Cognitive Empathy in Preprofessional Students.

The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, a test of cognitive empathy, requires individuals to assess the emotional state of a person by looking only at the eyes. A shortened version (svRME) was used in this study to assess the differences in cognitive empathy between preprofessionals in two healthcare fields and in one non-healthcare field of study. Students from a Doctor of Physical Therapy program, a nursing program, and an engineering program (n = 224) were asked to complete a short demographic questionnaire and the svRME. No significant differences in scores were noted between the students of physical therapy and nursing; however, both had scores significantly different than those of the students of engineering. This study questions if people with higher cognitive empathy choose health-related professions and if this fact could be used in career counseling for collegiate level students. It also questions if the svRME could be used to assess cognitive empathy before and after training designed to improve cognitive empathy in a preprofessional health-related program.

Body weight supported treadmill vs. overground gait training for acute stroke gait rehabilitation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of body weight supported treadmill training for acute post-stroke rehabilitation, relative to conventional therapy. Forty individuals were randomized to receive either body weight supported treadmill training or conventional therapy as part of standard care at an acute rehabilitation facility. As part of normal care patients were evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure; gait units and length of stay were also recorded. Within 48 hours of discharge, participants were evaluated using a Qualisys motion capture system to measure spatiotemporal gait parameters. Participants allocated to the body weight supported treadmill training group had a significantly lower admission Functional Independence Measure, but had a longer length of stay, and did not have significantly different discharge Functional Independence Measure scores. Gait speed was the only spatiotemporal outcome that was significantly different at discharge, and was lower for the body weight supported treadmill training group. As seen in previous literature, the clinical efficacy of body weight supported treadmill training seems to be similar to that of conventional overground therapy. Accounting for difference in admission scores the body weight supported treadmill training and conventional therapy groups, both methods performed comparably.

Case report: Tai Chi and Parkinsonism.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To describe the effects of an eight-week Tai Chi class on two patients: one with Parkinson's disease, the other with multiple system atrophy. METHOD AND RESULTS: Both patients demonstrated improved scores on the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and the Functional Reach Test. One subject also demonstrated improved scores for the Timed Up and Go test. Both subjects reported subjective improvements in balance and balance awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Tai Chi may be a viable option for improving balance in patients with mild Parkinsonism.