Search

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of hinged and solid anklefoot orthoses (AFOs) on standing and walking abilities in children with spastic diplegia. Materials & Methods In a quasi-experimental design, 30 children with spastic diplegia, aged 4-6 years were recruited. They were matched in terms of age, IQ, and level of GMFCS E&R. Children were randomly assigned into 3 groups: a hinged AFO group (n=10) plus occupational therapy (OT), a solid AFO group (n=10) plus OT, a control group who used only OT for three months. Gross motor abilities were measured using Gross Motor Measure Function (GMFM). Results We obtained statistically significant differences in the values between baseline and after treatment in all groups. The groups were also significantly different in total GMFM after intervention. Furthermore, there were differences between hinged AFOs and solid AFOs groups, and between hinged AFOs and control groups. Conclusion We concluded that gross motor function was improved in all groups; however, hinged AFOs group appears to improve the gross motor function better than solid AFOs and control groups.

Background: The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection in the hamstring and calf muscles with and without ankle serial casting in the improvement of gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods : This double-blind prospective clinical trial was performed on 25, 2 to 8-year-old children with hemiplegic or diplegic CP in Tehran, Iran in 2010. The participants were chosen by simple randomized sampling and were matched for age, gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) and type of CP and were randomly divided into two groups: children in the first group (13) only received BTX-A injection, but the second group (12) received BTX-A and serial foot casting starting one week after the injection.Results : Comparison of the gross motor function, right and left knee spasticities and passive ROM of both knees between the two groups before and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the injections were not statistically significant (P>0.1). Furthermore, comparison of the right and left ankle spasticities and passive ROM before the injections and in1 and 3-month follow-ups did not show a statistically significant difference (P>0.1), but the differences were significant in 6 and 12-month follow-ups (P

Addressing patients' rights issues brings occupational therapists ethical and political responsibilities that involve patients' privileges and new facilitating factors which influence their needs. The goal of this study was to determine the level of occupational therapists' knowledge about patients' rights. The present research was a cross-sectional study which involved 125 occupational therapists chosen by a conven-ience sampling strategy in Tehran during the year of 2012. A four-part questionnaire was used for data collection, and the degree of the subjects' self-assessment of their knowledge was measured based on the obtained numbers of correct answers in the third part. The validity and reliability of this questionnaire were assessed prior to its being distributed among participants. The results demonstrated no significant association between the level of occupational therapists' knowledge about patients' rights and their existing experiences within their areas of occupational therapy (P>0.05). Based on the result, 53.6% of the respondents had high level of knowledge about patients' rights. Facilitating factors which influence the attainment of patients' rights were classified into three groups: organizations, therapists and clients. The results of the present research demonstrated that the level of occupational therapists' knowledge about patients' rights were high. Furthermore, this study showed that for optimal result, there is a need to provide milieu for observing the patients' rights in clinical occupational therapy services.

This paper presents the design of a new hybrid filter for quality improvement of power systems in unbalanced conditions. This filter includes a variable passive filter in parallel with an active filter. The passive part is designed with a varying inductance to reduce the rating of the active part. By using this proposed filter it is possible to compensate for the current harmonics and unbalanced loads with a lower rating active filter compared with conventional ones. Also a simple and accurate method is used to generate the harmonic reference current in the active part of this filter which makes it efficient in unbalanced load conditions. Furthermore, an intelligent hysteresis band current controller is utilized to generate inverter pulses owing to its quick current controllability and easy implementation. Simulation results using the MATLAB Simulink Power System Toolbox show the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed hybrid filter in elimination of harmonics and balance of the utility current with a desired level of load balancing. © 2008 IEEE.

This paper presents the design of a variable inductor with a rotational magnetic core whose position is controlled in a closed-loop system. This magnetic structure facilitates the impedance changes which may be used for load balancing, harmonics elimination, transient response improvement, and as a controlled reactor in static VAr compensation (SVC). The design of the inductor and analysis of its impedance change caused by positioning a movable element are carried out by using the finite element method. As a result, the variation range of the impedance is determined. The proposed variable inductor is compared with a typical SVC reactor. The results show good performances in static var compensation with higher reliability and no harmonics generated. For closed-loop control, a secondorder sliding mode controller is designed for position control of the rotating core via a DC motor. Simulation results of the proposed system present highly robust and accurate responses without control chattering in face of nonlinearities and disturbances.