Aquatic versus Land-Based Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Whether land- or aquatic-based rehabilitation is more effective in improving knee osteoarthritis (OA) is still unclear. This study assessed the effectiveness of aquatic-based treatments in patients with knee OA. Methods: The participants were divided into a land-based exercise group (G1, n=30) and a water-based exercise group (G2, n=30). The exercises were performed for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was a response to physical therapy, defined as a 20% decrease in the summed score for the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities-Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale from T1 (before the start of the rehabilitation program) to T2 (8 weeks later). The secondary endpoints included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, WOMAC functional and stiffness subscales, Lequesne Index, and Medical Outcome Study Short Form (SF-12) for physical and mental health. Results: A 20% decrease in the summed WOMAC pain subscale score was noted in 33% of patients in G1 (n=10) and 93% in G2 (n=28) (P<0.001). VAS scores at walking decreased by 14% in G1 vs. 37% in G2 (P<0.001), WOMAC stiffness subscale decreased by 18% in G1 vs. 53% in G2 (P<0.001), and the Lequesne index decreased by 10% in G1 vs. 33% in G2 (P<0.001). Quality of life improvement was greater in G2 than in G1; SF-12 (physical) increased by 2.3 in G1 vs. 5.4 in G2 (P=0.023), and SF-12 (mental) increased by 6.3 in G1 vs. 10.9 in G2 (P=0.022). Conclusion: Both aquatic and land-based exercises improved pain intensity, functional impairment, degree of handicap, and quality of life impairment caused by OA. However, the improvement was more significant in the aquatic-based exercises group.

Botulinum toxin and hyperhidrosis of the amputation stump in war amputees.

INTRODUCTION: Stump hyperhidrosis is a common condition after lower limb amputation. It affects the prosthesis use, and the quality of life of patients. Several case reports tried to prove benefit of using Botulinum toxin in its treatment. AIM: This study was to conduct a larger workforce clinical trial and to demonstrate benefits of botulinum toxin injection in the treatment of stump hyperhidrosis. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. War amputees who complained of annoying excessive sweating of the stump were included. They received intradermal injection of botulinum toxin A in the residual limb area in contact with prosthetic socket. Abundance of sweating and degree of functional discomfort associated with it were assessed before, after 3 weeks, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Seventeen male patients, followed for post-traumatic limb amputation were included in the study. Discomfort and bothersome in relation to Hyperhidrosis did decrease after treatment (p<0,001). Reported satisfaction after 3 weeks was 73,33%. Improvement of prothesis loosening up after 3 weeks was 72,5% [±15,6]. Mean injection-induced pain on the visual analogue scale was 5.17/10 (±1.58). The mean interval after the onset of improvement was 5.13 days [min:3, max:8]. The mean time of improvement was 10.4 months after the injection [min:6, max:12]. No major adverse events were reported following treatment. CONCLUSION: Intradermal injections of botulinum toxin in the symptomatic treatment of stump hyperhidrosis are effective and have few adverse effects. It improves the quality of life of our patients thanks to a better tolerance of the prosthesis.

Cerebral palsy of the child in rehabilitation environment: epidemiologic and clinical profile and therapeutic modalities.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture causing activity limitation. AIM: To evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, and radiological profile of children with CP and to study the therapeutic modalities in daily clinical practice. METHOD: This was a retrospective, descriptive study, carried out in a physical medicine and rehabilitation department, including all the patients referred with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy between January 2000 and December 2016. We used pre-established records to collect data. The missing data were collected from the files of the pediatric department. To classify cerebral palsy, we used a motor impairment classification, topographic classification according to the affected limb and the GMFCS - ER. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included with a gender ratio of 1.23. The mean age of patients was 7.8 years old. The risk factors for CP were mainly represented by perinatal asphyxia (55%) and prematurity (37%). The spastic form was predominant (74%). Quadriplegia was the most severe clinical form (61%). Neuro-orthopedic deformations were found in 78% of cases. Half of the children had GMFCS score between 1 and 2. Brain MRI lesions were dominated by anoxic-ischemic sequelae (34%). Physical therapy was prescribed for all patients. The most prescribed devices were the dynamic ankle foot orthosis (60%). Baclofen was prescribed in 5% of cases and botulinum toxin injection was performed in 30% of children. CONCLUSION: The cerebral palsy defines the clinical and functional disorders caused by non-progressive developmental damage to the brain of the infant which requires a multidisciplinary management.