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. 

Background and aim: Human knee joints experience very large loads and motions during regular daily, occupational and sport activities. Consequently, they are at high risk of being exposed to injuries and degeneration. Osteoarthritis and ligament injuries often inflict knee joints causing considerable pain and loss of productivity involving thus significant human and economic costs. Hence, biomechanics of human knee joints has been the focus of many investigations with the primary aim to improve understanding of joint function in normal and perturbed conditions. The existing prevention and treatment programs have been based on such studies.
Material and Methods: Due to inherent costs, limitations, difficulties and ethical concerns associated with in vivo and in vitro cadaveric studies, finite element model studies have been developed as effective, powerful and complementary tools to investigate knee joint biomechanics subject to internal and external mechanical conditions affecting its normal function.
Results: The advantage of finite element method in study of joint biomechanics lies in its robustness to incorporate complex 3D joint geometry, intricate boundary and loading conditions and materials with nonhomogeneous and nonlinear properties.
Conclusion:This article reviews important model studies, presents their relevant results and discusses some of the promising future directions.

Background and aim: One of the main problems in learning is ignoring the teaching in small group discussion.So, today, teaching in student-based methods such as work in small group is emphasized. Nevertheless, this method is not used for teaching physiotherapy students. This study was performed to determine the effect of teaching in small group on satisfaction and learning level of second- year students in physiotherapy in comparison  with lecture teaching.
Materials and methods: An experimental study was performed on 29 physiotherapy students. The students were randomly classified into two groups lecture (14 people) and work in small group (15 people). Students were educated for 4 sessions. Two separate questionnaires were used to assess learning and satisfaction levels.
Results: Overall satisfaction in small group was significantly greater than lecture group (P<0.0001). However, there was no significant difference between learning levels of the methods (p>0.05). 86.7% of students in small groups preferred to be educated in the future semesters using this teaching method.
Conclusion: This study showed the role of small group teaching on increasing students' satisfaction level. Due to increased satisfaction in small group, despite the lack of significant difference between the two methods of learning, learning process can be facilitated .Thus this method is recommended for education of the undergraduate students.

Background and Aim: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is common in sports competition and training. Following ACL rupture, neuromuscular system performance is disrupted. Perturbation training can improve the function of patients with ACL reconstruction. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of perturbation training on ground reaction force and functional status of these patients .

Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with ACL reconstruction were randomly assigned into intervention (mean age: 24/2 ±3/4 years) and control (mean age: 27/1 ± 2/5 years) groups. The intervention group performed ten sessions perturbation training with rocker board, wobble board and Bosu. Peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) and time to peak vertical GRF were recorded by KISTLER force plate during single leg landing from a 30cm height step. In addition, cross hop test also was evaluated as a functional test.

Results: Before perturbation training, both GRF and time to peak vertical GRF in reconstructed knee had not significant difference between two groups (P>0/05). In addition, functional test score had not significant difference between the groups (P=0/62). Following perturbation training, peak vertical GRF in reconstructed knee was greater than that in control groups (P<0/003).Although time to peak vertical GRF in reconstructed knee increased, there was not statistically significant difference between two groups (P=0/50). Furthermore, functional test score was statistically greater in intervention group (P=0/03).

Conclusion: This s tudy showed that perturbation training can improve functional status in patients with ACL reconstruction. In addition, force plate findings indicated that the patients tolerated more forces at longer time in single leg landing.

Key words: Perturbation training, Ground reaction force, ACL reconstruction, Function

Background and Aim: Stuttering is a multifaceted disorder that affects motor control, language performance and communication attitude. It seems that investigating the relationship between overt (stuttering severity) and cover (communication attitude) features of stuttering is necessary. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between stuttering severity and the communication attitude of adults who stutter.

Materials and Methods: Fifty-six adults who stutter participated in this study. The SSI-3 (Stuttering Severity Instrument-3) in the 200 words read text and communication attitude by Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES-A) were used. Spearman's correlation coefficient and Non-parametric Mann-Whitney test were used to determine relationship between severity of stuttering, communication attitude, age and history of treatment.

Results: This study showed that there was not significant correlation between the severity of stuttering assessment and communication attitude (P >0.14). As well as, age with communication attitude (P&ge; 0.050) and history of treatment with the stuttering severity (P <0.001) were correlated. The relationship between stuttering severity with age (P >0.13) and communication attitude with history of treatment (P >0.7) were not correlated.

Conclusion: There was no relationship between the severity of stuttering and communication attitude. Since, in people who have had a history of treatment, severity of stuttering was reduced but communication attitude did not reduce, therefore, communication attitude should be considered in treatment.

Keywords: Stuttering, Stuttering severity inventory, Communication attitude, Overall assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering.