Applicability of using dynamic MRI to evaluate alleged cranial rhythmic impulse (CRI).

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of using dynamic MRI to measure the features of cranial rhythmic impulse (CRI).

Design And Setting: Fifteen healthy participants (9 females and 6 males, aged 25 to 77) underwent dynamic MRI in a sagittal T2 HASTE view at a rate of 0.60 Hz for 30 s.

Changes in Corticospinal Tract Consistency after Dry Needling in a Stroke Patient.

Background: Dry needling (DN) is a technique employed to mitigate spasticity and enhance functionality in stroke patients. We report the impact of DN on both corticospinal tract (CST) consistency and wrist flexors spasticity of an individual affected by stroke.

Case: The participant was a 57-year-old male who had experienced an ischemic stroke 9 months prior.

Reliability of ultrasonography to measure cervical multifidus, semispinalis cervicis and longus colli muscles dimensions in patients with unilateral cervical disc herniation: An observational cross-sectional test-retest study.

Background: Ultrasonography (US) has been suggested to assess the morphology and function of cervical muscles; but little is known about the reliability of the US measures in patients with cervical disc herniation (CDH). The purpose of this study was to evaluate within-day inter and intra-rater and between-day intra-rater reliability of US to measure dimensions of deep cervical muscles in patients with unilateral CDH.

Methods: Thirty patients with unilateral CDH participated.

The Effect of Uni-Hemispheric Dual-Site Anodal tDCS on Brain Metabolic Changes in Stroke Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Uni-hemispheric concurrent dual-site anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (UHCDS a-tDCS) of the primary motor cortex (M) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) may enhance the efficacy of a-tDCS after stroke. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects have not been defined. We aimed to investigate the effect of a-tDCS on brain metabolite concentrations (N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho)) in stroke patients using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).

Effects of Dry Needling on Connectivity of Corticospinal Tract, Spasticity, and Function of Upper Extremity in People with Stroke: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Spasticity is a common motor disorder in adult stroke patients. Injury to the corticospinal tract (CST) is associated with spasticity. Dry needling (DN) has positive impacts on spasticity reduction and improvement in the range of motion (ROM) in stroke patients.

Proposing a set of ethical guidelines for Iranian physiotherapists: results of a modified Delphi technique.

The code of ethical conduct for physiotherapy services must be compatible with the local culture. The ethical guidelines proposed here were developed through a literature review, focus group discussions, and finally a modified Delphi technique to achieve consensus after the data were analysed. At first, the collection of different ethical codes yielded 132 items.

Different Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Diaphragmatic Breathing on Lower Esophageal Sphincter Pressure and Quality of Life in Patients with Reflux: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a worldwide disorder with an increasing prevalence. The quality of life (QOL) of the patients may be influenced by reflux disease. Diaphragmatic breathing (DB), as well as aerobic exercise (AE), may improve the symptoms of reflux disease, although it remains a controversial issue.

The inter- and intra-rater reliability of Modified Tardieu Scale in assessing spasticity of knee extensors in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Spasticity is one of the most common and disabling symptoms in Multiple sclerosis (MS). The is a clinical tool for assessing spasticity. This study aimed to investigate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the modified Tardieu scale for assessing knee extensors spasticity in MS patients.

Reliability of B-mode ultrasonography to measure lumbar multifidus muscle dimensions in patients with unilateral lumbar disc herniation.

Objectives: To evaluate Ultrasound Imaging (USI) reliability for measurement of lumbar multifidus (LMF) muscle thickness and cross sectional area (CSA) at rest and during contraction in patients with unilateral lumbar disc herniation.

Setting: Laboratory.

Design: Reliability Study.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Reliability, and Validity of the Persian Version of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire for Iranian People With Nonspecific Chronic Neck Pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and construct validity of, and perform confirmatory factor analysis of, the Persian version of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) for Iranian people with nonspecific chronic neck pain.

Methods: We performed psychometric testing of the Persian version of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire. Participants were 123 native Persian speakers with chronic neck pain lasting at least 3 months.

Differential Effects of Unihemispheric Concurrent Dual-Site and Conventional tDCS on Motor Learning: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Study.

Introduction: Based on the literature, unihemispheric concurrent dual-site anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (a-tDCSUHCDS) of primary Motor cortex (M1) and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) would be more efficient than conventional a-tDCS of M1 to induce larger and longer-lasting M1 corticospinal excitability. The main objective of the present study was to compare the effects of a-tDCSUHCDS and conventional M1 a-tDCS on the extent and durability of the motor sequence acquisition in healthy individuals.

Methods: In this randomized sham-controlled study, healthy volunteers were randomly divided into three groups: experimental (a-tDCSUHCDS), control (M1 a-tDCS), and sham stimulation groups.

The Effect of Unihemispheric Concurrent Dual-Site Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of Primary Motor and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortices on Motor Function in Patients With Sub-Acute Stroke.

It is believed that unihemispheric concurrent dual-site transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) causes an increase in motor cortex excitability. However, the clinical effect of this type of stimulation on patients with neurological conditions is not yet known. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of anodal-tDCS (a-tDCS) on upper limb motor function in subacute stroke patients.

The Effect of Scaphoid and Hamate Mobilization on Treatment of Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Background: This study was to evaluate the effect of hamate and scaphoid bone mobilization alongside splinting in women with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 40 participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The intervention group received splinting with scaphoid and hamate mobilization, while the control group received splinting only.

Reliability of Real-time Ultrasound Imaging for the Assessment of Trunk Stabilizer Muscles: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Rehabilitative ultrasound (US) imaging is one of the popular methods for investigating muscle morphologic characteristics and dimensions in recent years. The reliability of this method has been investigated in different studies. As studies have been performed with different designs and quality, reported values of rehabilitative US have a wide range.

Multifidus muscle size in adolescents with and without back pain using ultrasonography.

Objective: The purposes of this study were; a) to compare multifidus muscle cross sectional area (CSA) in male adolescents suffering from low back pain (LBP) with healthy male adolescents using ultrasonography (US), and b) to assess the correlation between multifidus muscle size and demographic variables.

Methods: A random sample of 40 healthy boys (as a control group) and 40 boys with LBP (as an experimental group) at the age range of 15-18 years was recruited in the present cohort study. Multifidus muscle dimensions including CSA, antero-posterior and medio-lateral dimensions were measured at level of L5 in both groups using US.

Normal values of abdominal muscles thickness in healthy children using ultrasonography.

Abdominal muscles are one of the important elements to support the lumbar spine. Evaluation of muscle thickness using ultrasonography (US) is considered to be a source of information from muscles characteristics. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate normal reference data of abdominal muscles thickness and subcutaneous fat in adolescents using US.

Comparative Study of Abdominal Muscle Thickness on Ultrasonography in Healthy Adolescents and Patients With Low Back Pain.

Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder among different age groups, including adolescents. The purpose of this study was to compare the abdominal muscle thickness between healthy adolescents and those with LBP.

Methods: One hundred sixty healthy high school adolescents and 80 high school adolescents with LBP participated in the study.

Electromiography comparison of distal and proximal lower limb muscle activity patterns during external perturbation in subjects with and without functional ankle instability.

Ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries among athletes and the general population. Most ankle injuries commonly affect the lateral ligament complex. Changes in postural sway and hip abductor muscle strength may be generated after inversion ankle sprain.

Motor Learning and Movement Performance: Older versus Younger Adults.

Introduction: Motor skills play an important role during life span, and older adults need to learn or relearn these skills. The purpose of this study was to investigate how aging affects induction of improved movement performance by motor training.

Methods: Serial Reaction Time Test (SRTT) was used to assess movement performance during 8 blocks of motor training.

Application of ultrasonography in the assessment of skeletal muscles in children with and without neuromuscular disorders: a systematic review.

The purpose of this study was to systematically review published studies (2000-2014) carried out on the application of ultrasonography (US) to evaluation of skeletal muscle size in children with and without neuromuscular disorders. Different databases including PubMed, Science Direct, OVID, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, ProQuest and Google Scholar were searched. The key words used were: "children," "ultrasound," "skeletal muscles," "neuromuscular disease," "neurogenic disorders," "spina bifida," "myelomeningocele" and "reliability.

Reliability of surface electromyography in the assessment of paraspinal muscle fatigue: an updated systematic review.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the literature to determine whether surface electromyography (EMG) is a reliable tool to assess paraspinal muscle fatigue in healthy subjects and in patients with low back pain (LBP).

Methods: A literature search for the period of 2000 to 2012 was performed, using PubMed, ProQuest, Science Direct, EMBASE, OVID, CINAHL, and MEDLINE databases. Electromyography, reliability, median frequency, paraspinal muscle, endurance, low back pain, and muscle fatigue were used as keywords.

Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of single and composites of selected motion palpation and pain provocation tests for sacroiliac joint.

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) has been implicated as a potential source of low back and buttock pain. Several types of motion palpation and provocation tests are used to examine the SIJ. It has been suggested that use of a cluster of motion palpation or provocation tests is a more acceptable method than single test to assess SIJ.