[ effects of static cock up c-bar splint on strength, spasticity, ROM, and dominant hand function in spastic diplegic children]

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 personrm 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. 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 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. 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

Psychological responses to breast cancer: a qualitative study

Background and objective: Breast cancer has high incidence among Iranian women and their long term survival lead to have more challenges with cancer complication. This qualitative study aimed to identify psychological responses following breast cancer

Materials and methods: A qualitative phenomenological method has been designed for the study. A sample of 11 women with breast cancer by purposive sampling selected and semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted. The interviews were transcribed verbatim,then Information have been analyzed during 5 steps using smith's method

Results: Two main themes emerged from the interviews included basic reactions and residual reactions and The following six sub themes of despair of life, trying to find a guilty, social isolation, irritability-sensitivity, feeling incompetence and fear of disease recurrence has been determined

Conclusions: Although breast cancer is a physical disease but it has great impact on a person's mental health. Also So many psychological problems caused by breast cancer and its treatment, remains until many years after completion of therapies