Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences & Research

Abstract Background: Women faced enormous burdens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to specific conditions in homes during social isolation, women's occupational choices were limited by environmental factors. In a crisis, it is important to understand the human experience of what they do to meet the basic needs of Being, Becoming, and Belonging. This experience can reflect life participation and occupational wholeness during a pandemic. This research aimed to investigate the factors related to women's perceived experiences of Being, Becoming, and Belonging during social isolation/distancing.
Methods: This cross-sectional study's participants were 1,168 women from Arab countries, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, and Spain, recruited using snowball sampling in a larger survey of the COVID-19 pandemic. They completed an internet-based questionnaire with questions extracted from the Occupational Wholeness Questionnaire. This questionnaire also included demographic information, perceived stress, and physical health.
Results: Women with postgraduate education had a more positive sense of Being and Belonging. Women over 45 showed a higher negative sense of Being and Becoming. Stress was associated with the sense of Becoming.
Conclusion: Older women experience social isolation more negatively. Conversely, women with postgraduate education are more likely to have a positive experience in such a situation. We conclude that an occupational imbalance resulting from a crisis may also positively affect life.
 

Abstract Background: In the Persian language, limited tasks measure the skill of repeating real words along with non-words. However, clinical centers need such tests to investigate speech and language problems in children accurately. The present study prepared two real-word/non-word lists, and their psychometric properties were determined.
Methods: This methodological and cross-sectional study involved preparing 120 speech contexts (60 words and 60 non-words), which were then divided into two equivalent lists (List 1 and List 2). The content validity of these lists was determined. To check consistency and reliability, the lists were administered in two sessions at one-week intervals to 50 normal children aged 4 to 6 years from preschool centers in Ahvaz city. The children were asked to repeat each speech context after hearing it. Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability, and equivalent form reliability were calculated.
        Results: The content validity ratio of both lists was 1. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for Lists 1 and 2 were 0.792 and 0.790, respectively. The repeatability coefficients for Lists 1 and 2 were 0.70 and 0.71, respectively, and both were significant (p = 0.000). The difference between the two lists' average scores was insignificant (t = -0.67, p > 0.05). Age (but not gender) caused a significant difference in repetition scores.
Conclusion: The prepared real-word/non-word lists for evaluating repetition skills are valid and reliable. They can be used for clinical and research purposes in Persian-speaking preschoolers, especially those aged 4 to 5.
 

Abstract Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system, primarily affecting the elderly. Its symptoms include tremors, slow movement, muscle stiffness (rigidity), and postural instability.This study aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of rebound therapy on balance and quality of life in people with PD.
Methods: This was a quasi-experimental research study with pre-test and post-test. Among patients with PD, 24 individuals with severity levels 2 to 3 according to the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)  were selected using convenience and judgmental sampling and randomly divided into two groups: a rebound therapy group (n=12) and a control group (n=12). The Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQL) was used to evaluate quality of life levels. The Single Leg Stance (SLS) and Y-Balance Test (YBT-LQ) were used to evaluate static and dynamic balance, respectively. Theintervention group performed eight week exercises (two one-hour weekly sessions Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The post-test quality of life scores in the rebound therapy group significantly higher than the pre-test scores, indicating an increase in quality of life (QoL) for patients (P ≤ 0.05). Additionally, patients' static and dynamic balance in the rebound therapy group significantly improved from the pre-test to the post-test (P ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: The results indicate that eight weeks of rebound therapy can effectively improve balance and quality of life in patients with PD. There fore rebound therapy can be recommended as a complementary rehabilitation method in medical centers to enhance the health of PD patients.
 

Abstract Background: The growing number of aging people, ensuring their quality of life (QoL), and the social services designed for this population group are becoming increasingly significant concerns. This study explored how socioeconomic status and self-care affect older adults’ QoL.
 
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 322 older people living in Tabriz in 2021. The subjects were recruited using a multi-stage sampling method. Older persons were asked to complete the Socio-Economic Status (SES) questionnaire, the Self-Care Behavior Questionnaire, and the Iranian version of the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12).
 
Results: A hierarchical logistic regression analysis model was used to investigate the factors influencing QoL. The regression analysis showed that marital status, social self-care, and self-care during illness significantly impacted the older person’s quality of life (p < 0.05). Twenty-nine and twenty-seven percent of the variance in the mental and physical health dimensions, respectively, were predicted by the variables included in the model.
Conclusion: Promoting social self-care and self-care during illness had a positive relationship with the QoL of older persons. These results can serve as a reference for future studies pertinent to self-care for older adults.
 

Abstract Background: Leisure as an occupation plays an important role in people's daily lives. This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the original Nottingham Leisure Questionnaire to Persian and assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version.
Method: One hundred and forty healthy individuals participated in this cross-sectional study. Face and content validity were assessed by determining the impact score of the item, content validity ratio, and content validity index methods. Convergent validity was assessed using the correlation method between the Nottingham Leisure Questionnaire and the Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11, Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment, 36-item short-form health survey, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The reliability of the Persian version of the Nottingham Leisure Questionnaire was assessed by internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS. v. 23.0 software at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: Face and content validity demonstrated an acceptable range (impact score: 2.2 to 4, content validity ratio: 0.57 to 1, and content validity index: 0.87 to 1). Significant correlations between assessment tools supported Convergent Validity. There was moderate internal consistency (α = 0.77) and excellent test-retest reliability for the number of leisure scores (interclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.894) and frequency of leisure participation scores (ICC = 0.883).
Conclusions: The Persian version of the Nottingham Leisure Questionnaire is a psychometrically valid, reliable, and useful instrument to assess leisure in healthy Persian-speaking participants.
 
 
 

Abstract Background:Due to the crucial nature of knee joint stability in basketball players and the possible role of the rate of torque development hamstrings to quadriceps ratio for determining knee joint stability in the early phase of explosive movements, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between the rate of torque development hamstrings to quadriceps ratio and biomechanical parameters of hip and knee joints in the sagittal and frontal planes during the drop vertical jump test.
Methods: Twenty healthy male recreational basketball players (aged 15-18) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. After measuring anthropometric data, the rate of torque development hamstrings to quadriceps ratio was assessed using an isokinetic Biodex system. Biomechanical variables were measured using a motion analysis system during the drop vertical jump test.
Results: The rate of torque development hamstrings to quadriceps ratio (0-50 milliseconds) was negatively correlated with knee abduction angle (p = 0.028), knee adduction angle (p = 0.003), knee abduction moment (p = 0.023), and knee joint range of motion in the frontal plane (p = 0.01) during 17-50 ms after initial contact. Other biomechanical parameters did not significantly correlate with the rate of torque development hamstrings to quadriceps ratio.
Conclusion: This study's results revealed that the torque development rate hamstrings to quadriceps ratio was negatively associated with knee kinematic and kinetic parameters. Based on the outcomes of this study and previous investigations, it can be acknowledged that the rate of torque development hamstrings to quadriceps ratio might be a useful tool to add to athlete injury screening.
 
 
 
 

Abstract Background: Methamphetamine addiction is a growing global concern associated with executive dysfunctions that negatively impact daily life. Traditional tests for assessing executive dysfunctions are often complex and time-consuming. Therefore, a valid, reliable, and simple instrument to assess these dysfunctions is crucial. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire in methamphetamine-abstinent individuals.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 participants aged 20 to 50, selected via convenience sampling. The Dysexecutive Questionnaire (informant and occupational therapist ratings), Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome, Stroop test, Wisconsin Card Sorting test, and Tower of London task were used to evaluate the participants. The study examined the face validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and inter-rater reliability of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS v.23.0 at a significance level 0.05.
Results: The Dysexecutive Questionnaire demonstrated acceptable face validity (impact score: 1.95 to 3.86). Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations between the Dysexecutive Questionnaire - informant rating and other assessment tools (p < 0.001). The questionnaire showed good to excellent internal consistency (Dysexecutive Questionnaire - occupational therapist rating: α = 0.91; Dysexecutive Questionnaire - informant rating: α = 0.87). The test-retest reliability was high for the occupational therapist rating (ICC = 0.911) and informant rating (ICC = 0.925). Inter-rater reliability was also excellent (ICC = 0.980).
Conclusion: The Dysexecutive Questionnaire - informant rating is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating dysexecutive symptoms in methamphetamine-abstinent individuals.
 
 

Abstract Background: Since brain temperature fluctuations are related to cognitive disorders, regulating brain temperature has become a key focus in cognitive studies. This study examined the effect of frontopolar cortical cooling on working memory using a cortical thermal stimulation device (CTSD).
 Methods: This phase II, randomized, controlled trial included twenty participants randomly divided into two groups to receive 30 minutes of frontopolar cortical cooling across four sessions. The control group received sham cooling, while the intervention group received real cooling. Spatial working memory tests were recorded from both groups before and after the first and after the fourth sessions. The cortical thermal stimulation device used for cooling operates through the flow of water and alcohol in a closed loop.
Results: After four sessions of frontopolar cortical cooling, a significant improvement in working memory was observed. The analysis of working memory results, based on an ANCOVA test, showed an improvement in the Spatial Working Memory (SWM) test in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of frontopolar cortical cooling on working memory capacity, the results suggest that using an appropriate tool for cooling the cerebral cortex could become a practical approach in cognitive rehabilitation.