The purpose of this study was to compare the circumference, skinfold thickness and strength of the normal and casted lower limb prior to casting and following removal of the cast. The subjects for the study were nine orthopedic patients who had had long and short leg casts due to a tibial, fibula, or calcaneus fracture, or to a lateral collateral ligament rupture. Circumference, skinfold thickness, and strength of the normal and casted lower limb following removal of the cast were compared with those prior to the application of the cast. Measurements were made before cast application and after removal of the cast. Skinfold thickness was measured by fat caliper, circumference was measured by tape and strength was determined by measuring the length of time the leg was held elevated at 45. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. There was no change in the normal limb in the circumference of the midthigh and midcalf after casting as compared to before cast application. 2. In the casted limb the circumference of the midthigh decreased by 3.23% and that of the midcalf decreased significantly by 7.49% during the period of casting. 3. In the normal limb skinfold thickness of the quadriceps decreased and that of gastrocnemius increased by 20.63% during the period of cast application. 4. In the casted limb skinfold thickness of the quadriceps decreased significantly by 12.37% and that of gastrocnemius decreased by 10% during the period of cast application. 5. Strength of the normal lower extremity decreased significantly by 48.37% and that of casted lower extremity decreased remarkably by 73.07% during the period of cast application. 6. Circumference of the midthigh and the midcalf decreased significantly by 7.6% and 9.4% respectively on the casted side as compared to the normal side. Skinfold thickness of the quadriceps and the gastrocnemius on the casted side decreased by 6.12% and 18.55% respectively as compared to the normal side and strength in the lower extremity on the casted side decreased significantly by 44.32% as compared to the normal side. From these results, it may be concluded that muscle atrophy occurs in the casted lower limb and muscle strength of the normal lower limb are also reduced during the period of application of a leg cast.
The purpose of this study was to observe the change of circumference, volume and strength of normal 'and operated lower extremities on 3rd, 7th, 10th, and 14th days of postoperation following THRA compared with their condition on preoperation day. Subjects consisted of 13 male and 7 female patients operated with THRA between the age of 20 and 69 years with a mean age of 38.55(SD=15.1). Circumference of upper and lower leg was measured by tape, leg volume was determined according to formula (Moor and Thornton, 1987) with measurement of 8 circumferences of leg. Leg strength was measured by pressing the center of digital health meter in supine position. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. Circumference of operated thigh decreased significantly at 14 following THRA compared with preoperative value, while that of normal thigh decreased significantly at day 3, 7, 10 and 14 after THRA compared with preoperative value. 2. Circumference of midcalf in both operated and normal limb decreased significantly at day 3, 7, 10 and 14 following THRA compared with preoperative value. 3. Leg volume of operated lower limb decreased significantly at 10, 14 following THRA compared with preoperative value, while that of normal limb decreased significantly at day 7 and 10 after THRA compared with preoperative value. 4. Leg strength of operated limb decreased significantly at day 3, 7, 10, 14 following THRA compared with preoperative value. No significant difference of normal leg strength was shown following THRA. 5. Circumference of midcalf differed significantly at day 14 after THRA between normal and operated extremity. From these results, it can be suggested that a decreased activity after THRA caused muscle atrophies in normal and operated extremity.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of exercise program
on cardiopulmonary functions and shoulder joint functioning in breast cancer patients who
under- went radiation therapy after surgery. METHOD: Subjects in the experimental
group(N=12) participated in an exercise program for eight weeks. The Exercise program
consisted of shoulder stretching, arm weight training, and walking on treadmill. Maximal
oxygen uptake(o2max), maximal running time, shoulder joint range of motion, and
shoulder functional assessment were determined before and after the exercise program.
Baseline sociodemographic and medical data were compared between experimental group
and control group using the Fisher's exact test and Mann- Whitney U test. For effects
of the exercise program, repeated measures ANOVA were used. RESULT: 1) Following
the exercise program for eight weeks, both o2 max and maximal running time tended
to increase in experimental group comparing with the control group. 2) Shoulder
abduction, extension and flexion of the operated upper extremity in the experimental
group comparing with control significantly increased after the exercise program(p<0.05).
3) Shoulder flexion of the normal upper extremity in the experimental group comparing
with control significantly increased after the exercise program(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The
results
suggest that the exercise program for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation
therapy after breast surgery can improve shoulder functions and increase
cardiopulmonary functions, which are maximal oxygen uptake and maximal running time.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Korean traditional dance movement training on balance, gait and leg strength in elderly women who are forced to remain at home. Fifteen elderly women of an experimental group between the ages 65 and 75 years who have normal vision and passed the hearing and Romberg test, participated in the 12 weeks' dance movement training. Fourteen subjects of a control group were selected. Korean traditional dance movement training was developed on the basis of Korean traditional dance and music by the authors. It took approximately 50 minutes to perform the dance movement program. The subjects of the experimental group practiced dance training for 3 times a week during 12 weeks. During the 50 minutes workout, the subjects practiced 15 minutes of a warm-up dance, 25 minutes of a conditioning dance, and 10 minutes of a cool-down dance. The intensity for the conditioning phase was between 60% and 65% of age-adjusted maximum heart rates. The balance, gait and leg strength were measured prior to and after the experimental treatment. Total balance scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Scores of sternal nudge, one leg standing balance and reaching up among 13 items have significantly increased after the dance movement training. Total scores of gait of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group following the korean traditional dance movement training. Scores of experimental group in step height, path deviation and turning while walking among 9 items have increased significantly following 12 weeks of dance movement training. The leg strength of experimental group was significantly higher than those of the control group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The balance, gait and leg strength have significantly correlated in the experimental group following the Korean traditional dance movement training. The results suggest that Korean traditional dance movement training can improve balance, gait and leg strength in home bound elderly women.
The study was done to compare effects of two endotracheal tube (ET tube) fixation methods (rotated fixation versus conventional) on unplanned extubation and skin integrity for orally intubated patients in intensive care units.
The research design was a non-equivalent control group with repeated measures design. Participants were 80 patients; 40 participants assigned to each group. ET tube for the experimental participants fixed with rotated method every morning. Unplanned extubation was assessed by bedside nurses using the unplanned extubation report form. Oral mucosa and facial skin integrity were assessed using oral assessment guide and facial skin integrity assessment guide at day 3, 7, 10 and 14.
There was no difference in the unplanned extubation rate between the two groups. Oral mucosa impairment scores for the rotated fixation method were significantly lower at day 7 (
Results of the study suggest that the rotated fixation method is effective for these patients, to prevent impairment of oral mucosa and facial skin integrity. Further research is needed to prevent unplanned extubation.
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing quality of life after analyzing the relationship between depression, health promotion and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms.
The subjects of this study were 63 people who underwent treatments from 2 general hospitals in Seoul and Daejeon and had no recurrence in stages I & II of gastrointestinal neoplasms. Data was collected from March 1 to April 30, 2006. A questionnaire consisting of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) was given. The collected data was analyzed with the SPSS program which was used for descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical multiple regression.
The major findings of this study were as follows: 1) There was a significant relationship between depression (r=-.639, p=.000), health promotion (r=.407, p=.001) and quality of life. 2) Significant factors were depression (F=-4.091, p=.000) and health promotion (F=2.375, p=.021) that explained 46% of quality of life (F=10.022, p=.000).
Cancer patients experienced extreme depression which led to a negative effect on quality of life. Health promotion was an important variable to the quality of life and it gave the patients motivation for having a will and belief for better health.