Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Year:2019 | Volume:8 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:29

Background and Aims: One of the main characteristics of children with DCD is poor postural control. Compared with their peers, these children are less capable of controlling their balance during variable circumstances due to the fact that they respond more slowly to balance disturbances. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of 12 sessions of vestibular stimulation exercises on the balance of performance in children with developmental coordination disorder. Materials and Methods: In the current experimental study with pretest, posttest design, 30 children with DCD were randomly divided into two groups of experiment and control. The modified strok test and walking heel to toe test were used to assess dynamic and static balance. Experimental protocol included vestibular stimulation exercises for 12 sessions, 3 sessions a week, with each session lasting for 45 minutes. Results: The experimental and control groups were significantly different in posttest in terms of dynamic and static balance in that the average balance scores in experimental group were better than those of the control group. Conclusion: According to the results, vestibular stimulation exercises interventions for 12 sessions could be effective to improve dynamic and static balance in individuals with developmental coordination disorders.

Background and Aims: One of the most important features of humans is the existence of excellent cortex functions. Psychologists and researchers in the field of neuroscience have long sought to investigate the cognitive functions of brain. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate changes in cognitive processes during and after one session of specific futsal intermittent endurance test based on transient hypofrontality thesis. Materials and Methods: The current study was a field study following a semi experimental design. The statistical population consisted of young futsal players in Quchan city. A total of 12 male beginner futsal players (age: 17. 16± . 78 years old, height: 171± 4. 19 cm, and weight: 63. 38± 6. 64 kg) participated in the study. Independent variables were intensity of exercise and time periods (intra-group factor) included before, during, and 1 and 15 minutes after stopping one session of intermittent endurance activity. The dependent variable included the mean of interference scores of word and color stimulus via the stroop test software. The results were analyzed using repeated measures of ANOVA and SPSS (version 20) software. Results: The results showed that there were significant differences in cognitive interference by stroop test between the time before the start of the test and cognitive function of the fatigue time due to the intermittent endurance test as well as the cognitive function of 1 and 15 minutes of rest after the end of the test and cognitive function due to fatigue (P = 0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that transient hypofrontality during physical activity of the futsal intermittent endurance occurs at high intensities. Therefore, it is recommended that futsal coaches use specific decision-making and information processing training to increase their cognitive and psychological capacities in their exercises.

Background and Aims: The reduction of balance and motion range in elderly people are the main causes of their falling and its consequences like physical injuries. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of Tai Chi training on balance and ankle range of motion in elderly women. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 elderly women aged 55-65 years were selected using purposive sampling of female volunteers in Bam. Participants were randomly divided into experimental (n=15, age: 57. 4 ± 2. 8 (y), weight: 74. 4 ± 8. 1(kg), height: 154. 2 ± 4. 6 (cm)) and control (n=15, age: 59. 2 ± 3. 2 (y), weight: 72. 4 ± 10. 3 (kg), height: 156. 2 ± 5. 8 (cm)) groups. The study involved a training program for eight weeks, three times per week in experimental group, while the control group did not participate in any organized regular physical exercise. The ankle range of motion was measured using goniometer and balance was measured using Berg Balance test before and after training protocol in two groups. Data were analyzed running Multivariate covariance and alpha level was set at 0. 05. Results: The results of the study showed that there is a significant difference between the mean scores of balance and plantar flexion range of motion for the right foot, dorsi flexion range of motion for the left foot, and inversion and eversion ranges of motion for the left and right feet of the participants according to group membership (P<0. 05) Conclusion: Tai Chi training can improve the balance and ankle range of motion in elderly women. These findings can help design training programs for older adults. Tai chi training is also effective for improving function and reducing the potential risk of falling and its complications in elder women.

Background and Aims: The most common mechanism of anterior cruciate ligament injury in basketball is non-contact and dynamic knee valgus is the key risk factor of these injuries. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of corrective exercise program on strength, ROM, and performance in basketball players with dynamic knee valgus. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 basketball players (age: 20. 8± 1. 7 years, weight: 74. 0± 5. 2 kg, height: 183. 9± 5. 0 cm) with dynamic knee valgus participated in the current study and were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n=16) and control (n=16). Assessment included ROM (dorsiflexion, abduction, and external rotation of the hip), strength (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, abduction, and external rotation of the hip), and performance (balance and hop test) in dominant leg. Results: Data analysis via ANCOVA showed that the exercise groups experienced significant reduction (P<0/01) in dynamic knee valgus (6/51 degree) during drop-jump task, significant improvement (P<0/01) in ROM (3/43 degree dorsiflexion with the knee flexion, 2/25 degree dorsiflexion with the knee extension, 2/38 degree abduction, and 1/75 degree external rotation of the hip), strength (2/32 kg dorsiflexion, 4/87 kg plantarflexion, 1/82 kg abduction and 1/58 kg external rotation of the hip), balance (3/33 cm), and hop tests (13/25 cm). Conclusion: It can be concluded that participation in this corrective exercises program can lead to significant improvement in strength and ROM distal and proximal knee joint and performance, and it seems that it can help for prevention of lower extremity injuries caused by dynamic knee valgus during functional activity.

Background and Aims: Footwears are routinely used with the belief that they have a direct effect on the knee. Excessive pronation of the subtalar joint with associated internal rotation of the tibia relative to the femur has been postulated to be a causative factor of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Motion control shoes aim to reduce excessive rearfoot motion and lead to reduction of internal rotation of tibia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of motion control shoes on the three dimensional lower limb joint moments during running in patellofemoral pain syndrome females. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 females with PFPS performed 5 running trials at 3 ± 0. 2 m/s speed. Two shoes were tested: the Nike free 5 shoe (control)، and the Asics GEL-Kayano 21 (motion control). Joint moments calculation was carried out using invers dynamic equations. Also, betweencondition comparisons were assessed running paired T-test (P≤ 0. 05). Results: A motion control shoe significantly reduced peak ankle adductor moment (p=0. 038)، increased external rotator (p=0. 001), and decreased abductor knee joint moments (p=0. 024). In the hip joint، adductor moment was decreased (p=0. 005) and the external rotator moment was increased (p=0. 001) using motion control shoe. No differences were observed in sagittal plane lower limb joint moments between the two shoes. Conclusion: The results of our study indicated that a motion control shoe can control the subtalar joint pronation by decreasing the amount of adductor moment and increasing peak of the inversion angle during running. The effectiveness of these shoes in frontal and horizontal planes is high as they seem to control the rearfoot movement in these planes. These results indicate that the motion control shoes as an efficient and nonsurgical prevention must be considered for PFPS.

Background and Aims: A review of the literature reveals an enormous number of studies focused on the relationship between the frontal plane deviations and the plantar pressure pattern. However, no study was found on the relationship between the sagittal plane deviations and the plantar pressure pattern. The current study aimed to find out if there is any relationship between the lumbar curvature changes in sagittal plane and the foot pressure pattern in individuals with a normal BMI. Materials and Methods: A total of 64 university female students, aged 21. 8± 1. 6 years, with an average BMI of 21. 8± 1. 8, with different lumbar lordosis angles were recruited in the current descriptional-analytical study. The lumbar lordosis angle was measured using a flexible ruler and the plantar pressure pattern was studied making use of a Zebris platform (Zebris, Germany). The data was analyzed running ANOVA and paired t-tests (α =0. 05). Results: No significant relationship was found between the lumbar lordosis angle and the plantar pressure pattern in these participants (p>0. 05). Conclusion: The results of our study revealed that a normal plantar pressure pattern exists in individuals with different lumbar lordosis angles. Therefore, more studies are needed while prescribing therapeutic exercises to patients with normal BMI and low or high lumbar angles.

Background and Aims: Resistance Training (RT) is very various and diverse. Although RT with weights has positive influence on antioxidant status, the effect of elastic resistance training (ERT) on the antioxidant and oxidative stress status has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to compare effects of traditional Resistance training (TRT) and ERT on oxidative stress and antioxidant in untrained men. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 untrained male students in Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch, with no experience in RT, voluntarily participated in the present study in 2016 and randomly assigned into ERT (n=10), TRT (n=10), and control (n=10) groups. Blood samples were obtained prior to the study, and was repeated 72 hr after the last training session. Then, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) as antioxidant indices, and Malondialdehyde (MDA), as oxidative stress index, were measured in the plasma. Results: SOD activity significantly increased in TRT compared with control group (p=0. 016), while GPX significantly increased in ERT compared with control group (p=0. 014). Also, compared with control group, MDA significantly decreased in ERT after training (p=0. 045). Moreover, TAC did not change significantly (p˃ 0. 05). However, we did not found a significant difference in variables mentioned between ERT and TRT (p˃ 0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results, two traditional and elastic resistance training protocols can affect oxidative stress and antioxidant indices selectively. However, none of them has advantages over the other. Therefore, it is recommended that considering the conditions and facilities, elastic and traditional resistance training be used for improving antioxidant status.

Background and Aims: Among the theoretical approaches to stuttering, there is a general agreement that developmental stuttering is attributed to several factors related to speech, including emotional regulation. Accordingly, different theorists point to the importance of the role of negative attitudes toward speech and speech abilities in the onset, occurrence, and developmet of stuttering. Considering that the culture of a group can influence the attitude to speech, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the communicative attitude of 8-15 year-old students who stutter (SWS) in Babol city and studying the effect of age and sex on their attitude scores. Materials and Methods: The current descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 261 individuals. The participants were students with stuttering who were selected via multi-stage sampling from among students in Babol city. First, the teachers introduced SWS and then their nonfluency frequency analysis was carried out. After comfirmation of stutter detection, communicative attitudes test (CAT) was performed on each participant and the attitude score of each person was obtained. Results: The mean of attitude score of SWS girls and boys were 22. 5± 7. 46 and 22. 71± 7. 98, respectively. Attitude score of SWS had no significant difference between the two sexes and between eight age groups (p>0. 05). Regarding the simultaneous effect of these two variables on attitude scores, there was a significant difference in the attitude score of male and female students in each eight age group (p=0. 03). Conclusion: According to the results, although the mean score of attitude score in SWS is in the middle class, attention to the aspect of communicative attitude in assessing, treatming, and planning of SWS, especially in 12-year-old students, is important and necessary.

Background and Aims: Based on the principle of individual differences and genetic abnormalities, there are always people with significantly different physical and mental differences compared with normal people. Some of these people are mentally retarded teens who are physiologically and motorically disadvantaged. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of Spark exercises on walking parameters and pulmonary capacity of mentally retarded boys. Materials and Methods: The research was semi-experimental and the results are considered as applied. The statistical population of the study consisted of 30 mentally retarded students of Rahmat School in Uromia selected via available sampling, based on inclusion criteria, with an average age of 15. 7 ± 1. 4 and randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups (15 each). The experimental group participated in the SPARK exercises for 12 weeks after the pre-test. At the end of the training, all measurements of the variables were repeated with the same initial conditions. Independent and independent t tests were run to analyze the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 22. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between mean walking width variation, step length variations, two step length changes, and walking speed of experimental group and those of the control group (P> 0. 05). The results also showed that there is no significant difference between the mean changes in foot deviation angle, FVC, FEV1, and FVC/FEV1 ratio betwen experimental and control groups Conclusion: It seems that these exercises are suitable for improving the walking parameters of mentally retarded students, but in order to improve the lung capacity of boys with mental retardation, more intense exercises are required.

Background and Aims: Activity of knee joint muscles can influence the magnitude of ground reaction forces during jump-landing tasks. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between electromyography activity of the knee joint muscles and ground reaction forces during single-leg drop landing task. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 healthy male athletes (mean ± standard deviation, age 25. 4± 4. 45 years) participated in the present correlational study. Activity of knee joint muscles, including quadriceps, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius, at pre and post landing phases were analyzed and their relationships with ground reaction forces (vertical, anterior-posterior, and medial-lateral) were assessed during single leg vertical drop landing task. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for data analysis. Results: The results demonstrated significant negative correlation between lateral gastrocnemius muscle activity and all components of ground reaction forces (P= 0. 001). Also, there was a significant positive correlation between medial gastrocnemius activity and all components of ground reaction forces at pre landing phase and also a significant negative correlation with vertical and anteriorposterior component at post landing phase (P=0. 001). Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between lateral hamstring activity and anterior-posterior ground reaction force at postcontact phase (P=0. 001). Conclusion: It seems that gastrocnemius (medial and lateral) and lateral hamstring muscles play important roles in adjusting ground reaction force components during single leg vertical drop landing task. According to the results of the current study, it is suggested that rehabilitation specialists focus especially on activation exercises for gastrocnemius (medial and lateral) and lateral hamstring muscles in order to prevent anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Background and Aims: Self-instruction is an appropriate intervnention for children, but its effectiveness on adolescents and problems such as ADHD and procrastration among them has not attracted due attention. The aim of the present study was to investigate effectiveness of selfinstruction on ADHD symptoms and academic procrastination of ADHD adolescents. Materials and Methods: To this aim, in a pretest-posttest with control group quasi-experimental design, 16 adolescents with ADHD, among clients of psychiatric and psychological service centers of Tabriz City and with regard to inclusion criteria, were selected and randomly allocated into two groups of experiment or control (eight individuals in each group). Child Symptom Index (CSI-4) and Savari’ s Academic Procrastination Scale were completed before interventions by all participants and then participants of experiment group received a 10-session individual self-instruction training, while control group received no intervention. After intervention, the insruments were completed by the participants once more. Results: Covaraince analysis results showed that self-instruction effect is significant on both attention deficit and hyperactivity symptoms resuling in the reduction of these symptoms. Moreover, findings on procrastration showed that participants' scores in deliberate procrastination, physical-mental causing procrastination, and procrastination causing without programming and also total score of procrastination decreased. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that self-instruction training is an effective and appropriate intervention for hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms and for the reduction of procrastination among adolescents.

Background and Aim: The core stability exercises, as a new training method, have a great influence on the muscles of the abdominal and lumbar regions, related to the childhood motor development. In the present study, the effect of core stability exercise on the gross motor skills among 8-year-old girls with delayed motor development was studied. Materials and Methods: A semi-experimental study with pre-test-post-test design was conducted on 20 female students (mean 8. 05± 0. 02), selected based on the test of gross motor development scores measured via Ulrich test, and randomly assigned to experimental (n= 10) and control (n= 10) groups. The experimental group performed core stability exercises for eight weeks (three sessions of 45 minutes per week), and the control group did not receive any training program. After the training sessions, both groups performed the test of gross motor development and the data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance at 95% confidence level. Results: The results showed a significant improvement in locomotor skills subscale of experimental group in the post-test (18. 90± 2. 42) compared to the pretest scores (13. 50± 0. 97) and the control group post-test scores (14. 30± 1. 06). The same results were obtained for object control skills subscale and motor quotient score, so the object control skills in experimental group in the post-test (18. 48± 1. 84) improved significantly compared to the pretest (13. 10± 1. 20) and it was significantly higher than the level of skills in the control group in the post-test (14. 30 ± 1. 25). Also, there was a significant improvement in motor quotient score of the experimental group in the post-test (37. 20± 2. 74) compared to the pretest (26. 66 ± 1. 49), and it was significantly better than the level of motor quotient of the control group in the post-test (28. 60± 1. 83). Conclusion: Based on the evidence, play-based core stability exercises can improve gross motor skills in eight-year-old girls with delay motor development.

Background and Aim: Pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD) is an ectatic disorder in the corneal periphery and it is very important to detect PMD before corneal refractive surgery. The present study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of Belin/Ambró sio Enhanced Ectasia Display for the detection of PMD. Materials and Methods: A total of 35 individuals with a diagnosis of PMD were enrolled in the current case series study. In order to match the control and study group, when the cases with PMD enrolled in the study, healthy participants with the same age and gender were selected from the normal population. Therefore, 35 eyes of 35 healthy individuals were recruited in the study, too. All the participants were evaluated using a Pentacam (Oculus, Optikgerä te GmbH), and then 15 indices from Belin/Ambró sio Enhanced Ectasia Display were included in the analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Belin/Ambró sio Enhanced Ectasia Display parameters. Results: Comparative data for the outcomes of Belin/Ambró sio Enhanced Ectasia Display in both groups showed significant differences between PMD and normal groups (P < 0. 05). Among the different parameters of Belin/Ambró sio Enhanced Ectasia Display, front elevation in thinnest point, deviation of back enhanced elevation, and maximum Ambró sio Related Thickness had the highest sensitivity, specificity, and area under curves [(97. 14%, 100. 0%, 0. 999), (91. 4%, 87. 9%, 0. 998), (97. 14%, 96. 97%, 0. 996), respectively]; however, pachymetric progression index average was the relatively poor parameter (54. 29%, 90. 91%, 0. 663, respectively). Conclusion: According to the results, the Belin/Ambró sio Enhanced Ectasia Display is useful for the detection of pellucid marginal corneal degeneration. Some indices showed very high sensitivity and specificity; however, the pachymetric progression index average has limitation in the detection of pellucid marginal corneal degeneration.

Background and Aims: Nowadays, appearance of the digital charts and increase of its abilities in comparison with the print charts has resulted in the more usage of these charts in optometric clinics. But, in measuring of the accommodation amplitude, the print chart has not been replaced by the digital charts yet. Due to the abilities of digital charts, compared with print charts, a question should be investigated whether the print charts can be replaced by the digital charts for measuring the accommodation amplitude. Materials and Methods: In the current study, eye accommodation amplitudes of 63 patients in the age of 15-35 years were measured using push up method and five different chart optotypes. For this purpose, for each optotype, first a print chart and then the digital chart installed on the IPhone 7 Plus to measure the accommodation amplitude were used. To analyze the data, using SPSS (version 24), descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, variance, and standard error of measures were calculated. Also, T-test was run. Results: The results showed that the difference between the mean of the accommodation amplitude measured by digital chart and that of print chart is about 4. 7% in 20/20 optotype. This difference increased to 5. 5% in 20/50 optotype. The results of the T-test analysis showed that there is a meaningful difference between the accommodation amplitude measured by the two digital and print charts. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the accommodation amplitudes measured by digital chart and print chart do not seem to be equal in general, which can be due to the environment light intensity, the chart contrast, the image refreshing speed, and/or other reasons.

Background and Aims: Nowadays, suspended exercises have been considered as an effective way to improve core stability in healthy individuals and those with musculoskeletal disorders. However, the activity of different core muscles while performing suspended exercises has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to compare electromyographic activity of selected core muscles while performing selected core stability exercises using TRX. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 healthy physically active female students participated in the current study. Each participant performed three repetitions of each of bridge, plank, and lunge exercises with the feet placed inside the TRX foot straps. Simultaneously, surface electromyographic data was collected on rectus abdominis, external oblique, erector spine lumbalis, and superficial lumbar multifidus. Resulting row data was amplitude normalized and the root mean square was then determined. Repeatedmeasure analysis of variance was used to determine any differences across the three exercises on a test group (p=0. 05). Results: Different levels of muscle activation were observed during the three different exercises. Rectus abdominis activation was the greatest during plank exercise, while superficial lumbar multifidus activity peaked during feet suspended lunge and bridging. Conclusion: Considering the levels of activity of all investigated muscles, plank seems to have the highest and lunge the least impact on improving the stability of core region.

Background and Aims: The way parents communicate with children is the strongest factor affecting family interactive patterns. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of positive parenting program on family function in parents having children with intellectual disability. Materials and Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study, 30 parents having children with intellectual disability from Exceptional School (Omid-e Nejat boys school, Besharat mixd school, and Mehvarzan girls school) in Semnan city, Iran, were selected through convenience sampling method. They were randomly assigned to two group of experimental and control group (15 each). The experimental group participated in an eight-session positive parenting program (one meeting per week and each session for one and a half hours). The control group recieved no training. The participants completed Measure of Family functioning (FAD) prior and after the training. Univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA & MANCOVA) were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that positive parenting education was effective on family function and its components (problem solving, communication, roles, emotional responsiveness, emotional attachment, and general family function). However, in the control behavior control index, the effectiveness of educational intervention was not significant (p>0. 05). Conclusion: The results showed that positive parenting methods training is effective on family function in parents having children with intellectual disability.

Background and Aims: Sensory processing training program is becoming a more practical method to improve braille writing skill of blind students and using this program has been associated with desirable outcomes. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effectiveness of sensory processing training on braille writing skill of blind students. Materials and Methods: The present research was a single-subject study with base line, intervention, and follow up design. The study population included second grade blind students in Isfahan, Iran. Participants were selected using convenient sampling method. Five blind students were included in the study. The sample group received sensory processing training for 10 sessions (three sessions weekly; each lasting for 45 minutes). The instrument used in the present research was braille writing skills inventory. The obtained data were analyzed using visual analysis. Results: The results showed that during the visual analysis of data charts and based on the descriptive statistics, intervention has been effective in all five participants; respectively with percentage of nonoverlapping data 100 for participants 1, 2, 4, and 5 and 83. 33 for participants 3. Moreover, the mean scores for braille writing errors in participants 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 decreased from 63. 33, 63. 41, 61. 43, 64. 10, and 63. 14 to 48. 40, 47. 96, 49. 50, 48. 63, and 48. 86, respectively. Conclusion: According to the findings of the present research, it is suggested that beside other educational and rehabilitation methods for blind children, sensory processing training program be applied, too.

Background and Aims: The Frequency Domain analysis of Ground reaction forces is one of the mechanical parameters that play a significant role in the vulnerability of people while walking and running. The purpose of the present study was to compare the frequency domain analysis of ground reaction forces in deaf and healthy control people during running. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out on 30 males who were equally divided into a healthy group and a group with hearing loss problems (Deaf group). Peak plantar pressure variables in deaf individuals and healthy controls were recorded using a foot scan system (sample rate: 300 Hz). Results: The results showed that the frequency content with the number of essential harmonies in the Toe foot (p= 0. 012) and foot finger 2 to 5 (p=0/035) in deaf were smaller than those of the healthy controls. Also, the frequency content with power 99. 5% in the fourth metatarsal (P=0. 038) and fifth metatarsal (P=0. 019) in deaf were greater than those of the healthy controls. Moreover, stance time during running in deaf group was more than that of the healthy control group (p=0. 032). Conclusion: Stance time during running in deaf group was more than that of the healthy control group, which has the potential for injury in these people.

Background and Aims: The somatosensory system is one of the most important sensory sources involved in postural control. The purpose of the present study was to compare function of the somatosensory system in postural control of blind athletes compared to blind and the sighted nonathletes. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 men were purposefully selected and categorized into three groups of blind athletes of Goalball B1 class (n=10), absolute blind non-athletes (n=10), and the sighted non-athletes (n=10). In vitro, body sensory information was predominant in posture control, and then participant's performance of the posture control system was evaluated based on the center of gravity displacement in the internal-external, anterior-posterior direction, and total using the balance measurement instrument Biodex. The comparison of variables among the groups was done using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests at a significance level of P<0. 05 in SPSS software, version 22. Results: The results of Kruskal Wallis test indicated that when the visual information is removed and the head is in the hyperactivity state, the differences in the center of gravity displacement in the internal-external direction (PML=0. 006) and total (PTotal=0. 041) among the three groups of the blind athletes, the blind non-athletes, and the sighted non-athletes were observed to be significant. According to the results of Uhnu-Whitney test, the center of gravity displacement in the internalexternal direction and total in the blind athletes group was significantly less than that of the two blind non-athletes (PML=0. 011, PTotal=0. 049) and the sighted non-athletes (PML=0. 003, PTotal=0. 025) groups. Conclusion: In situations where the somatosensory system data is predominant, the postural control of Goalball's athletes was better than that of the blind non-athletes and even the sighted non-athletes. It seems that the activities of sport or the nature of the Goalball are effective in improving the somatosensory and postural control.

Background and Aims: One of the most common postural abnormalities is hyperkyphosis chest with its increase associated with an increase in forward head. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate selected muscles electromyography activity in kyphosis corrective exercises with and without head retraction. Materials and Methods: In the current study, a sample of 15 non-athletic male students (18-25 years) with hyper-kyphosis higher than 42 degrees were selected. The activity of electromyographic with surface electrodes of Sternocleidomastoid muscles, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and rhomboid in Cobra, W, and Y motions with and without head retraction were recorded using wireless EMG (16 channels, Bayamed Company). For intra-group comparison of muscle activity in the two states, t-test was performed with a significance level of 95% (α =0. 05). Results: The results showed that the activity of upper trapezius muscle and mid trapezius (p <0. 05) in y motion with and without head retruction was statistically significant, but no significant difference was found in the activities of the other two muscles. Also, in the movement of W with and without retruction, the levels of activity of all four muscles were statistically significant (p <0. 05). In Cobra movement, there was a significant difference in the levels of activity of upper trapezius muscles and Sternocleidomastoid between the two states with and without retruction of the head, but no significant difference was found in the activities of the other two muscles. Conclusion: According to the results, a decrease in the upper trapezius activity and an increase in the mid trapezoid activity in y motion with head retraction were observed. It was also shown that in the movement of W with head retraction, except for the Romboid muscle, the activities of the other three muscles increased. In cobra movement, the activities of upper trapezius muscle and Sternocleidoastoid in head retraction were more than those without head retraction. The results also indicate that the position of the head has a different effect on the muscles electromyography in kyphosis corrective exercises. Therefore, it is recommended that application of these moves to treat kyphosis be performed with caution. All in all, more information is necessary to complete our knowledge in this regard.

Background and Aims: One of the methods to prevent head injuries is to diagnose and identify the mechanism of injury in the actual condition the head is blown. The objective of the present study was to analyze the biomechanical parameters of head injury in taekwondo in the simulated roundhouse kick impact. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 male elite taekwondo athletes with a mean age of 27± 1. 04 years participated in the current study. To measure the mechanism of head injury, researcher used a device composed of artificial neck and head, equipped with force and acceleration sensors and a mechanical arm for impact to head, as well as a researcher-made package of computer and recorder to estimate, monitor, and save the data. The data were fed into MATLAB program. Data analysis was carried out using one-sample t-test with p. value set at 0. 05. Results: The results showed that the linear acceleration obtained from the roundhouse kick was lower than that of the head injury threshold in investigating the mechanisms of head injury in taekwondo, while the rotational acceleration and the impact force produced were higher than those of the head injury threshold. Conclusion: According to the results, the factor of head injury is different in each sport. Thus, it is very important to identify the dynamic parameters related to head injury and its mechanism of occurrence clinically. The present study showed clearly that impact force and rotational acceleration are the main causes of head injury in taekwondo. So, with the diagnosis of the main injury factor and its parameters, the severity of injury and its associated risk factors were predicted and related strategies were implemented for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Background and Aims: Todays learning disorders are the most important causes of poor academic performance and every year many students find it difficult to learn content of some of the textbooks, especially mathematics. The main aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of the selected motor program on working memory, attention, and motor skills of female students with math learning disorders. Materials and Methods: In the current study, pre-test and post-test design was used as a semiexperimental study and 30 female students with math learning disorder were selected as random sampling method from the statistical society that included all 8-12 year-old girls with learning disorders from primary school in the city of Estahban who were divided into two groups of intervention group and control (15 each). The instruments used were a researcher-made questionnaire, Raven’ s IQ test, KMat math test, Wechsler numerical memory scale (Digit Span), Continuous Performance Test (CPT), and Bruninks-Oseretsky Motor proficiency test. The selected motor program (SPARC), which includes activities for reinforcement, play, and exercise for children, was conducted for 24 sessions (Eight weeks, three sessions per week). The normality of collected data was first studied using Shapiro-wilk test and to study the effect of independent variables on dependent variables, the analysis of multivariate variance was used. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference between experimental and control groups among students with math learning disorder in working memory, attention, and motor skills (P<0. 001). This means that working memory, attention, and motor skills in the experimental group improved after the selected motor program. Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that the chosen motor program (SPARC) can improve the working memory, attention, and motor skills in children with math learning disorders. It is recommended that therapists, along with other therapeutic interventions, use these exercises for children with learning disabilities.

Background and Aims: Scoliosis is the most common type of spinal abnormalities, which, in addition to trunk deformity, can lead to mental disorders. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of Pilates corrective exercises of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in female students with non-structural scoliosis. Materials and Methods: A semi-experimental pre-test and post-test design study was carried out on 11 women with non-structural scoliosis with a lateral curvature in thoracic and thoraco-lumbar and average of cobb angle more than 10 degrees. The participants in the experimental group were 29± 3/37 years old, 161/72± 5/32 cm, and 57/61± 3/81 kg, who were selected purposefully. Body Dysmorphic Metacognition was assessed using B. D. M Questionnaire (BDMQ) and degree of scoliosis was evaluated using photogrammetry method before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential (T-test) statistics (p<0. 05). Results: The results of the present study showed that the eight-weeks of Pilates correction exercises did not result in significant difference in body dysmorphic metacognition scores of women with nonstructural scoliosis (p=0. 22, 95%CI=-9. 65-2. 56). Conclusion: According to the results obtained, Pilates corrective exercises do not significantly decrease body dysmorphic metacognition scores in women's students with non-structural scoliosis. This may be one of the reasons of the low degree of and severity of scoliosis abnormality in participants.

Background and Aims: Exercise is psychologically and physiologically beneficial for health. However, some people may overdo it regardless of their degree of injury, which has led the researchers to belive that in some cases, exercise can be harmful and become an addictive process. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between body image concern as well as dysfunctional attitudes and prediction of exercise addiction among bodybuilders in the city of Khoy. Materials and Methods: In the present cross-sectional descriptive study, using Morgan table, 234 bodybuilder athletes (117 males; 20± 3. 2 yrs old and 117 females; 20± 2. 8 yrs old) were randomly selected out of the first pool of 600 in Khoy city. Data was obtained using Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-26), and Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI). Reliability of the questionnaires were obtained to be 0. 87, 0. 92, and 0. 84, respectively. Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient as well as multiple linear regression. Results: The results showed that there was a significant correlation between exercise addiction and body image concern as well as dysfunctional attitudes in bodybuilders (p<0. 01). Also, the components of body image concern (dissatisfaction and shame regarding one’ s appearance, and checking and camouflaging of a perceived defect) and dysfunctional attitudes (success-perfectionism, and the need for satisfying others) could favorably predict the exercise addiction in bodybuilders. Conclusion: Concerns and false image regarding the body image along with dysfunctional attitudes towards sport activities are associated with increased addiction to exercise, and paying attention to these psychological variables and targeting them in interventional and educational programs can be useful in preventing exercise addiction in bodybuilders.

Background and Aims: There is little information on the double corrected consonant-vowel responses score in dichotic consonant-vowel test (DCV) and its nature is not entirely known. The only concept known is that it seems to be associated with auditory attention and concentration. Since P300 wave is one of the event-related potentials with attention as well as concentration involved in its formation, the present study was carried out to investigate the relationship between double corrected consonant-vowel responses score and the amplitude and latency of P300. Materials and Methods: In the current non-interventional cross-sectional study, consonant-vowel dichotic test was performed to check double corrected consonant-vowel responses score and P300 auditory responses using odd-ball stimulation method and two tone burst stimuli on 37 participants with normal hearing. The participants were 18 to 30 year-old individuals (mean 21. 46 years). To verify their right handedness, Edinburgh scale was used. The results were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient in SPSS (v. 16). Results: Significant positive correlation was observed between double corrected consonant-vowel responses score in DCV test and P300 amplitude in both electrode positions of Cz and Fz (P <0/01). Also, double corrected consonant-vowel responses score and P300 latency were observed to be significantly and positively correlated at Cz electrode position (P<0/05). . However, there was no significant correlation between double corrected consonant-vowel responses score and P300 latency in Fz electrode position, which may be due to the Fz electrode position away from the source of the P300 wave. Conclusion: Since the P300 amplitude is associated with attention and P300 latency is associated with information processing speed, it seems that double corrected consonant-vowel responses score is associated with attention and information processing speed. So, audiologists must consider the individual’ s attention when interpreting the results.

Background and Aims: Working memory as a cognitive performance is responsible for keeping transient information and manipulating and using them in thinking process. Working memory, like other cognitive abilities, can be impaired due to various factors such as diseases, psychological disorders, and aging. Therefore, it is very important to find ways to compensate these weaknesses. Transcranial direct current stimulation, among the most recent proposed methods, seems to be a promising method. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on working memory in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: Literature was searched for the studies investigating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on working memory in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Knowledge databases from among the papers published between 2000-2018 using the following keywords: "Working memory", "Healthy people", "Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex", and "Transcranial direct current stimulation". Out of the 70 papers obtained, 36 articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among those articles, 14 were specifically related to the subject of the present research and thus were further examined. Results: The results reported in most of the studies indicated that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation can significantly improve the performance of working memory. Also, the electrical stimulation, together with cognitive tasks, is more effective as compared with single electrical stimulation. Conclusion: Transcranial direct current stimulation can improve cognitive performances, especially working memory in healthy people, by modulating the electrical activities in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. However, further studies are required, especially on the elderly population whose cognitive abilities are diminished with age.

Background and Aims: One of the most commonly used human movements that plays an essential part of many daily activities and competitive or group sports is gait. Gait initiation is the first step after changing from static to dynamic status of walking and gait termination is the last step before changing from dynamic to static status. By accepting the effect of the properties of floor coverings, people's age, diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders on biomechanical parameters of human's movement, it seems that not only the pattern of muscular activity and the biomechanical parameters of gait initiation and gait termination are different from the routine gait, but these variables are influenced by individual's conditions and various surfaces on which people move on, too. On the other hand, people's imbalance and fall often occur at gait initiation or gait termination. Identifying kinematic and kinetic parameters of gait initiation and gait termination provides useful information to recognize the disturbances of this phase of gait, its pathology, and performance correction. The aim of the present study is reviewing studies carried out since the end of the twentieth century on biomechanical variables of gait initiation and gait termination in different groups and different conditions. Materials and Methods: Searching articles was done from databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Mendely, using “ gait initiation, gait termination, kinematics, and kinetics” keywords. More than 300 articles on the pattern of muscle activity and biomechanical parameters of gait initiation and gait termination were found. After studying and deleting articles with similar results and articles on therapeutic protocols from the total number of articles, more than 40 articles that were directly related to the subject matter were studied. Results: From among the papers located, several studies were about planned and unplanned gait initiation or gait termination, gait initiation or gait termination on different floor coverings, in various age groups or people with musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusion: According to the articles studied, it can be stated that different motor strategies are used at gait initiation at low and high velocities and the young and old groups always uses different muscle activity patterns in different phases of gait initiation. It seems that athletes and active people benefit from better muscle strength and shorter reaction times to prevent collapse and injury making use of compensatory mechanisms.

Background and Aims: Cerebral palsy is one of the central nervous system disorders that limits movement and posture. Obtaining gaiting ability is one of the main targets in these children targeted by rehabilitation teams. Many advanced tools and equipment have been designed in order to train and rectify cerebral children's gait all over the world. The aim of the present study was to review the effectiveness of these equipment in cerebral palsy children's gait. Materials and Methods: The current study was carried out to review and evaluate effectiveness of advanced equipment. Various databases were searched for articles published between 2005 and July 2016 which resulted in obtaining 216 studies among which 32 articles were in line with the topic of the present study. Results: Based on the studies reviewed, advanced equipment that are mostly used as gait trainer are effective in training and rectifying gait. These studies show that this type of intervention that is sometimes accompanied by virtual reality rehabilitation, can be effective in improving gait parameters such as step length, speed, duration, and the muscles strength. Conclusion: According to the results, It seems that using advanced equipment along with other rehabilitative interventions can accelerate obtaining and rectifying gaiting ability in cerebral palsy children and it can be proposed as an efficient method in rehabilitations.

Background and Aims: One of the therapeutic approaches that improves speech intelligibility is core vocabulary approach. The core vocabulary intervention with the purpose of producing consistent words has been appropriate in functional speech sound disorders and in this disorder, the child articulates the same lexical items as inconsistently in the absence of speech apraxia. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the core vocabulary approach on speech intelligibility of a child with inconsistent phonological disorder. Case Report: The patient was a four-year-old boy who was given birth after a term pregnancy and via vaginal delivery. The parents referred to the Speech Therapy Clinic complaining about the child’ s speech unintelligibility. Results: According to Clinical Problem Solving Model for speech and language pathologist, assessment data were analyzed to address seven case management questions regarding the need for intervention, service delivery, differential diagnosis, intervention goals, and generalization of therapeutic gains, discharge criteria, and evaluation of efficacy. After appropriate assessments, he was diagnosed as having inconsistent phonological disorder from articulation disorder category that required intervention. The present study reports on the clinical observations, inconsistent phonological disorder diagnosis process, the nature and protocol of core vocabulary approach, and the progress of the patient's speech and language over the course of treatment. Conclusion: According to the results and assessment data, the core vocabulary approach was chosen as the most appropriate and frequent therapy technique in inconsistent phonological disorders. The obtained results, similar to the previous studies, showed that the core vocabulary approach is effective in enhancing the consistent production and other speech and language skills. To ensure confidence in the effectiveness of core vocabulary approach, further studies are necessary on more sample and in other languages.