American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2012
Cough peak flow as a predictor of pulmonary morbidity in patients with dysphagia.
The aim of this study was to ascertain whether an objective cough measure relates to the risk of pulmonary complications in dysphagic patients with persistent tracheobronchial aspiration. ⋯ Our findings indicate that cough peak flow is a valuable predictor of respiratory prognosis in chronic aspiration. This finding suggests a new rehabilitation strategy aimed at improving cough flows for dysphagic patients.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2012
Case ReportsPresumed intramedullary spinal cord sarcoidosis in a healthy young adult woman.
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology associated with the development of granulomatous nodules in various organs, most commonly the lungs, eyes, and skin. It rarely affects the central nervous system, with the spinal cord being least common area of involvement. ⋯ Physical examination findings are consistent with spinal cord pathology, and imaging often suggests spinal cord tumor. We present a case of an otherwise healthy young woman with a granulomatous mass in her cervico-thoracic spinal cord presumed to be sarcoid and review the clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis associated with this rare disease.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2012
The handgrip strength test as a measure of function in breast cancer survivors: relationship to cancer-related symptoms and physical and physiologic parameters.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of muscular strength, as measured by the handgrip strength (HGS) test, with pain, fitness, fatigue, mood, and autonomic nervous system function in breast cancer survivors. ⋯ These results suggest that the HGS test might be an important correlate of health in breast cancer survivors. This finding suggests that HGS could be recommended as an adjuvant method of evaluation, which may help with efficiency of clinical practice. Further research on breast cancer patients is needed to confirm or refute these findings.