ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effects of static 70° head-up tilted standing and of repeated body repositioning on hemodynamics in healthy young and middle-aged persons.Methods:The hemodynamics of 24 middle-aged and 23 younger persons were studied. Both groups were requested to perform static 70° head-up tilted standing and to repeatedly change their body position from 0° to 70° of tilt at a velocity of 1°/second for ten minutes in a random order. Before, between and after each test the subjects rested supine for ten minutes. Hemodynamic variables and blood pressure were recorded non-invasively.Results:The average heart rate (HR) increased significantly in both groups when rising from supine to the testing positions. In 70° tilted standing the average HR of the youth group, 84.0±9.5bpm, was significantly higher than that in the other position and that of the middle-aged group in the same position. The average HR of the middle-aged group in 70° tilted standing was also significantly higher than in the other position. Among the middle-aged group, the average stroke volume (SV) in the testing positions was significantly lower than when resting. Significant differences were observed in the average diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between the testing and rest positions for both groups, with the average DBP of the middle-aged group significantly higher than that of the youth group in all three positions. Among the youth group, the average SV, CO and systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the males were significantly higher than among the females in all of the different body positions.Conclusions:Young persons mainly rely on an increased heart rate to maintain cardiac output while middle-aged participants appear to achieve this through increased peripheral resistance. Repeated position changes have less impact on hemodynamics than 70° inclined standing, making it a safer and more stable training method. However, the long-term effects of such intervention need to be confirmed in further studies.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of combining scalp acupuncture with feedback training on muscle tone, motor ability, plantar pressure distribution and joint range of motion of stroke survivors with lower limb spastic paralysis.Methods:A total of 212 stroke survivors were randomly divided into a combination group ( n=70), an exercise group ( n=70) and a scalp acupuncture group ( n=72) according to a random number table. All of the patients received routine medication and 120 minutes of rehabilitation training six days a week for 8 consecutive weeks. The rehabilitation training included guidance on good posture, posture change training, balance training and gait training. The scalp acupuncture and exercise groups were additionally provided with 40 minutes of scalp acupuncture and lower limb intelligent feedback training, while the combination group was given both. Muscle tension, balance and lower extremity movement were quantified before and after the training, and a gait evaluation system was used to detect the plantar pressure distribution on the affected side and the range of motion range of the lower limb joints during walking. Results:After the treatment, significant differences were observed in the average modified Ashworth scores, modified Berg scale scores, Fugl-Meyer lower extremity ratings and modified Barthel Index scores compared with before the treatment. The average scores of the combination group were then significantly better than those of the other two groups. The average load bearing ratios of the affected toes, metatarsal bones Ⅰ-V, medial arch, external arch, medial heel and external heel had improved significantly in all of the groups, with the improvement of the combination group again significantly greater than those of the other groups. The same pattern of improvement was observed in the groups′ average pelvic rotation angles, hip flexion angles, knee flexion angles and ankle dorsiflexion angles.Conclusion:Combining scalp acupuncture with intelligent feedback can significantly improve lower extremity functioning after a stroke. That should improve performance in the activities of daily living of stroke survivors.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of consciousness-restoring needling combined with comprehensive rehabilitation training on motor function and the activities of daily living of poststroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods Sixty qualified patients were evenly randomized into observation group and control group. All of the patients were given conventional medicine treatment and conventional rehabilitation training, and the treatment group was given consciousness-restoring needling additionally. The therapeutic effects were compared at the end of first session of treatment for 4 weeks and 12 weeks after the first session of treatment. The Fugl-Meyer motor assessment scale (FMA), modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale ( SS-QQL) were taken as the main evaluation indexes. Results The differences of FMA, MBI and SS-QOL scores were insignificant between the two groups before treatment ( P>0.05). At the end of treatment for 4 weeks, FMA, MBI and SS-QOL scores were increased in the two groups (P<0.05), and the increase was more obvious in the observation group (P<0.05). The results of follow-up till the 12th week showed that FMA, MBI and SS-QOL scores were still higher than the baseline level ( P<0.05). Conclusion Consciousness-restoring needling combined with comprehensive rehabilitation training has better effect on improving motor function and the activities of daily living of poststroke hemiplegia patients than comprehensive rehabilitation training alone.