Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal

Background and objectives: Timed walk tests over 1 and 6 minute intervals have been developed for use in evaluating patients with cerebral palsy but on a smaller sample size. Moreover it is important to establish its reliability according to their gross motor function classification system levels and in an age stratum for conclusive results. Methods and materials: A total of 70 spastic cerebral palsy participants of age group 7 to 18 years tookpart in the study , who were classified according to GMFCS level .The walk tests were performed on the same day and retest was done after 7 days. Results: The test retest reliability of 6 min walk test and 1 min walk test was obtained by cronbach alpha and the value was 0.99 and 0.97 respectively. Conclusions & interpretations: The 6 min walk test and 1 min walk test has shown high test retest reliability across all gross motor function classification system levels.

Keywords: Cerebral Palsy; 6 minute walk test; 1 minute walk test 

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of sensory motor and behavior therapy on drooling in children with cerebral palsy Methodology: 20 children with drooling in cerebral palsy were selected for the study based on the screening tool. The assessment tools such as swab method, drooling quotient with activity and drooling quotient without activity were used for pre and post test scores. 10 children received conventional treatments who were control group and 10 children were given sensory motor and behavior therapy along with conventional treatment who were experimental group. Posttest was taken after 6 weeks of intervention for 10 min / session, 3 days a week and the scores were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The data were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal Wallis test using the SPSS version 16. Results showed statistical significant difference at p<0.05 levels of significance in post test scores of experimental when compared to control group. Constant droolers showed greater improvement than frequent droolers in swab method and drooling quotient with activity at p<0.05 levels of significance. The study also found that age and diagnosis do not have an effect on treatment outcome. Conclusion: The study concluded that sensory motor and behavior therapy have a significant effecton reducing drooling in children with cerebral palsy.

Key Words: Cerebral palsy; Drooling; Sensory motor therapy; and Behavior therapy. 

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Neural Tissue Mobilization and Manual Traction in patients with Cervical Spondylosis. Study Design: Experimental design Method: 30 subjects of cervical spondylosis, age group 50-65 yrs participated in the study and were divided into 3 groups (10 subjects in each group). Group A was treated with neural tissue mobilization, neck isometrics and hot pack; Group B was treated with cervical manual traction, neck isometrics and hot pack & Group C was treated with hot pack only. Then the results were compared on NDI scale, VAS scale and active ROM of cervical spine.Result: This study showed significant results of cervical manual traction on all outcome measures. However, neural tissue mobilization was significant on NDI scale, cervical right rotation and left rotation. Conclusion: The study concluded that in patients with cervical spondylosis, treatment with cervical manual traction, neck isometrics and hot pack helps in reducing the pain, increasing the range of motion of cervical spine and efficiency in activities of daily living, as seen by improvement in VAS scale, active ROM of cervical spine and NDI scale respectively. Cervical Manual Traction showed significantly better results on all outcome measures as compared to Neural Tissue Mobilization in patients with cervical spondylosis.

Keywords: Cervical Spondylosis, Cervical Manual Traction, Neural Tissue Mobilization. 

Objective: The study was done to assess the balance function in elderly with knee osteoarthritis along with quadriceps strength and prprioceptive acuity (joint position sense). Methods: The study was observational type with 30 subjects in group 1 with osteoarthritis knee and 30 subjects in group 2 without any known history of osteoarthritis of knee joint. The subjects were measured for quadriceps strength, prprioceptive acuity, static balance using mCTSIB and functional balance using timed Up and Go test. The test scores were compared using student’s t test. Results:The study showed a statistically significant difference for all the variables studied such as quadriceps strength, prpioceptive acuity (joint position sense), modified CTSIB score and TUG scores between the groups. Conclusion: The elderly adults with knee osteoarthritis have deterioration in quadriceps strength, proprioceptive acuity, static balance and functional mobility.  

Key Words: Osteoarthritis; Postural control; Ageing and functional mobility. 

Aims: To establish isometric muscle strength reference values for trunk flexors, trunk extensors, trunk ateral flexors and trunk rotators by using a hand held dynamometer in 6 to 12 years of age children. Methodology: In thiscross-sectional study a total number of 280 children in the age group of 6 to 12 years, with 140 from each gender, were recruited for measuring the trunk muscle strength values using a baseline hand-held dynamometer. Major findings:The reference values of the trunk flexors, trunk extensors, trunk lateral flexors and trunk rotators were established. It was observed that the height and weight of the children proportionately increased from 6 to 12 years with a few exceptions between 10-12 years in both boys and girls. Conclusion: The normal mean value of isometric trunk muscle strength using a hand held dynamometer ranged from 23.53N to 137.58N, in children 6 to 12 years of age. In girls it ranged from 23.53N to 121.03N whereas in boys from 41.40N to 137.58N.

Keywords: Normatie data; Typically developing; Muscle power; Pediatric population; Dynamometer.