Effect of Scapular Kinesiotaping as an Adjunct to Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises on Upper Extremity Functions in Stroke Patients

Background and Purpose: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in India. Upper extremities get more affected in Middle cerebral artery syndrome. Stroke patients have lack of functional ability of upper extremity due to scapular malalignment resulting from paralysis of the scapular muscles. Kinesiotape helps to realign the muscles and thus it becomes easy to activate or inhibit them. We hypothesised that Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation exercises along with kinesiotape could improve upper extremity function. Methodology: Ethical clearance was obtained. Informed consent was taken. 30 patients were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. 15 subjects were randomly divided into experimental and control group. Subjects were given Dynamic neuromuscular stabilisation exercises for scapular strengthening. The experimental group was given Kinesiotaping to the scapula using muscle technique. Pre and post treatment assessment was done using Upper Extremity Function Index, grip strength and scapular abduction position with MB ruler. Result: The intergroup comparison revealed a highly significant difference for upper extremity function index and grip strength whereas scapular abduction was not significant. Conclusion: The Scapular Kinesiotaping as an adjunct to Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises is significantly effective to improve upper extremity functions and grip strength in post stroke patients. Key words: Stroke, Upper Extremity Functions, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises, Scapular Kinesiotaping.

Female Sexual Dysfunction before and after Diagnosis of Infertility

This study determined the prevalence, domain, and predictors of sexual dysfunction among 222 infertile women before and after Diagnosis of infertility in Ife East Senatorial district, Nigeria. They were interviewed using interviewer-administered questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index assessment tool. Information about their sexual functions after marriage and before the couple started having difficulty in getting pregnant were obtained and compared with sexual functions after Diagnosis of infertility. Data management was done using SPSS Version22 and STATA 12. The Chi-square test was used to test associations. P-value of was set <0.05. Before infertility diagnosis, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 23.9%. After infertility diagnosis, this increased to 57.2%, P<0.001. The mean scores of female sexual function index for infertile patients were 29.57 ±5.10 before the infertility diagnosis but reduced to 24.42 ± 5.86 after infertility diagnosis P <0.001. The domain scores reduced after Diagnosis of infertility, and it shows statistical significance at P<0.001. Significant predictors at multivariate analysis include increasing maternal age, increasing duration of infertility, Hausa /Fulani tribe, and female genital mutilation. Infertility increases the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction and reduces the domain scores of sexual functions.

Função urinária e sexual de mulheres puerperais que usaram o balão vaginal na preparação para o parto vaginal – um estudo transversal

INTRODUÇÃO: O balão vaginal pode ser uma opção para preparar os músculos do assoalho pélvico para o parto vaginal. Suas implicações para as funções urinária e sexual precisam ser mais estudadas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar as implicações do balão vaginal na preparação para o parto vaginal nas funções sexual e urinária. METODOLOGIA: Estudo transversal realizado em Belém do Pará, com primíparas de partos vaginais, de 18 a 40 anos. Formou-se dois grupos: o GE se constituiu de puérperas que usaram o balão vaginal durante a gravidez provenientes da Clínica Cafisio Mulher e o GC de puérperas que não fizeram uso do balão vaginal durante a gestação, provenientes do Centro de Saúde Escola do Marco. Utilizou-se uma ficha de avaliação sociodemográfica, um questionário com perguntas acerca dos eventos do trabalho de parto, o International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form e o Female Sexual Function Index. Foi utilizado o software Excel para entrada dos dados, confecção das tabelas e análise estatística descritiva das variáveis. RESULTADOS: Em ambos os grupos, a maioria das mulheres apresentou alguma perda urinária, com impactos diferentes na qualidade de vida. Quanto à função sexual, ambos os grupos estão abaixo do ponto de corte, o que indica disfunção sexual. No entanto, não foi possível estabelecer uma associação entre a função urinária e sexual entre os dois grupos devido às diferenças no tamanho da amostra entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: As funções urinária e sexual de ambos os grupos estavam alteradas.

Improvement of Walking Analysis using the Sciatic Function Index for Sciatic Nerve Function in Injured Rat Model Treated with Low-Intensity Aerobics

BACKGROUND: Sciatica is a disease of the peripheral nerves. Sciatica indicates that there is damage to the peripheral nerves in the sciatic nerves. Factors that can affect this disease include gender, posture, parity, age, genetic factors, and occupation. Some of the pathophysiological conditions of sciatica include the pathology of the intervertebral disc, dorsal root, and sciatic nerve itself. The results of standard therapy with surgery have not been effective and very expensive. Therefore, research on therapy in sciatica cases still needs to be done and evaluated. Physical exercise treatment (aerobic] is necessary for this therapy in sciatica cases due to promote the function of peripheral nerves. AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of aerobic exercise treatment on peripheral nerve injury and its relationship to walking function during injury-induced peripheral nerve regeneration. METHODS: This study was an experimental study with a post-test. he study sample consisted of Male Sprague-Dawley rats with an age of about 2-3 months divided into three groups. Control group was conducted by surgery without clamping/injuring the peripheral nerves. The treatment for second group (P1) was clamping/injury of peripheral nerve and given the treatment of physical exercise with aerobics. The treatment for third group (P2) was clamping/injury of peripheral nerve and not given the treatment of physical exercise with aerobics. The intensity of giving physical exercise treatment with aerobic that is carried out is for 42 days. Nerve functional evaluation was carried out using the sciatic function index (SFI) method. Histological staining for sciatic was used hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry with Growth Associated Protein 43 (GAP43) [Bioss, bs-0154R] and S100 antibody [ab52642]. This research was approved by Animal Ethics Committee of University of Indonesia protocol (No.19-07-0852). RESULTS: There was a significant change between the 7th and 14th days (p<0.001; paired t-test) in the P1 treatment. Improvement in nerve function was found on the 14th day after being given aerobic treatment. This is indicated by the data average change in SFI scores on days 7 and 4 was from -144 to 34. This data is also supported by footprint changes for injured hindfoot data. CONCLUSION: Low intensity aerobics treatment improve the walking function and nerve function in sciatic nerve injury on day 14. This is due to the effect of physical exercise on the injured sciatic nerve.

Association Between Left Ventricular Global Function Index and Outcomes in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Purpose: Left ventricular global function index (LVGFI) assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) seems promising in the prediction of clinical outcomes. However, the role of the LVGFI is uncertain in patients with heart failure (HF) with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). To describe the association of LVGFI and outcomes in patients with DCM, it was hypothesized that LVGFI is associated with decreased major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in patients with DCM.Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2015 to April 2020 in consecutive patients with DCM who underwent CMR. The association between outcomes and LVGFI was assessed using a multivariable model adjusted with confounders. LVGFI was the primary exposure variable. The long-term outcome was a composite endpoint, including death or heart transplantation.Results: A total of 334 patients (mean age: 55 years) were included in this study. The average of CMR-LVGFI was 16.53%. Over a median follow-up of 565 days, 43 patients reached the composite endpoint. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that patients with LVGFI lower than the cutoff values (15.73%) had a higher estimated cumulative incidence of the endpoint compared to those with LVGFI higher than the cutoff values (P = 0.0021). The hazard of MACEs decreased by 38% for each 1 SD increase in LVGFI (hazard ratio 0.62[95%CI 0.43–0.91]) and after adjustment by 46% (HR 0.54 [95%CI 0.32–0.89]). The association was consistent across subgroup analyses.Conclusion: In this study, an increase in CMR-LVGFI was associated with decreasing the long-term risk of MACEs with DCM after adjustment for traditional confounders.