Patients in the neurofeedback and EMG-biofeedback groups showed hand improvement similar to conventional OT. Further studies are suggested to assign the best protocol for neurofeedback and EMG-biofeedback therapy.

Introduction: In this study, a single-blind and randomized controlled trial (RCT) for assessing the effectiveness of high-power (up to 12 W) laser therapy (HPLT) on patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) was carried out. Methods: Forty-four patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups by generating random numbers with MATLAB 2014b software, where odd and even numbers were attributed to sham laser group (group A) and actual laser group (group B), respectively. Group B patients underwent HPLT with total dose of 300 J/session for 5 consecutive sessions separated by a 2-day interval. On the other hand, sham laser was applied to group A patients. Both groups had the same exercise therapy programs during the study period (3 months). The exercise therapy program included isometric knee exercise for 3 sets per day and 10 times in each set, with duration of 10 seconds per time and straight leg raise for 15 seconds 10 times a day. The group codes of patients were not revealed to subjects and data analyzer until completion of the study. Kujala, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaires were chosen as outcome measures. These questionnaires were completed at three points during the study; at the beginning of the study to obtain the pre-therapy conditions and one month and three months after the start of the study to evaluate post-therapy conditions. Results: Two main analyses were conducted: within-group and between-group analyses. Withingroup analyses indicated significant improvements in respect to all measurements where pretherapy and post-therapy comparisons were conducted in both groups (P < 0.05). On the other hand, between-group comparisons did not reveal any statistically significant functional difference between group A and group B regarding the evaluative criteria (P > 0.05) except for pain VAS (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that short-term HPLT accompanied by appropriate exercise regimen significantly decreased pain in patients with PFPS. But it was not recommended as an efficient modality in functional improvement. Also, it was observed that, in the short-term period of study, HPLT was a safe modality.

According to this study, it seems that acupuncture was not effective in labor initiation compared to sham acupuncture.

In this study, EMG abnormalities of nerve damage were presented more commonly in the FCU muscle than in the FDP in patients with ulnar nerve lesion at the elbow.

BackgroundAccessory Deep Peroneal Nerve (ADPN) is an anatomic variation that can potentially cause disturbance in electrodiagnostic studies. This anomaly could be detected by nerve conduction studies. There are no recent updates about prevalence of this anatomic variation. Electrodiagnostic medicine clinic is the best environment for detecting presence and prevalence of this nerve, so present study enrolled.Materials & MethodsIn this cross sectional descriptive study that take place from March 2009 to July 2010, 230 cases comprising 460 legs referred for electrodiagnostic studies of upper limbs problems participated in the study. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and Nerve conduction Velocity (NCV) of Deep Peroneal Nerve (DPN) were measured by using EMG machine by stimulating DPN at knee, ankle and lateral malleolous areas accordingly, with recording from extensor digitorum brevis muscle. Results were analyzed and conclusion made.ResultsThe study population included 120 females (52%) and 110 (47%) males with mean age of 42.1 ± 13.5 years. ADPN was detected in 28 patients (12%). Among them,10(17.9%) had bilateral ADPN and in remained 18 cases (82.1%) APN was unilateral. In 8 patients there was no recorded CMAP from EDB by proximal and distal stimulation implying EDB agenesis. Gender distribution was similar which means half of the cases (14 patients) belonged to each gender.ConclusionThe prevalence of ADPN in this study was 12.2%, (17.9% bilateral and 82.1% unilateral).