Modern Rehabilitation

Designing and measuring the validity and reliability of rapid automatized naming test in the first-grade students

Z Soleymani

Background and Aim: Rapid automatized naming test is the best tool for screening, assessment and early prevention of reading disorders. Therefore with regard to the importance of this test in anticipation and assessment of reading disorders and absence of valid test in this area in Persian language, the target of study was designing and measuring the validity and reliability of this test.

Materials and Methods: Based on foreign test, items of test have selected with regard to the criterions of Persian language. Then the suggestions of experts in this field were collected. Study was performed in two weeks time-out on fifty students of the governmental and nongovernmental schools of the 12th education area of Tehran and 12 dyslexic children of learning disability centers. Then, to measure the differential power and reliability of the test, the results were analyzed.

Result: Findings indicate high correlation between first and second test. There is also significant difference between two groups (normal and dyslexic) in total time of the test in two stages.

Conclusion: Rapid automatized naming test is valid and reliable in Persian language and is able to distinguish between two groups (normal and dyslexic).

A Comparison of Developmental Coordination Disorders in Elementary Students of Two Areas of Tehran City

A Shadmehr

Background and Aim: Developmental coordination disorder is characterized by motor in-proficiency, resulting in significant impairments in social and academic functioning. We examine whether life style differences between elementary male students in two socio-economic different areas of Tehran may be reflected in developmental coordination disorder prevalence rates.

Materials and Methods: Two matched groups of 70 children were compared by use of BOTMP short form.

Results: The results show that the standard scores for children in the first area were significantly higher than the sixteenth area (P= 0.026).

Conclusion: Above findings suggest that different life styles may influence the motor skills and developmental coordination disorder prevalence in elementary children.

The effects of Phase II cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life scales in post coronary artery bypass grafts patients

B Attarbashi

Background and Aim: The goal of this study is to determine the effects of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program (CCRP) on various domains of health related quality of life (HRQOL) in coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) patients.

Materials & Methods: Forty- four post CABG patients aged 40 - 60 years (mean age = 52.95, SD = 6.02) participated in Phase II CCRP. The SF-36 health survey was used to assess the HRQOL before and after the CCRP and at three-month follow up. The data of patients were compared before and after the intervention and with the normal values of age matched (45-64 Yrs., 882 persons).

Results: The findings showed that there was a significant difference in seven domains of HRQOL between patients prior to CCRP and general population (P ≤ 0.05). There was a significant difference in all HRQOL domains after CCRP (P ≤ 0.005). Five out of 8 domains of HRQOL were unchanged at least 3 months after the CCRP, whereas there was an improvement in 3 domains of HRQOL (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the physical and mental health interventions in CCRP are among critical keys to prevent and/or at least decrease the adverse effects of surgery on HRQOL.

Internal evaluation of the Physical therapy Department, Rehabilitation Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

M.R Hadian

Background and Aim: Academic evaluation is a systematic process for collecting, analyzing and interpretation of the obtained educational information. The purpose is that how many educational objectives can be achieved. The goal of education is creating effective & efficient changes in the outcome of this system (i.e. students), and finally, promotion of the quality of educational process. In the following study, internal evaluation in 8 educational domains of the Physical therapy Department of the Rehabilitation Faculty (TUMS) was performed.

Materials and Methods: Physical therapy Department of the Rehabilitation Faculty (TUMS) was evaluated using the opinion of the faculties, students and graduates in the academic year 2003-2005. The aim was to adjust the system according to the golden standard and community needs by using a cross sectional and descriptive method. This was done on the basis of 10 procedural steps, within 8 domains such as faculties, management, student's opinion, staff and logistic affairs, classes, library, clinics, equipments, laboratory, satisfaction of graduates and curriculum.

It is worthwhile to mention that there was no golden standard available in Iran for Physical Therapy Department. Therefore, by using the standards of prestigious universities of the world & opinion of Iranian experts, for the first time in Iran, a native golden standard was defined by the principal investigators. The results of the research were compared with the golden standard.

Results: The results of study showed that the mean of 8 domains based on SWOTs model was 76/2% which may be interpreted as a positive model. Among the 8 domains, the clinics, classes & library were rated the best (95%) and student's satisfaction was 65.3%.

Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that academic evaluation is the best indicator for representing the strength, weakness, opportunity & threats of the educational system. These results could be used for promotion, adjusting & remodeling of the academic system.

The relation between grip strength and dexterity in two age groups 25-45 and 65-85 years in men and women

GR Olyaei

Background and Aim: As the population of geriatrics increase, this group must be noticed from economical, vocational, therapeutic situations the majority of geriatrics has problems with their hands. These problems influence their activity of daily living, vocation and etc. The main goal of present study is to determine the relation between grip strength and dexterity in 25-45 and 65-85 years people.

Material and method: The grip strength and dexterity were administered to one hundred people aged between 25-45 and 65-85 years with a mean age of 53.61 years old (SD= 20.60). The grip strength and dexterity were evaluated 3 times, and data were analyzed with SPSS (V: 11.5).

Results: Mean of grip strength in group (25-45) year was more than group (65-85) year. In both groups the results of grip strength in men were more than women. We noticed that with increasing age the dexterity decrease and dexterity differences between group 25-45 and 65-85 years were statistically significant. Between men and women dexterity differences was not significant. The correlation between grip strength and dexterity was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: This study showed that dexterity is related with age and functional activities. Grip strength is related with age, occupation, gender. As the age increase these features of the hand decrease. But there isn't a correlation between grip strength and dexterity.

Inter& Intra rater Reliability of Berg Balance Scale for evaluation of the balance in children with spastic hemieplegia

M.R Hadian

Background and Aim: Balance is an essential part of motor development. Assessment of balance in children with neurological disorders is necessary before any treatment. There are various versions of balance tests for adult assessment however, little has been done with regard to a reliable test for evaluating the balance in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate inter and intra rater reliability of Berg balance scale in children with spastic hemieplegia.

Material & Methods: 20 Spastic hemieplegia children were participated in this study (cross sectional). Children were in the range of 6-12 Yrs (Mean & SD, 7/10 &1/58 yrs, correspondingly). Parents were asked to sign the informed consent. Berg Balance Scale tested in one session by two therapist for inter rater and repeated tests by the same therapist for intra rater reliability after a week.

Results: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) test was used for inter rater (between two therapists, ICC= 0.966, p<001 and intra rater reliability (repeated test by the same therapist, ICC= 0.988 , p<001 ).

Conclusion: The result of this study suggests that inter rater and intra rater reliability of Berg balance scale is acceptable. Therefore, it could be used in clinic for the assessment of children with spastic hemieplegia as a reliable scale.

The changes of motor control strategy following infraspinatus muscle dysfunction in professional volleyball players

S Talebian

Background and Aim: Sports such as baseball, volleyball, and racquet sports demand skills that place substantial load upon the athlete's shoulder when his or her arm is in an overhead or abducted position. Athletes who participate in these sports are consequently at higher risk for overuse injuries of the shoulder. Infraspinatus syndrome is defined as a condition of frequently painless atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle caused by suprascapular nerve neuropathy. The syndrome typically causes symptoms that mimic those of rotator cuff tendinopathy, and the diagnosis is often overlooked until the condition fails to respond to a traditional rotator cuff treatment program.

In this study muscle timing and activities of shoulder rotator cuff compared between normal athletics and volleyball players with infraspinatus syndrome.

Materials and Methods: Thirty voluntary male professional volleyball players (20 healthy and 10 patient) in the range of 20 -30 years contributed in this study. Patients group in base of electroneurography had injury of suprascapular nerve at right side. Subjects lied prone on table and their shoulder were 90 degree of abduction and medial rotation with 90 degree of flexion in elbow with vertically position of forearm at the lateral side of table. Electromyographic activities of maximum voluntary contraction of infraspinatus, middle trapezius and teres minor . Muscles were recorded three times with monitoring of dynamometer for normalization of dynamic activities. Activities (RMS) of above muscles were recorded during three dynamic motions similar to spark skill and onsets of their activities determined by external synchronized apparatus.

Results: There was significant difference between normalized RMS of infraspinatus,. and middle trapezius of patients in dynamic motion (p<0.05). Whereas healthy subjects showed significant difference between infraspinatus. and two other muscles (p<0.05). Comparison of normalized RMS indicated different in all three muscles between two groups (p<0.05).

The sequence of onset three muscle activities were different between two groups significantly (p<0.05). This sequence in patients was middle trapezius, teres minor and infraspinatus whereas in healthy subjects was middle trapezius, infraspinatus and teres minor. Duration of above muscle activities were different in two groups (P<0.05). In patients infraspinatus were active less than other two muscles.

Conclusion: Professional volleyball players are candidate of suprascapular nerve and infraspinatus muscle weakness. Synergic and stabilizer muscles after this condition with more activities contribute and caused reduce of accuracy of motion and early muscle fatigue.

The effect of eye - hand coordination activities on hand skills of educable mental retarded students (7-10 years)

M.R Hadian

Background and Aim: Normal & skillful function of hand is an essential part of activity of daily living. Analysis of the function of hand shows the major contribution of fine movements. Fine movement is also important in motor development. In this regard, any deficiency in fine movement may cause various problems for children. Hence, assessment of fine movement in children, particularly in mental retardation disorders is a prerequisite of any rehabilitation protocol.

Material & Methods: 27 mental retarded children were participated in this cross sectional study. Children were in the range of 7-10 Yrs (Mean & SD, 8/11 &1/09 yrs, respectively). Parents were asked to sign the informed consent. Purdue Peg board test was used for the assessment of hand skill. After fifteen sessions of intervention including eye hand coordination activities, Purdue Peg board test were repeated.

Results: Speed of movements (rates in 30 seconds) in dominant & recessive hand, coordination of both hands and hand skills were significantly differed (pre & post intervention, P≤ 0/05).

It was also revealed that hand skills are directly related with speed movement of dominant hand. ( P≤ 0/05). Furthermore, there was no difference in the eye hand coordination activities of male and female individuals. ( P≤ 0/05).

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that eye-hand coordination activities have positively affected the skill of hand movement in educable Mental retardation students in both sex.

Simple skills such as speed of hand improved in shorter time in comparison with complicated skills (e.g. coordination of tow hand).

Based on these evidences, a comprehensive rehabilitation program including eye hand coordination activities would be suggested for educable Mental retardation individual.

Relationship between PKE(Passive Knee Extension)&SLR(Straight Leg Rasing)test measurement of hamstring length

Z Fakhari

Background and Aim: Hamstring muscles are biarticular muscles, which conducted to pelvic and knee. Shortness of hamstring muscles can influence on the upper and lower joints of its attachment .With respect of the high prevalence of shortness of these muscles, accurate assessment of these muscles is important. There are many tests for assessment of hamstring muscles length During using the straight leg raise (SLR) test, pelvic rotation can contribute to the angle of SLR, while pelvic movement in passive knee extension (PKE) is limited. This study was designed to measure the relationship between two alternative tests in order to use of simple and accurate PKE test for measuring of hamstring length.

Material & Method: 3308 healthy girls (3-17 years) were tested, and hamstring length were determined with using of two tests (SLR and PKE) for both side of lower limbs and measured of active SLR and popliteal angle (PA) with goniometer.

Results: Pearson che-squre analysis showed significant relationship(r = 0.529(R), r = -0.435(L), p< 0/05) between PKE and SLR .

Conclusion: Results demonstrated relationship between two tests, in all of ages and both side. SLR and PKE tests can use for assessing of hamstring muscles shortness, but PKE test may be a useful alternative in comparison with activeSLR for providing an indication of hamstring muscle length.

The effect of Muscle Energy Techniques on Flexibility of the Short Hamstring Muscles

A Shadmehr

Background and Aim: Several stretching methods have been shown to increase flexibility of the short muscles. Previous research suggests muscle energy techniques produce increments in range of motion, but there are many variations of muscle energy techniques. The purpose of our study was to determine the efficacy of muscle energy techniques with 50% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction and 10 second hold in compared to control group.

Materials and methods: A sample of 30 female subjects (aged 20 -25 years) participated in this study. All subjects had limited hamstrings flexibility in degrees of passive knee extension. The subjects in experimental group (n=15) received 3 muscle energy techniques (50% MVIC, hold time=10 sec) for 4 weeks, whereas the control group (n=15) remained without treatment. Before and after range of knee extension was measured for all subjects.

Results: The paired t test revealed a significant differences in flexibility for experimental group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in flexibility gains in control group (P<0.001). Treatment group had significant greater flexibility than the control group (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Muscle energy techniques with above protocol produce an increase of hamstring flexibility.