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  Background and Aim: Hearing impairment in critical period of speech and language development is caused defects in oral and written language. The aim of this study is to use a test for comparing the reading skills of elementary fifth grade hearing and moderately severe hearing loss students in public schools.
Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 10 hearing impaired children selected from the total number of fifth grade moderately severe hearing loss students' community (public schools) based on the inclusion criteria and compared with 10 hearing children that were matched according to grade, as a control group. In order to gather the data, reading and writing tests for school students was used. Data analysis was done through SPSS-16.
Results: The findings indicated that hearing impaired children on auditory discrimination skills (P=0.001), word auditory memory (P=0.034) sentence auditory memory (P<0.001), phonological blending (P=0.034), phonological segmentation (P=0.012) and text reading comprehension (P=0.044) were significantly weaker than the control group, but they had similar function in other skills.
Conclusion: Children with hearing impairment have the same function in tasks based on visual processing to normal children, whereas, in tasks based on auditory and phonological processing are weaker than them. Keywords: Reading skills, Hearing loss children, Public schools

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Background and Aim: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by nonprogressive lesions. This disorder produces motor impairment deficits in early infancy. Hand function is essential in performing activities of daily living for everyone, including individuals with cerebral palsy. Adequate first web space is essential for web space expansion, thumb abduction, and a wide range of thumb mobility and hand function. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of C-bar splint on hand function and strength and also wrist and thumb range of motion (ROM) of dominant hand of 8-12 years old children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
Materials and Methods: The design of this study was before- after and quasi-experimental. According with inclusion criteria, 8 to 12 years old children with spastic diplegia from physical – motor special school at Tehran (8 boys and 5 girls), were studied. They used a C-bar splint (40 degree of palmer abduction of thumb) for 8 weeks (6-8 hours during day and 4-6 hours at night). In this study, hand function was evaluated by Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test, hand strength by MIE dynamometer and thumb & wrist ROM by Goniometer. During intervention, they received routine occupational therapy program.
Results: The results of this study showed significant improvement in hand function (P=0.001), and thumb range of motion (P=0.02). The data did not show any significant improvement in wrist ROM and hand strength.
Conclusion: According to the result of this study, it seems that using C-bar splint can be an effective method in improvement of hand function and thumb ROM in 8-12 years old children with spastic diplegia. Key words: C-bar splint, Hand function, Diplegia cerebral palsy

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Background and Aim: Many key problems in autistic children are related to executive dysfunction. This dysfunction is usually occurred due to structural and functional dissociation between brain regions. So neurofeedback can be used as a new treatment procedure in improving children's executive function through modifying brain waves but behavioral changes are usually reflection of long-term changes in the brain level. Therefore the purpose of this study is to investigate the overall effect of neurofeedback training and behavioral effects caused by adding occupational therapy based on cognitive rehabilitation.
Materials and Methods: Single system (A-B-A-B+C-A) design was used in this study. Participants were 2 children with autism spectrum disorder who completed 41 sessions during the study. They received neurofeedback intervention alone (B) during 20 sessions and in the following 12 sessions neurofeedback with occupational therapy (B+C). In this study, Wisconsin card sorting and tower of london tests were used for collecting information on children,s executive functions.
Results: According to the obtained results, the effect size of neurofeedback training on executive function was high for both participants. The rate of shifting attention was improved as one of the executive function items after adding occupational therapy and also the increasing effect of neurofeedback in planning was maintained.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that neurofeedback can improve executive function in autistic children and the effect of neurofeedback can be more obvious if occupational therapy will be added. But gaining more significant behavioral changes after receiving occupational therapy needs more sessions.

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Background and Aim: Optic neuritis causes some deficits in visual function in the affected eye and there are some differences in these functions between the affected and unaffected eyes. The purpose of the study is to compare visual functions of both eyes to demonstrate the minimum and maximum value of affection in patients with acute unilateral optic neuritis.
Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (23 female, 7 male aged between 18 and 45 years) who 22 patients with retro-bulbar and 8 patients with anterior optic neuritis, enrolled in the study and their affected and unaffected eyes underwent visual function assessments. Visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), color vision (CV), and visual field (VF) (consist of MA and PSD) were examined for both eyes of all the patients and the significance of the differences between two eyes were calculated and compared by Independent T-test.
Results: According to our results, all the investigated visual functions consist of VA (t-test, t=7.29, P=0.00), CS (t-test, t=9.20, P=0.00), CV (t-test, t= -21.95, P=0.00), MD (t-test, t=5.29, P=0.01) except PSD (t-test, t=0.67, P=0.71) were affected by optic neuritis and there was a significant difference between the affected and unaffected eyes (P<0.01). The most significant difference were found for contrast sensitivity with letters (P=0.00) and there wasn`t any significance in the difference between two eyes for PSD parameter in VF (P=0.71).
Conclusion: Considering the most significant difference of contrast sensitivity between affected and unaffected eyes in patients with acute unilateral optic neuritis, it is suggested to pay more attention to the test in evaluating, diagnosis and follow up patients with acute unilateral optic neuritis.

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Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of different types of isokinetic contractions on hemodynamic parameters in men.
Materials and Methods: Ten healthy male subjects (age, 26.1±3.4 years) in three separate sessions performed three exercise protocols included Concentric/Concentric (C/C), Eccentric/Eccentric (E/E) and Concentric/Eccentric (C/E) contractions (flexion and extension) in the knee joint. In each session subjects performed 4 sets, 10 repetitions, at the speed of 60 degree per second. Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and rate of pressure product) were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise and after 30 min recovery. Data were analyzed using two- way repeated measures of ANOVA.
Results: Statistical analysis of data showed significant increases in heart rate, systolic blood pressure (P<0.001), mean arterial blood pressure (P=0.053) and rate of pressure product (P<0.001) during exercise and significant reductions in these parameters in recovery period. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was significantly different among the contraction protocols (F2,34=15.5) and post-hoc test showed that RPE was lower in E/E protocol than the other two protocols.
Conclusion: Hemodynamic parameters change in response to different muscular contractions, though these changes are not related to contraction type.

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Background and Aim: The current research was performed to investigate validity measurement of Persian version of stuttering prediction instrument (SPI) in children among 3-8 years old who stutter and determination of its reliability.
Materials and Methods: Translation of the SPI Test was examined by using IQOLA's translation protocol and equalization. Then for determination of it's logical validity, expertise views were collected by means of the method of Lawasche content validity. 52 children who stutter were examined by SPI test and also SSI3 test and the cooper stuttering chronicity prediction checklist for determination of construct and concurrent validity. Internal stability was examined by using alpha ration and finally at the end, Persian version of SPI was completed by twice examination of 15 stutterer children with duration of 7-10 days concerning examination of reliability of test-retest. */1-+
Conclusion: Existing strong and meaningful correlation between SSI3 and SPI test and also between cooper chronicity prediction checklist and SPI test are indicative of good convergence of each part in SPI test. Finally, these analyses verify that all parts of the test are benefiting from proper reliability and validity.

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 Background and Aims: Oneimportant complicationof breast cancer treatment is ipsilateral upper extremity lymphedema. Secondary lymphedema is a chronic condition that leads to loss of function and cosmetic problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy (CDP) on volume of lymphedema in patients with secondary lymphedema after breast cancer treatments.

Material and Methods: A total of 30 women with lymphedema after breast cancer treatments and according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were chosen. They were treated with complex decongestive physiotherapy. This protocol involved manual lymphatic drainage (MLD),Compression garments, remedial exercise and skin care. The women were taken 4-week therapy program once per day, 5 days per week. Absolute volume of the lymphedema and circumference of the limb were evaluated before and after treatment.

Results: After 4 weeks treatment, lymphedema volume, circumference in all of the evaluated points and severity of the pain are decreased after treatment.

Conclusion: In upper extremity lymphedema, the use of complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) can decrease edema.

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Background and Aim: Improving the affecting factors of balance could be a critical procedure in managing the elderly's balance dysfunction. The goal of this study is to find out how and to which amount a prolonged period of stretch and massage impact on elderly's balance. Materials and Methods: In this RCT study with a simple randomized case selection, 205 normal subjects screened and after that, 18 subject (74.6 5.45 Years) for intervention group and 17 (75.8± 4.27 Years) subjects for control group contributed for the study. The procedure was 15 sessions in 5 weeks (3 sessions per week). Each session last about 1 hour. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) were used for evaluation of balance.

Results: Using by SPSS-19 software and after independent T-test, significant differences in balance scales were found between the intervention and the control groups (p<0.05).

Conclusion: According to present evidence, stretch and massage are significantly effective on elderly's balance function. 

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Background and Aim: Semantic test "Pyramid and Palm Trees"(PPT) Test was used for assessing cognition and semantic system in brain disorders, semantic dementia, Alzheimer disease and aphasia. This test was designed in 1992 by Howard and Patterson and includes both versions picture and word. It has validity and reliability. The aim of this study is to determine of validity and reliability of Persian picture version "Pyramids and Palm Trees" Test and compare with aphasia and normal adults.

Materials and Methods: In this cross - sectional study, 45 subjects included 15 Aphasia and 30 normal adults respectively the mean age and standard deviation of 53 (7.77), 53 (7.91) years participated. All of participants were matched in the age and sex, and education and bilingualism. In the first stage, the picture version PPT had given to 14 expert(11 Speech and language pathologists, 3 Linguists) in order to determine content and face validity. According to their comments, pictures that were very far from Persian culture were replaced with proportional pictures with Persian culture. Then the reliability was calculated by performance of PPT during an interval of 5-7 days in two stages for all of aphasia patients. In order to compare of results, PPT was performed on normal adults. Then, the results were analyzed by SPSS18 software. The statistic tests were included of lavashh correlation for validity, Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for reliability and independent T-Test for comparison of scores mean of picture version PPT between aphasia and normal adults.

Results: ICC ranges for reliability were 0.88 – 0.93. Also difference of scores mean of picture version PPT between aphasia and normal adults were significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The Persian version PPT have validity and reliability. This study showed semantic disorder in aphasia patients in compared with normal adults. 

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Background and Aim: Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in adults around the world and plays a great role in inducing disability in elderly. Patients suffering from severe knee osteoarthritis usually complain of pain and severe functional disability. For these patients, conservative treatments are often induces least remedy for pain and improvement of functional ability. This study evaluates the effects of knee mechanical traction on pain, edema, range of movement and functional ability in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, forty women with severe knee OA (grade 3 & 4 on the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale) were recruited and randomly divided into two groups with different treatment protocols (common physiotherapy treatment and common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction). Functional capacity and level of pain were assessed by 6-minute walking test and visual analog scale respectively. A goniometer was used to measure knee range of movement and edema was also evaluated by use of measuring tape.

 Results: Common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction compared to common physiotherapy treatment leads to significant decrease in pain (P<0.01) and increase in functional capacity (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Common physiotherapy treatment accompanied by knee traction is a more effective treatment than common physiotherapy procedure in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis.

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Background and Aim: Reading disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with deficits in cognition and motor skills. According to available studies, the brain structure in thesechildren is intact, but the brain function is abnormal. So, neurofeedback as a new treatment, can improve brain function in this disorder through regulating abnormalities of electroencephalogram (EEG). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of neurofeedback balance protocol (to inhibit 4-7 Hz while reinforcing 15-18 Hz at electrode sites O1 and O2) on EEG and balance performance in children with reading disorder.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a single subject design in 20 sessions. Participants were 4 children (1girl and 3 boys) aged between 8-12 years old who completed twelve 30-min neurofeedback sessions. Repeated measurements were performed during the baseline, treatment and follow-up by means of 2nd subtest of BOTMP for balance performance and EEG for brain waves changes.

Results: The results showed that the effect of treatment on balance performance was high (Cohen’d > 0.8) in all subjects but there were no significant changes in absolute power of brain waves.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that neurofeedback balance protocol can improve balance in children with reading disorder and may be more treatment sessions are needed for significant brain waves changes.

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Background and Aim: Cerebral palsy is the most common chronic physical disability in childhood which may have negative effects on quality of lifeof parents. The aim of this research was to study the quality of life in mothers of children with severe cerebral palsy.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 70 children (aged 4 to 12) and their mothers referring to rehabilitation centers in Tehran in 2012 were selected by convenience sampling method. SF-36 was used to assess mother`s quality of life. Mother’s stress and their children gross motor function were assessed using the Resource and Stress Questionnaire and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) respectively. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression tests were used for analyzing the data.

Results: The mothers’ mean age was 34.41 years (SD=5.72). The total mean score on health survey was 53.74. There was a statistically significant relationship between all dimensions of quality of life measures except mental health, social functioning and role limitations from emotional health problems with GMFCS level(p<0.05). Also, it was found that there is a significant relationship between mothers’ mental health, physical health and their total score of quality of life with their level of stress (p=0.000).

Conclusion: Considering the above results, parents of children with cerebral palsy describe their quality of life as moderate. Also, cerebral palsy severity and stress can negatively impact on a mothers’ life.

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Background and Aim: One of the most common defects after stroke is deficit in trunk control and balance which can lead to disability or dependency in many functional activities in life. Many therapeutic approacheswere used in the stroke rehabilitation, but there is not any unique accepted approach in this field yet. However there are many evidences that show task-oriented practice for neuro-movement rehabilitation can be efficient. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of intensive task-oriented balance practices on functional balance and mobility in patients with chronic stroke.

Materials and Methods: This was an interventional - quasi-experimental study on 13 patients (4 women, 9 men, mean age 55.07 ± 8.41) with chronic stroke which were selected according to inclusion criteria. The intervention included 10 days of intensive practice during 2 weeks ,5 days per week and 3 hours a day. The assessments (Berg Balance Scale, Time Up-Go) were performed before and after the intervention.

Results: Intensive task-oriented balance training in patients with chronic stroke significantly increased the functional balance (p=0.005) and reduced the time of functional mobility (p=0.001)

Conclusion: The results showed that intensive task-oriented balance training can improve functional balance and functional mobility. Because this study was done only in one group, conducting more studies with appropriate control group is suggested.it is recommended to follow up the long lasting effects of training.

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Background and Aim: Accurate control of movement is one of the multiple components in skillful motor performance that can be impaired by disease. Trackingtests quantify the effects oftreatments designed toimprovecontrol of movement and they are considered as anideal protocol forimproving motor control. The purpose of the present study was to examine reliability of the control error during target tracking tasks in trunk region in sagittal transverse torque plane in healthy subjects.

Materials and Methods: Nine healthy subjects (4 females and 5 males) randomly performed target tracking tasks at levels of 0% to 80% Maximum Voluntary Exertions (MVE) and twelve different directions (0 ̊, 30 ̊, 60 ̊, …, 330 ̊) twice in upright standing posture. In this study, the tracking system included a moving target circle, which moved on a straight line in specific direction from 0 to 80% of individual MVE with speed of 6% MVE/S.The direction of isometric trunk exertion was presented to participants in the online visual feedback by a computer monitor positioned in front of them. Trunk controllability was determined by computing the control errors (Absolute Value Error from the Target [AVET], Error from the Target Path [ETP] and Error from the Target in the Target Path [ETTP]) during each performance. Relative reliability (Intra-class Correlation Coefficient [ICC]) of the control error in each direction was determined. Also absolute reliability (Standard Error of Measurement [SEM]) and Minimal Detected Change (MDC95) were computed.

Results:The results have shown that ICC for AVET, ETP and ETTP ranged from 0.81 to 0.99, 0.71 to 0.98 and 0.7 to 0.99, respectively. Also SEM for these variables ranged between 0.003- 0.013, 0.001- 0.009 and 0.003- 0.011, respectively and finally MDC95 ranged between 0.008 to 0.036 for AVET, 0.003 to 0.025 for ETP and 0.008 to 0.03 for ETTP.

Conclusion: The study showed high and very high reliability for control error measures during target tracking tasks in sagittal transverse torque plane in asymptomatic subjects. Therefore this performance may be used as a test in trunk controllability assessment.

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Background and Aim: Since utilization of different patterns to perform voluntary movements influence human function, the aim of this study was to compare the selected kinematic parameters of active males in voluntary and involuntary gait initiation.

Materials and Methods: In this quazi-experimental study 13 young male subjects with age (23.3±3.1) years, height (1.75±.13) m, weight (68.9±7) kg and body mass index (22.4±1.8) k/m2, performed initiation of gait in 6 trials included three voluntary and three involuntary. Kinematic parameters measured by motion analysis system. K-S test was used to ensure the normal distribution of data and dependent T- test to compare within group variable at P0.05 level.

Result: The results showed that use of perturbation that leads to the initiation of motion, increased distance (p: 0.00) and velocity (p: 0.00) and reduced the time of gait initiation (p: 0.00), swing time (p: 0.00), stance time (p: 0.00) and double support time (p: 0.00), increased the amount of hip (p: 0.00) and knee flexion (p: 0.00) and decreased the amount of ankle dorsiflexion (p: 0.00). In addition, the displacement of the center of mass in the medio-lateral and vertical directions was decreased (p=0.03) and increased (p=0.01) respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate significant changes in most of the spatio-temporal parameters of gait initiation as a result of using Perturbation that leads to the initiation of motion. The results of this study can be recommended to be used in the field of gait initiation studies as well as in clinical cases to diagnose the normal and abnormality.

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Abstract

 Background and Aim: Regard with the importance of balance in daily activities especially in sport activities and understanding the important factor affecting it, the purpose of this study was to compare the role of vision system on dynamic postural stability of young women with men elite athletes.

Materials and Methods: Twenty six young women and men elite swimmer were chosen from the available society. They were divided in two groups according to body mass index. Each subject performed postural stability tests for 6 trials with open and close eyes (3 trials with open and 3 trial with close eyes) that each trial was taken for 30 seconds and with 10 seconds rest between each of them. Balance index in anterior- posterior and medial- lateral directions were calculated and independent t test was used to compare between groups.

Result: Results show that men swimmer are more depended to vision than women swimmer in maintaining retrieval postural stability (p= 0.001), while most impairment in maintaining postural stability in both groups occur in lack of vision status in anterior- posterior direction (p= 0.001).

 Conclusion: The findings of this study can be used to design training programs to prepare athletes.

Key words: balance, vision, athlete, control

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Abstract

Background and Aim: Patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency are divided to coper and noncoper groups. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of perturbation training with traditional rehabilitation on functional tests of lower extremity and knee muscles isokinetic peak torque ratio in two groups of patients with ACL-deficient: coper and noncoper

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 24 patients with ACL-deficient were divided to two groups: coper and noncoper. They participated in a management plan for 4 weeks, three times a week, including perturbation exercises and traditional rehabilitation (stretching, strengthening, and endurance exercises). Lower extremity functional tests through hop tests and knee muscles isokinetic peak torque ratio were evaluated.

 Results: After 4 weeks, all the functional tests improved significantly in both groups and timed 6-meter hop test showed significant improvement in coper group with respect to noncoper grouop (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups in knee flexors to extensors isokinetic peak torque ratio but this ratio was lower and close to normal values in coper group.

Conclusion: Perturbation training with traditional rehabilitation improves functional abilities of lower extremity in both groups of coper and noncoper of the patients with ACL-deficient. Probably, the patients of noncoper ACL-deficient have chance to return in some daily activities too.

Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament, perturbation training, functional tests, knee isokinetic peak torque

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Abstract

Background and Aim: consider ing based on the presence or absence of swelling of the optic disc, optic neuritis classified nto two types of anterior and retrobulbar optic neuritis. The aim of this study was to compare the visual functions of patients with anterior optic neuritis and retrobulbar optic neuritis.

Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in 48 patients with optic neuritis including 35 patients (26 females) with retrobulbar optic neuritis and 13 patients (10 females) with anterior optic neuritis. Total cases aged ranging from 18 to 45 years old.The patients underwent clinical tests of visual functions, including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and color vision. The collected data was recorded and statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software. The significance of the differences between two types of the diseases were calculated and compared by independent t-test.

Results: The anterior optic neuritis patients were slightly older than the retrobulbar optic neuritis ones (Average30.6yearsVs26.6years). Average defect to the visual functions was more severe in anterior optic neuritis in compare to retrobulbar. The visual functions of visual acuity (t=1.74, P=0.048) and color vision (t=-3.00, P=0.005) were significantly different between two types of the diseases. However, there was not a statistically significant difference (t=1.64, P=0.104) for contrast sensitivity as a visual function.

Conclusion: In the retrobulbar optic neuritis that there is not a specific appearance of fundoscopy ,the visual function of contrast sensitivity can be used as a helpful tool for primary diagnosis of the disease. especially

Key words: Anterior optic neuritis, etrobulbar optic neuritis, visual acuity, contrasts ensitivity ,colorvision.

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Abstract

Background and Aim: Proprioceptive problems, visuospatial deficits and muscle weakness are the main causes of weight bearing asymmetry and postural control impairment in chronic hemiparesis patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between center of pressure parameters in quiet standing with eyes open and closed and functional balance tests and symmetry index in these patients.

Materials and Methods: In this correlation study, 16 stroke patients (mean age: 52.937±10.109 years), were selected by simple non-probability sapling. Force plate, Functional Reach and Timed Up and Go tests and scales were used in order to investigate postural sway parameters in quiet standing, functional balance and symmetry index, respectively.

Results: Moderate to high significant correlation was obtained between Timed Up and Go test and symmetry index and most of the postural sway parameters in eyes closed condition, while Functional Reach test had only moderate significant correlation with standard deviation of velocity (anterior-posterior) and phase plane total. Also symmetry index showed moderate correlation with most of the postural sway parameters.

Conclusion: Current study demonstrates the role of vision and task in correlation between center of pressure parameters, balance tests and symmetry index.

Key words: Correlation, Symmetric weight bearing, Postural sway, Functional Reach, Timed Up and Go, Force plate, Quiet standing

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Abstract

Background and Aim: Visual impairment affects people's quality of life. Since the effect of rehabilitation services is measured by improving in quality of life, this study was performed to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation services on quality of life in the blind.

Materials and Methods: 121 blind and low vision people who covered by Zahedan Welfare Organization were studied by census method in this descriptive analytical study. Data was collected using demographic questionnaire (including demographic information and rehabilitation services information in the people) and quality of life questionnaire for the blind. This questionnaire was translated to Persian by Tavakol et al wich its and validity and reliability was assessed with using content validity and test-re-test method, respectively (0.89

Results: T-test results showed the mean score of quality of life significantly higher in patients who had rehabilitation service than persons deprived of services (p=0.03). Mann-Whitney test showed these patients have significantly higher quality of life in mobility domain (p=0.01) and self-care (p<0.001).

Conclusion: According to the results, developing rehabilitation services and providing social programs for the blind is suggested.

Keywords: rehabilitation service, quality of life, blind people, low vision people