SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE
Year:2016 | Volume:5 | Issue:2|Papers Count:26

Background and Aim: Balance in in individuals with intellectual disability is very important due to weakness in the balance of implementing tasks. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of 8 weeks of rope‐jump on static and dynamic balance in male students with intellectual disability.Materials and Methods: In the present applied and quasi experimental study, the sample consisted of 20 male students, aged between 11-17, with intellectual disability randomly divided in to two groups. Prior to and after rope‐jump training, static and dynamic balance values were measured using stork and modified star tests (Y). The experimental group did rope‐jump training for eight weeks, three sessions per week, each session lasting for 45 minutes, while the control group did not do the trainings. Data was analyzed using independent and paired t-test. Statistical significance was set at p£0.05.Results: According to the results, significant differences were observed in the Balance (p=0.019) and dynamic anterior surface (p=0.03), posterior-interior (p=0.008), and posterior-external (p=0.017) in the experimental group compared to those in the control group.Conclusion: Rope‐jump training used in the present study improved the static and dynamic balance in male students with intellectual disability.

Background and Aim: The aim of the present study was to provide a model for medical and health information in public libraries for citizens.Materials and Methods: The methodology was qualitative using grounded theory to extract analytical and comprehensive model. The population consisted of 18 specialists and officials in the field of Health and Public libraries selected using purposive sampling. The research tools were semi-structured interviews. To ensure the validity and reliability of qualitative data, measures with standards of scientific rigor were used. The interviews were analyzed using open coding, axial, and selective methods. The main issues were identified, and so were causal conditions, grounded, interferer, strategies, and consequences.Results: The main features of both the manufacturer and distributor of health information were found as the proposed model: high potentials and abilities in the Ministry of Health like specialists in Health area, access to health information, the skills of trained librarians, and the general audience of public libraries. Strategies were establishing agreement between the two organizations, planning programs, and promoting interactive atmosphere, which can lead to promotion of health and health literacy individuals’ access to more reliable and up to date resources.Conclusion: Since users need to have access to reliable information, it seems necessary to provide a local model for this purpose. Using this model to produce and distribute medical and health information resources can be helpful to the public.

Background and aim: Weakness and atrophy of neck muscles and poor posture are major factors in the incidence of neck pain in office workers. Among different layers of paraspinal muscles, the deeper ones are more involved in segmental spinal stability. In patients with neck pain, the thickness and strength of suboccipital muscles may change as a result of the pain and discomfort. The purpose of the present study was to compare the thickness and strength of upper dorsal neck muscles in male participants with chronic non-specific neck pain and healthy male participants.Materials and Methods: The current observational-case control study was performed on 15 male participants with chronic non-specific neck pain and 15 healthy male participantss. The thickness and the strength of the Suboccipital neck extensor muscles including Rectus Capitis posterior (RC) and Obliqus Capitis Superior (OCS) were measured while participants were at rest and during isometric maximum voluntary contraction using ultrasonography and dynamometer.Results: The thicknesses of RC and OCS muscles at rest and maximum voluntary contraction were significantly smaller in patients compared with those in healthy participants (p<0.001). The difference in maximum voluntary contraction in these two groups were found to be statistically significant (P=0.008).Conclusion: The present study showed that the RC and OCS muscles in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were thinner compared with those in healthy participants. The results indicated higher muscle strength in healthy participants compared to that in patient particiapnts. Suboccipital neck extensor muscles were also significantly weaker in male particiapnts with neck pain. The low thickness and strength of muscles may be the results of pain and inhibitory reflexes in patients with neck pain.

Background and Aim: The incidence of behavioral disorders among children and teenagers has recently found interest among researchers. Due to their harsh and offensive mood, most of the affected individuals are rejected from their families and society, which leads to decreasing their chance of normal development, so it is important to identify and treat them in the course as early as possible. Diagnosing and distinguishing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder from other similar behavioral disorders such as depression, anxiety, comorbid depression and anxiety, and conduct disorders is one of the most important and essential proceedings in field of child psychology disorders.Materials and Methods: The samples consisted of 271 children, including 44 with ADHD, 31 with conduct, 35 with depression, 33 with mixed depression and anxiety, and 41 with anxiety as well as 87 children with normal but temporarily aggressive behavior. In the present study, two different decision support systems, multilayer perceptron and Radial Basis Function neural networks, were designed and compared based on the signs and symptoms.Results: The mean of accuracy of the networks in diagnosis and distinguishing reached to 95.57 and 96.30 percentages with MLP and RBF, respectively. Therefore, the designed decision support systems, especially RBF, was observed to be a reliable assistant for the experts in the diagnosis and distinguishing the mentioned behavioral disorders.Conclusion: Both designed systems, especially RBF, can be used as a reliable device for distinguishing, diagnosing, and also screening of child emotional and behavioral disorders.

Introduction and Aim: A significant ratio of people who suffer from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) do not respond well to common drugs and psychological treatments. The treatment gap increases the chronicity of the disorder and develops morbidity in social functioning, employment, and costs imposed to society. The purpose of the present study was to assess the role of Wells' metacognitive model in reducing OCD symptoms and rehabilitation in the patients.Materials and Methods: The current study is a single case study carried out in 10 sessions on a drug-resistant patient with one, three, and six month follow-ups. The tools were Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I), Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Beck Depression Scale (BDI-II), the Scale of Mental Distress (SUDs), Metacognition Questionnaire (MCQ-30), and World Health Organization's Disability Scale (WHODAS 2.0). To analyze the data, diagrams were used and the rate of recovery was calculated.Results: Test scores, from pre-test to post-test for (Y-BOCS) intensity scale was reduced from 36 to 8 (recovery rate: 77%). Also, the rate of depression, mental distress, and disability of patient had a significant reduction.Conclusion: The meta-cognitive therapy which insists on the form of thoughts and the relationship with intrusions can be an alternative choice for drug-resistant patients with OCD and they will benefit from its therapeutic effects even in the follow-up stages.

Background and Aim: The present study was conducted to compare bilateral abdominal muscles onset times with that of dominant upper limb deltoid muscle associated with anticipatory postural responses in healthy participants.Materials and Methods: In the current observational study, 20 healthy female individuals (mean age 25.3 yrs and BMI=22.36kg/m2) were studied. While they were performing rapid arm flexion in standing position with their dominant limb, electromygraphic data of Transverse Abdominus (TrA) and External Oblique (EO) in both sides and the deltoid muscle of dominant limb were recorded. The onset times of these muscles were the main measured parameter during anticipatory postural response. Wilcoxon signed-ranked test was used to compare bilateral abdominal muscles onset times.Results: Contra lateral TrA and EO were recruited prior to deltoid muscle, but in Ipsilateral side these muscles were activated primarily after deltoid. There were significant differences between abdominal muscles onset time in comparison between the two sides of the trunk (TrA: p=0.001, EO: p=0.005).Conclusion: Feed-forward activation of the abdominal muscles, prior to perturbation due to rapid arm movements, was observed for one body side in healthy subjects but these muscles in Ipsilateral side were activated in feedback manner. The results of the present study show that abdominal muscles are a part of diagonal synergies related to transferring movement and torque efficiently produced by the moving limb. It seems that reciprocal pattern of TrA muscle activation is a more efficient pattern in comparison with co-contraction pattern previosely introduced.

Background and Aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the common peroneal nerve stimulation on the immediate activation of the maximum capacity of the quadriceps muscle in individuals with knee osteoarthritis.Materials and Methods: A total of 15 patients with knee osteoarthritis (9 men and 6 women, with the mean age of 53.50) participated in the current research. Chharsrany muscle extension peak torque was assessed using a recently-designed device to measure muscle force on a single day in two stages (duing electrical stimulation of Chharsrany muscle and the common peroneal nerve).The reliability of the device (correlation coefficient traces ³ 90.0, the standard deviation of £1.9 participants) was previously evaluated by Soltany and colleagues in the Biomechanics Laboratory, at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran.Results: A significant difference was found between peak torque of quadriceps muscle extension, with the stimulation of Chharsrany muscle compared with that of the same musches extension stimulated with the common peroneal nerve.Conclusion: Electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve with the voluntary maximum attempt of the individual to activate the quadriceps muscle, as used in the current study, is a useful way to strengthen this groups of muscles. This method may also be appropriate for the evaluation of physiotherapy or rehabilitation programs.

Background and Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the impact of Back school education program on relieving patients’ LBP. The main hypothesis was that Back school education program affects patients’ LBP relieving. The sub-hypotheses were: 1. There is a difference between LBP-care training program in obese and lean patients, and 2. There is a difference between Back school education programs in patients with different education types.Materials and Methods: The current research followed the quasi-experimental method. The population of the study consisted of 36 patients with low back pain who had referred to Amlash Central Physiotherapy between May to June 2014. The sample size included 20 patients selected based on availability and having specific conditions. The instrument used consisted of a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the advisors and the Physiotherapy Department, and the reliability was calculated through Cronbach's Alpha to be 94%. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods (ANCOVA) were used to analyze the data.Results The results of the study indicated that the training program affected relieving the pain in the patients. No significant difference was observed between the effectiveness of low back care in obese and lean patients. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between the effectiveness of low back care in patients with different education types.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that the training program improved the patients’ pain relief. No significant difference was observed between the effectiveness of low back care in obese and lean patients. However, since LBP has mostly been found in the obese individuals, it is recommended that the training program be oriented towards weight loss and be constantly included in the education program.

Background and Aim: Restoration of motor and sensory functions in the hand after nerve repair is a complex process based on multi-level cellular, chemical, and functional changes occuring from finger tips to cerebral cortex. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of Mirror Visual Feedback (mirror therapy) on improving motor outcomes after median /ulnar nerve repair. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 patients (18 men, 2 women; mean age: 28 years) with acute complete ulnar, median, or combined median and ulnar nerve transections at the distal forearm level participated in the present randomized controlled trial study. Experimental group received the mirror therapy program for 15 minutes per day in addition to the traditional rehabilitation program, 5 days a week for 4 weeks, while control group received only the traditional rehabilitation program. Outcome measures including Total Active Motion (TAM), Opposition grade, Purdue pegboard test, and Box and Block Test were given prior to (4-6th week after surgery), and after (12th week after surgery) the treatment.Results: The final analysis was performed on 14 patients. The AROM of fingers, opposition and dexterity significantly improved in the post-test in both groups; however, there were no significant differences between the two groups. However, the results of Box and Block test revealed more improvement in the experimental group (p=0.06).Conclusion: Based on statistical analysis, Mirror therapy, in combination with the traditional rehabilitation program, has no significant effect on motor outcomes improvement, compared with that on the control group. But, the results suggest that mirror therapy is effective in improving the dexterity and Active Range of Motion.

Background and Aim: Flexibility is an important component of the normal musculoskeletal system function. Therefore, flexibility exercises as a basic component of athletes’ warm–up programs are generally recommended before training or participating in sports competitions. Due to the controversy in use of stretching in the warm-up programs, as well as the use of whole body vibration (WBV) in improving flexibility, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of WBV on lower extremity muscles flexibility in healthy young women.Materials and Methods: A total of 25 healthy young women with an average of age 20.76±1.09 years old participated in the present study. Their flexibility were measured using passive knee extension test, hip flexion, test and modified sit and reach test before and after the intervention. Participants stood on WBV equipment (f=30 Hz, Amp=2mm 5×60s hold+60s rest) in semi squat position.Results: After WBV, the flexibility of the hamstring and hip flexor as well as general flexibility significantly increased (P=0.000). The results showed that, before WBV, there was significant differences in hamstring and hip flexors flexibility between the two legs (P£0.05), but after WBV, no significant difference was observed in hip flexors flexibility (P=0.14).Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that the WBV seems to be a suitable training method for improving lower extremity muscular flexibility.

Background and Aim: The purpose of the present comparative case-control study was to compare patterns of motor function in normal and high function autistic children. The population comprised of all 7-12 year-old high function autistic children in Aieen-e Mehrvarzi School and the normal children in Grade School in Tehran in 1393.Materials and method: Participants included 36 high function autistic children, 7-12 year-old, in Peyk-e Honar School selected based on available sampling. Also, 36 normal children were selected using matching method. To collect data, the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale and Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency were used.Results: The results of MANOVA showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups of children in patterns of motor function (P<0.01) Conclusion: The present study presented significant results in educating autistic children in the field of movement exercises with the aim of motor skills and mental health improvement. In addition, motor function patterns were shown to play an important role in the success of these children.

Background and Aim: Ankle sprain is the most common injury in sports activities. Because of the high prevalence and its implications, it is important to identify specific injury prevention strategies in athletes. External supports such as taping and bracing are used for the sake of this purpose. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of prophylactic athletic ankle taping on maximum vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and the time to peak VGRF during landing.Materials and Methods: The current quasi-experimental cross over trial and pre-post test study was performed on 35 healthy female recreational athletes. The force plate was used for data collection. Taping was performed according to Gibney closed basket weave method. Before and after taping, participants landed from the platform with the height of 30 cm on the force plate placed 10 cm far from the platform. Participants were instructed to hop with the dominant leg on the center of the force plate.Results: The results of the paired T-test analysis revealed no significant changes in peak VGRF following prophylactic athletic ankle taping (P=0.371). However, following the taping, the time to peak VGRF reduced significantly (P=0.001). Also, a significant increase was noticed in the loading rate (P=0.001).Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that athletic ankle taping of the dominant leg in female athletes significantly decreased the time to peak VGRF and increased loading rate making musculoskeletal structures get affected by VGRF very quickly after landing. It seems that using prophylactic athletic ankle taping constantly and over time may facilitate damage to articular structures.

Background and Aims: Upper extremity fractures are one of the most common fractures of musculoskeletal system. Medical interventions used for this fractures are "operative" and "none-operative". The main purpose of the present study was investigating fracture impairment and disability in two groups of operative and none-operative interventions.Materials and Method: In the present descriptive study, 70 adults with upper extremity fracture were selected based on convenience sampling. Participants were then divided into two groups of "operative" (34 participants) and "none-operative" groups (36 participants). Impairment rate and disability score, evaluated using AMA guides (6th ed.) and DASH, respectively, were compared in the two groups. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (v.19) through running independent t-test (p<0.05).Results: There was a significant difference in impairment rate between the two groups of operative and none operative interventions, but no significant difference was observed in the disability score between the two groups.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that impairment of none-operative fractures was less than that of the operative group. Since AMA is designed based on ICF, according to findings, it was observed to be a better and more comprehensive tool compared with DASH. Also, the results of the present study can be used for fracture management by rehabilitation clinicians.

Background and Aims: Primary Hyperhidrosis (PHH) is a functional disorder of idiopathic etiology caused by overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system stimulating the sweat glands. In the recent years, many studies have evaluated the effectiveness of the palmar hyperhidrosis; one of these methods is the use of pulsed direct current which has been of interest to researchers due to its effect on prevention and reduction of the risk of burns and electrical shock, polarity, and discomfort. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and long-lasting effect of tap water iontophoresis in continous direct and pulsed direct currents on primary hyperhidrosis of hand.Materials and Method: A total of 20 participants, aged 18-45, volunteerd and were diagnosed with the primary palmar hyperhidrosis. Participants were randomly assigned into two intervention groups treated by either ontophoresis of the tap water with DC or with pulsed DC. Gravimetric method was also applied to measure the sweating rate at the baseline, 4 days, 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after the treatment. Participants’ quality of life was also assessed using the DLQI at baseline and all follow-up time points.Results: Sweating rate significantly reduced during the eight treatment sessions in both intervention groups.The quality of life, too, improved in both intervention groups (P<0.01).Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that both continuous and pulsed direct current is effective in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis, but Iontophoresis with pulsed direct current has less side effects.

Background and aim: Epidemiology is one of the Health Sciences issues that is considered as a supplement to the basic sciences and clinical laboratory in speech-language pathology and audiology. Having an understanding of the prevalence of communication disorders, especially speech and language disorders, can help us devise better plans for the patients' rehabilitation programs.Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 2003 records, from a 10-year period, were studied in the archives of the Speech Therapy Clinic in Tehran Rehabilitation Faculty. All the 851 cases were selected based on systematic sampling and the data was analyzed using SPSS (v.16).Results: Important findings include: from among 851 records, 401 patients (%47.1) aged between 1 to 5 years. A total of 343 patients (%40.3) had speech and language delay. Also, 184 patients (6.21%) had articulation and voice disorders and 180 patients (2.21%) were stutterers.Conclusion: The largest number of referrals to the speech therapy clinics was the delayed speech and language disorders, and the apraxia and PKU had the lowest rates. The ratio of male to female patients was approximately 2 to 1.

Background and Aim: Career path is the sequence of individual attitudes and behaviors in the field of activities and experiences related to their work. For a career path, people need motivating factors. Thus, identifying motivating factors and career path is important in any profession. Therefore, the present study examined the relationship between motivational potential and career path in occupational therapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 105 occupational therapists participated in the present cross-sectional study. To examine the motivational power of occupational therapists, John Wagner’s validated job characteristic model questionnaire was used. Also, Delong’s career path evaluation questionnaire was used to examine participant’s career. Data was analyzed using SPSS (v.19).Results: The results revealed that in the field of occupational therapy, Task Significance, Autonomy, Skill Variety, Task Identity, and Feedback were important for occupational therapists, respectively. Among career anchors, creativity anchor was the most important followed by the Service, Technical competence, Autonomy, security, Management competence, skill variety, and task identity. In addition, a significant relationship was observed between the potential motivation and management competence anchors.Conclusions: The present study showed that the participating occupational therapists attach great importance to providing service to their clients using creativity in services and taking advantage of their technical skills and see them as the most important factors in the growth of their career path.

Background and Aim: The aim of the present study was translation of Children Participation Questionnaire (CPQ) into Persian and then assessment of the face, content, and convergent validity of the new intrument.Materials and Methods: The present study was a methodological research. The translation procedure was carried out using the IQOLA protocol. For assessment of convergent validity the Vinland Questionnaire was used.Results: The results showed that the translation of questionnaire was easy. The assessment of face and content validity led to some changes in some items of the questionnaire according to Iranian context, and the convergent validity was acceptable (r>0.66, p<(0.001).Conclusions: The face, content, and convergent validity of the Persian version of Children Participation Questionnaire (P-CPQ) were acceptable and this questionnaire is now useable in other studies.

Background and Aim:: Balance is one of the integral parts of daily activities and the keystone of doing exercise. The purpose of the present study was to consider the effect of eight weeks of balance training on static and dynamic balance in boy students with inflexible flat foot.Materials and Methods: The study method followed pretest-posttest pattern on two experimental and control groups. Statistical population of the study inlcuded all boy students with inflexible flat foot in Ghods town (n=31). One of the participants wre randomly eliminated and other students (age: 13.33±1.18, height: 141.2±7.17, weight: 37.4 ±8.05, body mass index: 18.58±2.72, and lower exterimity height: 76.47±5.46) divided randomly in to experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Participants' ability of static balance was assessed using BESS (Balance Error Scoring System) test and the ability of dynamic balance was assessed using Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Experimental group performed balance training protocol for eight weeks, three times a week and every time for one hour, while the control group only performed daily activities. Data was statistically analyzed running Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) in SPSS (v.20).Result: The results showed that there are significant differences between experimental and control groups in BESS and SEBT post-tests (P<0.05).Conclusion: According to the obtained results, balance training protocol can help increase the static and dynamic balance in individuals with inflexible flat foot.

Background and Aim: Athletes of different sports require constant trainings and strengthening of certain muscles in order to achieve higher levels of performance and therefore must spend a lot of time in the dominant posture of that sport. As a result, depending on the dominant posture of each sport, athletes’ body and curves of the spine may be affected. The aim of the present study was to compare head, shoulder, and spine in veteran soccer and volleyball players and non-athletes.Materials and Methods: In the present comparative study, the statistical population consisted of all 45-60 year-old veteran soccer and volleyball players in Guilan, from whom 90 were randomly selected (30 veteran soccer football players: mean age: 52.52±3.91 years, height: 168.73±6.63 cm, weight: 76.53±10.77kg, BMI: 26.79±4.65 kg/m2, and veteran volleyball players: mean age: 53±6.06years, height: 184.33±5.72cm, weight: 79.25±11.8, BMI: 23.4±6.23 kg/m2, and 30 non-athletes: mean age: 52.9±4.88, height: 167.36±17.01, weight: 84/93±20.86 kg, BMI: 30.45±7.34 kg/m2). The participants had a history of at least 15 years of playing and practicing their sports, and had also at least three weeks of regular practice at the time of the study. Paricipants’ photos were examined in sagittal and frontal planes for forward head, torticollis, uneven shoulder, and forward head posture (FHP). Then, kyphosis and lordosis angles were assessed using spinal mouse. One-way ANOVA and scheffe post hoc tests were run in SPSS to anlyze the data (version 21).Results: Statistical analyses showed that soccer players had forward angles less than those of the volleyball players and non-athletes (P=0.001). Round shoulder was significantly more in volleyball players compared with that in the other groups (P=0.001). Unequality shoulder was also observed to be more in volleyball players (P<0.001). Moreove, kyphosis angle was seen to be lower in non-athletes and footballers (P<0.001). Lordosis, however, was found to be higher in soccer players (P=0.001).Conclusion: Data analysis showed that the forward head, uneven shoulder, round shoulder, and kyphosis and lordosis are significantly different among the three groups studied. However, no significant difference was found in torticollis between the two groups. Structural profile factors in athletes can be influenced by the type of sports they are engaged. Therefore, more attention to therapeutic exercises is necessary to correct and improve structural profiles in the athletes.

Background and Aims: Nerve mobilization is a relatively new approach in manual therapy whose efficacy and the most effective method of use are not clear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of manual therapy on severity of hand symptoms and median nerve tension in patiens with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).Materials and Methods: In the current RCT study, 32 patients with CTS were assigned into two groups of treatment and control. In both groups, the patients received the routine physiotherapy including the rest splint, TENS, and therapeutic ultrasound for four weeks. In addition to the routine physiotherapy, the patients in the treatment group received the manual therapy for both nerve mobilization and mechanical interface structures. The severity of hand symptoms (pain and tingling) and median nerve tension were assessed at the baseline and after four weeks using visual analogue scale and, median neurodynamic test, respectively. Paired and independent t-tests were run to compare data within and between the two groups. The significance level was set at p<0.025.Results: There was a significant improvement in the severity of hand symptoms and median nerve tension in both groups at the end of the study compared to baseline values (p<0.025). The median nerve tension and severity of hand symptoms in the treatment group decreased significantly (P<0.025) compared to that of the control group.Conclusion: Using manual therapy for nerve mobilization and mechanical interface structures, accompanied by physiotherapy modalities, leads to more improvement in hand sensory discomfort and median nerve tension in patients with carpal tunnel syndromes.

Background ans Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare spinal abnormalities between the two groups of clients with Exercise related Transient Abdominal Pain (ETAP) and without the side stitch.Materials and Methods: A total of 101 non-active volunteer girls, aged between 18-25, who had taken a course on Physical Education in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, were randomly selected to be part of the experimental and control groups. Fifty one students who reported the pain in three consecutive sections of exercise were defined as the ETAP group and the other 50 students who reported no pain were considered as the control group. In order to evaluate spinal deformities, checkerboard was used and the results were recorded in NewYork Scale.Results: Based on the findings of the current study, there was no significant meaning in scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis in the two groups (P>0.05). But a significant relationship was observed between patients with forward head posture and those who were suffered from exercise related abdominal pain (P=0.02) Conclusion: As a result of the present investigation, kyphosis, lordosis and scoliosis deformities do not affect the incidence of side pain. But the forward head abnormality may be a factor in the occurrence of the side stitch.

Background and Aim: Shin splint is one of the common injuries in most athletes. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of playing surface on the Medial tibia stress syndrome in male professionals and its relationship with foot posture.Materials and Methods: A total of 90 male professional players of futsal, soccer, and beach soccer participated in three groups of 30. We used the shine spilint questionnaire to compare the spread of Medial tibia stress syndrome among these participants. Also, we used foot postureindex to assess the feet location in athletes with Medial tibial stress syndrome.Results: The results showed the sptread of Medial tibia stress syndrome in male professional futsal, soccer, and beach soccer players is %24.4. Also, the results showed significant differences in the prevalnce of this syndrome among these three sports (p£0.05). The prevalence rate of this syndrome in futsal players (%12.2) is the highest among these three sports and then come soccer (%8.9) and next beach soccer (%3.3) (p=0.00). Also, the results revealed a significant relationship between foot pronation and Medial tibia stress syndrome (p£0.05), moreover the most common foot posture in players among these three sports was found to be pronation with %12.2 prevalence.Conclusion: According to the resultes of the present survey, it can be stated that level and pronation are the main causes of Medial tibia stress syndrome, so we recommend that trainers consider using anti-pronation bands and special insoles to correct this disorder.

Background and Aim: According to the prevalence of learning disability and its effects on the educational achievement and self-esteem of elementary school’s students, in the present study we made an attempt to compare assertiveness skills and anxiety between students with learning disabilities and typical peers in elementary schools of Tehran.Materials and Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 80 elementary school students in Tehran, aged between 8-12 years, were selected following convenience sampling from public schools and the centers of learning disability. Gambrill and Richie (GR) Assertiveness Inventory and Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) child and parent form were used for data collection.Results: The population of the study was 80 students composed of 40 students with learning disability and 40 typical peers. After data collection and data analysis, the mean of the score of assertiveness scale in the students with learning disability was calculated to be 51.92, while it was 94.87 in the typical peers. Moreover, the means of the score of SCAS in child and parent version of students with learning disability were 46.60 and 36.57, while in typical peers they were 18.67 and 17.12, respectively (P-value<0.001).Conclusion: Students with learning disability showed lesser assertiveness skills compared with that in typical peers. Also, these students have more anxiety than typical peers. Moreover, there is an inverse relationship between assertiveness and anxiety in the students with learning disability.

Background and Aims: Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurological and developmental disability. One of the treatments for cerebral palsy is multi-level surgery in one session (SEMLS). After surgery, bandages and casting techniques are used for immobilization. Compared with the casting, bandage is a new method and no similar study is reported using bandage technique for immobilization after surgery. In the recent years, long-term immobilization after surgery is avoided because of muscle weakness, stiff joints, slow recovery and rehabilitation, and delayed return without restriction to daily activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of early movements on the performance of children with cerebral palsy with spastic diplegia following surgery and immobilization in lower limb using two methods: bandage and casting.Materials and Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, 100 children with hemiplegic and diplegia cerebral palsy, aged 7-12 years old, with indications for surgery, were randomly selected and evaluated using Gross Motor Function Questionnaire (GMFM66). The children underwent surgery using two methods of bandages and casting according to an orthopedic surgeon's opinion. Then, based on the type of immobility used, two groups of 40 were randomly selected. In the first and the third month after the surgery, both groups were evaluated using GMFM66 questionnaire. To compare the two groups, ANOVA and nonparametric Mann-Whithney tests were used.Results: The mean ratio of gross motor function Based on Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM66) changes in the first month after surgery was 0.0019 in the cases with bandage. The change was not statistically significant (P=0.42). Because in the first month of the child's leg in plaster, in casting group, the mean ratio changes of gross motor function was not measured. Three months after surgery, the mean ratio changes of gross motor function in both methods of casting and bandage after surgery increased significantly (P<0.001); however, the difference mean ratio changes of gross motor function were not observed to be significant compared with each other (P=0.128).Conclusion: In the first month after surgery in bandaged group, children had mobility, but in the casting group, children were immobile. In the third month after surgery, improvement was observed in both methods and statistical results were similar in both groups.

Background and aims: Auditory feedback mechanism is responsible for controlling speech and voice, so, any changes in the auditory system, influences voice parameters, including fundamental frequency deviation, changes in frequency, intensity, and resonance. The present study was carried out to study the effect of hearing loss on the quality of voice and phonation in athletes with regards to their exercise type.Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed on 30 athlete adults with severe to profound hearing loss. The participants ranged between 18-30 years old. To analyze acoustic parameters, the vowel /a/ was reviewed for 5 seconds using MDVP software forfundamental frequency and its variation, jitter, Shimmer, changes in intensity, and noise to harmonic ratio.Results: The results showed that there is no significant correlation between voice acoustic parameters and demographic factors (p>0.05), fundamental frequency (p=0.78), and noise to harmonic ratio (p=0.09) in participants with severe and profound hearing losses. There was no significant difference in the fundamental frequency (p=0.01) among the three sport groups either. Moreover, NHR and VTI, among these three groups, showed no significant differences, however a significant difference was observed in fundamental frequency (p=0.03) among the three groups.Conclusion: Hearing loss has impacts on various voice parameters and changes in these parameters are correlated with the individual's sport types. The findings of the present study can be used in providing better feedbacks during treatments and in giving corrective hints in improving hearing aids and sport programs.

Background and Aims: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the scientific framework of studies related to martial arts injuries and to provide a comprehensive review of the previous studies.Materials and Methods: The search for articles was performed in specialized databases and 17 articles were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: The study showed that most injuries in karate occur in the head and neck, and in taekwondo and judo they occur in the lower extremities. Most of these injuries are contusions and bruises. It was also found that most of the reported injuries occurred during practice, but these injuries are generally mild. The study also showed that the opponent's technical foul is the most important cause of injuries in karate, taekwondo, and judo.Conclusion: The present study revealed that there are clear differences between the method of research report related to martial arts injuries, that results in difficult conclusions, so matching the features seems to be necessary in future studies. However, it seems that the pattern of injuries in domestic investigations is similar to those reported abroad. Since none of the previous studies examined the effect of interventions on the reduction of injuries and the preventive suggestions offered are presented based on speculations or studies in other countries, it appears that many of these suggestions are not reliable and future attempts should aim to study the injury prevention strategies and interventions to control risk factors and injury mechanisms in Iranian martial artists.