Effect of training of bicycle ergometer on ventilatory functions for asthmatic children

Children with bronchial asthma, having obstructive ventilatory functions, may benefit from physical therapy besides the standard medical management they receive. Eighty-four asthmatic children were originally enrolled in this study to assess the value of such hypothesis. Children of the experimental group used bicycle ergometer. They practiced training three times/week for eight weeks. Also, they received medical management. A control group received only medical treatment. Only 31 children in both groups could be traced and analyzed to achieve the objective of the study; 20 of them from the experimental group with a mean age of 7.3 +/- 2.1 years and 11 children in the control groups with a mean age of 7 +/- 2.5 years. For both groups, initial ventilatory functions were done, as feasible, immediately after an asthmatic attack finished, then after the end of the scheduled management. The results showed a significant improvement at the end of physical therapy training program when compared with the group with no physical therapy. In spite of a follow up rate of 64.6% of the cases of asthmatic children, physical therapy training proved to be an effective as well as a safe modality, adjuvant to medical management

effect of isokinetic training for management of children with pleural diseases

Twenty-two children were included in this study having pleural effusion mostly consequential to pneumonic affection and managed medically. They were subdivided into two groups: An experimental group including 12 children with mean age of 10.4 +/- 1.5 years, who received medical treatment and physical therapy and a control group comprising ten children with a mean age of 10.2 +/- 1.7 years, who received medical management only. For both groups, initial ventilatory function assessment was done before the start of treatment in the form of forced vital capacity [FVC] ml, forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV] ml, maximum voluntary ventilation [MVV] l/min. And peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] l/min. The experimental group received physical therapy isokinetic training using low pulley, vertical chest/reverse fly and chest press/sated raw machines. This program was carried out for three times/week for six weeks, after which the same parameters of ventilatory functions were done. The results showed non significant changes in the control group after medical treatment and a significant improvement in the experimental group who received physical therapy. It can he concluded that physical therapy is safe and effective modality in the management of such cases

Postural control: static and dynamic balance in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients

The aim of the present study was to assess and identify the effect of a specific balance program on the improvement of postural control for children with rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. Children with balance problems often have difficulty controlling posture in static and dynamic situations. Children with rheumatoid arthritis have reported fear of falling and thus reducing their physical activity level. The present study was conducted on 30 Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis [JRA] children of both sex, their ages ranged between 7 to 12 years [X9.5 +/- 2.5]. They were divided randomly into 2 groups of equal number [A] and [B]. The static and dynamic balance were tested at the start of the study and after 10 weeks. Both groups received the traditional treatment program for JRA 5 times/week. In addition, group [B] underwent a specific intervention program for balance. At the end of the study the results revealed a significant unproven tent in the static and dynamic balance [P<0.05] for group [A] and a highly significant improvement for group [B] in the same parameters measured [P<0.001]. It could be concluded that static and dynamic balance would be involved in physical therapy for JRA patients