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

Palmar motor conduction of the median nerve in mild carpal tunnel syndrome and its treatment by local corticosteroid injection

This study included 40 patients with mild idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] with 61 symptomatic hands. All the cases had normal conventional distal motor latencies. Twenty normal subjects were considered as controls. The aim of this work was to assess the sensitivity of the parameters of motor nerve conduction [MNC] of palm to wrist segment of the median nerve in mild CTS and to evaluate the effect of local corticosteroid injection in these cases. The parameters studied were the latencies and amplitudes of the motor responses elicited from palmar and wrist stimulation and wrist to palm MNCV. The results of this study concluded that the parameters of wrist to palm MNC were sensitive in the diagnosis of mild CTS and were helpful in objective assessment for the effect of therapy. Clinical and objective electrophysiological assessment of local corticosteroid injection proved the efficiency of this modality in treating mild cases of CTS