Iranian Rehabilitation Journal

● Considering psychological factors which can affect the marital quality of infertile couples under infertility treatment is of importance.

Plain Language Summary 
Paying attention to the mental health of infertile women could be a very helpful element; such measures may increase the number of successful infertility interventions. Some psychological factors can directly/indirectly affect each other and may increase marital quality in infertile women. Concentrating on infertile women’s mental health, as important health and social information, can improve healthcare programs; in turn, it improves infertile women’s quality of life.

• This research has shown that there are serious problems in using and accessing rehabilitation services for children with ASD and their families.
• Rehabilitation services require serious long-term and short-term planning, as well as coordination between autism organizations and stakeholders. This can improve their living conditions and ultimately increase their quality of life.
• Our results provide a clear perspective for policymakers, managers and planners to change their perspective and consider ASD as a key part of rehabilitation programs to reform executive structures.

Plain Language Summary 
This study was conducted to find the exact challenges of accessing and using rehabilitation services for children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. The results of this study were obtained through interviews with 27 parents of children with autism and rehabilitation service providers. The findings of this study divide these challenges into the following six groups: 1) Lack of a systematic support system 2) No commitment to the observance of professional ethics 3) Neglecting the structure and policy of ASD rehabilitation 4) Lack of comprehensive autism diagnostic and rehabilitation protocols 5) Lack of knowledge and proper attitude 6) Barriers to easy access to rehabilitation services.

● A small frequency (8.1%) of Iranian SLPs were familiar with AAC services; among them, most were familiar with low-tech devices with limited services.
● The majority (92.8%) of Iranian SLPs had clients with communication problems; thus, they needed AAC services.
● Participation in educational workshops and congresses as well as reading texts insignificantly increased the awareness of SLPs about AAC services.

Plain Language Summary 
Numerous adults with nervous system diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), stroke, or Parkinson’s disease, as well as children with developmental disorders, encounter inability to communicate with others within the family or community. Therefore, they cannot express their needs and demands. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) techniques are used as an effective treatment to help those who cannot use language and speech to communicate. Speech therapists, as members of the AAC service team, should be familiar with AAC devices and techniques as well as the needs of patients receiving these services. The present study examined the familiarity of Iranian speech therapists with AAC services and patients who were candidates for these services. In this study, we surveyed 111 Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) using a researcher-made questionnaire. Our results indicated that most speech therapists had clients with communication needs and problems; however, their awareness of AAC methods was insufficient. Most of the SLPs were willing to learn more about AAC, especially high-tech devices. The majority of SLPs participating in this study stated that attending workshops and congresses, and reading texts increased their awareness about AAC services.

● Muscular fatigue of ankle plantar flexors, knee extensors, and flexors, as well as hip abductors and adductors, could decrease the balance in volleyball players.
● Comparing the dynamic balance of volleyball athletes after inducing muscular fatigue revealed that only knee extensors and ankle PFs could decrease anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral reach distances.

Plain Language Summary 
Nontraumatic injuries are common in volleyball players as a result of long durations of playing which induce fatigue. We examined the fatigue effects of 5 muscular groups on balance among volleyball players. Also, we compared the effects of fatigue between these muscle groups. The collected results revealed that fatigue of ankle, knee, and hip muscles decreased dynamic balance. However, fatigue in knee extensors and ankle PFs may result in more negative effects on volleyball players’ balance than that in other muscle groups.

● The Persian version of the FHSQ suggested fair to strong criterion validity.
● The Persian version of the FHSQ presented excellent consistency across items in main domains.
● The Persian version of the FHSQ provided good to excellent reliability and reproducibility.

Plain Language Summary 
In the current study, the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ) was translated and culturally adapted into the Persian language. The Persian version of the FHSQ was a suitable instrument for using in research and clinical settings to evaluate patient satisfaction concerning foot health status. Besides, it could be applied to examine the effects of different therapeutic interventions on the quality of life of individuals and to estimate the prevalence of foot disorders.

● Breathing exercises, like diaphragmatic breathing impact some individuals with COPD.
● Diaphragmatic breathing reduced breathlessness in patients with COPD. 
● There were improvements in breathing frequency, oxygen saturation, and others lung functions (FEV1/FVC) in the study subjects.

Plain Language Summary 
Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) commonly complain of breathlessness. It could increase anxiety and sleep disorders, and reduce their quality of life. Breathing exercise is a therapy to minimize and control the shortness of breath in patients with COPD, like diaphragmatic breathing exercise. The patient was supposed to be in a Semi-Fowler’s position in which chest expansion and diaphragmatic breathing are used. Diaphragmatic breathing is a breath-holding technique; in this method, one breathes from functional residual capacity to total lung capacity while holding breath for 3 seconds. The patient was instructed to place the shirt collar a little higher, stand up straight with shoulders relaxed, and attempt to raise the chest a little. After the patient exhaled, they were instructed to breathe out through the mouth. These techniques are beneficial for lung capacity and breathlessness.

● The explored patients in the early stage of Parkinson’s disease, compared with the neurologically normal control group, had significant impairment in Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), vocal loudness in vowel /a/, reading, and during a monologue speech.
● The presented LSVT significantly improved vocal loudness in Persian-speaking Parkinson’s patients who were in the early stages.
● There was a considerable increase in the MPT of the vowel /a/ in the studied patients in the PD group with the intervention (PD-I), even a little more than that in the healthy controls.

Plain Language Summary 
Speech and voice disorders are observed in almost 90% of the Persian-speaking patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) during their course of illness. Reduced vocal loudness is among the vocal characteristics of these patients, which negatively affects social interactions and quality of life in them. A method for treating speech and vocal difficulties in patients with PD is the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD), i.e., used in other countries. In this study, we used LSVT for treating early-stage Parkinson’s patients in Iran. Accordingly, LSVT has led to an increase in vocal loudness in the speech of the explored patients with PD.

● VT is believed to provide similar strength gains while limiting fatigue. Thus, it may be applied to workers in the construction industry.
● Current findings are examples of guidelines that may be useful to professional sports, clinical, rehabilitation, and medical therapists.
● The combination of high-frequency and low-amplitude, as well as low-frequency and high-amplitude, elicited greater activation of EMG activity in a shorter exposure.

Plain Language Summary 
Vibration Therapy (VT) stimulates muscle spindles; thereby improving associated activity, allowing Motor Unit (MU) synchronization and generating further strength. The understanding/analysis of muscle fatigue is an important respecting prosthesis, functional electrical stimulation, and sports biomechanics. This study used surface Electromyography (EMG) information to present a multivariate approach using multiple EMG features to assess muscle fatigue during endurance testing. EMG surface data were found useful for indirectly assessing performance fatigue during the endurance test. Consequently, an increase in the value of the EMG parameter after an endurance task presented an elevation in the amplitude of the EMG signal, indicating the fatigue of muscle fibers. Therefore, the present study outcomes may be used as guidelines for professional sports, clinical, rehabilitation, and medical therapists.

● Both NASM and Sahrmann corrective exercises reduced HKP and FHP angles and postural sways.
● Sahrmann intervention was more effective than NASM in improving postural control.
● Sahrmann intervention was more effective than NASM in improving foot pressure symmetry index. 

Plain Language Summary 
Flexed posture is defined as Hyperkyphosis (HKP) and Forward Head Posture (FHP), i.e., highly prevalent in students. Changes in the spine alignment lead to the displacement of the center of pressure and increased postural sways; ultimately, this condition disrupts the distribution of foot pressure. This study examined the effects of two types of corrective exercises (NASM vs. Sahrmann) on foot pressure distribution. The relevant results suggested that Sahrmann intervention was more effective than NASM exercises in improving postural control and foot pressure symmetry index.

● This study was the first attempt to incorporate photobiomodulation with the customized insole.
● Detailed biomechanical analysis was evaluated in this research.
● The explored clinical and biomechanical parameters indicated significant improvements.

Plain Language Summary 
Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellites can develop symptoms, such as pain, burning sensation along increased pressure at their foot, which can cause ulcers. Numerous treatment approaches are were available for this condition. Noninvasive management, like laser treatment with adjusted insoles, can reduce pain and pressure in the feet.