Prospective study of application of biological communication (cybernatics) in management of chronic low back pain--a preliminary report.

To observe the effects of application of cybernetics (theories of communication). This is an open level prospective study, involving patients with chronic low back pain of more than 3 months. Assessment were done before the start of therapy and after the completion of therapy every day for consecutive 6 days of treatment protocol. A total of 8 patients were enrolled (4 male, 4 female). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess pain, Oswestry Disability Scale (ODI) was applied for scoring disability. ODI was scored at the start of treatment on 1st day and at the end of the treatment on 6th day. Mean VAS reduced from 8.12 to 6.93 after 1st day, which was also statistically significant (p < .01) .This trend continued and there was very significant reduction (p < .001) of VAS in the end when means were compared with pretreatment value. Mean Oswestry disability index reduced from 49.875 to 18.44 at the end of treatment which was statistically very significant (p < 0.001). There were significant improvements in all the outcome measured after Scrambler therapy.

Comparison of outcome of stroke patients--cerebral ischaemic versus cerebral haemorrhagic from the standpoint of a physiatrist.

Thirty patients having hemiplegia arising out of stroke were considered for the study. There were 15 patients each of cerebral infarction and cerebral haemorrhage. The patients were evaluated initially and 6-8 weeks after the first visit for neuromuscular function and activity of daily living following the schedule of Feldman et al and Barthel index respectively. After determining neuromuscular function the patients were graded as 'not impaired', 'mild to moderately impaired' and 'moderate to severely impaired' taking into account of muscular function, spasticity and disabling contracture. In determining activity of daily living the patients were divided into 'A' to 'E' categories depending on the score (0 to 100) they obtained on assessment. The patients were put to standard physiotherapeutic measures in addition to standard medical therapy. At the end of the study it was found that haemorrhagic stroke patients showed better improvement both in neuromuscular function and activity of daily living.