Faculty member occupational therapy Instructor at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Mahsa Fadavighaffari is an accomplished researcher and lecturer in occupational therapy, specializing in neurorehabilitation and geriatric rehabilitation. She serves as a faculty member at the Musculoskeletal Research Center, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Her career has been marked by a strong integration of teaching, clinical practice, and research, focusing on rehabilitation strategies for individuals with neurological disorders and older adults with cognitive or motor impairments. Mahsa’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, followed by a Master’s in Occupational Therapy at Iran University of Medical Sciences. Her contributions include randomized clinical trials, psychometric validation of rehabilitation tools, and cross-cultural adaptation of assessment instruments, ensuring evidence-based practice for Iranian populations. With numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences, she has established herself as a promising voice in the global rehabilitation research community.
Professional Profile
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Education
Mahsa Fadavighaffari pursued her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, where she graduated with distinction. Her bachelor thesis explored the effects of Cawthorne and Cooksey exercises on balance and quality of life in elderly individuals, highlighting her early commitment to geriatric care. Building on this foundation, she completed her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Iran University of Medical Sciences. Her master thesis focused on the translation, reliability, and validation of the Persian version of the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) for patients with distal radius and scaphoid fractures. This work demonstrated her strong expertise in psychometric evaluation and evidence-based practice. Through her education, Mahsa combined clinical research with academic rigor, producing impactful findings that remain highly relevant in rehabilitation sciences. Her educational background reflects both scientific depth and a strong focus on practical applications of occupational therapy within diverse patient populations.
Experience
Mahsa has accumulated extensive academic and clinical experience in occupational therapy and rehabilitation sciences. She has served as a faculty member and lecturer at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, teaching courses on neurorehabilitation, occupational therapy for neurological disorders, and geriatric care. She has supervised student internships in stroke rehabilitation centers and hospital-based clinical settings. Previously, she held a lecturer position at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, where she guided internships in multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Her clinical experience includes working at Tavanafza Private Clinic, Shahid Rajaei Hospital, and Noorafshar Hospital, where she treated patients with neurological disorders. She also contributed to geriatric rehabilitation at Shiraz School of Rehabilitation Sciences. Across academic and clinical settings, Mahsa has consistently integrated teaching, research, and therapy, fostering evidence-based interventions while mentoring students. Her dual role as educator and practitioner highlights her dedication to advancing occupational therapy practice.
Research Focus
Mahsa Fadavighaffari’s research is centered on neurorehabilitation, psychometrics, and geriatric care. She focuses on developing and validating culturally adapted rehabilitation assessment tools, ensuring reliability and applicability in clinical practice. Her notable works include the Persian adaptation of the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) and the psychometric validation of the Falls Efficacy Scale for elderly populations in nursing homes. She has also contributed to clinical trials, such as evaluating Cawthorne and Cooksey exercises for balance and quality of life among older adults. More recently, her research extends to innovative therapies such as action observation training for multiple sclerosis patients, reflecting her forward-looking approach to neurological rehabilitation. Mahsa’s interdisciplinary scope includes musculoskeletal rehabilitation, behavioral assessment, and geriatric fall prevention, aligning clinical practice with research-driven solutions. Her focus on bridging evidence-based research with direct patient outcomes positions her as a promising leader in neurorehabilitation research and clinical translation.
Awards and Honors
Mahsa has received several honors that underscore her academic excellence and professional contributions. At Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, she won multiple first-place awards at the “Celebration of Knowledge and Research of Distinguished Students” and the Shiraz University Alumni Association Festival. During her master’s program at Iran University of Medical Sciences, she ranked among the top students in occupational therapy. She earned recognition at the Shahid Motahari Festival for her innovative teamwork project in clinical education. She was also awarded a provincial prize for successfully implementing life skills education in schools. Beyond individual accolades, she has actively contributed to academic committees, including the executive and scientific committees of the National and International Clinical Movement Sciences Congresses. These recognitions reflect her blend of research impact, teaching excellence, and community engagement. Her awards highlight her growing influence in rehabilitation sciences and her capacity to translate research into meaningful clinical and educational practices.
Publication Top Notes
Title: Effect of Cawthorne and Cooksey Exercises on Balance and Quality of Life of 60 to 80 Year-Old Individuals in Shiraz: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: AF Abarghuei, M Fadavi-Ghaffari, S Tousi, M Amini, AR Salehi
Journal: Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Summary: This trial showed that Cawthorne and Cooksey exercises significantly improved balance and quality of life in elderly participants, offering a cost-effective fall-prevention method.
Title: Falls Efficacy Scale and Single Item Question: Screening Accuracy for Older Adults Residing in Nursing Homes
Authors: M Meimandi, M Fadavi-Ghaffari, G Taghizadeh, A Azad, L Lajevardi
Journal: Clinical Gerontologist.
Summary: The study validated simple tools for assessing fall risk in nursing home residents, proving effective for large-scale geriatric screening.
Title: Translation, Cultural Adaptation, Face and Content Validity of the Persian Version “Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation” (PRWE-Persian) Questionnaire
Authors: M Fadavi-Ghaffari, A Azad, H Shariatzadeh, G Taghizadeh, S Aminizadeh
Journal: Journal of Modern Rehabilitation.
Summary: This research adapted and validated the PRWE into Persian, ensuring reliability for evaluating pain and disability in wrist injuries.
Title: The Psychometric Properties of Falls Efficacy Scale in the Elderly Iranian Residents of Nursing Homes
Authors: M Fadavi-Ghaffari, A Azad, M Meimandi, Z Arani-Kashani, H Ghorbanpoor
Journal: Iranian Rehabilitation Journal.
Summary: Confirmed the validity and reliability of the Falls Efficacy Scale in elderly Iranian nursing home residents, enhancing clinical use.
Title: The Psychometric Features of the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation in Iranians With Scaphoid or Distal Radius Fracture
Authors: M Fadavi-Ghaffari, A Azad, G Taghizadeh, N Nakhostin-Ansari, H Shariatzadeh, S Aminizadeh
Journal: Iranian Rehabilitation Journal.
Summary: Evaluated PRWE’s psychometric properties in fracture patients, confirming its reliability across musculoskeletal injuries.
Title: Comparison of Students’ Performance and Attitude Between Collaboration Testing and Written Examination of Ethics Course
Authors: R Mofateh, N Orakifar, N NooriMombeini, M Fadavighaffari
Journal: Future of Medical Education Journal.
Summary: Compared collaborative testing with traditional exams, finding that teamwork assessments improved engagement and learning.
Title: Effect of Zoledronic Acid and Vitamin E on Surgical–Induced Femoral Head Osteonecrosis in Rabbit
Authors: K Gharanizadeh, S Aminizadeh, AX Amir Darbandi, S Nadjafi, M Fadavighaffari, et al.
Journal: Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Summary: Animal model study showing that combined therapy reduced osteonecrosis risk, suggesting potential for clinical application.
Conclusion
Mahsa Fadavighaffari’s research contributions, particularly in psychometric validation, geriatric rehabilitation, and evidence-based occupational therapy interventions, establish her as a promising and impactful researcher in rehabilitation sciences. Her blend of clinical, academic, and research expertise supports her suitability for recognition under the Best Researcher Award. With continued expansion of her international research visibility and adoption of emerging rehabilitation technologies, she is well-positioned to make even greater contributions to the field.
