American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Jun 2002
Duchenne muscular dystrophy: prolongation of life by noninvasive ventilation and mechanically assisted coughing.
To quantitate prolongation of survival for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with the use of noninvasive intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) with and without access to a protocol involving mechanically assisted coughing. ⋯ Noninvasive respiratory aids can prolong survival and permit extubation or decannulation of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with no breathing tolerance.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · May 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialBotulinum toxin in upper limb spasticity after acquired brain injury: a randomized trial comparing dilution techniques.
To compare the efficacy of two different volume preparations of the same dose of botulinum toxin-A in relieving spasticity in wrist and finger flexors secondary to acquired brain injury. ⋯ Because this preliminary study found no difference in spasticity reduction between high- and low-volume preparations of a 60-unit dose of botulinum toxin-A, a larger-sample study seems warranted to compare the efficacy of high-volume and low-volume preparations.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Mar 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialCorticosteroid injection vs. nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug and splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome.
To compare the efficacy of local corticosteroid injection to a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug and splinting for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. ⋯ Both splinting combined with the use of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug and steroid injection into the carpal tunnel resulted in significant improvement in carpal tunnel syndrome.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Mar 2002
Comparative StudyEndplate potentials are common to midfiber myofacial trigger points.
To compare the prevalence of motor endplate potentials (noise and spikes) in active central myofascial trigger points, endplate zones, and taut bands of skeletal muscle to assess the specificity of endplate potentials to myofascial trigger points. ⋯ Endplate noise was significantly more prevalent in myofascial trigger points than in sites that were outside of a trigger point but still within the endplate zone. Endplate noise seems to be characteristic of, but is not restricted to, the region of a myofascial trigger point.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Mar 2002
Case ReportsHypothermia associated with autonomic dysreflexia after traumatic spinal cord injury.
Individuals with traumatic upper thoracic and cervical spinal cord injuries are at increased risk for the development of both thermoregulatory dysfunction and autonomic dysreflexia. It is unclear, however, what effect reflex autonomic sympathetic outflow has on thermoregulatory dysfunction during episodes of autonomic dysreflexia. The following case of an individual with C5 tetraplegia and both thermoregulatory dysfunction and autonomic dysreflexia illustrates the profound effects that the autonomic nervous system may have on body temperature in individuals at risk for this complication.