Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Manual hyperinflation--effects on respiratory parameters.
Manual hyperinflation (MH) of the lungs is commonly used by physiotherapists in the treatment of intubated mechanically ventilated patients with the aim of increasing alveolar oxygenation, reversing atelectasis or mobilizing pulmonary secretions. However, the efficacy of MH, used in isolation, has not been clearly established. ⋯ MH performed in the stable ventilated patient significantly increased CL and PaO2:FIO2 and decreased (A-a)PO2, but the clinical significance of this improvement is unclear. Further investigations are required to validate the findings of this study as well as to determine the therapeutic value of MH on patient outcome.
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Review Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Intratester and intertester reliability and criterion validity of the parallelogram and universal goniometers for active knee flexion in healthy subjects.
A new parallelogram goniometer was designed by the Rehabilitation Centre of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group in 1983. The advantage of using such a goniometer is that the clinician is not required to estimate the joint axis of rotation when taking a measurement. The parallelogram goniometer has obtained a good intratester and intertester reliability when measuring active range of motion of hip abduction on eight individuals with hip pathologies. However, the validity of the parallelogram goniometer has not been examined. The purposes of this study were to examine the intratester and intertester reliability and the criterion validity of the parallelogram and universal goniometers for active knee flexion on healthy individuals. ⋯ The results of this study have clinical importance. The use of the parallelogram goniometer was found to be as reliable and valid as the universal goniometer when measuring active knee flexion. However, the parallelogram goniometer offered clinicians the advantages of obtaining precise angular measurements with fewer adjustments, and a faster application technique. Further studies on the parallelogram goniometer are necessary among individuals presenting with altered range of motion at different joints.
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Both sensory distribution charts and the unaffected side, are used as reference points in the assessment of cutaneous innervation. Sensory nerve conduction studies, in particular, often use comparison between sides. However, remarkable differences can be found between various sensory innervation maps, and no evidence was found in the literature for the assumption that the pattern of cutaneous sensory distribution of the peripheral nerves between the left and right limbs is symmetrical. ⋯ The cutaneous innervation of all peripheral nerves supplying the fingers may differ from the innervation patterns described in the various distribution charts. Prudence is called for when applying sensory distribution charts as absolute references for the assessment of cutaneous sensation in patients. Caution should also be applied when comparing one hand with the other when assessing the cutaneous innervation of the fingers.