Journal of Clinical Physiotherapy Research

Introduction: Myofascial release (MFR) is a manual technique designed to restore optimal fascia length and muscle, reduce pain, and enhance person’s function. This review aimed to evaluate the efficiency of MRT approaches on individuals with spinal pain. Materials and Methods: The databases of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched to find relevant articles published up to December 2024. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the impact of MFR technique on pain in individuals experiencing spinal neck or low back pain (LBP). Results: Six studies were chosen for final evaluation based on the inclusion criteria. The findings indicated that massage therapy incorporating MFR techniques significantly reduced pain in individuals suffering from neck or low back pain when compared to their pain levels before the intervention. Additionally, combining MFR with corrective exercises resulted in a greater reduction in pain compared to MFR alone. Conclusion: Overall, the results suggest that myofascial release interventions have a significant positive effect on patients with spinal pain, especially when compared to both passive and active control groups.

Introduction: Cerebral Palsy (CP) can lead to various impairments, activity limitations, and participation restriction. Mirror therapy is considered a useful treatment for improving the movement of lower and upper limbs in individuals with CP. This study examines current evidence on the effects of mirror therapy in children with hemiplegic CP. This study examines current evidence on the effects of mirror therapy in children with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP). Material and methods: We performed this narrative review using the scientific databases (including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, springer, ProQuest, web of science, OT seeker, Magiran, SID and IranDoc) and included controlled trials, quasi-experimental, case reports, pilot studies, and case series. We identified 25 studies, from which, 3 were excluded after screening the full text. Totally 22 studies were included for deep reviewing the effect of mirror therapy on functional performance of children with hemiplegic CP. Result: Although studies on the effectiveness of mirror therapy in children with hemiplegic CP were limited and the available literatures have shown different results, it appears that mirror therapy as a complementary treatment may improve sensory and upper limb motor function in children with hemiplegic CP. Conclusion: This study suggests that mirror therapy may be helpful for sensory and upper extremity motor performance of children with hemiplegic CP. However, more clinical trials are needed to use this intervention to determine the exact effect of this treatment on children with hemiplegic CP.

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease among the elderly. Medial knee OA, characterized by uneven pressure distribution in the knee joint, leads to alterations in gait parameters such as reduced gaite speed, increased knee adduction moment (KAM), and decreased stride length. Valgus knee braces (VKB) and lateral wedge insoles (LWI) are common non-surgical interventions for management of this problem. This literature review aims to compare the effectiveness of VKB and LWI on gait parameters in elders with medial knee OA. Materials and Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus in November 2024. Studies investigating the effects of VKB and LWI on gait parameters such as KAM, walking speed, stride length, and Range of Motion (ROM) were included. Data were synthesized narratively, focusing on the key findings and outcomes of each study. Results: The review included 8 studies with a total of 211 participants. The findings indicated that VKB significantly reduced KAM, whereas the results for LWI were inconsistent. The combination of VKB and LWI resulted in a greater reduction in KAM than either intervention alone. However, neither VKB nor LWI significantly improved walking speed or stride length. Conclusion: VKB are more effective than LWI in reducing KAM, but the combination of both interventions may have synergistic effects. Further studies are needed to explore the long-term effects of these two orthoses on medial knee OA.

Introduction: Ankle Sprain (AS) is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in athletes. Without proper intervention, acute AS have a high recurrence rate, which is associated with the development of chronic ankle instability. Currently Limited evidence exists to support the best intervention in related to individuals with AS. Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT) has emerged as a promising approach in physiotherapy for individuals with AS. The aim of present study was to review the effectiveness of BFRT treatment in individuals with AS narratively. Materials and Methods: This narrative review was conducted to reviewing the available research’s about the role of BFRT in treatment of individuals with AS.  The search encompassed studies published from 2000 to 2024 across multiple electronic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct using relevant keywords. Results: Evidence suggests that the BFRT can be used as a new method in the treatment and rehabilitation process of individuals with AS. Conclusion: Research has shown that utilizing BFRT can lead to significant improvements in recovery rates, strength gains, and overall patient satisfaction.

Introduction: Premature infants are susceptible to different types of developmental disability in future. Therefore, the home environment, toys & educational materials should support and improve their developmental status. The aim of this study was to investigate the home affordances of 3-18 months infants, who were born premature, and compare their motor performance with infants who were born mature at the same age span. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the home affordances of 90 infants were conducted (50 premature and 40 mature infants). The means gestational age of premature infants was 31.1±27.3 weeks. Affordance in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS) was used to evaluate home environments of them. For data analysis the Mann-Whitney U was used. Result: There was a significant difference between premature and mature infants in using fine motor toys (P=0.03). This means that a less fine motor toys were provided for premature infants. Other environmental possibilities (variety of stimuli (P=0.70), physical environment (P=0.72), gross motor toys (P=0.10), and total test score of AHEMD-IS (P=0.19) showed no statistically significant difference between two groups of infants. Conclusion: according to the findings, adequacy of affordances in the home environment of premature infants in comparison to their mature peers were poor, while premature infants need enriched home environments.

Background and Aim: Working memory, a key component of executive function, is responsible for temporarily storing and manipulating information during cognitive tasks such as perception, learning, and reasoning. Research indicates that children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) often exhibit deficits in working memory. Evidence suggests that transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) applied to the prefrontal cortex can enhance working memory in healthy individuals. Given that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with working memory impairments, tDCS may offer significant benefits for individuals with ASD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of tDCS combined with routine occupational therapy in improving working memory in children with HF-ASD.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 20 children with HF-ASD (12 males, 8 females; mean age = 9.5 years) were selected from comprehensive rehabilitation centers and special schools for autism. Participants were evaluated by a child and adolescent psychiatrist and received a definitive diagnosis using the Garez questionnaire and a pervasive developmental disorders screening questionnaire. After meeting the inclusion criteria, participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. Both groups were assessed using the N-Back test to measure working memory before and after the intervention. The experimental group received tDCS (1.5 mA for 20 minutes over 10 sessions) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) alongside routine occupational therapy, while the control group received sham tDCS with occupational therapy.

Results: The results demonstrated that tDCS significantly increased the number of correct answers (P = 0.001) and reduced the number of incorrect answers (P = 0.007) in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Conclusion:The findings suggest that tDCS combined with routine occupational therapy has a significant positive effect on working memory in children with HF-ASD, leading to further improvement. This non-invasive and safe intervention may serve as a valuable adjunct to traditional therapies for enhancing cognitive functioning in children with ASD.

Keywords: Autism, Ttranscranial Direct Current Stimulation  , Occupational Therapy, Working Memor

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability in the medial compartment of knee, where increased knee adduction moment (KAM) exacerbates disease progression. Valgus knee bracing is a non-surgical intervention aimed to reducing KAM, alleviating pain, and improving function

. Material and Methods: This single-group intervention pre and posttest design study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of valgus knee bracing over a 12 months follow-up period on adduction moment, pain, and physical function in older with medial compartments OA. Twenty-one patients with grade 2 or 3 medial knee OA were enrolled. All participants used a valgus knee brace for 12 months. KAM, pain, satisfaction and functional performance were assessed at baseline and 12 months.

Results: Significant reductions in KAM (28%, P=0.02) and pain (25%, P=0.00) were observed after 12 months of using valgus knee bracing. Functional improvement was also significant (41%, P=0.005). Patient satisfaction showed a 9% increase (P=0.078) too.

Conclusion: Valgus knee bracing significantly reduces KAM and pain while improving motor function in patients with medial compartment knee OA. However, patient satisfaction was moderate which indicate that its need improvement comfort in brace design. These findings highlight the potential of valgus bracing to delay the need for surgical intervention, offering a conservative treatment option for managing knee OA.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Knee, Orthotic Devices, Biomechanical Phenomena, Pain, Physical Functional Performance, Patient Satisfaction