The Effect of a Hand-Stretching Device During the Management of Spasticity in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To describe a hand-stretching device that was developed for the management of hand spasticity in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients, and the effects of this device on hand spasticity. METHODS: Fifteen chronic hemiparetic stroke patients with finger flexor spasticity were recruited and randomly assigned to an intervention group (8 patients) or a control group (7 patients). The stretching device consists of a resting hand splint, a finger and thumb stretcher, and a frame. In use, the stretched state was maintained for 10 minutes per exercise session, and the exercise was performed twice daily for 4 weeks. Spasticity of finger flexor muscles in the two groups was assessed 3 times, 4 weeks apart, using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Patients in the intervention group were assessed twice (pre-1 and pre-2) before and once (post-1) after starting the stretching program. RESULTS: Mean MAS (mMAS) scores at initial evaluations were not significantly different at pre-1 in the intervention group and at 1st assessment in the control group (p>0.05). In addition, no significant differences were observed between mMAS scores at pre-1 and pre-2 in the intervention group (p>0.05). However, mMAS scores at post-1 were significantly lower than that at pre-2 in the intervention group (p0.05). In addition, mMAS scores at post-1 in the intervention group were significantly decreased compared with those at the 3rd assessment in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The devised stretching device was found to relieve hand spasticity effectively in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients.

Correction: The Effect of a Hand-Stretching Device During the Management of Spasticity in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke Patients

We found that the second author name was published incorrectly. Min Cheol Jang was changed to Min Cheol Chang.

Correction: The Effect of a Hand-Stretching Device During the Management of Spasticity in Chronic Hemiparetic Stroke Patients

We found that the second author name was published incorrectly. Min Cheol Jang was changed to Min Cheol Chang.

Effects of Abdominal Hollowing During Stair Climbing on the Activations of Local Trunk Stabilizing Muscles: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: To examine using surface electromyography whether stair climbing with abdominal hollowing (AH) is better at facilitating local trunk muscle activity than stair climbing without AH. METHODS: Twenty healthy men with no history of low back pain participated in the study. Surface electrodes were attached to the multifidus (MF), lumbar erector spinae, thoracic erector spinae, transverse abdominus - internal oblique abdominals (TrA-IO), external oblique abdominals (EO), and the rectus abdominis. Amplitudes of electromyographic signals were measured during stair climbing. Study participants performed maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) for each muscle in various positions to normalize the surface electromyography data. RESULTS: AH during stair climbing resulted in significant increases in normalized MVCs in both MFs and TrA-IOs (p<0.05). Local trunk muscle/global trunk muscle ratios were higher during stair climbing with AH as compared with stair climbing without AH. Especially, right TrA-IO/EO and left TrA-IO/EO were significantly increased (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Stair climbing with AH activates local trunk stabilizing muscles better than stair climbing without AH. The findings suggest that AH during stair climbing contributes to trunk muscle activation and trunk stabilization.

A Study of Psychogenic Symptoms in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain(CLBP) is one of the most common afflictions of humans. Between 70% and 80% of the population experience back pain some time during their lives. Especially, back pain is the most common cause of limited activity in individual under age 45. METHODS: The prepared questionnaire and SCL-MPD(symptom check list-minor psychiatric disorders) were presented to subjects who visited our hospital for occupational routine check. The questionnaire was composed of duration and severity of back pain. The subject were divided into two groups, respectively with chronic low back pain history and without history. The differences of psychogenic symptoms between both groups were analysed. RESULTS: In general characteristics, there was no significant difference between both groups. There were significant differences in somatization, anxiety, depression, anger-hostilily, phobic anxiety, neurasthenic, hypochondriacal, interpersonal sensitivity and general dimensions between both groups(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in obsessive-compulsive dimension between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed the presence of various psychogenic symptoms in chronic low back pain patients. Such psychosocial variables will need to receive additional careful attention in primary care setting.

Health Behaviors and Health Perception among medical and non-medical students

BACKGROUND: The interest of medicine was moved from disease treatment to disease prevention and health promotion. Especially, there has been marked increased interest in health promotion recently. Perception and health behaviors held or acquired during medical training can influence the acceptance and prevention strategies. This exploratory study surveyed medical and non-medical student to assess both preventive health behaviors and perception, to find relations of personal behaviors and corresponding perception. METHODS: This survey were conducted 140 medical students and 131 non-medical students in one big city. Data were obtained by self-reported questionnaire. Weschler survey was adapted to assess perception toward preventive behavior, and Fantastic lifestyle was adapt,ed to assess health behavior. RESULTS: Among the questionnaire of perception of preventive behavior, quitting cigarette smoking ranked highest frequency as very important in medical student. In non-medical student, use seat-belt is ranked highest frequency. Mean score of FANTASTIC lifestyle is 29.98 in medical student, 28.86 in non-medical. The result show significant relationship between st,udent-reported behavior and corresponding perception in 6 qestionnaire that is eat breakfast, moderate or no alcohol use, eliminate smoking, use seat belt, limit coffee, get seven hours sleep. CONCLUSIONS: In comparing medical and non-medical students, health perception and health behavior were no significant difference. Overall, the result indicated that the preponderance of respondents that is engaging in health behaviors are high in health perception.