RESUMO
Purpose : To observe the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training in conjunction with conventional physical therapy (PT) on joint-position sense (JPS), balance, and gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: In this randomized controlled study, 24 children with CP were randomly selected either to continue their conventional PT or to receive WBV in conjunction with their conventional PT programme. Exposure to the intervention was intermittent (3 min WBV, 3 min rest) for 20 minutes, twice weekly for 3 weeks. JPS, balance, and gait were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: Ankle JPS was improved after 3 weeks of WBV training (p=0.014). Participants in the WBV group showed greater improvements in speed (F1,21=5.221, p=0.035) and step width (F1,21=4.487, p=0.039) than participants in the conventional PT group. Conclusion: Three weeks of WBV training was effective in improving ankle JPS and gait variables in children with CP.
Objectif : Observer les effets de l'entraînement par vibration de tout le corps (VTC) conjugué à la physiothérapie conventionnelle sur la sensation de la position de l'articulation (SPA), l'équilibre et la démarche chez les enfants atteints de paralysie cérébrale (PC). Méthodes : Au cours de cette étude contrôlée randomisée, 24 enfants atteints de PC ont été choisis au hasard pour continuer leur physiothérapie (PT) conventionnelle ou recevoir un entraînement par VTC conjugué à leur programme de PT conventionnelle. L'exposition à l'intervention était intermittente (3 min. VTC, 1 min. repos) pendant 20 minutes, deux fois par semaine pendant trois semaines. On a évalué la SPA, l'équilibre et la démarche avant et après le traitement. Résultats : La SPA au niveau de la cheville s'est améliorée après trois semaines d'entraînement par VTC (p=0,014). Les participants du groupe VTC ont montré des améliorations plus importantes aux niveaux de la vitesse (F=5,221, p=0,03) et de la longueur du pas (F=4,487, p=0,039) comparativement aux participants du groupe suivant une physiothérapie conventionnelle. Conclusion : Trois semaines d'entraînement par VTC ont réussi à améliorer la SPA au niveau de l'articulation de la cheville et les variables de la démarche chez les enfants atteints de PC.
RESUMO
The purpose of this research report is to investigate the long-term effect of Adeli suit treatment (AST) in a child with cerebral palsy (CP) on spatial-temporal gait parameters, 10-meter walking speed, gross motor functional measure (GMFM) and performance on the pediatric balance scale (PBS). An eight-year-old girl with spastic diplegia classified as level III on the Gross Motor Function Classification System participated in this single-subject A-B design study, with a baseline and an intervention phase. The baseline phase was collected at one-week intervals for six weeks and then the AST intervention phase was carried out with 18 AST sessions, 50 min per session, once a week for an 18-week period. Spatial-temporal gait parameters significantly improved after the completion of 18 sessions. Furthermore, 10-meter walking speed, GMFM and PBS changed significantly from the baseline measurement (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the AST was effective in improving gait, gross motor function and balance in a child with diplegic CP. Clinically, neuro-rehabilitation with AST provided a complementary and alternative treatment for lower extremity rehabilitation in this child with CP. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the effectiveness of AST in children with spastic CP, and thus underscore the need for additional research in this area.
Assuntos
Braquetes , Paralisia Cerebral/terapia , Marcha , Modalidades de Fisioterapia/instrumentação , Fenômenos Biomecânicos , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Destreza Motora , Equilíbrio PosturalRESUMO
The purpose of this study was to describe outcome indicators of nursing education including critical thinking, professionalism, leadership, and communication and to evaluate differences among nursing programs and academic years. A descriptive research design was employed. A total of 454 students from four year baccalaureate (BS) nursing programs and two three-year associate degree (AD) programs consented to complete self-administered questionnaires. The variables were critical thinking, professionalism, leadership and communication. Descriptive statistics, χ(2)-test, t-tests, ANOVA, and the Tukey test were utilized for the data analysis. All the mean scores of the variables were above average for the test instruments utilized. Among the BS students, those in the upper classes tended to attain higher scores, but this tendency was not identified in AD students. There were significant differences between BS students and AD students for the mean scores of leadership and communication. These findings suggested the need for further research to define properties of nursing educational outcomes, and to develop standardized instruments for research replication and verification.