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Objectives: Transcranial direct current stimulation and robotic therapy (RT) are two modalities in neurorehabilitation for the improvement of upper limb function in stroke patients. However, the additional effects of the concurrent application of these two techniques compared to RT alone on upper limb function in stroke patients have not been studied yet. We analyzed the effectiveness of concurrent tDCS and RT compared to RT alone on upper limb motor function in stroke patients. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database was performed from 2000 to January 1, 2021. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. All statistical analyses were performed in STATA software, version 14, and the Mean±SD was used as the pooled statistics. Results: The result showed that concurrent tDCS and RT had moderate but non-significant pooled effect sizes for upper limb Fugl-Meyer assessment (SMD=0.31, 95% CI, -0.20%, 0.83%, I2=84.1%). Discussion: According to the results of this study, no difference was obtained in the efficacy of concurrent tDCS and RT compared to RT alone on upper limb function in stroke survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic low back pain (LBP) causes some neuroplastic changes in the brain, which result in body perception impairment. The Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire (FreBAQ) is a suggested tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of back perception in people with LBP. The aim of this study is to translate and cross culturally adapt the FreBAQ into Persian language and to assess its reliability and validity in patients with chronic LBP (CLBP). Materials and Methods: Fifty people with CLBP and fifty healthy people participated in this study. To evaluate the discriminant validity, we assessed the ability of the FreBAQ to discriminate between people with and without LBP. After an interval of 1 week, 25 patients with CLBP completed the questionnaire in the retest session. Data obtained from the first test administration were used for internal consistency and data obtained from repeated testing were used for test--retest reliability. Construct validity was assessed by investigating a correlation between the FreBAQ with the Roland--Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), Visual Analog Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia. In addition, the construct validity of Persian FreBAQ was measured by factor analysis. Results: The test--retest reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.96. Cronbach's alpha was 0.74 for Persian FreBAQ. The standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were 0.91 and 2.52, respectively. Construct validity was demonstrated by statistically significant relationship between the Persian FreBAQ and questionnaires of PCS (P < 0.001) and RDQ (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The Persian version of FreBAQ is a valid and reliable measurement tool for evaluating back perception changes in Persian-speaking patients with LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]