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Background and aim: There is neuroplasticity in all of life time, from newborn to elderly and neuronal connections are being created and broken by experiences and states of health or disease. The recovery of people with stroke or cerebral palsy can be a sign of neuroplasticity.

The aim of this article is to detect significance of neuroplasticity and critical period of recovery in central nervous system after stroke and cerebral palsy.

Materials and methods: This study is based on review of internal and external articles that published about neuroplasticity in central nervous system after stroke and cerebral palsy from 1987 to 2007.

Results: According to review the articles the mechanisms of neuroplasticity after stroke and cerebral palsy consist of Axonal and dendrites Sprouting, cortical reorganization and neurogenesis.

The rehabilitation protocols have a direct effect on integration and reorganization in intact areas adjacent to injured motor areas of cortex.

Conclusion: This study showed that reorganization continually occurs in response to task, behavior and learning skills.

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Background and Aim: Internal Evaluation is an appraisal of abilitieshttp://mrj.tums.ac.ir/files/0allsites/wysiwyg_en.gif and potentials. The Internal Evaluation process, especially in an Educational Department, is an effective mechanism of the Departments quality process. The Aim of this research was to determine level of factors in the Occupational therapy Department and determining points of the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Occupational therapy department in order to improve the programs and activities after this research.

 Material and Methods: This research was descriptive and analytical study. In this evaluation, nine important factors were taken into account. These include:  1- missions statement and goals 2- managerial and organization structure 3- faculty members 4- students 5- educational course and curriculum 6- graduate students 7- educational and research facilities and equipment 8- research 9- quality of treatment. Data were collected by questioner. Results were analyzed descriptively and were expressed as raw data and percentage. Scores of 49.9% was undesirable, between 49.9% and 74.9%, and more than 75% were desirable and very desirable, respectively.

 Results: The nine above factors were scored as follows: 1- missions statement and goals (very desirable 4.06, 81.2%) 2- managerial and organization structure(very desirable 3.95, 79%) 3- faculty members (desirable 3.63, 72.6%) 4- students(desirable 3.1, 62%) 5- educational course and curriculum (desirable 3.56 , 71.2%) 6- graduate student (undesirable 2.25 , 45%) s 7- educational and research facilities and equipment (desirable 3.18, 63.6%) 8- research (desirable 3.11, 62.2%)  9- quality of treatment(very desirable 4.22, 84.4%) The score of the Occupational therapy department, as the main factor is 3.44 out of 5 that is 68.1%.

 Conclusion: An analysis of the findings of this research study led to the understanding that the Department of Occupational therapy was desirable.

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Background and aim: The aim of this study was to determine effect of home based lovaas approach on social interaction, Speech and language, Play and behavior skills, and intensity of autism in young children with Autism

Materials & Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental, interventional pre/post design. Thirty children with Autism were selected by convenience sampling in a rehabilitation center by matching closely, 8 years old, in Tehran city.

The impact of lovaas approach was evaluated in children with Autism. For evaluation total scores and dimension of social interaction skills speech and language play a behavior before and after therapeutic intervention we used The PDD assessment scale/screening questionnaire. The results were analyzed with paired T test and wilcoxon signed and multivariate T² Hotteling and SPSS software edition 17.

Results: After intervention PDD assessment scores decreased (P<0/001). Significant progress were observed in social interaction skills (P<0/001).Speech and language (P=0/001), play (p<0/001) and behavior (P= 0/002). Significant decrease wasn't seen in the intensity of PDD after intervention (P> 0/05).

Conclusion: The result showed that home based lovaas approach increased the social interaction, Speech and language, Play and behavior skills in children with Autism 

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Background and Aim: Muscle weakness can be a major problem for many young people with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Strength affects on gross motor function. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of loaded forward and lateral step up resistance exercises on Gross Motor Function in children with cerebral palsy of spastic diplegia.

Materials and Methods: Twenty CP persons between 5 to 12 years old (11 boys and 9 girls) with mean age of 8.15 years old were participated in this study. Loaded forward and lateral step up resistance exercises protocols were done 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Isometric strength of hip abductor, hip extensor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor were evaluated by MMT NICHOLAS apparatus. Gross Motor Function were evaluated by GMFM.

Result: The strength of Hip abductor, hip extensor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor increased (p < 0.05). The scores of GMFM dimensions D and E improved (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Loaded forward and lateral step up resistance exercises increased muscle strength of lower extremity and improved scores in GMFM. 

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Background and aim: Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disorder in childhood that affects on motor performance and functional activity. Impaired hand function is the secondary problem in children with spastic diplegia.

Individuals with hand dysfunction encounter with difficulties in self care, educational and recreational activities. The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of task oriented training on upper extremity function in children with spastic diplegia (8-12 years old).

Material and methods: Fifteen spastic diplegic children were participated in task oriented training three days weekly up to 8 weeks. The outcomes were measured with Jebsen-Ttaylor hand function test for upper extremity function, Purdue peg board test for hand dexterity, goniometer for range of motion and Ashworth scale for spasticity.

 Results: The data showed significant improvement in upper extremity function (P≤0.0001) , hand dexterity (P≤0.001) , wrist and elbow range of motion (P≤0.0001) and wrist and elbow spasticity (P≤0.05) after interventions.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that task oriented training can improve upper extremity function in children with spastic diplegia.

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Background and Aim: in hemiplegic children Postural tone of the two sides of body is different. Once, asymmetric stance is a typical state in individuals' with unilateral pain and/or paresis and standing is with weight bearing on the stronger side. Obviously, an asymmetric stance with majority of weight bearing on the affected side can counter faces individual with the falling risk and causes instability. It seems coordinating of the two sides of body is the most vitally important therapeutic exercises in hemiplegic patients. Although stable stance is a simple postural task but it's controlled semi-automatically by cortical and spinal centers. It is established that stable standing, also demands cognition resources. So, postural control demands the interaction between musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
Material and method: In this clinical trial (before-after) 17 children 5-12 years old with spastic hemiplegia were participated. The subjects stayed in the center of force plate with the most stable standing position while using /not-using lateral wedge and in each state with/without doing cognition task. Short- memory test of digit span used as dual task condition. The mean range of fore-after and mediolateral sway and velocity and area as postural control independent variables and error measures in recalling of randomized digit chain as cognition task independent variables were registered.
Results: The wedge affected Rsw (P=0.015), Area (P=0.007) and Vm (P=0.005) significantly. Dual task also had significant effect on Rfa (P=0.014), Rsw (P=0.014), Area (P=0.002) and Vm (P=0.002). But the wedge declines its effect properly.
Conclusion: The results represent that a 5º lateral wedge applied to the unaffected limb, can improve factors of postural control even in Dual tasking thus The wedge can be used with a good effect on the posture of hemiplegic children.

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Background and Aim: The role of function of upper extremity in activity of daily living is critical and any impairment of function could cause major problems for diplegic spastic cerebral palsy (CP) patients. So, the application of rehabilitation protocols that could regain the hand function is very important.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of simultaneous activation of exteroception and proprioception on function of upper extremity in children with diplegic spastic CP, 3-7 years old.

Materials and Methods: Thirteen CP patients (3-7 years mean: 4.92 years 4 boys and 9 girls) were participated in this study. Simultaneous activation of exteroception and proprioception were done 3 times a week (for 8 weeks). Function of upper extremity was evaluated by Quest Test and the degree of spasticity in wrist was evaluated by Modified Ashworth Scale.

 Results: The results of this study showed that after simultaneous activation of exteroception and proprioception, function of upper extremity was significantly improved (P<0.001). In addition, degree of spasticity in wrist muscles was significantly decreased (P<0.022).

Conclusion: Based on results of current study, it might be suggested that simultaneous activation of exteroception and proprioception could improve the function of upper extremity and decrease of spasticity. This in respect could reduce the disabilities of patients. So, the application of current protocols for the patients is suggested. 

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Background and Aim : Investigating the relationship between sensory processing and behavior in 7 to 10 years old children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity

Objective: This study examined the association between behavioral problems and emotional status of children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity

  

Materials and Methods : In this descriptive-analytic study, 24 children with ADHD and 24 normal matched children in the age range of 7- 10 years old were participated. After completing a demographic questionnaire and consent informed Letter , The children's parents were asked to complete Sensory Profile Questionnaire (SP) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

  

Results: Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16 software. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test are used to assess compliance of each variable distribution with normally distributed variables. T-test were used to compare variables (CBCL and SP scores) in the 2 groups. T-test results show that the difference between the means of two groups in sensory seeking, emotional reactivity, and low endurance /muscle tone.

  Inattention / distractibility, poor sensory registration, fine movement/ perception and emotional reactivity are significant. The calculated t value is lower from the t-critical (1.96) and the probability error (CI 5%). But in variables such as the oral sensory sensitivity, sensory sensitivity and sedentary difference between the two groups’ averages is not significant.

 There are significant correlations between some of Child Behavior Checklist questionnaire variables and sensory profile in sensory seeking and emotional reactivity variable, low endurance / muscle tone variables, the variable inattention and distractibility, fine movements/ perception and sensory registration.

  

Conclusion : our study suggest that behavioral problems in the Child Behavior Checklist grows by increasing these problems in sensory profile questionnaire .

  

Key words : Sensory processing, Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, Behavioral problems.

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Background and Aim: Mothers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience limitation in occupational performance because of caring of their children. It is proposed that the standard measurements need to be assessed their occupational performance problem. The aim of this study was to translate "Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) into Persian and to test its content validity and reliability in Iranian mothers of children with cerebral palsy.

Materials and Methods: It was a non experimental methodology study. After permission from innovators, COPM was translated into Persian language in three phases with respect to IQOLA project. Each of the items was validated by a panel of ten experts to review each item on “appropriate” and “not appropriate”. For examining test-retest reliability Iranians version of COPM was responded twice within at least two days or at most one week interval, by 30 Iranian mother of a child with CP in the rehabilitation clinic under the supervision of University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR). We used to sample of convenience and non probability design for sampling. Then, data were analyzed with SPSS software from the aspects of content validity and test-retest reliability.

Results: Content validity rate of the Persian version demonstrated a high content validity (80.95±0.222). The Spearman correlation coefficients of the test and retest scores ranged from r=0.84 for performance to r=0.87 for satisfaction and this indicated a high correlation between scores and acceptable reliability of the Persian version of COPM.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the Persian version of COPM can be applied reliability to mothers of children with CP and it can be used for clinical as well as research purposes.

Key words: Canadian occupational performance measure, Mother, Cerebral palsy, Validity, Reliability