American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
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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.
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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.
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Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Aug 2012
Tracheostomy decannulation and cough peak flows in patients with neuromuscular weakness.
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between cough peak flows (CPFs) before and after tracheostomy tube removal (decannulation) in patients with neuromuscular respiratory muscle weakness. ⋯ Our study suggests that assisted coughing with a capped tracheostomy tube in place can result in higher flows than removing the tube and relying on spontaneous cough alone. Postdecannulation CPF measured at the mouth can be predicted to be at least 34.5 l/min greater than predecannulation values, which may thereby lower the threshold of the CPF indicated for safe decannulation.
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Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Aug 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialBlind or ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections and short-term response in subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, prospective study.
The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of blind vs. ultrasonography-guided corticosteroid injections in subacromial impingement syndrome and determine the correlation between accuracy of the injection location and clinical outcome. ⋯ Blind injections performed in the subacromial region by experienced individuals were reliably accurate and could therefore be given in daily routines. Corticosteroid injections in the subacromial region were very effective in improving the pain and functional status of patients with subacromial impingement syndrome during the short-term follow-up.
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Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Aug 2012
ReviewMind-body interventions for treatment of phantom limb pain in persons with amputation.
Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a significant source of chronic pain in most persons with amputation at some time in their clinical course. Pharmacologic therapies for this condition are often only moderately effective and may produce unwanted adverse effects. There is growing empirical evidence of the therapeutic effectiveness of mind-body therapies for the relief of chronic pain; therefore, an exploration of their role in relieving amputation-related chronic pain is warranted. ⋯ Nevertheless, the weight of existing findings indicates that a mind-body approach to PLP pain management is promising and that specific methods may offer either temporary or long-term relief, either alone or in combination with conventional therapies. The authors discuss the potential for usefulness of specific mind-body therapies and the relevance of their mechanisms of action to those of PLP, including targeting cortical reorganization, autonomic nervous system deregulation, stress management, coping ability, and quality-of-life. The authors recommend more and better quality research exploring the efficacy and mechanisms of action.