[Repeatability assessment of quantified measurement method in hand drawing skills]

Because of high incidence of hand injuries and the need for a quantitative method that provides measures of patient improvement in treatment period a precise and easy-to-apply quantitative procedure is necessary. As a first step in validating of such a method, the intersession repeatability of quantified measures was assessed in this study. Measurement of hand drawing skills by drawing circle shape in two speeds [preferred and maximum] and spiral shape just in a preferred voluntary speed with two repetitions for each subject was assessed in 15 subjects. Digital data was recorded by a Tablet PC using special software with average sampling rate of 120 Hz. The quantified variables computed for circle and spiral drawing tests with preferred speed were reliable [0.55 < ICC < 0.85], so they can be used for drawing quantifications. Results of drawing circles with maximum speed were not reliable [ICC < 0.5]. Repeatability analysis revealed that measures based on drawing circles with maximum speed are not repeatable and cannot be used for process monitoring. This may be due to large variation in providing maximum drawing speed during test time. On the other hand, spiral and circle drawing parameters with preferred speed had a better repeatability and can be used for quantification of hand drawings in researches

[Studying the effect of perturbation training on gait kinematics of patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury]

Anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] damage is the most common injury of knee. It can change gait kinematics. Neuromuscular training and perturbation treatment programs are supposed to be effective in modifying gait kinematics of patients with ACL damage. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of modified perturbation training protocol on gait kinematics in ACL deficient patients. Ten professional male athletes, between 18 and 45 years, with at least 6 and at most 24 months history of unilateral ACL rupture were enrolled in the study. Kinematics data of hip, knee and ankle joints were recorded using electrogoniameter device during walking before and after ten sessions of perturbation training. IKDC Subjective and Lysholm questionnaires scores were analyzed before and after training. IKDC Subjective and Lysholm questionnaires scores significantly improved after treatment [P=0.005]. Hip range of motion [P=0.02], peak flexion of hip [P=0.02], hip angle at stance phase [P=0.02] and peak dorsiflexion of ankle [P=0.03] were significantly increased after training. Perturbation training probably affects neuromuscular control and modifies feed-forward control, thus it can improve compensatory patterns of ACL deficient patients during gait. ACL deficient patients may adapt their problem with further use of hip joint and increasing hip flexion