[The usefulness of posturography and caloric tests in selected neurological diseases]. / Uzytecznosc posturografii i prób kalorycznych w wybranych schorzeniach neurologicznych.

BACKGROUND: Many functions are disturbed after stroke. THE AIM: Of the research was to evaluate the usefulness of static posturography and caloric tests in the rehabilitation of postural stability disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was examined in 40 patients with cerebral stroke as compared with 40 healthy subjects. Based on selected stabilographic parameters it was investigated whether there is a difference in body deflection between patients and healthy individuals. The effect of visual control on stability was analyzed. The research was carried out with the use of static posturography and the standard set of tests. RESULTS: It has been shown that the postural stability of patients with stroke is characterized by a larger surface area of the stabilogram and a greater total length of deflection than of healthy individuals. It was observed that patients with stroke suffer the most significant deterioration of posture stability both with conscious visual control and without it. After examination of the patients before and after rehabilitation and having analyzed the coordination index, it has been proved that rehabilitation has a positive influence on the stability of posture in healthy controls. It has been proved that caloric tests performed in patients with damage to the central nervous system did not have an influence on the evaluation of the progress of rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Post stroke postural stability disturbances are worsening without visual control and increased after rehabilitation.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) and rehabilitation outcome in patients with degenerative changes of the knee joint.

Background. Given that obesity is the primary risk factor and pain the primary symptom of degenerative disease of the knee joint, we undertook to study the dependency between the Body Mass Index (BMI) and pain symptoms, and the impact of the BMI on the outcome of rehabilitation. Material and methods. Our research involved 38 patients with bilateral degeneration of the knee joint, according to the of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The patients were examined twice: at baseline before rehabilitation and immediately after a series of 10 procedures, as follow-up. Body build in terms of obesity was assessed on the basis of the BMI, according to WHO norms. The level of pain with and without loading on the limb was taken as the criterion for evaluating rehabilitation outcome. Pain level was evaluated using Likert's 11-point scale. Results. There was a statistically significant correlation (p<0.05 at baseline and p<0.01 at follow-up) between the BMI and the level of pain under load, but no significant correlation between BMI and pain when there was no load on the limb. The outcome was better in patients whose BMI was in the normal range or only somewhat above. Conclusions. Pain symptoms, especially when the limb is bearing weight, is significantly dependent on the BMI, which also has a major impact on rehabilitation outcome. Normalizing body weight should be a first-order priority in both the prevention and the rehabilitation of degenerative changes in the knee.