Rehabilitation in coronary artery disease: assessment and outcome

This study included 69 male patients with corollary artery disease [CAD] of whom 47 were in stable angina pectoris and 22 had myocardial infarction. Thirty matched normal subjects were considered as controls. All the patients were subjected to complete clinical examination and maximal exercise performance was determined using maximum symptom limited progressive exercise test according to Burce et al., [6]. The parameters of VO2 max., HR max., treadmill duration, systolic B.P max., double product of maximal HR and functional aerobic impairment were assessed. The patients were trained on treadmill 3 times per week for 3 months at 70% of predetermined maximal heart rate. The patients were encouraged to do their daily activities and aerobic maintenance activities during the follow up period. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that the 3 months' physical training program prescribed on the basis of symptom limited graded exercise test and maintenance activities led to significant maintained improvement of maximal exercise performance inpatients with CAD. So the use of physical training call be considered as a valuable component in management of these patients

Evaluation of the use of hydrotherapy in management of chronic polyarthritis

This study included forty chronic polyarthritic patients [24 osteoarthritis, 11 rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis]. 24 were females and 16 males. The patients were classified into 2 groups; the first group treated by hydrotherapy and the second group performed gymnastic exercises and was considered as a control group. All the patients were subjected to full clinical evaluation including the degree of pain and active geometric range of joint motion and functional assessment of the activities of daily living. The assessment was done before and after 2 months treatment and one month later as follow up. The results showed that hydrotherapy is superior to gymnastic exercises. It is very valuable in relieving pain improving active mobility and performance in activities of daily living. In absence of contraindications, hydrotherapy can be recommended as a constant addition to comprehensive program of management of chronic polyarthritis. Gymnastic exercises being also valuable, should be recommended as home exercises

H-reflex latency in pellargic subjects, correlation with motor nerve conduction velocity and clinical findings

The material of the present work comprised 12 normal subjects and 51 pellagric patients. Complete neurological examination was performed and electrodiagnostic studies were done including the determination of H-reflex latency and motor nerve conduction velocities of both median and lateral popliteal nerves. Delayed motor nerve conduction velocity was proportional to the peripheral neurological affection. Again shortening of the H-reflex latency was closely related to pyramidal tract affection. Electrodiagnostic tests can therefore be taken as an early diagnostic tool for either of the two ways of affection of the nervous system by pellagra when only one of them is evident clinically. Comparison of such results in the follow up of patients can give a clear idea of the progress of patients either improving in response to treatment or not