence of atherosclerosis, the structure of vascular wall and the nature of its constituent parts become hard and thick. In addition, with the development of atherosclerosis, blood flow changes from a laminar state to turbulent one. Mechanical forces on the vascular wall, including shearing stresses of blood flow on the lumen of vessel and the peripheral stresses due to blood pressure, with the advancement of atherosclerotic lesions, change the pattern and add to the severity of disease. Studies have shown that the effects of exercise rehabilitation on atherosclerotic patients include morphological changes that lead to improved blood flow. Increased shear stress levels due to exercise result in decreased vascular resistance and increased tissue perfusion, reduced arterial stiffness, increased vasodilation capacity, increased artery lumen diameter, increased proliferation of atherosclerotic plaque, and improved angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. Exercise rehabilitation reduces disability, reduces the need for interventional procedures, improves cardiovascular risk factors profile, improves the new myocardial vessels formation, reduces mortality, and improves quality of life. In addition, combined exercises (aerobic-resistance) are also superior to aerobic exercises or resistance exercises alone. Conclusion: According to the results, exercise rehabilitation, while preventing the development of atherosclerosis and protecting against major cardiovascular events, improves all coronary artery biomechanical variables and patients are in a relatively stable condition. In addition, all studies support that point that the exercises should be performed regularly and preferably during the week with high moderate intensity and in combination.

Background and Aims: One of the treatment methods for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome is kinesio tape. Since there have not been any systematic review on this issue, the present systematic review was conducted to investigate the effects of kinesio tape in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Materials and Methods: Using several keywords, including Carpal tunnel syndrome, Median nerve, Kinesio tape, and Physiotherapy, a literature search was performed for the period between 2000-2018, in Google scholar, Pubmed, PEDro, Science Direct, Springer, Ovid, ProQuest, Cochrane library, and Scopus databases. Results: Among the articles found, only those using kinesio tape for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome were included in the study. Out of 50 articles, only 11 were included in the study and other studies were excluded. Conclusion: All the papers studied showed pain relief, increased grip and pinch strength, decreased median nerve cross sectional area, reduced distal latency, increased median nerve speed, and improvement in the questionnaires. Studies that used kinesio tape along with other physiotherapy treatments indicated an increased effect on the recovery of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, especially in the long term.

Background and Aims: Severe psychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders and schizophrenia, are caused due to impairment of physiological, psychosocial, and genetic functions. These disorders affect the functional performance of these people. Functional performance is called the ability of individuals to carry out daily activities and to have efficiency in their fields of work, leisure, and selfcare, as well as having the satisfaction of doing these activities. The existence of functional performance contributes to the participation, well-being, and independence of these individuals. Therefore, evaluating functional performance and familiarity with the most widely used tools and appropriate psychometric properties in this field is essential for the provision of services. Materials and Methods: In the current study, functional performance was first defined and described in severe psychiatric patients. After examining existing books in the field of occupational therapy of mental health, and google scholar, OT seeker, PubMed, and ProQuest databases, in the first step, identifying the most commonly used tests, in the second step, we examined the psychometric properties of the tests on the database and the test manual. Results: Our investigation resulted in identifying 316 tests. According to entry and exit criteria, including functional performance measurement, the use of standardized methods and training, adult psychiatric disorder, clinical application, showing treatment efficacy, measurements individual profile, and appropriate psychometric properties, six tests, namely OPHI, COPM, ACLS, KELS, BaFPE, and AMPS were studied. Conclusion: According to the results, considering the importance of functional performance in their ability to participate, well-being, and independence, familiarity with the functional performance evaluation tools identified in this study can be an important step in screening, providing health care, and demonstrating the effectiveness of treatment for these individuals. Also, in order to use these tests in our country, it is recommended that the tests which have not been standardized be investigated.

Background and Aims: Morphological awareness is one of the dimensions of metalinguistic awareness and is defined as the ability to manipulate morphemes that make up the word and knowledge of the rules of word formation. Previous studies have shown that morphological awareness contributes to literacy achievement. The purpose of the present study was to review the literature available in the context of morphological awareness and its relevance to the accuracy and comprehension of reading in different languages. Materials and Methods: Studies conducted between 1995 and 2017 and published in the Springer, Google scholar, ASHA, Science Direct, PubMed international databases as well as domestic dissertations and journals in Magiran and SID databases were searched. Descriptive-analytic studies that could answer the research question were included in the study. The search was performed using the following keywords: morphological awareness, reading ability, reading accuracy, reading comprehension, and educational achievement. The results of 18 articles are presented in the current review study. Conclusion: The results showed that children with better scores in the morphological awareness test show better results in reading comprehension. In languages such as English, morphological awareness helps to distinguish between words and thus help reading accuracy, but not in Greek. It seems that the relationship between morphological awareness and reading accuracy is different between different languages, according to language properties such as transparency.