Background and Aim: One of the main causes of chronic non-specific low back pain is inappropriate working conditions, high repetition of one activity or work heaviness. An appropriate, accurate, inexpensive and easy assessment tools is necessary for measuring intensity of exposure to injurious  work activities, Identify individuals at risk and using appropriate treatment. The aim of this study is to compare the single-item Borg scale with JRPD scale to identify individuals at risk of exposure to injurious work activities in chronic non-specific LBP.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional survey study, 92 subjects with non-specific low back pain by mean age of 29.16 (SD= ± 8.55) years and 93 healthy subjects by mean age of 26.80 (SD= ± 9.17) years and matched of work time, age and type of service with subjects with non-specific low back pain were selected by simple non-probability method. Single-item Borg scale and JRPD scale were used to assess the intensity of injurious work activities.

Results: Considering JRPD scale as a criterion scale, the sensitivity rate of 82% and specificity rate of 28% was obtained for single-item Borg scale at the moderate threshold. While the severe threshold for this scale, sensitivity and specificity rate were 25% and 85%, respectively. Also, the results showed that both single-item Borg scale and JRPD scale has significant ability to classify subjects with non-specific low back pain which are exposed or not exposed to injurious work ability (P<0.001). 

Conclusion: The single-item Borg scale has high sensitivity and low specificity at the moderate threshold and above and high specificity and low sensitivity at severe threshold to identify individuals Exposed to injurious work activities in military with chronic non-specific LBP.

Keywords: Injurious work activities, Non-specific LBP, Single-item Borg scale, JRPD scale

Background and Aim: Cerebral palsy is a common cause of inability in childhood that effects on posture and motor development and leads in activity limitation. One of the difficulty of cerebral palsy is impairment in arm and hand function. Splints and orthosis are used to improve position, range of motion and hand function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of static anti-pronation splint on spasticity, range of motion, grip and pinch strength and function of affected hand of spastic hemiplegic children of 8-12 years old.

Materials and Methods: This is an interventional study. Twenty spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy children with 8 to 12 years old were selected through students who studied in physical disabled schools in Tehran city and had the inclusion criteria. Patients randomly divided into intervention and control group. Patients in intervention group used a static anti-pronation splint for two months, 6 hours daily. In this study the Jebsen Taylor test was used to evaluate hand function, the Modified Ashworth Scale was used to assess spasticity of wrist, forearm and elbow, ROM of wrist, forearm and elbow were measured with goniometer and grip and pinch strength were evaluated with MIE.

Results: Results in intervention group showed a significant improvement in hand function (p<0.003), in wrist`s spasticity (p<0.005), forearm`s spasticity (p<0.003), wrist`s ROM (p<0.001), forearm ROM (p<0.003), grip strength (p<0.001) and pinch strength (p<0.003) in intervention group. The data did not show significant improvement on elbow`s joint ROM (p<0.343) and spasticity (p<0.157).In control group, significant improvement did not seen (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Information from present research shows that using static anti-pronation splint for 2 months ,6 hours a day, can be an effective method to improve hand function, wrist and  forearm spasticity and range of motion, strength of grip and pinch in hemiplegic CP children.

Keywords: Static anti-pronation splint, Hand function, Spastic hemiplegic, Cerebral palsy.

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the neck and temporomandibular joint range of motion and muscle endurance in patients with temporomandibular disorders, referring to the dental school of tehran university of medical science and healthy individuals.

Materials and Methods: A total of 30 healthy men as control and 30 patients aged 20-40 years with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) were selected as patients. Range of motion in flexion and extension of the head and neck and mouth opening was measured and masticatory muscle endurance as well as the neck extensor muscles was measured and averaged values for each patient group were compared with the control group.

Results: Head and neck flexion range of motion and endurance of neck extensor muscles in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) was lower than healthy controls. (P<0.001)

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that disorders of temporomandibular joint can change extensor muscle endurance and range of motion in neck. Pay attention to neck problems can be effective in improving patients with disorders of temporomandibular joint.

 Keywords: Range of motion, Muscular endurance, Temporomandibular disorder