Journal of Modern Rehabilitation is the official scholarly journal of the Rehabilitation Faculty at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). The purpose of publishing the MRJ is promoting depth of the relevant knowledge and providing the perfect platform to encourage researchers in the appropriate fields. The scope of the Journal emphasizes all aspects of the specialty of rehabilitation, including Physiotherapy, Kinesiology, Biomedical Engineering, Motion Control, Electrodiagnostic Medicine and gait analysis; and also relative rehabilitation specialties including Physical Medicine, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Respiratory Rehabilitation, Neurology Rehabilitation, Gynecology Rehabilitation, Speech Therapy, Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Gerontology and Geriatric Rehabilitation, prosthetics and orthotics. The practice focus is on the clinical and administrative aspects of rehabilitation. The research focus emphasizes clinical inquiry and also explores basic science. The educational focus is on the application of modern teaching techniques/technology to graduate, undergraduate, and postgraduate rehabilitation instructional programs. 

Formerly Journal of Modern Rehabilitation.

 

Articles in Press

Current Issue

Vol 20 No 2 (2026)

Review Article(s)

  • XML | PDF | views: 400 | pages: 103-118

    Introduction: Blue-light-blocking filters are crucial for reducing the harmful effects of light emitted by digital screens.
    Materials and Methods: This narrative review, based on a comprehensive search across databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, aimed to examine studies published between 2010 and 2024 and evaluate the effects of these filters on eye health, sleep quality, and related functions.
    Results: The findings indicated that the use of these filters can help reduce visual discomfort and improve physiological parameters, such as circadian rhythm and sleep quality. Moreover, the relationship between blue-light-blocking filters and the reduction of sleep disorders, such as insomnia, anxiety, migraine, photophobia, mania, computer vision syndrome (CVS), and accommodative problems, has been investigated. Their effects on retinal structure and function, potential role in reducing the risk of age-related macular degeneration, and influence on contrast sensitivity, color perception, and motion detection have also been discussed. Some studies suggest that these filters may affect contrast sensitivity; however, further research is required to clarify these effects. These filters may be beneficial for individuals continuously exposed to digital devices. Although these lenses do not significantly impact overall color perception, they may make it difficult to distinguish colors, particularly in the blue spectrum.

    Conclusion: This study’s narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of blue-light-blocking filters and emphasizes the need for further research in this area.

  • XML | PDF | views: 431 | pages: 119-133

    Introduction: Tinnitus, defined as the perception of sound without an external source, affects 10% to 24% of adults and can significantly impair quality of life (QoL). Mind-body approaches—including mindfulness-based interventions, yoga, and hypnosis—have been increasingly explored as complementary strategies for tinnitus management, though their efficacy remains under investigation.
    Materials and Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify English-language studies (1995-2024) on mindfulness, yoga, and hypnosis for tinnitus management. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria, and the findings were summarized to assess efficacy, mechanisms, and limitations.
    Results: Mindfulness-based interventions (e.g. mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction) provide moderate evidence for reducing tinnitus distress and improving anxiety and depression, with some studies reporting sustained benefits for up to six months. Although rigorous trials are lacking, yoga has preliminary evidence, with small studies suggesting benefits for stress and tinnitus-related symptoms. Hypnosis studies, often outdated, indicate preliminary benefits for tinnitus severity and psychological symptoms; however, effects are inconsistent and poorly sustained. Negative findings, such as limited impact on tinnitus intensity or anxiety, tend to be underreported.
    Conclusion: Mindfulness-based interventions show promising clinical efficacy for managing tinnitus, especially the psychological symptoms, whereas yoga and hypnosis necessitate further rigorous trials. Future studies should emphasize head-to-head comparisons, long-term outcomes, integration with existing therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and inclusion of diverse populations to enhance clinical applicability.

  • XML | PDF | pages: 134-145

    Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a vital measure aimed at improving the quality of life (QoL) and preventing secondary complications and recurrence in individuals with a high cardiac risk profile. As an alternative to traditional CR, e-rehabilitation (e-rehab) using smartphones or web-based platforms is a modern solution for effective CR. This study aimed to identify its implementation and evaluate its effectiveness on functional capacity, adherence, and QoL.
    Materials and Methods: A systematic search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted in electronic databases, such as Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, between January 2015 and January 2025. The selected studies included e-rehab as an intervention, implemented through a hybrid model, among a heart disease population. A total of 210 studies were identified, of which 13 with higher-quality evidence were selected as appropriate to our scope.
    Results: CR using the e-rehab protocol improved functional capacity and QoL. Participants’ follow-up rates and interest were noticeably lower in traditional CR compared to e-rehab.
    Conclusion: Overall, e-rehab-based CR was effective, but when implemented alongside telemonitoring devices, it may reduce the risk of physical activity-induced adverse reactions. Such a model enhances patients’ willingness to enroll in exercise-based CR.

Research Article(s)

  • XML | PDF | views: 199 | pages: 146-157

    Introduction: Positive psychology may serve as a protective approach against fatigue and burnout in environments where workers face disability, adversity, and suffering. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy based on the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA) flourishing model in reducing occupational burnout and compassion fatigue among staff working in rehabilitation centers affiliated with the Welfare Organization—an understudied population whose wellbeing may affect service quality and client outcomes.
    Materials and Methods: A single-case experimental design was used with five rehabilitation staff members from Yazd Province, Iran. Participants received eight weekly sessions of the PERMA flourishing program. Burnout and compassion fatigue were assessed before, during, and after the intervention, with clinical improvement evaluated using the reliable change index (RCI).
    Results: The results demonstrated a significant reduction in burnout and compassion fatigue, with an acceptable percentage of improvement and RCI values exceeding 1.96 (P<0.05). For emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and secondary traumatic stress, RCI values exceeded 2.58 (P<0.01), with improvement percentages ranging from 23–100%, 52–64%, and 24–80%, respectively. For compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress, RCI values ranged from 1.96 to 2.58 (P<0.05), with improvement percentages of 14–48%, 25–52%, and 23–33%, respectively. These results indicated statistically and clinically meaningful improvements following the PERMA flourishing intervention.
    Conclusion: Based on these findings, the PERMA flourishing program may be an effective intervention for reducing occupational burnout and compassion fatigue among rehabilitation personnel.

  • XML | PDF | views: 228 | pages: 158-165

    Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, leading to progressive muscle weakness. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of telerehabilitation in improving pulmonary function in patients with DMD.
    Materials and Methods: An interventional study was conducted among boys aged 5-12 years with DMD enrolled in the Pediatric Neurology Clinic from September 2023 to February 2024. Telemedicine-based respiratory exercises were explained to patients and their parents every 15 days for a 3-month period, and the patients were encouraged to exercise for at least 5 days a week. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), were recorded before and after the intervention.
    Results: A total of 67 children participated in the study. There was significant improvement in FVC (P<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.93) and FEV1 (P<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.06). The FEV1/FVC ratio, a parameter that can be elevated in restrictive diseases, was also significantly decreased (P<0.001, Cohen’s d=-0.63). For a one-unit increase in age, the FVC change after intervention was predicted to decrease significantly by 0.24 units, holding other variables constant.
    Conclusion: Telemedicine-based pulmonary rehabilitation for 3 months markedly improved pulmonary function, indicating that this intervention is effective in improving pulmonary function in patients with DMD, with greater effectiveness when initiated at an early age.

  • XML | PDF | views: 168 | pages: 166-174

    Introduction: Post-prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence (PPSUI) is a common complication of radical prostatectomy. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of integrative physical therapy (IPT) and supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in managing PPSUI.
    Materials and Methods: Sixty-six men aged 50–80 years with PPSUI were randomly assigned to IPT, PFMT, or control groups. The IPT program included electrotherapy, manual therapy, diaphragmatic breathing, and PFMT. The PFMT group received supervised PFMT. The control group received a sham form of electrotherapy. All interventions were delivered in 12 sessions over four weeks. Outcome measures included voided volume, fluid intake, micturition frequency, incontinence frequency, and health-related quality of life (QoL), assessed using the 12-item short-form (SF-12) questionnaire.
    Results: Both IPT and PFMT significantly reduced micturition and incontinence frequency and improved SF-12 scores compared with the control group (P<0.001). The control group showed no significant improvements across any outcome measures. IPT demonstrated superior improvements relative to PFMT in micturition frequency, incontinence frequency, and SF-12 scores (P<0.05).
    Conclusion: IPT and PFMT are effective for PPSUI, with IPT showing greater overall efficacy.

  • XML | PDF | views: 222 | pages: 175-183

    Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a musculoskeletal disorder commonly associated with altered gait patterns; however, little information exists on comparative specific spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with LBP. This gap is addressed in the present study by comparing the mean values of stride length, step length, and stride time, as well as corresponding measures of hip extension and peak knee flexion angle, using Kinovea software (version 0.9.5).
    Materials and Methods: This observational study included 200 participants, 100 healthy individuals (group I) and 100 individuals with LBP (group II). The inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to select the study participants. All participants underwent a gait analysis using Kinovea software (version 0.9.5), and gait parameters, including stride length, step time, and hip extension, were also measured. Statistical associations between gait parameters and LBP presence were analyzed.
    Results: Subjects with LBP showed significant gait alteration with decreased stride length (mean difference [MD] 32.93 cm, P=0.001), decreased step length (18.52 cm, P=0.001), and reduced hip extension (1.88°, P=0.001) with weak to moderate correlation (r=0.214-0.282). These gait impairments were independent of the body composition.
    Conclusion: This study identifies significant changes in gait patterns between patients with and without LBP, as revealed by Kinovea software (version 0.9.5), characterized by shorter step length, longer temporal duration, and lower hip extension magnitude. These results provide quantifiable differences in gait dynamics due to inter-individual differences observed clinically.

  • XML | PDF | views: 127 | pages: 184-198

    Introduction: Dynamic temporal and tactile cueing (DTTC) is a treatment method for childhood apraxia of speech (AOS), and its characteristics make it a suitable option for treating patients with AOS. Additionally, no documented treatment protocol has been published in Iran for the treatment of patients with AOS. This study protocol aims to investigate the efficacy of DTTC in the treatment of Persian-speaking patients with acquired AOS, who will be recruited using non-probability, convenience sampling.
    Materials and Methods: A single-subject study with multiple baseline designs across participants was designed to obtain detailed information about the intervention procedure on at least three participants’ performance, and a perceptual scoring system was introduced to measure the accuracy of treated and untreated words and phrases as a dependent variable.
    Results: The results of a visual analysis will be provided based for the assessment of participants at three phases of baseline, treatment, and follow-up, and the effect sizes will be reported.
    Conclusion: This study describes the first research investigating the efficacy of DTTC on the speech of AOS patients and the first treatment protocol for Persian-speaking patients with AOS.

  • XML | PDF | views: 131 | pages: 199-210

    Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects not only motor function but also cognition and language, including narrative discourse, which relies on linguistic processes and higher-order cognitive functions, such as working memory and executive functions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between narrative discourse features and cognitive functions in Persian-speaking patients with PD.
    Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 26 patients with PD and 26 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls participated. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Persian Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA-P), digit span, Stroop, verbal fluency, and the Persian cognitive reserve index (CRIq). Narrative discourse was evaluated using the Persian narrative discourse test. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation.
    Results: In patients with PD, syntactic complexity correlated positively with MoCA-P (P=0.001, rs=0.627), CRIq (P=0.012, rs=0.487), phonological verbal fluency (P=0.032, rs=0.420), and forward digit span (P=0.015, rs=0.472). Lexical cohesion correlated with MoCA-P (P=0.012, rs=0.484) and CRIq (P=0.002, rs=0.573), while conjunctive cohesion was associated with MoCA-P (P=0.022, rs=0.448) and semantic verbal fluency (fruits) (P=0.041, rs=0.404).
    Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that higher levels of global cognition, working memory, verbal fluency, and cognitive reserve are associated with increased syntactic complexity and enhanced lexical and conjunctive cohesion in the narrative discourse of patients with PD. These findings indicate that cognitive decline adversely affects narrative organization and structural integrity.

  • XML | PDF | views: 112 | pages: 211-224

    Introduction: Back pain remains a prevalent musculoskeletal condition with significant implications for quality of life and long-term spinal health. Conventional rehabilitation approaches often suffer from low patient adherence and limited engagement, highlighting the need for innovative, technology-driven solutions that motivate sustained therapeutic participation.
    Materials and Methods: A real-time pose detection system was integrated with a Unity-based gaming platform to deliver personalized exercise regimens targeting flexibility, strength, and postural correction. The system incorporated computer vision algorithms for real-time biomechanical analysis and immediate performance feedback. Three therapeutic exercises were evaluated: the knee-to-chest stretch (cross crunches), side bend, and forward and backward bends. Exercise performance was gamified within the Unity engine to enhance user motivation and adherence.
    Results: The system successfully detected and analysed user performance across all three target exercises in real time. A measurable improvement in user scoring patterns was observed over successive sessions, indicating enhanced engagement and more effective exercise execution. The gamified framework demonstrated reliable performance analysis and responsiveness to individual rehabilitation needs.
    Conclusion: Integrating real-time pose detection with interactive game-based environments represents a viable and scalable approach to back pain rehabilitation. By transforming therapeutic exercises into engaging gameplay, the proposed system promotes greater adherence to treatment protocols and supports superior long-term spinal health outcomes. The framework's adaptability positions it as a promising tool for individuals with diverse rehabilitation requirements.

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