Evaluation of Standing Balance in Hemiplegic Patients Using the Functional Reach Test

OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of the fuctional reach test (FRT) for evaluation of standing balance in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Twenty three hemiplegic patients who were capable of standing without assistive devices were assessed on the FRT only with intact upper limb, the one-legged stance, the timed up and go test (TUG), the 10 meter walking time (10 mWT), the 'Hauser' ambulation index (AI), and the standing balance of Bohannon. RESULTS: The forward reach of FRT demonstrated significant correlation with the TUG and the 10 mWT (p<0.01), but no significant relationship with the one-legged stance, standing balance of Bohannon and AI. CONCLUSION: The forward reach of FRT may be simple and useful tool for assessing the clinical balance function and reflecting gait ability and fall-down risk in hemiplegic patients.

Functional Evaluation of Autonomic Nervous System in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the autonomic nervous system function in chronic renal failure patients compared to normal control and to assess the effect of dialysis method and underlying diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, on autonomic nervous system function in chronic renal failure patients. METHOD: We checked palm and sole skin temperature with digital thermometer, sympathetic skin responses and heart rate variability in chronic renal failure patients (77 persons) and normal control group (77 persons). RESULTS: The amplitude of sympathetic skin response (SSR) and heart rate variability (RRIV) of patients group showed statistically significant difference compared to control group (p0.05). CRF without diabetes mellitus and hypertension showed significant difference on amplitude of SSR and RRIV (p0.05) between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis groups. CONCLUSION: SSR test and RRIV could be valuable measure to evaluate autonomic nervous system functions in the patients with chronic renal failure.

Evaluation of the Knee Extension Force in Korean Adults Using a Manual Muscle Tester

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the knee extension force of healthy Korean adults by using a hand-held dynamometer and evaulate the relationship of knee extension force between each decade. METHOD: One hundred and twenty healthy subjects (60 males, 60 females) between the ages of 20 and 79 years were tested for knee extension force by using Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester (MMT). Data were analyzed for means, standard deviations, test-retest reliability and correlation with variables by using the SPSS(R) software package. RESULTS: The mean value of the knee extension force was 25.9 +/- 5.8 kg in the males and 16.5 +/- 4.1 kg in the females. Significant difference between each decade was found in the males but not in the females. The knee extension force of the males was stastically correlated with all of variables, i.e., age, weight and height, but the knee extension force of the females, was correlated only with weight. Intratester correlation coefficients were high for the Nicholas MMT to measure the knee extension force for healthy adults. Also the difference between the dominant and nondominant side for the knee extensor force was not significant, stastically. CONCLUSION: This MMT may be useful to quickly and objectively evaluate force in the clinical setting.