Content - Volume 22, Issue 2

The pressure pain threshold for the upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscles was studied in a working population with a mechanical algometer. The lower 95% confidence interval limits of the correlation coefficient describing intraobserver reliability varied from 0. 71 to 0. 92, measured in 93 men and 70 women. The values describing interobserver reliability varied from 0. 68 to 0. 79, measured ...

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of high-intensity versus low-intensity transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and versus placebo for treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain. Three groups of 20 patients each (A, B, C) were studied. In group A high-intensity TENS was delivered at 3 times the sensory threshold with frequency of 100 Hz; in group B low-intensity TENS wa ...

Subjective experience of pain and disability was assessed for 4-5 weeks on a weekly basis in 14 consecutive out-patients complaining of low-back pain and/or leg pain that had lasted for at least 6 months. The following measures were used for assessment: a visual analogue scale (VAS) (present pain and worst pain during preceding 2 weeks), a short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Pain Di ...

A study of 163 physiotherapists' conception of their professional role and autonomy and the implications for their work has been completed. About half (55%) felt that physicians and other staff members primarily expected them to act as independent professionals, while about one-third (34%) felt that they were expected to undertake treatment after referral from or discussion with the physician. Mos ...

Sixty-seven patients surviving spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) have been followed up for 2-12 years (mean: 7 years) in order to determine prognostic factors concerning the long-term disability in familial and social functioning. A correlation was found between the severity of the neurological deficit at the time of admission and the degree of familial and social disability at the end of ...

The serial reproducibility of an individual's isokinetic torque was assessed in order to establish a reliable baseline value for future comparison. Thirty-two controls and twenty arthritic patients were tested for their peak isokinetic torque on knee flexion and extension and hip flexion at three velocities on five occasions, at fortnightly intervals. The first test was found to provide a reliable ...

Line bisection testing was performed on 82 elderly subjects within 14 days of a non-lacunar stroke. The 40 subjects with impaired line bisection were of similar age and pre-stroke dependency as the 42 subjects with normal line bisection but had a more severe current stroke deficit as evidenced by a higher incidence of new hemiplegia, homonomous hemianopia, visual extinction and constructional impa ...

Unipolar phrenic nerve stimulation (diaphragm pacing) has been used for ventilation of patients with C2 tetraplegia. Four-pole sequential nerve stimulation delays muscle fatigue when compared with unipolar stimulation. This may help to achieve more frequently long-term full-time bilateral electroventilation. Four-pole sequential nerve stimulation also offers an opportunity to shorten the condition ...

The impact of long-standing polio sequelae in terms of disability and handicap was studied in 41 patients (17 men and 24 women, mean age 54 years). Twenty-nine (71%) of these met the criteria for post-polio syndrome. The Katz' ADL index, the Functional Status Questionnaire (FSQ), selected questions concerning social needs and support and the WHO ICIDH-Classification of handicaps were used. A subst ...