Understanding Different Aspects of Caregiving for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) a Narrative Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: There has been a considerable endeavor to understand associated challenges of caregiving for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and to develop the necessary skills and approaches to assist parents of children with ASD. Different studies have been stressed the importance and need for parental involvement in the intervention process to increase positive impacts. METHODS: The process of caregiving and the associated challenges should be understood from different aspects to be able to facilitate parent involvement in intervention implementation. In a narrative literature review, ten selected reviews were considered and each review considered a special aspect of caregiving for an individual with ASD. RESULTS: Five main different factors in the available literature and reviews were considered as different themes that needed to be reconsidered in the studies on the impacts of caregiving for an individual with ASD. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that to facilitate parental involvement in the intervention process, and to support caregivers of this group of individuals this review highlights the need for improved research in some proposed areas in this field and to bridge the gap between research and practice in this field.

Effects of an 8-week selective corrective exercises program on electromyography activity of scapular and neck muscles in persons with upper crossed syndrome: Randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Postural disorders disturb muscle activity and lead to joint dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week selective corrective exercises program on electromyography activity of scapular and neck muscles in persons with upper crossed syndrome (UCS). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Exercise evaluation was conducted in a laboratory setting. PARTICIPANT: Study recruited 30 healthy males with UCS from university students, who were then randomly divided into the control group (age = 20.14 ±â€¯1.71 years; height = 176.86 ±â€¯4.7 cm; BMI = 21.20 ±â€¯1.96 kg/m2) and the exercise group (age = 21.44 ±â€¯2.06 years; height = 174.2 ±â€¯4.0 cm; BMI = 20.62 ±â€¯3.9 kg/m2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Electromyography activity of upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), serratus anterior (SA), and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) was recorded before and after 8-week exercise program. RESULTS: T-test results revealed that baseline activity of SA (P < 0.05), had increased while UT (P < 0.05) and SCM (P < 0.05) activity as well as UT/SA (P < 0.05) and UT/LT (P < 0.05) ratios had decreased. In connection with these finding the effect sizes were large. CONCLUSION: Eight week corrective exercises balance muscles activity and can be used to manage developing upper quadrant musculoskeletal disorders in person with UCS.