ABSTRACT
Background: The world's elderly population is increasing and fall is an outcome of ageing. Visual disturbance is one of the internal risk factors of falling. The aim of this study was to compare of the visual perception as a subgroup of visual disturbance in the City of Sabzevar, Iran
Materials and Methods: In the present case-control study, based on convenience sampling method, 89 older adults [46 faller and 43 non-faller] were enrolled. All participants were assessed as follow: dementia [Hachinski ischemia score], fall [fear of fall questionnaire] and visual perception [Developmental test of visual perception adolescence and Adult]. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version 17.0 using Mann-Whitney U test
Results: A significant difference was observed between general visual perception [p<0.001], Motor-Reduced visual perception [p<0.001] and Visual-Motor integration [p<0.001] skills of faller and non-faller older adults
Conclusion: Because the faller older adults had less visual perception ability than non-faller counterparts, it might be assumed that visual perception disorder is one of the causes of fall
ABSTRACT
Spasticity is common problem in stroke patients. Spasticity couse dysfunction and restricted activity. The most of patients have hand dysfunction due to stroke. This study was done to determine the effect of adjustable wrist hand splint on upper limb spasticity in post stroke patients. This randomized clinical trial study was carried out on 15 patients with stroke referred to rehabilitation centers in Tehran-Iran during 2009. Patients randomly were divided into interventional [4 female, 3 men] and control [5 female, 3 men] groups. Common occupational therapy practice was carried out for 4 weeks for both groups equally. In treatment group intervention was based on the use of adjustable wrist hand splint moreover common occupational therapy practice. Upper limb spasticity pre and post intervention based on the Modified Ashworth Scale was evaluated. Data were analyzed by SPPS-17 software, pair-t-test and independent t-test. Mean age of patients in interventional and control groups were 61.37 +/- 4.10 and 58.85 +/- 5.01 years respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, the mean of spasticity was not significant between interventional and control groups, but internal analysis of spasticity were significant in interventional and control groups [P<0.05]. This study showed that the adjustable wrist hand splint is not useful in reduction of upper limb spasticity in post stroke patients