The Effect of Soft and Rigid Cervical Collars on Head and Neck Immobilization in Healthy Subjects

STUDY DESIGN: Whiplash injury is a prevalent and often destructive injury of the cervical column, which can lead to serious neck pain. Many approaches have been suggested for the treatment of whiplash injury, including anti-inflammatory drugs, manipulation, supervised exercise, and cervical collars. Cervical collars are generally divided into two groups: soft and rigid collars. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to compare the effect of soft and rigid cervical collars on immobilizing head and neck motion. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Many studies have investigated the effect of collars on neck motion. Rigid collars have been shown to provide more immobilization in the sagittal and transverse planes compared with soft collars. However, according to some studies, soft and rigid collars provide the same range of motion in the frontal plane. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy subjects aged 18–26 participated in this study. Data were collected using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and six infrared cameras. Eight markers, weighing 4.4 g and thickened 2 cm² were used to record kinematic data. According to the normality of the data, a paired t-test was used for statistical analyses. The level of significance was set at α=0.01. RESULTS: All motion significantly decreased when subjects used soft collars (p<0.01). According to the obtained data, flexion and lateral rotation experienced the maximum (39%) and minimum (11%) immobilization in all six motions using soft collars. Rigid collars caused maximum immobilization in flexion (59%) and minimum immobilization in the lateral rotation (18%) and limited all motion much more than the soft collar. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that different cervical collars have different effects on neck motion. Rigid and soft cervical collars used in the present study limited the neck motion in both directions. Rigid collars contributed to significantly more immobilization in all directions.

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.