BackgroundOrthognathic surgery (OGS) is associated with extensive surgical intervention within the soft and hard tissues of the facial region of the skull leading to inflammatory reactions. The presence of postoperative swelling indicates the accumulation of exudate or transudate; both these fluids occur in surgery. Massive swelling is a significant problem, because the tension of tissues intensifies pain sensations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the kinesio taping method (KT) in patients after orthognathic surgery in the area of the facial skull in terms of eliminating postoperative swelling.Material/methodsThe study of the impact of kinesiology tape applied after orthognathic surgery to the craniofacial area on the elimination of swelling was performed in sixteen patients who suffered from this complication after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.ResultsThe swelling was shown to be reduced after KT; within the same study the differences were statistically significant between the left and right sides and for the same side (p<0.05). The application of the lymphatic kinesio taping method led to the reduction of tension in the affected area and restoration of proper lymphatic circulation in the region covered by swelling. This allows for the improvement of the blood and lymph microcirculation and activation of self-healing processes.ConclusionsThe analysis of the impact of the practical use of the lymphatic KT on complications after orthognathic surgery revealed that it had a beneficial effect on the reduction of swelling. The use of the KT method seems promising because it is simple to carry out, not traumatic, economical and rarely causes undesirable allergies.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dysphagia therapy in patients in the early post-stroke period. Clinical rationale: Dysphagia can be one of the consequences of stroke. This problem often leads to complications in the early stages of stroke, including aspiration pneumonia. Although individual reports on dysphagia exist in the literature, no comprehensive guidelines for dysphagia therapy are available. Material and methods: This randomised controlled trial included 60 patients with swallowing difficulties after ischaemic stroke (30 each in the study and control groups; age range: 55-65 years) who were admitted to a hospital stroke subunit. Patient rehabilitation period covered 15 days (seven days a week), with therapy for the first 10 days provided during patient hospitalisation and then outpatient physiotherapy during the subsequent five days. The procedure, including providing education about safe food and liquid consumption to patients and their caregivers, was performed in both patient groups. An original dysphagia treatment method was employed in the study group. Statistical average, standard deviation, and statistical error before and after therapy were determined in the study and control groups. The significance of differences in results between the study and control groups was assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The applied therapy for dysphagia improved the swallowing function and selected motor functions of patients after stroke. In the study group, ineffective (delayed) and absent swallowing reflex was observed in 13 patients (44%) before therapy and in one patient (3%) after therapy. The rate of effective swallowing reflex increased from 57% to 97%. Statistically significant differences in swallowing reflex were observed between the study and control groups after therapy (p = 0.00001). Conclusions: A comprehensive therapy for dysphagia is effective and can reduce serious complications of swallowing disorders in clinical practice. Clinical implications: The results of this study could improve the clinical treatment of dysphagia.
BackgroundThe six-minute walk test (6MWT) is considered to be a simple and inexpensive tool for the assessment of functional tolerance of submaximal effort. The aim of this work was 1) to background the nonlinear nature of the energy expenditure process due to physical activity, 2) to compare the results/scores of the submaximal treadmill exercise test and those of 6MWT in pulmonary patients and 3) to develop nonlinear mathematical models relating the two.MethodsThe study group included patients with the COPD. All patients were subjected to a submaximal exercise test and a 6MWT. To develop an optimal mathematical solution and compare the results of the exercise test and the 6MWT, the least squares and genetic algorithms were employed to estimate parameters of polynomial expansion and piecewise linear models.ResultsMathematical analysis enabled to construct nonlinear models for estimating the MET result of submaximal exercise test based on average walk velocity (or distance) in the 6MWT.ConclusionsSubmaximal effort tolerance in COPD patients can be effectively estimated from new, rehabilitation-oriented, nonlinear models based on the generalized MET concept and the 6MWT.
Physiotherapy in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CHL) is impeded by postoperative pain which causes a decline in patients' activity, reduces respiratory muscles' function, and affects patients' ability to look after themselves. The objective of this work was to assess the influence of Kinesio Taping (KT) on pain level and the increase in effort tolerance in patients after CHL. The research included 63 patients after CHL. Test group and control group included randomly selected volunteers. Control group consisted of 32 patients (26 females, 6 males), test group consisted of 31 patients (22 females, 9 males). Both groups were subjected to complex physiotherapy, and control group had additional KT applications. Before surgery, during and after physiotherapy, patients were given the following tests: 100-meter walk tests, subjective pain perception assessment, and pain relief medicines intake level assessment. The level of statistical significance for all tests was established at P < 0.05. Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in the time required to cover a 100-meter distance and a decrease in pain perception presented by significantly lower painkillers' intake in the test group in comparison with the control group. The improvement in clinical condition observed in the research indicates the efficiency of KT as a method complementing physiotherapy in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
The aim of this study was to investigate facial wrinkling in COPD patients, its relationship with lung function parameters, and the differences in wrinkling between COPD patients and smokers without COPD. The study included 56 patients with COPD with smoking history and 84 controls. Wrinkle intensity was measured and classified using Daniell’s grading system, and the total length of wrinkles was also estimated. The predominant grades of Daniell’s scale were IV–V for COPD patients (89.3% of current and 75.0% of former smokers), III–V for controls who currently smoke (89.2%), and II–III for former (92.9%) and never smokers (100%) controls. These distributions were statistically significantly different, but current and former smokers with COPD and COPD former smokers and control current smokers did not differ. In terms of the total length of wrinkles, the COPD patients possessed significantly longer wrinkles than the control subgroups (all p-values were <0.004). Negative correlations between wrinkle length and lung parameters were found. This phenomenon seems to be independent of smoking, but the length of wrinkles is related to lung function parameters. It seems that not only smoking but also COPD damages skin beauty and quality.
Introduction. COPD is a chronic inflammatory disease that constitutes a significant public health problem. It is characterized by not fully reversible, progressive limitation of airflow through the airways. In addition to the harmful pulmonary effects, COPD manifests itself with complications in other body systems, including body composition disorders, which adversely affects patients’ quality of life and prognosis. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients with COPD and to assess the factors that will affect its deterioration. Material and methods. The study included 37 patients of the University Hospital at the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków at 8 Skawińska Street, who were diagnosed with COPD according to the GOLD guidelines. In the study group, a personal questionnaire was conducted, anthropometric data was collected, i.e. the Quetelet index was calculated, thigh circumference and skin folds were measured, and the subjective assessment of the quality of life was examined using the SGRQ-C questionnaire and the CAT Test. Results. Based on the analysis of the collected materials, it was shown that the average assessment of the quality of life in the study population was at a low level of 61.8 points on the SGRQ-C scale. There was a large variation in the assessment of HRQoL depending on the stage of the disease. The best result, amounting to 23.0 points, was achieved by patients in stage 1, and the worst – 81.6 points. – patients in stage 4 according to GOLD guidelines. Among the main determinants of the quality of life in the study group, in addition to the degree of airway obstruction, there were: high intensity of clinical symptoms, such as cough, shortness of breath or expectoration of secretions, low body weight and the number of comorbidities. Conclusions. It has been shown that the loss of fat-free body mass and systemic complications are factors that significantly reduce the quality of life, and patients with fewer comorbidities and with increased BMI score better on the SGRQ-C scale. It has been proven that the progression of the disease contributes to the exclusion of patients from active social life and causes many mental problems. It was established that patients with COPD should be covered by multidisciplinary care and a special training program in order to prevent or delay the onset of systemic complications, which significantly worsen the patients’ quality of life
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