[Effect of weight bearing symmetry modification on balance and gait function in individuals with chronic stroke]

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of compelled weight bearing with therapeutic exercise on functional test results of balance and gait in individuals with stroke. 32 hemi-paretic patients in experimental and control groups [16 patients in each group] participated in this study. Patients in the experimental group wore shoes for 6 weeks with a lift of 6 mm thickness embedded in non-paretic side to increase weight symmetry and performed balance and gait re-education exercises for 90 minutes daily. Patients of the control group only received therapeutic exercises. Assessments were included percentage of body weight on the affected limb, gait velocity; stride length, timed up and go and Berg Balance Scale tests that were recorded in both groups before and after treatment and 3 months after the end of treatment. All variables showed significant improvement following treatment and improvement effects were maintained during follow up examinations. In the experimental group, percentage of weight bearing on the paretic limb also increased significantly in follow up. The percentage of weight bearing on the paretic limb and BBS score increased more in the experimental group than in the control group [P=0.001]. Compelled weight bearing on the paretic limb and re-education of balance and gait caused more improvement in weight symmetry and functional balance in individuals with chronic stroke

[Study the effect of "constraint-induced movement therapy" on symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters in hemiparetic patients]

Balance and gait disorders are common motor complications after stroke. Studies have revealed that conventional physiotherapy cannot manage these disorders efficiently, so more studies addressing causes of these complications and presenting efficient treatment protocols are crucial. Concerning the significant effect of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on treatment of upper limbs motor impairments in hemiparetic patients, the goal of this study is to assess the effect of "Constraint Induced Movement Therapy" on symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters and velocity of gait in hemiparetic patients. Thirty hemiparetic patients [aged from 40 to 60 years] participated in this study. Patients were divided randomly into 2 groups. They received constraint induced movement therapy [group1] and mass practice [group 2] for 3 weeks. Experimental assessments of patients included stride velocity and symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters [spatial step symmetry, temporal stance symmetry, temporal swing asymmetry, overall temporal asymmetry] that were recorded and compared before and after treatment. In addition, the amount of weight bearing asymmetry was assessed via dual force platform. In both groups, stride velocity increased [p=0.03, p=0.01]. In group A, spatial step symmetry increased [p=0.02].Temporal swing asymmetry and overall temporal asymmetry decreased [p=0.01]. In group B, only temporal swing asymmetry decreased [p=0.02]. Physical therapy by "constraint induced movement therapy" can improve symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters efficiently through overcoming the "learned non use" phenomenon and improving the somatosensory deafferentation to motor controller centers

[Effect of early skin- to- skin contact of mother and newborn on mother's satisfaction]

The first minutes after birth are a very vulnerable period for both mother and newborn. The care that is provided during this time is critical to improve their longer-term health. Mother-infant Skin to skin contact immediately after birth creates an optimal environment for the adaptation of newborn infants to extra uterine life and should be a routine method in hospitals. The Purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of skin to skin contact between newborn and mother immediately after birth on mother's satisfaction in Taleghani hospital in Arak on 2008-2009. A randomized controlled trial was designed to study the effect of early skin -to- skin contact between mother and newborn. 80 pairs of newborns and their mothers who delivered in Taleghani hospital Arak, Iran were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to two groups [skin to skin contact and routine care]. In skin-to-skin contact group, immediately after birth naked newborns were placed in prone position on skin contact with their mothers and in routine care group newborns were placed in cot under warmer. A questionnaire was used to assess mothers' satisfaction. In the end of breastfeeding mothers' satisfaction were assessed. Data were collected by a questionnaire, which included questions about the mothers' satisfaction with the care they received during labor and their tendency to skin to skin contact in future. The validity of questionnaire was determined by content validity method and reliability was obtained by internal consistency [consistency coefficient 0.90]. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. A larger proportion of mothers in skin to skin contact group were very satisfied [70%] and satisfied [20%] with their care, and a larger proportion of mothers in routine care group were very unsatisfied [35%] and unsatisfied [35%].There was a significant difference between two groups in terms of their tendency for skin-to-skin contact in future. Skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn results in mother's satisfaction