Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

The present work was planned to determine long term physical exercise has any beneficial effect on central neural processing, by studying its effect on reaction time. In present study 20 male and 20 female, young medical students practiced exercise (15 min sessions) for 3 months on alternate day basis. Outcome assessments of auditory reaction time (ART) and visual reaction time (VRT) were performed at baseline and after the 3 month of exercise training. In both male & female, there was a statistically significant (P<.001) decrease in ART and VRT. Also ART and VRT values were more in females than in males both before and after physical exercise training. This probably attributed to the differences in processing strategy in males and females. This decrease in ART and VRT after exercise practices may be due to physiologically relaxed state but increased mental alertness, improved concentration, and/ or increased CRH & cortisol secretion in response to a challenge. . This is of applied value in situations requiring faster reactivity regarding serious safety concern such as in day today driving to avoid road traffic accidents, in sports for recommendation of safety limits, machine operations and in specialized surgery. So we suggest that the physical exercise is a lifestyle factor that might lead to increased physical and mental health and performance that can be used as an effective means of training people involving such tasks.

Key words: Physical exercise, Reaction time, Central neural processing

Purpose: To compare energy expenditure of ambulation with and without walker on outdoor uneven surface and indoor even surface in children with spastic diplegia. Methods: Twenty fi ve children (13boys, 12 girls) with spastic diplegia, between 5-17 years walked for 50 meters on an indoor even surface and outdoor uneven surface with and without walker. Their energy expenditure was measured by Physiological Cost Index (PCI). Results: Independent t-test and paired t-test were used for analysis. There was a statistically signifi cant difference between children who walked either with hand support or independently and with walker. Indoor performance was better than outdoor performance under both conditions. Children walking independently or using hand support consumed less energy than children who used walker on both surfaces (p <0.05). Conclusions: Children with spastic diplegia require more energy when ambulating with walker than when ambulating with hand holding assistance or independently.

Key words: spastic diplegia, walker, energy expenditure, physiological cost index.

Objective: To compare surface EMG activity of upper & lower portion of Rectus Abdominis activity during 4 test movements viz, trunk curl up(TCU), Leg Lowering, Abdomens Muscle Lift (AML) , Leg Raise .To provide the biomechanical basis for rationalized clinical testing & training of Abdomens. To fi nd out an activity producing optimal & maximal activation of abdominals. Methods: Study design & setting: Randomized, repeated measure within subject, experimental study .All measurements were performed in hospital EMG laboratory. Study population: 20 normal healthy female chosen randomly who were capable to perform all test movements comfortably. Procedure: EMG data was collected from Upper &Lower portion of Rectus Abdomens muscle during performance of 4 tests movements by the subjects. Outcome measures: Peak EMG amplitude during maximum recruitment of muscle. Results: Study showed differences in the activation of rectus Abdomens during 4 tasks. Amongst all the exercises Abdominal muscle lift (95% CI=82.5-93.8, 89.7-98.2) showed greater activation followed by Trunk curl up (95% CI=80.4-97.3, 74.8-93.3), Leg raise (95% CI=57.2-74.09, 63.3-79.4) & leg lowering (95% CI=53.8-70.4, 52.9-71.7). Conclusion: No signifi cant differences in the activation of two portions. Rectus Abdominals activity is maximum during abdominal muscle lift.

Key words: Rectus Abdomens; EMG activity; Abdominal muscle testing; Abdominal muscle lift.

Purpose of the study is to investigate whether the application of muscle energy technique on bilateral ankle plantarfl exors infl uence the balance scores of the elderly subjects. Secondary aim is to determine the effect of practice of muscle energy technique on bilateral ankle plantarfl exors compared to self stretching for performance on balance tests in elderly subjects.Materials and Method : A sample of convenience of 60 healthy elderly subjects were taken. All the subjects (N=60) who were fullfi lling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the study and randomly assigned into two groups. Results From the result t-test and its signifi cance in the pre and post intervention collected from the subjects the following has been inferred In group-1 (MET group): The TUG was signifi cantly decreased by 7.4%. FRT scores were signifi cantly increased by 9.5% along with 31% increase in ankle passive range of dorsifl exion after the intervention. In group-2 (self stretching): The TUG was signifi cantly decreased by 5.4%, FRT scores were signifi cantly increased by 7.9% along with 15% increase in ankle passive range of dorsifl exion after the intervention The average mean increase in the group-1 was greater then group-2 but the difference was not statistically signifi cant. Conclusion This appears to be a positive effect of MET which in the fi rst place is considered to be and is applied as a method for improving fl exibility and range of motion as well as precarious balance or stability of the elderly, but a less signifi cant change was also found by self stretching but further comparative investigation was done to determine the performance by MET and self stretching maneuver was found not to be signifi cant.

Keywords: Muscle energy technique; Plantar fl exors. 

Objective: the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of posterior tibial nerve electrical stimulation (PTN) on urodynamic parameters and its effect in treatment of overactive bladder Subjects: Sixty patients were included in this study. Their ages ranged from 20-70 years (mean age 52.96 ±15.18). They were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Procedures: Group (A) received 12 weeks posterior tibial nerve electrical stimulation with frequency 1-10 HZ, pulse width 200 μHZ, intensity according to patient tolerance, duration of treatment 15 min 3 times /week for 12 weeks, while group (B) received pelvic fl oor exercises for 15 min 3 times/week for 12 weeks. Results: The result of this study revealed that, the bladder volume at fi rst desire to void for group (A) as well as for group (B), showed no statistical signifi cant difference. Bladder stability in group (A) showed a highly statistical signifi cant improvement with a percentage 48.69% while for group (B) is not signifi cant , by comparing both groups post-treatment, there was a statistical signifi cant difference between groups with high percentage of improvement of the bladder stability in group (A) more than group (B). Maximum fl ow rate was signifi cantly improved post-treatment for group (A) with a percentage of improvement 25.2% , as well as for group (B) with a percentage of improvement 12.37%, and by comparing both groups post treatment there was a statistical signifi cant improvement in (A) group more than in group (B) Conclusion: The results demonstrated that, there is objective effect of PTNS on urodynamic parameters especially bladder stability, and maximum fl ow rate, also PTNS is effective to suppress detrusor over activity in patient with overactive bladder.

Key words: Posterior Tibial Nerve; Electrical stimulation; Overactive bladder; Urgency.