Background: Stroke is a common, serious, and disabling health-care problem throughout the world. Although great advances have been made in acute stroke management, the most of post-stroke care to reduce a patient's dependency relies on rehabilitation.Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of exercises using an Erigo tilt-table and conventional physiotherapy in the rehabilitation of acute stroke patients.Methods: A total of 110 acute stroke patients (age 51.08 ± 7.48 years, 8.69 ± 4.62 days after stroke) were assigned randomly into two groups, 55 in each for 30 days of conventional physiotherapy (Group A) or Erigo tilt-table (Group B) rehabilitation. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Mini-Mental Scale Examination (MMSE), Modified Ashworth Scale were used to measure muscle tone, quality of life (QOL) and muscle strength (MMT), Affected upper (UE) and lower limb (LE) outcomes were assessed at baseline (day 0), after day 30 of the intervention and on 90th day of follow up. Repeated measures ANOVA followed by a Bonferroni post-hoc test and independent Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis to evaluate the improvement in outcome variables within and between the groups. Results: Both the treatments were effective. Notably, Group B patients showed a significant improvement in both QOL (p < 0.001) and lower limb strength (p = 0.030) at day 90 and muscle tone (p = 0.011) at day 30 compared to Group A. Conclusion: Both the groups improved with time but the Erigo tilt-table group experienced greater improvement in QOL, NIHSS and muscle strength of the lower limb. Thus, Erigo tilt-table can be used for early rehabilitation of acute hemiplegic patients and improving their quality of life and motor system, resulting in better functional performances.
Background/Aims Cervical disorders are major health problems in our society and an important source of disability. Assessing range of motion is a significant part of the physical therapist’s role when evaluating a patient presenting with cervical disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intrarater relibility as well as the criterion validity of two phone applications (clinometer and compass) when assessing the cervical range of motion among individuals with and without neck pain. Methods In total, 80 participants were included in this study and split into two groups. Group A comprised 40 participants (18 women and 22 men) without neck pain. Group B included 40 participants (26 women and 14 men) with neck pain (mean pain rating on visual analogue scale 3.76 ± 0.93). Cervical range of motion was measured with the clinometer application (flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion) and compass application (right and left rotation). The readings were compared with a universal goniometer. Estimates of reliability and validity were then established using the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change. Results The smartphone applications had good intrarater reliability when compared to a universal goniometer, showing good to excellent validity (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.65) for all six cervical ranges of motion in participants with and without neck pain. Conclusions The smartphone clinometer application was found to be valid and reliable in measuring frontal and sagittal cervical ranges of motion in participants with and without neck pain. The compass application was found to be valid and reliable when assessing the horizontal cervical range of motion in a seated position. The applications will benefit physiotherapists when assessing cervical range of motion.
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