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Background and Aim: This study examined the effect of empowerment programs on geriatric depression in daily rehabilitation center Farzanegan of Khorramabad city. 

Materials and Methods: In this interventional study, 40 elderly subjects were participated in the city of Khoramabad with a mean age of 65 years old.  They were 8 men and 12 women in each group.

These people have the ability to perform common tasks without dependence on others and they had no systemic and restrictive disease.Subjects randomly divided into two groups (case and control).In case group, empowerment programs was performed for 40 days and 3 hours in a day. Empowerment program included lifestyle education, rehabilitation services, support services, cultural, sports, arts, tourism and leisure services. Part of the program was general such as training of healthy lifestyle and daily exercise and another part of services was presented based on assessment and diagnosis of treatment and rehabilitation team. This program was produced by designers and experts from the office of country welfare  elderly. Depression scores in both group, before the intervention and at the end of intervention was assessed by the beck depression inventory.

Results: Using the empowerment program, depression scores were reduced after intervention (P≤0.047 ), however in the control group did not make significant changes in depression scores.

Conclusion: The date showed that that regular and consistent application of empowerment program can an effective and complementary method in conjunction with other treatments as well as a non-drug therapy in improving depression.

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Background and Aim: Cerebral Palsy (CP) children are the most clients referred to occupational therapy settings. Hand function is important in Activities of Daily living .There is a hand dysfunction in most cerebral palsy children. Orthosis and splints are commonly used to improve the position, range of motion, quality of movement and function of a person's arm or hand. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of static cock up c-bar splint on strength,spasticity, range of motion, and dominant hand function in spastic diplegic children with 8 to 12 years old. 

Materials and Methods: This interventional study is in a before-after design. Thirteen spastic diplegic 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 used a static cock up c-bar splint (wrist in 10 degrees of extension and thumb in palmar abduction and opposition) for two months, 2 hours daily and 4-6 hours at night. In this study the Jebsen Taylor test was used to evaluate hand function, the Modified Ashworth Scale was used to assess spasticity of thumb, wrist and elbow, ROM of thumb, wrist and elbow were tested with goniometer and power grip was evaluated with dynamometer.  

 Results : Results showed a significant improvement in hand function (p<0.001), in wrist`s spasticity (p<0.001), elbow`s spasticity(p<0.008), palmar abduction of thumb spasticity (p<0.002), wrist`s ROM (p<0.001), Palmar abduction of thumb ROM(p<0.001) and power grip(p<0.001). The data did not show significant improvement on elbow`s joint ROM. 

Conclusion: Information from present research shows that using static cock up c-bar splint for 2 months, 2 hours a day and 4 to 6 hours nightly, can be an effective method to improve power grip, hand function, thumb, wrist and elbow spasticity and range of motion of thumb and wrist of spastic diplegic CP children.

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Background and Aim : Cerebral palsy (CP) children are the most referral patients to occupational therapy centers. Hand function is important in activity of daily living. There is a hand dysfunction in most cerebral palsy children. Orthosis and splint are commonly used to improve the position , range of motion, quality of movement, arm and hand function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of static anti-pronation splint on dominant upper extremity function in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children with 8 to 12 years old.

  

Materials and Methods : This interventional study is in a before-after design for two group case and control. Thirty spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children with 8 to 12 years old who had the inclusion criteria, were randomly assigned to case and control group. Patients of case group used a static anti-pronation splint for 2 months, 8 hours daily. In this study the Jebsen Taylor test was used to evaluate upper extremity function, the Goniometer was used to measure ROM of elbow, forearm and wrist, the Modified Ashworth Scale was used to assess spasticity of elbow, forearm and wrist. Power grip and pinch were assessed with MIE device.

  

Results : In the case group results showed a significant improvement in upper extremity function (0.026), forearm supination ROM (0.007), wrist extention ROM (0.005), forearm muscle pronator spasticity (0.001), wrist muscle flexsor spasticity (0.009), power grip (0.001) and pinch (0.001). The data did not show significant improvement on elbow extention ROM (0.075), elbow muscle flexsor spasticity (0.164). In comparison with control group, the data showed a significant improvement in upper extremity function (P=0.001), forearm supination ROM (p=0.034), wrist extention ROM (P=0.042), forearm muscle pronator spasticity (P=0.009), power grip (P=0.001) and pinch (P=0.001). The data did not show significant improvement on elbow extention ROM (P=0.140), elbow muscle flexsor spasticity (P=0.638) and wrist muscle flexsor spasticity (P=0.105).

  

Conclusion : The findings show that using static anti-pronation splint for 2 months , 8 hours a day , can be an effective method to improve upper extremity function , range of motion of forearm and wrist , forearm spasticity and power grip and pinch in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children with 8 to 12 years old .

  

Key word : Cerebral palsy, Static anti pronation splint, Upper extremity function, Spasticity, Power