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 Background and Aim: Spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity dependent increase in tonic stretch reflex and tendon jerks, due to the hyper-excitability of the stretch reflex. Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) is a clinical tool for assessment of spasticity. The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-rater reliability of the MTS for knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors muscles in adult subjects with chronic stroke.

 Materials and Methods: In an analytical cross sectional study, 17 participants (10 men ,7 women) with age range of 40-76 years and mean time post stroke of 20/79 (SD=20/55) in a convenient sampling took part in this test-retest study. Intra-rater reliability of spasticity with MTS was investigated by one un-experienced physiotherapist for knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors in two sessions over one week. 

 Results: Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values for R₂-R₁ as an indicator of spasticity in knee extensor and plantar flexors was good (ICC=0/66) and very good (ICC=0/87) and for knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors quality of muscle reaction was 0.80 and 0.92 respectively.

 Conclusion: The MTS has a good reliability in spasticity assessment of knee extensors and ankle plantar muscles after stroke. Probably MTS can be used as a reliable clinical tool to measure spasticity of lower extremity muscles in adult subjects with chronic stroke.

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 Background and Aim:  Because of high incidence of hand injuries and the need for a quantitative method that provides measures of patient improvement in treatment period, a precise and easy-to-apply quantitative procedure is necessary. As a first step in validating of such a method, the intersession repeatability of quantified measures was assessed in this study. 

Materials and Methods: Measurement of hand drawing skills by drawing circle shape in two speeds (preferred and maximum) and spiral shape just in a preferred voluntary speed with two repetitions for each subject was assessed in 15 subjects. Digital data was recorded by a Tablet PC using special software with average sampling rate of 120 Hz.

Results: The quantified variables computed for circle and spiral drawing tests with preferred speed were reliable (0.55 < ICC < 0.85), so they can be used for drawing quantifications. Results of drawing circles with maximum speed were not reliable (ICC<0.5).

 Conclusion: Repeatability analysis revealed that measures based on drawing circles with maximum speed are not repeatable and cannot be used for progress monitoring. This may be due to large variation in providing maximum drawing speed during test time. On the other hand, spiral and circle drawing parameters with preferred speed had a better repeatability and can be used for quantification of hand drawings in researches. 

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Background and Aim: Difficulties in sidedness of autistic students and their defected language and communication function can be in relationship with their educational state. This research was designed to investigate the possible relationship among sidedness, communicative function and educational state in autistic students. 

Materials and Methods: This is a described-analytic research and a kind of cross sectional and comparative one. For these purpose 40 autistic students with age average 10 years old and 8 months (SD=±2.5) were chosen. Communicative function questionnaire were completed by all subjects‘parents. We used observation check list to examine handedness, footedness, and dominant eye and ear. Using of T-test, covariance analysis data were analyzed.

Results :Data analysis indicated that there is not significant statistically difference  between communicative function and educational state(p<0.05),but participants with weak educational state less tend to definite sidedness preference-in hand and foot not in eye and ear (p>0.05).

Conclusion: These findings reveal that stability of sidedness, which obtains with interventions rehabilitation in autistic students, can perform important role in high language skills and appropriate educational state for them.