Effects of Whole Body Vibration Exercise on Lower Extremity Muscle Activity and Balance Ability in Football Player with Chronic Ankle Instability

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of whole body vibration exercise (WBVE) on lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability according to different methods of exercises in football player and use it as basic data for the rehabilitation training of chronic ankle instability. METHODS: Thirty subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the two groups, which each group have 15 members, are WBVE group and neuromuscular training (NMT) group according to training method. The exercise program was conducted for six weeks. Subjects were measured on lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability. RESULTS: The muscle activity increasement of the WBVE group was significantly higher than that of the NMT group (p < 0.05) and the balance ability decreasement of the WBVE group was significantly higher than that of the NMT group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings of this study suggest that WBVE may have a beneficial effect on improvement of lower extremity muscle activity and balance ability in football player with chronic ankle instability.

A Case Report of Spinal Cord Injury Patient From a High Velocity Gunshot Wound to the Lumbar Spine

We report on operational and rehabilitation management, as well as the outcome, of a patient who with sustained spinal cord injury from a high velocity gunshot wound to the lumbar spine. More specifically, a patient with a gunshot wound to the spine is more likely to sustain a complete injury and have a poor prognosis. As such, there should be concerns regarding associated and extended injuries related to bullet fragmentation as well as the possibility of long-term sequelae.

The Correlation Analysis of Functional Factors and Age with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

OBJECTIVE: To correlate existing evaluation tools with clinical information on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients following age and to investigate genetic mutation and its relationship with clinical function. METHOD: The medical records of 121 children with DMD who had visited the pediatric rehabilitation clinic from 2006 to 2009 were reviewed. The mean patient age was 9.9+/-3.4 years and all subjects were male. Collected data included Brooke scale, Vignos scale, bilateral shoulder abductor and knee extensor muscles power, passive range of motion (PROM) of ankle dorsi-flexion, angle of scoliosis, peak cough flow (PCF), fractional shortening (FS), genetic abnormalities, and use of steroid. RESULTS: The Brooke and Vignos scales were linearly increased with age (Brooke (y1), Vignos (y2), age (x), y1=0.345x-1.221, RBrooke2=0.435, y2=0.813x-3.079, RVignos2=0.558, p<0.001). In relation to the PROM of ankle dorsi-flexion, there was a linear decrease in both ankles (right and left R2=0.364, 0.372, p<0.001). Muscle power, Cobb angle, PCF, and FS showed diversity in their degrees, irrespective of age. The genetic test for dystrophin identified exon deletions in 58.0% (69/119), duplications in 9.2% (11/119), and no deletions or duplications in 32.8% (39/119). Statistically, the genetic abnormalities and use of steroid were not definitely associated with functional scale. CONCLUSION: The Brooke scale, Vignos scale and PROM of ankle dorsi-flexion were partially available to assess DMD patients. However, this study demonstrates the limitations of preexisting scales and clinical parameters incomprehensively reflecting functional changes of DMD patients.

Effects of Electrical Stimulation and Weight-Supported Treadmill Gait Simulation on Apoptosis in the Muscles of Rats with Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of electrical stimulation and weight-supported treadmill gait simulation on apoptosis in the muscles of rats with spinal cord injury. METHOD: Twenty seven rats with a model of complete spinal cord injury were assigned to one of the following groups: control (n=9), electrical stimulation (n=10), and exercise (n=8) groups. After a 2-week intervention period, they were sacrificed, and the pattern of apoptosis was analyzed by in situ DNA nick-end labeling (TUNEL), by DNA fragmentation assay, and by Western blot for Bax and Bcl-2 using specimens from the right hamstring muscles for all groups. RESULTS: The electrical stimulation group had increased apoptosis compared to the control group possibly due to overwork weakness, but there was no statistical significance between the groups. Apoptosis decreased in the exercise group compared with in the electrical stimulation and control group. The expression of Bcl-2 was most prominent in the exercise group, and it was significantly reduced in the electrical stimulation and control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that exercise could play an important role in decreasing apoptosis by the up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression and that electrical stimulation might cause overwork weakness in rat models of spinal cord injury.

Characteristics of Old Aged Stroke: Rehabilitation Perspectives

Background: To compare the risk factors, stroke features, and functional outcomes of old aged stroke patients (> or =75yr) admitted for rehabilitation with those of younger age group of patients ( or =75 years old) admitted to a rehabilitation facility were analyzed. Measures include stroke features, risk factors, comorbidities, length of rehabilitation stay and Mini-mental status examination (MMSE), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), and Functional Ambulation Category Scale (FAS). The functional outcomes were measured at admission and at discharge. Results: On admission, elderly patients showed lower body mass index (21.9 vs. 23.9), higher rates of cerebral infarction (71% vs. 54%), and lower MBI (31 vs. 46) than younger patients (p0.05). However, on discharge, MMSE (16 vs. 21), MBI (42 vs. 59), the ratio of 0, 1 by MRS (no significant disability; 18% vs 46%), and the ratio of 4, 5 by FAS (can walk independently on level ground; 29% vs 52%) were lower in elderly patients as compared to younger patients (p<0.05). The percentage of home discharge tended to be lower in elderly patients as compared with younger patients (55% vs 74%, p=0.051). Conclusion: The elderly stroke patients had poorer rehabilitation outcome as compared to younger age stroke patients within same rehabilitation stay. Therefore, setting the rehabilitation goal lower or allowing longer rehabilitation stay should be considered for old aged stroke patients.