Group items tagged

The purpose of this study was to to determine the feasibility and efficacy of home-based MusicGlove therapy. The findings of the study showed MusicGlove therapy was not superior to conventional tabletop exercises for the primary end point but was nevertheless feasible and led to a significantly greater increase in self-reported functional use and quality of movement of the impaired hand than conventional home exercises.

In my rotation, we have treated a few stroke patients after BTX-A injections using splinting and a few other treatment methods. This article discovers the comparison of adhesive taping vs. daily manual muscle stretching and splinting after injections. A single-blind randomized control trail with 70 patients was conducted with patients experiencing wrist and finger flexor muscle spasticity post-stroke. After receiving the injections, patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A consisted of adhesive taping. Adhesive taping is first placed on forearm and fingers and left for 10 days with daily checks. The tape provides traction on hypertonic muscles. Group B consisted of patient's receiving manual muscle stretching of injected muscles for 30 min and passive articular mobilization of wrist and fingers to maintain muscle length. Custom palmar splints with made for each patient and positioned for maximum stretching. Outcome measures used to to measure spasticity consisted of the Modified Ashworth scale, related disability with Disability Assessment Scale and finger positions at rest. At the end of the trial, it was discovered that patient in Group A, adhesive taping, had a significantly decrease in spasticity scores. Some limitations included lack of placebo group and longer follow-up data.

The school that I am currently placed at is in the process of becoming the first PLAY Project certified and trained school. The PLAY Project Home Consultation (PPHC) program trains parents of children with autistic spectrum disorders using the DIR/Floortime model of Stanley Greenspan MD. Sixty-eight children completed the 8-12 month program. Pre/post ratings of videotapes by blind raters using the Functional Emotional Assessment Scale (FEAS) showed significant increases in child subscale scores. Translated clinically, 45.5 percent of children made good to very good functional developmental progress. There were no significant differences between parents in the FEAS subscale scores at either pre-or post-intervention and all parents scored at levels suggesting they would be effective in working with their children. Overall satisfaction with PPHC was 90 percent. Average cost of intervention was $2500/ year. Despite important limitations, this pilot study of The PLAY Project Home Consulting model suggests that the model has potential to be a cost-effective intervention for young children with autism.