Life balance of mothers of children with cerebral palsy

Purpose: Having the child with Cerebral palsy is a very stressful experience for the family that could affect daily patterns and routines, habits, needs and occupational performances of all family members specially mothers. This study aimed to investigate life balance of mothers of children with Cerebral palsy (MCCPs) based on the Life Balance Model. Method: Fifty MCCPs aged 3 to 9 years with sample convenient method participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. The Severity of cerebral palsy was determined by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and the life balance of mothers was evaluated by Persian version of the LBI (P_LBI). The collected data were evaluated and analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The total mean score of LBI and its subscales showed that there is no balanced or very balanced life in mothers and they could be categorized to unbalanced (n = 21) and very unbalanced (n = 29). The total mean score of LBI was 1.46. χ2 test revealed statistically significant difference between two categories (unbalanced and very unbalanced) of mothers regarding GMFCS level (p = 0.009). Also, the total mean score of LBI and its subscales showed no significant difference between two categories (unbalanced and very unbalanced) regarding mother job and age and child age (p > 0.05) but it has significant difference regarding mother education (p = 0.009). Evaluation of the results of LBI and its different subscales indicated that the life balance at balanced or very balanced levels was not observed in any of the studied mothers, and they could be categorized in 2 groups of unbalanced (21 mothers ) and very unbalanced (29 mothers) (Table 2). Discussion: Based on the result of this study, mothers of Cerebral Palsy do not experience balanced life and this feeling of unbalance is related to the level of their child’s disability. Thus, it is necessary to consider this fact in family-centered evaluations and Occupational therapy interventions

Psychometric Features of the Patient Evaluation Measure in Iranian Individuals With Wrist Disorders

Objectives: The patient evaluation measure (PEM) evaluates the hand health profile. Having an appropriate measurement tool for the assessment of hand outcomes in Iranian individuals with wrist disorders is essential for clinical and research settings. The objective of the present study was to examine the psychometric features of the PEM in Iranian individuals with wrist disorders. Methods: Ninety individuals with wrist disorders were recruited. Hand outcome was evaluated with the PEM, quick-disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (Q-DASH), visual analogue scale-pain (VAS-P), and JAMAR hand-grip dynamometer. The PEM was translated into Persian. Face, content, and convergent validity was examined. Also, acceptability, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and absolute reliability were calculated. Results: All questions had an item impact score and CVR score of >1.5 and >0.42, respectively. All questions except for question 1 (CVI=0.76) and 10 (CVI=0.73) of section B had a CVI score of 0.05). Floor and ceiling effects were 0% for the total PEM score. The Cronbach’s α and intra-class correlation values were 0.72-0.87 and 0.96-0.98, respectively.  Discussion: The present study suggests that the PEM has acceptable validity and reliability for measuring performance and satisfaction in individuals with wrist disorders. This measure might contribute as an outcome measure in research and routine assessments in clinical practice

Effects of constraint induced movement therapy technique using wedge on weight bearing symmetry and functional balance in chronic hemiparesis patients

Introduction: Weight bearing asymmetry is one of the basic causes of disturbance in maintaining balance of hemiparesis patients that could complicate standing and participation in activities of daily living in these patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of constraint induced movement therapy technique using wedge on symmetry index as well as the short-term effects of this technique on functional balance of chronic hemiparesis patients.Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, twenty-one hemiparesis patients by mean age of 54.28 (±10.06) and the mean passed duration of injury 50.14 (±36.48) months were selected by simple non-probability method. The symmetry index was measured in three conditions: non-wedge, wedge 5ºand wedge 7.5º. Also, functional balance of patients was measured with Functional Reach (FR) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests before and after using of short-term constraint induced movement therapy technique.Results: According to the results of this study, symmetry index difference was significant in both wedge 5º and wedge 7.5º conditions compared with no-wedge condition (p<0.001), while it was not significant between wedge 5º and wedge 7.5º conditions. The mean scores of FR (P=0.012) and TUG (P=0.006) showed significant changes after using the constraint induced movement therapy techniqueConclusion: Constraint induced movement therapy technique caused immediate improvement of weight bearing symmetry and improvement of functional balance in short-term interva

Relationship Between Laterality and Handedness With the Higher Order Sensory Functions and Manual Dexterity of the Elderly

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the possible effects of laterality and handedness on higher-order sensory functions and manual dexterity of the elderly. Methods: In this non-experimental cross-sectional study, 58 elderly people aged 60-75 years (35 right-handed) were recruited through a convenience sampling method. Laterality of the selected subjects was examined using the Edinburg test, while the higher-order sensory functions were assessed via haptic performance along with weight and texture discrimination tests. Gross and fine manual dexterity functions were assessed with the help of the box-and-block and Purdue pegboard tests, respectively. Results: Results showed that the main effects of laterality and handedness, as well as the interaction effect of laterality &times; handedness on the haptic performance of the elderly were not significant. However, the main and interaction effects of laterality and handedness on the texture and weight discrimination of the elderly were significant. On the other hand, the main and interaction effects of laterality and handedness on the gross and fine manual dexterity of the elderly were not found to be significant. Discussion: Laterality has no effect on the higher-order sensory functions of right- and left-handed elderly people. However, effects of laterality on fine motor dexterity in right-handed individuals were detected

Investigating the Relationship Between the Thesis Score and Grade Point Average of Master of Science Graduates of Rehabilitation Faculty From 2008 to 2019

Background and Objectives: Choosing a thesis subject is one of the critical concerns of master’s students because a student’s graduation depends on defending the thesis. The main research question was whether students with a lower grade point average (GPA) also require a lower score and spend more time and vice versa whether students with a higher GPA perform better for the thesis or not. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all master’s graduates of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences between 2008 and 2019 who had been recorded in a computer system were enrolled. Using the stratified sampling method, at least one sample was assigned to each stratum (field year), and the sample size was calculated to be 128 people. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 19 via correlation and regression analysis with a chi-square test. Results: In this study, the correlation coefficient between the duration of the study and thesis score was significant and obtained as -0.289 (P=0.001), while the correlation coefficient between the duration of the study and the student’s GPA was only significant (P=0.047) and equal to -0.176. The estimated Pearson correlation coefficient between the thesis score and GPA for all graduates was r=0.352 (r=0.338 for men and r=0.284 for women). Conclusion: Although the GPA of female students was better, the statistical analysis indicated that the student gender was not an effective factor in getting a thesis score. Considering the constancy of academic courses across all groups, the correlation between the duration of the study and the thesis score was negative. It seems that most students spend more time at university due to the delay in defending the thesis

Reliability Investigation of the Purdue Pegboard Test in Durg Off-Phase for Parkinson\'s Patients

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder, the onset is in later adulthood and its incidence increases in 55 to 60 years old. The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability and practice effects of the Purdue pegboard that is most used in dexterity testing and rehabilitation evaluation, in Parkinson’s patients. Materials & Methods: In this analytical study which is validation and methodological research, 24 Parkinson patients aging 50-89 were simply and conveniently selected from rehabilitation clinics and hospitals of Tehran. Patients’ general data were documented by demographic questionnaire and in order to determining the Purdue pegboard test each subtest was administered three times and was repeated one week later. Data were analyzed by Paired T test, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Standard Error of Measurement (SEM). Results: The rate of Intraclass Correlation Coefficient was above 90% in different items of Purdue pegboard test in single and mean of testes in off phase, thus indicates an excellent relative reliability in repeated measures. The rate of Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) was lower than 10% of maximum obtained scores at each subtest in one and three trials of test that indicates acceptable absolute reliability. Conclusion: The findings indicate that Purdue pegboard test is reliable enough in evaluating a manual dexterity of Parkinson patients in drug off-phase

Effect of Selective Temporary Anaesthesia in Combination with Sensory Re-Education on Improvement of Hand Sensibility after Median and Ulnar Nerve Repair

Objective: The results of sensory improvement from nerve repair in adult are often poor. To confirm with previous results and this hypothesis that forearm deafferentation would enhance the sensory outcome by increasing the cortical hand representation, this study is aimed to investigate the effect of repeated sessions of cutaneous forearm anaesthesia of the injured limb, in combination with sensory re-education on the sensory outcome in the hand after median or ulnar nerve repair. Materials & Methods: This experimental study was designed as a double-blind randomized clinical trial. 13 patients that they had been undergoing surgery of hand nerves repaire were selected probability and assigned to examination (n=6) and control (n=7) group. During a 2 week period, a topical anaesthetic cream (Lidocaine) for examination group and a placebo for control group was applied repeatedly (twice a week) for 1 hour onto the flexor aspect of the forearm of injured hand and combined with sensory re-education. Assessments of sensory function were performed prior to the experiment and after the fourth application of Lidocaine/placebo. For analysis of data, Wilcoxon singed rank and Mann - Whitney U-tests were used. Results: Perception of touch that was measured with SWMs, had been improved significantly in the Lidocaine group in comparison with placebo group (P=0/03). Conclusion: This finding suggests that forearm deafferentation of injured limb, in combination with sensory re-education, can enhance sensory reover after nerve repair