Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of BMI on postural balance. Methods: A sample of 30 male’s subjects took part in the study. All the 30 male volunteer were randomly divided into three groups according to their body mass index as Underweight (Group A), Normal (Group B), and Overweight (Group C) then two balance tests were carried out to evaluate the correlation between body mass index and postural balance. Results: showed that high body mass index (BMI) demands more displacements to maintain postural balance. Thus “High body mass index (BMI) effect the postural balance”. Conclusion: high body mass effects the postural balance

Key Words: Body Mass Index, Functional Reach Test, Time up & go Test

Objective- Ageing is associated with changes to the structure and function of the foot and ankle, and there is preliminary evidence that foot problems impair balance.The present study was done with the aimto study the effects of resisted ankle dorsiflexors exercises on balance in elderly individual with the help of balance measures FRT, BBS. The lower extremity muscle torque was evaluated using strain gauge., Method- 20 elderly subjects both males and females, age-group >60 years were divided into two groups: Group 1(n=10) resisted exercises for 20 minutes and 4 sessions/week for 6 weeks and Group 2 (n= 10) was encouraged active life style. The balance scores were assessed using FRT, BBS., Result- Within group analysis shows that both groups had significant improvement in the variables (p< 0.05) but there was no significant change between the groups (p < 0.05)., Conclusion- Interventions to improve the strength and flexibility of the foot improve balance and help to reduce the risk of falls.

Objectives To find out the effect of exteroceptive and proprioceptive stimuli on H reflex latency and on excitability of nerve and to compare these effects with different exteroceptive and proprioceptive stimuli., Method and Procedure: A sample of 30 normal healthy female subjects with age group between 19–25 years participated in study. Each subject was given different exteroceptive (Hot Pack, Cold Pack) and proprioceptive (Quick Stretch, Weight bearing) stimuli. For each stimuli pre and post readings were taken for H reflex latency and amplitude of H/M which suggests excitability of nerve. The effects were then analyzed for each stimulus and compared.,Results & Conclusion: There was significant increase in the H reflex latency with cold pack and weight bearing. H/M ratio decreased with cold pack, quick stretch and weight bearing. On comparing the effect of different stimulus there was significant change in the latency with cold pack and hot pack and in the H/M between cold pack and hot pack and weight bearing. Thus with this study we can say that there is change in the latency of H reflex and on the excitability of nerve with different exteroceptive and proprioceptive stimuli.

Key Words: H- reflex latency, Excitability of nerve (H/M), Exteroceptive stimulus, Proprioceptive stimulus.

This study aimed to determine the cardiovascular responses of children to maximal treadmill exercise with Bruce Treadmill Protocol and to compare these responses between girls and boys. A total number of 20 subjects with age ranging from 5-11 years were included in the study. Subjects were separated to two groups i.e. group A, group B on the basis of their gender. Group A comprised of 10 girls, while 10 boys made up Group B. The treadmill is started at Stage-1 which has a speed of 2.7 km/hr and an incline of 10%, after 3 minutes both speed and incline is increased to 4.0 km/hr and 12% respectively to Stage 2. Blood pressure was recorded in supine position immediately after completion of exercise and at 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10 minutes of recovery.Heart rates was recorded at each minute of the recovery, till it became stable.Recorded data show that there is no significant, difference in both the vascular variables of Heart rate and Blood pressure in response TST both during Exercise and during Recovery Levels of circulating hormones especially around the period of puberty, help to explain some of the sex differences in anaerobic fitness but the evidence is equivocal and current data suggest that sexual maturity does not exert any independent effect on anaerobic fitness once age, body mass, body composition are concurrently controlled for., Improvements in neural adaptations with age, complete myelination of nerve fibres, improved muscle coordination during multi-joint exercise and an improved capability to recruit motor units or more fully activate muscles help to explain age-related improvements in anaerobic fitness.

Over the last 30 years, communication skills in the medical school curriculum have received a considerable amount of attention among scholars in a variety of disciplines. In Occupational Therapy students and therapists are required to acquire and demonstrate their proficiency in communication. Good provider communication skills have been linked to more efficient health care organizations and effective health care delivery, provider, and patient satisfaction, and fewer incidents of malpractice. Objectives: 1. To determine the attitudes of Occupational Therapy department towards Communication skills learning. 2. To determine if the attitudes towards communication skills correlate with the level of academic year and professional skills. Methodology: The study consisted of answering a one time questionnaire named Communication skills Attitudes Scale (CSAS) by students and staff of Occupational Therapy School & Centre, as per the inclusion criteria. Results: The mean scores of positive attitudes in undergraduates (50.75), postgraduates’ students (49.08) & staff (46.82) were much higher than mean scores of negative attitudes in undergraduates (34.83), postgraduates’ students (34.51) & staff (35.45). There was statistical significant difference between positive attitudes of undergraduates & staff. Conclusion: Occupational Therapy department had more positive attitudes than negative attitudes in relation to communication skills learning as well as the level of academic year and professional skills increase, the attitudes towards Communication skills learning become more positive.

Keywords: Occupational Therapy, Communication skills learning, affective learning, Attitudes

Background and purpose: Neuropathic pain (NP) is the most disabling complaint in patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN). Neurodynamics (ND) is assessment and treatment of neural tissue mechanosensitivity (NTM). Vibration perception threshold (VPT) is a measure of large fiber function and thermal perception threshold (TPT) is a measure of small fiber function. Quality of life (QoL) is a subjective perception of well-being in a person’s living. The purpose of this study was to assess the inter-relationship between NP, NTM, VPT, TPT and QoL in patients with PDPN., Materials and methods: Assessor-blinded cross-sectional study with random-order test method was carried out on 112 PDPN patients of either gender (67 female, 45 male) of age … years with medically diagnosed distal symmetric polyneuropathy for at-least 3 years due to type-2 diabetes for greater than 5 years duration. The NP was assessed using neuropathic pain questionnaire (NPQ); ND assessment comprised of neurodynamic testing (range of motion in degrees) and nerve trunk palpation (presence of mechanical allodynia by clinical scoring) of sciatic, tibial and common peroneal nerves; VPT and TPT (which includes heat perception threshold- HPT and cold perception threshold- CPT) was assessed using biothesiometer; and QoL was measured using neuropathy-specific quality of life (NeuroQoL) instrument. The assessments were done only once per patient. Total assessment duration for each patient was one hour., Data analysis and results: All correlations were analyzed using Karl-Pearson’s correlation co-efficient at 95% confidence interval using SPSS 11.5 for Windows., Conclusion: There was a statistically significant positive correlation found between neuropathic pain, neurodynamic testing, neuropathy-specific quality of life in patients with PDPN.

Key words: Diabetic neuropathy, clinical examination correlates, quantitative sensory testing, self-administered questionnaires, manual therapy examination

OBJECTIVE: 1. To study whether MTWP addressed to enhance the work skills in RA., 2. To evaluate if the program is successful for the client return to work, level of work satisfaction & self-performance level., METHODS: Design- Single group pre test post test experimental design followed by descriptive analysis with questionnaire., A different subject prospective, experimental, flexible design has been used for the purpose of this study. MTWP has 6 phases with treatment plan based on client capabilities, deficits, interest, work history and goals., Setting- Out-patient and in-patient based clinical services at NIOH., Outcome Measure- 1 Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test, 2, Hand Dynamometer, 3,Pinch gauge, 4, Short Form-36(version 1) – subjective outcome assessment for functional/ work status., RESULTS: The result which was analyzed by using paired t-test, found to be significant (p=<0.05) improve in work skill post MTWP., CONCLUSION: The MTWP addresses the range of needs demonstrated by RA clients, from traditional therapy to prevocational and vocational intervention. The evaluation of the program indicates that the program was successful with RA working age adult. 72% clients who completed the program returned to work and switched over to different position and different type of work.44%clients return to competitive employment with same work type, work situation, having work satisfaction and 80-100% work skills in compare to pre-MTWP work situation.

Keywords –Therapeutic Work Program, Work status, Rheumatoid Arthritis.