http://www.fizjoterapiapolska.plTable of contents Volume 10, 2010 Number 2.en-usCopyright 2010 by the Fizjoterapia Polskahttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/rssIndexCopernicus Journal Management System RSS GENERATORwebmaster@www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl (ADM)Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918014&level=5Background: A review of contemporary literature indicates that the rehabilitation of stroke patients is chiefly based on reeducation and compensation techniques addressing motor deficits, even though pure motor hemiparesis occurs very rarely. We assumed that tensional neuromobilisations of the impaired upper extremity in late-stage post-stroke patients influence disorders of stereognosis (tactile perception of natural objects) Material and method: The study involved a group of 64 stroke patients. The subjects were divided randomly into two subgroups (A and B). To assess tactile perception, all patients had to identify 10 commonly used objects by touch. During the 21-day follow-up, all patients were subjected to comprehensive rehabilitation. The therapeutic programme for Group A included selected physical modalities and individual kinesiotherapy based on the PNF method. The treatment in Group B additionally included tensional neuromobilisations of peripheral nerves of the impaired upper extremity. Results: Analysis of variance showed significant variation only for the test measurement factor (p <0.01), which was due to significant intra-group differences in Group B (p<0.05; Tukey test).Conclusions: The greatest improvement in the assessment of the tactile perception of everyday objects was obtained in the group which received PNF therapy supplemented with neuromobilisations of peripheral nerves of the impaired upper extremity. Tomasz Wolny , Edward Saulicz , Rafał Gnat Original articlehttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918014&level=5http://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918016&level=5Pain and functional impairment of the paretic shoulder are a frequent complication in post-stroke patients. The pain is mostly localised to the glenohumeral joint, but sometimes radiates to the upper arm and, infrequently, to the forearm. The paper aims at assessing the incidence of shoulder joint pain in post-stroke patients, and at investigating the predisposing factors. Material and method. The study group consisted of 81 stroke survivors (41 females and 40 males) hospitalized due to stroke in the Stroke Unit of the Neurology Ward and in the Rehabilitation Ward. The study used a questionnaire to obtain characteristics of the study group, a VAS scale to assess pain intensity, as well as the Ashworth scale and Barthel index. Shoulder joint pain occurred in 58% of the participants. Mean pain intensity was 5 according to the VAS scale. Muscle tone in the upper extremity in the study group averaged at 2 in the Ashworth scale. Among those suffering from shoulder pain, 53% experienced it in the morning. Teresa Pop , Agnieszka Dziedzic , Katarzyna Łach-Pop Original articlehttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918016&level=5http://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918017&level=5The aim of the study was to demonstrate that posture quality influences psychomotor development among children with cerebral palsy. Materials and method: The study involved 33 children (16 girls, 17 boys) aged 1–18 years diagnosed with cerebral palsy who attended Special School Complex No. 103, the Wielkopolska Outpatient Clinic of Neurology, Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology in Teaching Hospital No. 4, and Bartek Rehabilitation Center in Poznań. The children were assessed in late 2007/early 2008 according to a standardised examination protocol. The results were analysed with Statistica 7.1 software. Results: 1. There was a clear correlation between cervical spine position in the frontal plane and the ability to lift the head (p=.035). 2. There was a significant correlation between the presence of a deviation of the lumbar spine in the frontal plane and the ability to lift the head in a proper manner (p=,035). 3. Shoulder protraction influenced inappropriate forearm support patterns in a non-significant manner. Conclusions: 1. The postural parameters that significantly influence the development of motor function are the position of the cervical and lumbar spine in the frontal plane. 2. Spinal shape influences the motor ability of children with cerebral palsy. Roksana Malak, Ewa Gajewska, Magdalena Sobieska, Włodzimierz Samborski Original articlehttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918017&level=5http://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918018&level=5Background: The study aimed to assess and compare the effectiveness of Ketonal (ketoprofenum) iontophoresis and a combination therapy involving ultrasound and electrical stimulation in the treatment of rotator cuff injuries. Materials and methods: The study involved 30 patients with symptoms of rotator cuff injuries. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in Group A received Ketonal iontophoresis. Patients in Group B received a combination therapy involving ultrasound and electrical stimulation to trigger points of the supraspinatus and other shoulder rotator muscles. Treatment efficacy was assessed by analysing changes in shoulder range of motion, supraspinatus strength, and the occurrence and intensity of pain. Results: The treatment produced significant effects in both groups. Treatment effects in Group B were somewhat better than those in Group A, with significant differences in pain resolution and improved range of active abduction. Conclusions: Ketonal iontophoresis and combination treatment are effective methods for treating the sequelae of rotator cuff injuries. The combination treatment applied directly to myofascial trigger points produced somewhat better results than Ketonal iontophoresis. Anna Polak, Ewa Grymel-Kulesza , Monika Romaniak , Janusz Kubacki , Piotr Król Original articlehttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918018&level=5http://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918019&level=5Introduction and Objective Physiotherapy as a university degree programme was first offered in Poland in 1997, with courses including 3-year Bachelor-level and 2-year Master-level programmes. The education of physiotherapists in Poland currently takes place at three types of university-level schools: medical universities (MS), universities of physical education (PE) and university-level schools of orientations not connected with medicine or physical education (OU). This study aims to analyse and compare opinions of MS, PE and OU students on the curricula offered by the three types of university-level schools. Material and methods The study involved a total of 593 students in their third year of Bachelor programme studies from 10 university-level schools of different educational orientations. Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous involved completing a questionnaire distributed in March and April 2009. The questionnaire, designed by the authors, consisted of 4 parts and contained a total of 88 questions. The statistical analysis of the survey data (STATISTICA 9.0) was conducted using the Kruskall-Wallis test. Results The majority of MS students believed the amount of practical classes was appropriate, while PE and OU participants assessed it as insufficient (p=NS). The MS students were satisfied with the amount of time of working directly with patients during clinical classes, while their PE and OU counterparts found the time insufficient. The largest number of MS, PE and OU participants declared that training in special techniques in physiotherapy was insufficient (p=NS). Conclusions 1. It would be advisable to combine the clinical experience of medical universities with the facilities and teaching staff of specialists in physiotherapy-related courses available in universities of physical education in order to improve the quality of physiotherapy education in Poland. 2. In view of the current level of research in physiotherapy, it seems important to provide students with high quality training in state-of-the-art physiotherapy techniques. Dariusz Białoszewski, Joanna Gotlib , Anna Cabak , Katarzyna Barczyk, Andrzej Bugajski, Joanna Grzegorczyk, Wojciech Kułak, Piotr Majcher, Olga Nowotny-Czupryna, Maciej Płaszewski, Katarzyna Prokopowicz, Janusz Sierdziński Original articlehttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918019&level=5http://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918020&level=5Cervical discopathy is a serious medical and social problem. Displacement of the intervertebral disc into the vertebral canal compresses spinal nerve roots and/or the spinal cord. Cage fusion and the implantation of a mobile disc prosthesis have recently been introduced in surgery. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapeutic management of patients with multi-level cervical discopathy treated by microdiscectomy and cage fusion. A group of 23 patients was followed up over six weeks, including 20 patients after two-level surgery (Group A) and 3 after three-level surgery (Group B). The progress of rehabilitation was evaluated on the basis of : - muscle strength (Lovett test), - range of motion, - regression of pain (VAS scale) and paraesthesiae. In Group A, neck pain disappeared in 18 patients, and paraesthesiae in the upper limbs disappeared in 12 patients; 14 patients fully recovered muscle strength in the limbs, and 16 patients recovered the full range of motion in the shoulder joints. In group B, two patients reported regression of the neck pain, one fully recovered muscle strength, and two recovered the full range of motion in the shoulder joints. Conclusions 1. The physiotherapy of patients with multi-level cervical discopathies following cage fusion surgery was an effective adjunctive treatment in this group of patients. 2. Early institution of appropriate procedures may result in full motor recovery Włodzisław Kuliński, Wojciech Haładyna, Arkadiusz Wilk, Jan Podgórski, Marzenna Bazan, Józef Mróz, Paweł Leśniewski Original articlehttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918020&level=5http://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918021&level=5Background. Early diagnosis and therapy of infants with central coordination disorder (CCD) ensure maximum therapeutic benefits of nervous system plasticity. Therefore, one of the main aims of modern paediatric physiotherapy is to create a system for objective and early diagnosis in order to enable early institution of appropriate evidence-based therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate body position dissymmetry in infants on the basis of clinical findings and podoscopic assessment in healthy infants and infants presenting with CCD, thus constituting the first step towards objective evaluation of psychomotor development. The Podo Baby device for the assessment of infants registers the surface of contact with the infant’s body on the right and left sides in the prone and supine positions, thus allowing an assessment of the infant’s body position dissymmetry. Material and methods. The study involved two groups of infants: five healthy infants and five infants with a diagnosis of central coordination disorder. The diagnosis was made on the basis of Vojta’s clinical assessment and a podoscopic evaluation with the Podo Baby device. Results. This experiment showed a good fit between the results of the clinical and podoscopic evaluations. There was a difference in dissymmetry between the healthy and neurologically impaired infants. All healthy infants showed differences between body weight distribution percentages on the right and left sides of less than 18%, while the infants with CCD revealed differences of up to 66%. Conclusion. The Podo Baby device may make clinical diagnosis more objective. Magdalena Pyzio, Dorota Wójtowicz , Anna Skrzek Short communicationhttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918021&level=5http://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918023&level=5Introduction. The aim of the study was to assess the therapeutic effects of low induction magnetic field, R red light and infrared LED light on inflammatory and erosive lesions of skin and glans penis. The subject was a 50-year-old patient with a five-year history of balanoposthitis. Material and methods. The authors followed up and assessed inflammatory and erosive lesions of the skin of the penis and glans penis in a patient with recurring balanoposthitis. The patient underwent two 3-week sessions of treatment by active emission of a low induction magnetic field, red light and infrared LED light, called magnetic field and LED light therapy. The sessions were separated by a one-week break. Results. The evolution of inflammatory and erosive lesions of the penis and glans penis in response to magnetic field and LED light therapy indicates an anti-inflammatory effect of low induction magnetic field and LED light. Satisfactory results were obtained in the form of shallowing or complete closure of the erosions as well as regression of pain and itch. Conclusions. Treatment with low induction magnetic field, red light and infrared LED light, called magnetic field and LED light therapy, may be applied in the treatment of inflammatory and erosive lesions of the penis and glans penis. Romualda Mucha , Aleksander Sieroń Case reporthttp://www.fizjoterapiapolska.pl/abstracted.php?icid=918023&level=5