Effect of neoprene dynamic orthosis on improvement of walking ability among children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

Improving the ability to walk is often a key target for the treatment of abnormal gait in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy [CP]. One of the goals of orthotic rehabilitation is to improve walking in this field. The aims of this study was to design and manufacture the dynamic neoprene orthoses and evaluate its impact on the gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy. This quasi-experimental study was done on 12 children with spastic CP at University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in Tehran, Iran during 2010-11. Initially neoprene dynamic orthosis is designed specifithy for each subject, this neoprene dynamic orthosis was used for six weeks and 6-8 hrs daily. For evaluating the walking speed and the gait variation, 10 meter walking test and visual analogue scale have been used. Modified Ashworth's Scale and electro-goniometre were used to assess muscle spasticity and the flexion degrees of knee joint. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Paired t-tests. The alteration of knee flexion angle, walking speed and walking distance following dynamic orthosis were -18.31 +/- 4.61 [degree], 0.50 +/- 1.82 [meter] and 4.18 +/- 1.51, respectively. The improvement in knee joint angle and walking following dynamic orthosis was significant [P<0.05], but the walking speed was not significant. This study showed that neoprene dynamic orthosis can improve knee flexion angle and walking distance among children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

[Effect of upper and lower body exercises on cardiovascular, metabolic and hematologic factors]

Considering the sophisticated responses of cardiovascular system to different types of body exercises, dealing with this system and the effect of exercise on it has assumed an added importance. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two types of exercise, arm cranking and leg cycling, on cardiovascular, metabolic and hematologic factors. After obtaining informed consent 10 non athlete female students with a mean age of 25 +/- 2.69 years and mean height of 161.75 +/- 5.5cm participated in this study. They completed four experimental testing sessions [two maximal oxygen consumption test on a cycle ergometer and arm cranking to assess variations in respiratory gases and heart rate by using ergometer cycling and arm cranking vO[2]max, and two sub-maximal exercises including warm up for 5 minutes and body exercise on cycle ergometer or arm cranking with 70% of maximum O[2] consumption or 75-80% of maximum heart rate, for 30 minutes. Then the subjects took a 30 min rest in the sitting position. Heights and weights of the subjects were measured before exercise. Before and after exercise and after 30 min rest in sitting position, heart rate and blood pressure were recorded and blood samples were collected for measurement of blood lactate concentration, RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH and MCHC. No differences were found between the two types of exercises in regard to the HR, RBC, Lac, HG, Hct, MCV and MCHC but there were significant differences in relation to BP and MCH [P=0.013 and f[1.9] =9.385 for blood pressure; P=0.046 and f[1.9]=5.372 for MCH]. The results indicated no differences in the cardiologic, hematologic and metabolic factors during exercises with similar relative intensity. But we found a higher BP after arm cranking and an increase in MCH after leg exercise. Also, there were significant differences in all parameters except HG and MCH, before and after exercise

[Evaluation of the quality of library services from the viewpoints of users and librarians using libQual scale at Tehran University of Medical Sciences]

Nowadays, LibQual scale as a new tool, measures expectations more efficiently than the traditional ones. The present study aims to compare the viewpoints of students and librarians at Tehran University of Medical Sciences to determine the quality of library services with LibQual model. The present study was an analytical survey. Method. LibQual questionnaire was used for data collection. In this study 231 users and 30 were selected through simple random sampling of the questionnaire was measured by Cranach's Alpha test was used to ensure the reliability of the data gathering tool. Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used. The results showed that the users evaluate the current quality of services lower than what the librarians did. This difference of opinion is much more drastic when evaluating the information control subscale. Service superiority gap was estimated to be 2.8 for the overall library services and the said libraries fall fairly short of providing users with the desired level of services. From the users' point of view, the three subscales of LibQual do not have an equal effect on the quality of the provided services whereas the librarians disagree with an equal effectiveness of the subscales. The librarians have a correct understanding of the users' expectations and the gap between the users' expectations and the librarians' perceptions of their needs and demands was very small [0.18]. This study showed that LibQual as a model of evaluating the quality of services could help in providing information that facilitates the improvement of planned services at Tehran University of Medical Scien ces libraries. By providing the necessary facilities and services to users, librarians can offer services to users with known expectations and needs. Therefore, if there are shortcomings in the quality of services, it is not because librarians are unaware of the users' needs, but rather lack of necessary facilities might be the reason

[ comparison of functional brace with/without patellar tendon bearing in patients with achilles tendon ruptures]

Rupture of Achilles tendon is a disabling condition and accounts for approximately 11-18% percent of all tendon ruptures. The goal of this study was to compare the functional brace with and without patellar tendon bearing in patients with Achilles tendon rupture. This was a semi-experimental study initially carried out on 17 patients with Achilles tendon rupture although 3 patients failed to complete the follow-up course and were removed from the study. The remaining 14 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The calf circumference and the power of plantar flexion were measured and also the degree of satisfaction in patients evaluated. The data were analyzed using independent t-test, Kolomogrov-Smironov test, and the mean difference by SPSS13. There was a significant difference between the pre-and post-intervention regarding the calf circumference and also the power of plantar flexion in each group. However, no significant difference between two groups following intervention was found when all 3 variables taken into account [p>0.05]. According to the findings of the present study, both kinds of orthoses used were effective on improving the plantar flexion power and reducing the calf circumference but no significant difference between the effects of both groups of orthoses on all variables after intervention was established

[ comparative study between the effect of functional foot orthosis and modified orthosis on improvement of pain in patients with plantar fasciitis]

Plantar fascia inflammation will result in plantar fasciitis. Nonsurgical treatments include the use of orthoses and physical therapy technics. The goal of this study was a comparative between the effect of functional foot orthosis and modified foot orthosis on improvement of pain in patients with plantar fasciitis. In this experimental study, 30 patients with plantar fasciitis including 7 male and 23 female with ranging age 25-45 yrs old [34 +/- 4.64, 35 +/- 5.02] selected by non probability sampling. Patients randomly allocated in two groups with 15 patients in each group. First group used functional foot orthosis and second group used modified foot orthosis. FAOS questionnaire was used for evaluating the pain. 2 stages included: once before intervention and the second stage after 4 weeks after intervention. Data analysis has been done with paired and independent T-Test, Smironov-Kolomogrov by SPSS13. Paired T-Test showed the difference between before and after intervention stages in group with functional foot orthosis was 0.001 and in group with modified foot orthosis was 0.229. Independent T-Test showed the difference between two groups after intervention was significant [p<0.05]. According to finding of this study, functional foot orthosis was more effective on improvement of pain in patients with plantar fasciitis

[Efficay of consoling guidelines on decreasing of psychological problems of newly arrived students of Shahrekord university of medical sciences]

Stress provokes unspecial responses and render necessary changes in life. Universities have many stressful conditions for newly arrived students such as being away from home, economical and communicational problems, etc. This study was performed to find the efficacy of consoling guidelines to decrease psychological problems in newly arrived students of Shahrekord university of medical sciences. The sample consisted of 40 persons out of 148 newly arrived students with a GHQ-28 questionnaire score of equal or more than 23. The sample was randomly divided into two groups of case and control. After 3 months [without any intervention] and 7 months [education of consoling guidelines] the psychological health was assessed by GHQ-28 questionnaire. The data was analyzed by ANOVA, t-test and Dunkan test. There was no significant relation between elapsed time, adaptation with university or being far away from family and psychological problems. But there was a significant correlation between education of life skills, relaxation or psychoanalysis and reduction of psychological problems. There was no reduction of disorders scale in the control group but there was a reduction in summarization scale, anxiety and social dysfunction in the case group. Consoling guidelines and psychological intervention such as education of life skills, psychoanalysis and relaxation could improve the life quality and reduce psychological problems of the students