Effect of rocker bar ankle foot orthosis on functional mobility in post-stroke hemiplegic patients: timed up and go and gait speed assessments

Objectives: Ankle Foot Orthoses [AFOs] are widely utilized to improve walking ability in hemiplegic patients. The present sludy aimed to evaluate the effect of Rocker bar Ankle Foot Orthosis [RAFO] on functional mobility in posl-stroke hemiplegic patients

Methods: Fifteen hemiplegic patients [men and women] who were at leasl 6-months posl-stroke and able to walk without an assisUve device for at lea

The patients were examined for three conditions: shoes only, with SAFO and with RAFO. Their functional mobility was evaluated through 10-meter walk test and Timed Up and Go [TUG] tesl In addition, paired t-tesl; was used to analyze the obtained data

Results: When the patients used RAFO, their gait speed significantly increased [P<0.05]. Moreover, the time of performing TUG tesl experienced a significant decrease using RAFO compared with utilizing shoe only [P<0.05]

Discussion: RAFO led to a significant improvement in functional mobility in hemiplegic patients posl stroke. This may be due to the positive effect of rocker modification on improving push off and transferring weight during the Glance phase of gait

Effect of Rocker Bar Ankle Foot Orthosis on Functional Mobility in Post-Stroke Hemiplegic Patients

Objectives: Ankle Foot Orthoses [AFOs] are widely utilized to improve walking ability in hemiplegic patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Rocker bar Ankle Foot Orthosis [RAFO] on functional mobility in post-stroke hemiplegic patients.

Methods: Fifteen hemiplegic patients [men and women] who were at least 6-months post-stroke and able to walk without assistive device for at least 10 meters voluntarily participated in this study. The patients were examined with and without RAFO. Their functional mobility was evaluated through 10-meter walk test and Timed Up and Go [TUG] test. Also, paired t-test was used to analyze obtained data.

Results: When patients used RAFO, their gait speed significantly increased [p<0.05]. Also, the time of performing TUG test experienced a significant decrease using RAFO compared with utilizing shoe only [p<0.05].

Discussion: RAFO led to a significant improvement in functional mobility in hemiplegic patient's secondary to stroke. It seems that, it has been due to the positive effect of rocker modification on improving push off and transferring weight during stance phase of gait.

Evaluating Kyphosis and Lordosis in Students by Using a Flexible Ruler and Their Relationship with Severity and Frequency of Thoracic and Lumbar Pain

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive study. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between kyphosis and lordosis measured by using a flexible ruler and musculoskeletal pain in students of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The spine supports the body during different activities by maintaining appropriate body alignment and posture. Normal alignment of the spine depends on its structural, muscular, bony, and articular performance. METHODS: Two hundred forty-one students participated in this study. A single examiner evaluated the angles of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis by using a flexible ruler. To determine the severity and frequency of pain in low-back and inter-scapular regions, a tailor-made questionnaire with visual analog scale was used. Finally, using the Kendall correlation coefficient, the data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The mean value of lumbar lordosis was 34.46degrees+/-12.61degrees in female students and 22.46degrees+/-9.9degrees in male students. The mean value of lumbar lordosis significantly differed between female and male students (p<0.001). However, there was no difference in the level of the thoracic curve (p=0.288). Relationship between kyphosis measured by using a flexible ruler and inter-scapular pain in male and female students was not significant (p=0.946). However, the relationship between lumbar lordosis and low back pain was statistically significant (p=0.006). Also, no significant relationship was observed between abnormal kyphosis and frequency of inter-scapular pain, and between lumbar lordosis and low back pain. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar lordosis contributes to low back pain. The causes of musculoskeletal pain could be muscle imbalance and muscle and ligament strain.

Effects of cardiac rehabilitation program on physical capacity, blood pressure, heart rate recovery and myocardial oxygen consumption in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Accurate measurement of the exercise tolerance of cardiac patients prior to, and upon completion of a cardiac rehabilitation program using an objective measure is important. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of an endurance and resistance exercise training program on physical capacity, blood pressure, heart rate and myocardial oxygen consumption in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. In this case- control study, 31 patients [21 men and 10 women, mean age 54.45 +/- 7.8] who were participating in the recovery phase II cardiac rehabilitation program and 15 patients [9 men and 6 women mean age 55.35 +/- 5.7] were assigned to the control group. Exercise program consisted of endurance and resistance exercise with duration of 60 min/session and frequency of 3 sessions/ week for 2 months and dietitian and psychiatric counseling. After rehabilitation, the case group demonstrated significant improvements in exercise test time, maximum systolic blood pressure, maximum heart rate and rate pressure product [p< 0.001]. On the other hands, the case group demonstrated significant decreasing in rest heart rate, rest systolic blood pressure [p< 0.001]. There were no changes in any variables for control group. Cardiac rehabilitation program is effective in promoting an early improvement in exercise capacity, RPP, HRR in patients undergoing CABG. Moreover, it induces significant decreasing in rest systolic and diastolic blood pressure