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ObjectiveTo explore the occupational needs of hand injury patients and the effects of activity-based analysis and occupation-based interventions. MethodsFrom January, 2021 to June, 2022, 212 patients who accepted occupational therapy for wrist-hand injury in Rehabilitation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were interviewed using Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) to collect the activities that they wanted to do, needed to do, were expected to do, but unable to do. Two senior occupational therapists conducted the activity analysis of the summarized needs, identified occupational components, designed a purposeful occupation-based intervention program, and evaluated the performance and satisfaction using COPM. ResultsA cumulative total of 84 occupational needs were proposed, covering five major domains: work, basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, leisure and sleep. The activities mostly impaired involved using computer (8.28%), using chopsticks (6.42%), wringing towels (6.25%), travelling on transport (4.90%) and lifting heavy objects (4.73%). The performance and satisfaction improved after treatment (t > 16.572, P < 0.001). ConclusionThe occupational needs are culturally specific for local hand injury patients; the use of an activity-based analysis and occupation-based intervention is effective on meeting the occupational needs.
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Objective To investigate the effects of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on non-fluent aphasia in patients after stroke.Methods Forty stroke patients displaying non-fluent aphasia were randomly assigned to an rTMS group and a control group using a random number table.Both groups were treated with conventional language therapy,while the rTMS group was additionally given 0.5 Hz rTMS over the Broca's homologues of the unaffected hemisphere 5 days a week for 3 weeks.The patients were stimulated at 90％ of the motor threshold (MT),with 16 second trains and intervals of 3 seconds 48 times (384 pulses) in a session.Before and after the 3 weeks of treatment,the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and the Communicative Abilities in Daily Living (CADL) test were conducted in both groups to evaluate their language function and communication ability.Results Only spontaneous speech improved significantly (P＜0.05) in the control group after 3 weeks of treatment.In the rTMS group,the spontaneous speech,auditory comprehension,repetition,naming and aphasia quotient (AQ) had all improved significantly (P＜0.05).Moreover,after the treatment,the average score of the auditory comprehension (153.90± 31.79),repetition (82.65± 15.14),naming(81.28±22.12) and AQ (63.66± 13.64) of the rTMS group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion rTMS applied to the Broca's homologues of the unaffected hemisphere can significantly improve language function in those exhibiting non-fluent aphasia after stroke.
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Objective To study the test-retest reliability in quantitative measurement of proprioception using Tecnobody rehabilitation system.Methods Nine healthy volunteers [4 males,5 females,averaged age (22.8 ±0.68) years] participated in three consecutive measurements on both feet by using Tecnobody rehabilitation system for computerized proprioceptive assessment.Standard error of measurement(SEM),correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) obtained from the three consecutive measurements were used to analyze the Timeused in each measuring session,and the average track error (ATE) of the measurements.ResultsSEM values of Time in left foot and right foot were 3.07 ～ 3.83 and 6.65 ～ 8.44 respectively.ATE values in left foot and right foot were 1.33 ～ 1.97 and 1.39 ～ 1.91 respectively.The Time and ATE correlation coefficients of left foot / right foot were 0.919/0.6 and 0.808/0.831,respectively.The Time ICC values were 0.893/0.639 for left foot / right foot,respectively ; and the ATE ICC values were 0.716/0.734 for left foot / right foot,respectively. Conclusion The Tecnobody rehabilitation system provided a fairly good reliability in both relative andabsolute values in quantitative evaluation of proprioception in the feet.These data in a larger amount may be useful for setting up variables and the standard values of the local population for reference in proprioceptive rehabilitation.
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Objective To study the effects of dynamic,support-inducing exercise on the support,balance and gait ability of patients with moderate-to-severe hemiplegia after stroke.Methods Fourteen stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group (7 cases to each).The patients in the experimental group received both dynamic,support-inducing exercise and routine exercises,while the patients in the control group received routine exercises only.Before training and after 40 and 60 days of training,their functional capacity was evaluated with the Chinese stroke scale (CSS) for neurological deficits,Berg's balance scale (BBS) and using functional ambulation categories (FACs).Results Before training there was no inter-group difference in average CSS or BBS scores or in FACs.For the experimental group there were significant intra-group differences compared with 0th day in all three items at both time points.At days 40 and 60 there were also significant intra-group differences in BBS scores and FACs in the control group,and CSS scores improved significantly only in the experimental group.At day 40 there were significant inter-group differences in average CSS,BBS and FAC results.However,by day 60 a significant difference persisted only in average CSS scores.Conclusions Dynamic,support-inducing exercise can improve support,balance and gait in patients with moderate-to-severe hemiplegia after stroke.
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Objective To study the clinical value of using a four-point method (FP) in measuring joint angles.Method Methods Twenty-five subjects without knee dysfunction were studied.Every knee joint was tested in extension,below 90° of flexion and above 90° of flexion with the traditional three-point method (TP) and the new four-point method.X-rays were taken as a gold standard measurement.The reliability and validity were analyzed using Bland-Altman plots,which can yield 95% limits of agreement (LOA).Results (1) The joint axis centers moved with changes in joint angle.(2) The 95% LOA of inter-tester reliability was (-5.0,2.7) with the FP and (-6.5,4.4) with the TP.The 95% LOAs of intra-tester reliability were (-3.6,4.0) for tester A and (-4.1,4.8) for tester B with the FP,while (-5.0,6.4) for tester A and (-6.1,5.8) for tester B with the TP.(3) The 95% LOAs in the three positions were (3.5,2.6) in extension,(-3.3,3.6) in mild flexion and (-1.9,5.7) in greater flexion with the FP,and ( 6.8,1.1),(-4.0,7.1) and (0,8.5) with the TP.Conclusions The FP gives better reliability and validity than the TP in joint angle measurement.
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Objective To investigate factors related to chronic pain in those injured with fractures 27 months after the Sichuan earthquake.The correlation between intensity of pain and quality of life was also analyzed.Methods A total of 705 victims were investigated on site.Their residual pain was categorized using a visual analogue scale (VAS) score as no pain,mild pain,moderate pain or severe pain.The pain-related biological,psychological and social factors were analyzed using the Barthel Index ( BI ),Life Satisfaction Questionaire-11 ( LiSat-11 )and the SF-36 health questionnaire. Rehabilitation and surgical interventions,employment,income and emotional status were also investigated. Results The incidence of chronic pain was 88.5％ in this population,of which mild pain and moderate pain were 35.7％ and 33.3％,respectively.The percentage of the victims who had received fracture surgery was 65.8％ ; the percentage of those who had recovered was 96.9％.BI scores for the victims without pain,with mild,moderate and severe pain were 92.7 + 10.2,92.8 + 8.4,91.2 ± 9.9 and 90.4 + 14.7,respectively ; the differences between these groups were all statistically insignificant.The influence of pain intensity on life satisfaction showed a significant linear trend.The percentages of the victims with restricted occupational ability in the four groups were 38.3％,61.5％,75.7％ and 62.8％ respectively.The median of personal annual income were ￥ 3550,￥ 2500,￥ 2000 and ￥ 2500.The VAS scores were significantly related to abnormal emotions,life satisfaction,employment and annual income.The subjects with different levels of residual pain also showed significant differences in the physical functioning,role-physical,bodily pain,general health,vitality,social functioning,role-emotional and mental health sub-scales of the SF-36.The total SF-36 scores were highest among victims without pain (70.6 + 17.5) and declined significantly in those with mild (61.3 + 14.3 ),moderate (52.7 + 14.3 ) and severe pain (52.3 + 14.7 ).This negative correlation between pain intensity and SF-36 total score was statistically significant. Conclusions Chronic pain remains common among fracture victims 27 months after the earthquake.Its intensity is correlated with psychological and social factors as well as quality of life.
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Objective To analyze the outcomes of clinical management and rehabilitation interventions for earthquake victims with spinal cord injury. Methods Comprehensive rehabilitation intervention was conducted for 3 to 4 months with 51 earthquake victims with spinal cord injuries. The study involved their physical examination and on site interviews during hospitalization, and follow-up by telephone. Etiology, severity, complications and outcomes of rehabilitation and clinical management were analyzed. Results In 9.8% of the patients the spinal cord injury was at C7 or above, 5.9% at C8 to T6 , 68.6% at T7 to L2 , 13.7% at L3 to S2 and 2.0% at S2 or below. There were 22 complete injuries and 29 incomplete. After 4 months of training, 76.5% of the wounded reached wheelchair independence, 78.4% ambulated with an orthosis and 88.2% were partially independent in the activities of daily living.Conclusions The comprehensive rehabilitation intervention allowed most of the victims to resume an independent life. Their long-term care remains a challenge.