Measurements of temporal aspects of gait obtained with a multimemory stopwatch in persons with gait impairments.

Study Design: Repeated measures of 14 temporal factors of gait obtained with a multimemory stopwatch from a variety of subjects with locomotor impairments.

Objectives: To estimate the intratester and intertester reliability of 14 temporal factors of gait by using a multimemory stopwatch; to compare novice and expert clinicians at mastery of making these temporal measurements.

Background: Temporal gait measures are useful for describing the effectiveness of treatment interventions in patients with locomotor impairments.

Does intraoperative hetastarch administration increase blood loss and transfusion requirements after cardiac surgery?

Unlabelled: Hetastarch is used for intravascular volume expansion in cardiac surgery. Studies show conflicting effects of intraoperative hetastarch administration on postoperative bleeding. Hetastarch was routinely used for volume expansion during cardiovascular surgeries at our institution until its use was discontinued intraoperatively.

Improved retention of the EMS activation component (EMSAC) in adult CPR education.

This study was undertaken to determine whether using a model-telephone to simulate the emergency medical services activation component (EMSAC) during adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training practice would lead to better retention of this component during end-of-class assessment. In a prospective randomized manner, 233 medical professionals and lay-persons taking American Heart Association (AHA) CPR classes were evaluated for EMSAC retention during CPR skills performance at the end of class. During the assessment correct versus incorrect activation of EMS was noted.

Preoperative evaluation of the pulmonary patient undergoing nonpulmonary surgery.

As the human population continues to live longer, patients with chronic pulmonary disease are increasingly presenting for surgical treatment. The influences of general anesthesia and an operative procedure are well known to negatively impact pulmonary gas exchange. Pulmonary-compromised patients are at high risk for the development of perioperative complications as a consequence of not only their pulmonary disease but of associated comorbid disease processes.

Lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclination of asymptomatic adults.

Background And Purpose: We examined the association between pelvic inclination and lumbar lordosis during relaxed standing and eight variables thought to contribute to lordosis.

Subjects: Ninety subjects (45 men, 45 women) without back pain or a history of surgery were examined. The mean age was 54.

Reliability of measurements of lumbar spine sagittal mobility obtained with the flexible curve.

Presently, there is no available scientific information that examines the interchangeability of tangent and trigonometric methods used to calculate measurements of sagittal mobility of the lumbar spine obtained with a flexible curve. Repeated measurements of the lumbar curvature were made with a flexible curve by using a standardized protocol on 10 healthy volunteers under three conditions: 1) standing, 2) sitting with maximum trunk forward bending, and 3) lying prone with maximum backward bending. Measurements were made by a team of two physical therapists working together; one therapist instructed the subject, and the other therapist performed the measurement.

Reliability of goniometric measurements of active arm elevation in the scapular plane obtained in a clinical setting.

Our purpose was to determine the intratester and intertester reliability of measurements of both scapular and glenohumeral rotation during active arm elevation in the scapular plane with a new device, the scapulohumeral goniometer (SHG). Ten physical therapists, with 1 to 29 years of clinical experience, obtained repeated measurements on 45 subjects who were 27 to 82 years old. All subjects were tested in a uniform standing position with the handheld SHG, which was positioned over the subject's scapula and posterior shoulder according to operationally defined landmarks.

Finger-movement tracking scores in healthy subjects.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of age, sex, and hand preference on precise control of voluntary movement at the index finger metacarpophalangeal joint in able-bodied volunteers. An electrogoniometer was attached to this joint and connected to a computer. The computer screen displayed a sine wave target that each subject attempted to track with careful extension and flexion finger movements.

Reliability of goniometric measurements and visual estimates of ankle joint active range of motion obtained in a clinical setting.

We examined intratester and intertester reliability for goniometric measurements of ankle dorsiflexion (ADF) and ankle plantar flexion (APF) active range of motion (AROM). Parallel-forms intratester reliability for ankle AROM measurements obtained by the universal goniometer (UG) and by visual estimation (VE) and intertester reliability for VE of ADF and APF were examined. Repeated measurements were obtained on 38 patients with orthopedic problems by 10 physical therapists in a clinical setting.

Movement dysfunction following central nervous system lesions: a problem of neurologic or muscular impairment?

In most of the scientific literature that discusses the common problem of resistance to passive movement in patients with central nervous system lesions, this clinical problem is ascribed to a mechanism involving uninhibited neural activity. This article reviews the literature related to an alternative explanation of stiffness in such patients, an explanation involving the mechanical orientation of myosin crossbridges. The conventional view of the crossbridge is that it is detached from actin filaments during the relaxed state of muscle.

Reliability of measuring forward head posture in a clinical setting.

We believe there is a need to identify a practical method for determining objective measurement of forward head posture. In our study, we determined the within-tester and between-tester reliabilities for clinical measurements of static, sitting, forward head posture using the cervical range of motion (CROM) instrument. Repeated measurements were made using a standardized protocol on 40 patients seated in a standardized position.

Normal range of motion of the cervical spine: an initial goniometric study.

The purposes of this study were (1) to determine normal values for cervical active range of motion (AROM) obtained with a "cervical-range-of-motion" (CROM) instrument on healthy subjects whose ages spanned 9 decades, (2) to determine whether age and gender affect six cervical AROMs, and (3) to examine the intratester and intertester reliability of measurements obtained. Measurements were made on 337 subjects (171 females and 166 males) whose ages ranged from 11 to 97 years. Measurements were taken by five physical therapists with 7 to 30 years of clinical and teaching experience.

Reliability of measurements of cervical spine range of motion--comparison of three methods.

To determine reliabilities within and between persons measuring cervical active range of motion (AROM) three methods were examined: use of a cervical-range-of-motion (CROM) instrument, use of a universal goniometer (UG), and visual estimation (VE). Measurements were made on 60 patients with orthopedic disorders of the cervical spine who were divided into three groups of 20 subjects each. All subjects were tested in a standardized seated position using operationally defined goniometric placements and nongoniometric estimation techniques.