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Achilles tendinopathy is a prevalent overuse injury among athletes and in those with a sedentary lifestyle. Current evidence indicates that the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire is a valid, reliable and disease-specific outcome measure for assessing the clinical symptoms in patients with Achilles tendinopathy. The objective of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the VISA-A questionnaire into Persian (VISA-A-P) and evaluating its psychometric properties. Cultural adaptation of VISA-A-P was conducted according to Beaton's guideline. The final version of VISA-A-P was handed to 61 patients for analysis of psychometric properties. Test–retest reliability, internal consistency, concurrent validity, item-total correlation, and floor/ceiling effect were evaluated in patients with Achilles tendinopathy. To assess test–retest reliability, 35 patients refilled the VISA-A-P twice within 5–7 days. Known-group validity was evaluated using 50 healthy individuals. VISA-A-P showed excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.90), excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95), strong correlation with FAAM, and moderate to strong correlation with FAOS questionnaires. There was a significant difference between the average score of patients (34.55 ± 18.24) and the healthy group (73.1 ± 20.10). VISA-A-P showed neither ceiling nor floor effect. The VISA-A-P is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the symptoms in Persian speaking populations with Achilles tendinopathy. Achilles tendinopathy is a debilitating overuse injury that insidiously affects tendoAchilles. VISA-A-P revealed acceptable validity and reliability and it could be used by Persian speaking clinicians and researchers to assess pain and function in people with Achilles tendinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balance may be influenced by several factors. The menstrual cycle can be considered as an important factor which may affect postural control. This study was aimed to investigate the influence of early follicular and ovulation phases on static and dynamic balance indices. Thirty non-athlete healthy women with a regular menstrual cycle aged between 18 and 25 years participated in the study. Static balance was evaluated through single-leg stance test and dynamic balance was investigated with posteromedial direction of Y- balance test during early follicular and ovulation (24-48 hours after the peak of estrogen) phases of menstrual cycle. The balance tests were performed in a randomized order in each session. A paired t-test analysis was performed to compare the data during the early follicular and ovulation phases. The results indicated that both static and dynamic balance scores were higher in ovulation phase in comparison to early follicular phase (p < .001). It is worth noting to consider the balance fluctuations during different phases of menstrual cycle when prescribing exercise programs for healthy women or when they participate in sport or recreational activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:The purpose of this study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue Scale (MAFS) in an Iranian population with multiple sclerosis. Method:A self-reported survey on fatigue including the MAFS, Fatigue Impact Scale and demographic measures was completed by 130 patients with multiple sclerosis and 60 healthy persons sampled with a convenience method. Test–retest reliability and validity were evaluated 3 days apart. Construct validity of the MAFS was assessed with the Fatigue Impact Scale. Results:The MAFS had high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha >0.9) and 3-d test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.99). Correlation between the Fatigue Impact Scale and MAFS was high (r = 0.99). Correlation between MAFS scores and the Expanded Disability Status Scale was also strong (r = 0.85). Questionnaire items showed acceptable item-scale correlation (0.968–0.993). Conclusions:The Persian version of the MAFS appears to be a valid and reliable questionnaire. It is an appropriate short multidimensional instrument to assess fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis in clinical practice and research.Implications for RehabilitationThe Persian version of Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment and monitoring the fatigue in Persian-language patients with multiple sclerosis.It is very easy to administer and a time efficient scale in comparison to other instruments evaluating fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG) is a tool helping better understand the electrical activity of the brain and a non-invasive method to assess cortical activity. To date, the brain activity of patients with chronic patellofemoral pain (PFP) has not been investigated., Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of PFP on higher levels of the central nervous system by assessing the correlation between QEEG and modified excursion balance test (mSEBT) in patients with PFP., Material and Methods: Twenty-two patients with chronic PFP participated in this observational study. Their cortical electrical activity was recorded in a resting state with their eyes open, via a 32-channel QEEG. C3, C4, and Cz were considered as regions of interest. In addition to QEEG, the balance performance of the participants was evaluated via mSEBT., Results: The obtained findings revealed a negative and moderate to high correlation between theta absolute power and posteromedial direction of mSEBT in C4 (P 0.000, r -0.68), Cz (P 0.001, r -0.66), and C3 (P 0.000, r -0.70). Additionally, a significantly close correlation is between alpha absolute power in C3 (P 0.001, r -0.70), C4 (P 0.000, r -0.71), and Cz (P 0.000, r -0.74) and the posteromedial direction of mSEBT. No significant correlations were between the other two directions of mSEBT, alpha, and theta., Conclusion: According to our results, balance impairment in patients with chronic PFP correlated with their QEEG neurodynamics. Moreover, our findings demonstrated the efficiency of QEEG as a neuromodulation method for patients with PFP., Competing Interests: None, (Copyright: © Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering.)

Background: Balance ability is a crucial component of independent daily activities among the older adultss. Balance impairment is one of the major risk factors for falls and related complications., Objective: The present study aims to investigate and compare the effect of neurofeedback training and balance training on balance and fall risk among older adults., Material and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, a total of 48 older adults aged more than 65 years were recruited and randomly assigned into two groups, neurofeedback group (n=24) and balance exercise group (n=24). Prior to the intervention, the static balance, dynamic balance, and fall risk were measured using Biodex D balance system and Fullerton Advanced Balance scale. Subjects in neurofeedback group received neurofeedback training for 12 sessions of 30-min, every other day. Moreover, subjects in balance exercise group received balance training for four weeks in 12 sessions (45-minute) every other day. After the intervention, balance measurements were repeated in both groups. The significance level was set at p<0.05., Results: Static balance and dynamic balance were shown to significantly improve, after the interventions (p<0.001). Furthermore, fall risk was significantly reduced, after the trial (p<0.001). In addition, the therapeutic effect of neurofeedback training was not less significant than exercises on balance in the older adults (p<0.001)., Conclusion: The findings suggest that both neurofeedback training and balance training improved balance ability among the older adults. Results also show the therapeutic effect of neurofeedback training on balance in older people. However, further research is required to accurately investigate the long-term effects of these two treatment methods among the older adults., (Copyright: © Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering.)

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a novel technique that may improve recovery in patients with stoke, but the role of rTMS as an applied and practical treatment modality for stroke rehabilitation has not been established yet., Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of a rehabilitation program (RP) in conjunction with rTMS on functional indices of the paretic upper limb in the subacute phase of stroke., Material and Methods: In this experimental study, twenty patients in the subacute phase of stroke were randomly assigned into two groups: The high frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) in conjunction with RP (experimental group), and the RP group (control group). The experimental group received 10 sessions of 20 Hz rTMS on the affected primary motor cortex and the other group received 10 sessions of RP. In experimental group, RP for the paretic hand was conducted following rTMS session. Box and block test (BBT), Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment for upper limb (FMA-UL), grip strength and pinch strength were used to assess motor function before the first session and after the last session of treatment., Results: Significant improvement in BBT, FMA-UL, grip strength and pinch strength was observed in both groups. Improvement of BBT and grip strength was significantly greater in the experimental group rather than the control group (p<0.05). FMA-UL score and the pinch strength were greater in the experimental group, although the differences were not statistically significant., Conclusion: HF-rTMS in conjunction with RP is effective to improve the function of upper limb. It seems HF-rTMS is a novel feasible and safe technique for hemiparesis patients in the subacute phase of stroke., (Copyright: © Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering.)