---

Background and Objective: There has been considerable debate regarding the best treatment of the Achilles tendon rupture. One of the nonoperative treatment method for Achilles tendon rupture is using the functional brace. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the functional brace with/without patellar tendon bearing on treatment of patients with Achilles tendon rupture. Materials and Methods: In this semi expremental study, 17 patients with Achilles tendon rupture were recruited and randomly allocated into 2 groups: functional brace with patellar tendon bearing and functional brace without patellar tendon bearing. Pain, plantar and dorsi flexion strength and the required time for progressively increased dorsi flexion position in orthoses to reach the neutral position were measured. Data analyzed with SPSS-13, independent t-test and Smironov-Kolomogrov. Results: Three patients were excluded during follow up and finally this study was done on 14 patients. The difference of the pain intensity and the plantar and dorsi flexion, in each group, before and after the intervention was significant (P<0.05), but the difference between two groups after intervention in all variables was not significant. Conclusion: This study showed that both brace with/without patellar tendon bearing are effective on improvement of pain and the plantar flexion and dorsi flexion strength and also are effective in required time to reach the neutral position.

---

Background and Objective: The first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis reduced the ability of upper limb in elderly with subsequent disability in physical activities. This study was carried out to determine the effect of prefabricated and custom-made splints on quality of life in the first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done on 24 elderly (>60 years of age) patients with the first carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis and 12 matched healthy subjects in Tehran rehabilitation University during 2010-11. Patients assigned randomly in two groups with 8 weeks treatment period, prefabricated thumb and custom-made splints. Persian version of The Short Form 36 quastioner (SF36) was used to assess the quality of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and paired t-test. Results: There were significant differences between osteoarthritis patients and healthy subjects in the quality of life according to SF36 score physical health problem (P<0.05), general health (P<0.05), limitations of activities (P<0.05), emotional health problem (P<0.05), social activities (P<0.05), pain (P<0.05), energy and emotions (P<0.05). Using splints significantly improved the quality of life of patients, but there was no significant difference between two splints in improving the quality of life. Conclusion: Prefabricated and custom-made

---

Background and Objective: Improving the ability to walk is often a key target for the treatment of abnormal gait in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). One of the goals of orthotic rehabilitation is to improve walking in this field. The aims of this study was to design and manufacture the dynamic neoprene orthoses and evaluate its impact on the gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done on 12 children with spastic CP at University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in Tehran, Iran during 2010-11. Initially neoprene dynamic orthosis is designed specifithy for each subject, this neoprene dynamic orthosis was used for six weeks and 6-8 hrs daily. For evaluating the walking speed and the gait variation, 10 meter walking test and visual analogue scale have been used. Modified Ashworth’s Scale and electro-goniometre were used to assess muscle spasticity and the flexion degrees of knee joint. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Paired t-tests. Results: The alteration of knee flexion angle, walking speed and walking distance following dynamic orthosis were -18.31±4.61 (degree), -0.50±1.82 (meter) and 4.18±1.51, respectively. The improvement in knee joint angle and walking following dynamic orthosis was significant (P<0.05), but the walking speed was not significant. Conclusion: This study showed that neoprene dynamic orthosis can improve knee flexion angle and walking distance among children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.