Long-term follow-up of patients with nonparalytic poliomyelitis

OBJECTIVE: To examine patients with previous nonparalytic poliomyelitis in search of muscle atrophy, weakness, and other late symptoms of poliomyelitis. DESIGN: A mailed questionnaire followed up with neurologic and neurophysiologic examinations of respondents who reported symptoms possibly related to the late sequelae of polio. SETTING: Neurology department at a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine of 47 patients diagnosed with nonparalytic poliomyelitis and hospitalized at a Norwegian hospital between 1950 and 1954, during the Norwegian polio epidemic. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Electromyography to determine function of the anterior tibialis, vastus lateralis, and biceps brachii muscles; nerve conduction studies of the sural, peroneal, and tibial nerves; motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, and compound muscle and sensory nerve action potentials, and distal latencies. RESULTS: Twenty-five of 47 patients (53.2%) reported symptoms possibly related to the late sequelae of poliomyelitis. Eight of 20 examined symptomatic patients had normal neurologic and neurophysiologic findings, whereas 9 others had other medical conditions that could explain the symptoms. Three patients (6.7%) had neurologic and neurophysiologic findings and development of symptoms consistent with motoneuron damage. CONCLUSION: Some nonparalytic patients may have subclinical acute motoneuron damage with subsequent development and manifestation of motor weakness and neuromuscular symptoms many years later. These symptoms should be considered a differential diagnosis in patients who have a history of nonparalytic poliomyelitis.     

Myofascial trigger point syndromes: an approach to management

The treatment of myofascial trigger point (TP) pain syndromes is not difficult once the source of the problem has been determined. Whereas many modalities may be used, two of the most effective are spray-and-stretch and TP injection. These can be followed by deep massage, specific, manual resistive exercises, and an exercise program which the patient can follow at home. The goal of management is to inactivate the TPs and to restore shortened and stretch resistant muscles to their full range of motion. A number of such syndromes are discussed in terms of recognition and management.     

Occupational therapy and the postpolio syndrome

Approximately 75,000 polio survivors are experiencing new weakness, pain, and fatigue that are related to their initial disease. These problems affect their functional ability; therefore, they are of concern to occupational therapists. Overwork of a weakened neuromuscular system is believed to be the cause of these late symptoms. This article reviews current writings on the late effects of poliomyelitis. An understanding of the symptoms, causality, and psychosocial ramifications of this phenomenon facilitates effective occupational therapy intervention. Guidelines for occupational therapy assessment and treatment are included.     

运动在防治骨质疏松症中的应用

运动疗法在骨质疏松症非药物干预中的有益作用及其机制,运动方式和运动强度对骨质疏松症的防治作用,根据对骨质疏松症危险因素的评估、骨密度测定和运动能力的评定,将骨质疏松症分为3组。针对3组的特点制定不同的运动疗法方案。     

Exercise in Muscle Pain Disorders

Muscle pain disorders range from local or regional (myofascial pain) to widespread (fibromyalgia). Many people with muscle pain have decreased fitness. Exercise intolerance is a common feature as well, and yet exercise plays an important role in the treatment of muscle pain disorders. Results of studies have shown repeatedly, via multiple modes and methods of delivery, that exercise is at least as effective as the best pharmacologic treatments. An understanding by clinicians and their patients of the unique benefits of a carefully crafted exercise program is one step in the successful management of these often frustrating muscle pain disorders.     

Abstracts: AAOMPT Conference, 2006

Abstract

This case report describes the effectiveness of mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT) in the management of a patient referred with a diagnosis of shoulder tendonitis. The patient was a 56-year-old male with a 3-month history of left anterior shoulder pain. Upon initial assessment, he presented with a positive open-can test, lift-off test, and Hawkins–Kennedy impingement test. A MDT assessment quickly ruled out cervical involvement and identified a loss of end-range shoulder mobility and pain during active shoulder movement. After the patient underwent a repeated movement examination and treatment based on responses to end-range movements over three visits, his shoulder pain was abolished and motion was fully restored. Despite having positive rotator cuff and impingement signs, this patient was effectively treated with repeated end-range movements over a short period of 2 weeks. This case demonstrates that treatment based on MDT sub-classification principles may be an effective way to manage shoulder pain as it is in the spine.     

Pain in patients with HIV infection: issues for the new millennium

Pain is a common problem in people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly when they develop the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Until recently AIDS was a progressive fatal illness with a short prognosis, so the assessment and treatment of AIDS-related pain was logically based on the approach taken for the management of cancer pain. The cancer pain paradigm may no longer be appropriate for pain in patients with HIV infection, however, because the natural history of HIV disease has been transformed into a chronic illness by highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), available since the late 1990s. In resource-poor countries of the Asia Pacific region where access to HAART is limited, the cancer pain paradigm may still be relevant. In this paper, the clinical characteristics of pain in HIV disease are described, along with current approaches to assessment and treatment. These are compared and contrasted with the characteristics, assessment and treatment of cancer pain. Data are presented which emphasize these similarities and differences, and highlight the need for a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach to managing pain in HIV disease, now a chronic illness. There is a great need for more research on HIV-related pain in the HAART era.     

Philosophy,knowledge and theory in the assessment of pain

Pain is generally accepted to be an unpleasant sensory experience that can affect patients' quality of life if not addressed adequately. Pain assessment is a key aspect in the nursing management and delivery of care within the clinical environment. Effective pain management is thus reliant on a comprehensive assessment of the patient and his/her pain. It is though the assessment process that the skilled nurse utilizes many aspects of knowledge including that of the underlying pathophysiology, pharmacological knowledge of the drugs available for use, and knowledge of the patient being assessed. The use of these varying types of knowledge is essential when caring for a variety of patients. To ensure pain assessment is based on sound judgement, effective nurses will utilize their knowledge acquired through different sources, including any relevant theories or research, and their understanding of the philosophical dimensions of pain and its treatment. The ideology behind effective pain assessment and pain management is to achieve a pain-free status whenever possible. Although this sets the nurse a very difficult challenge, the aim is to ensure that the patient achieves the best possible treatment.     

Exercise therapy for shoulder pain aimed at restoring neuromuscular control: a randomized comparative clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of exercise therapy aimed at restoring neuromuscular control mechanisms at the shoulder with other conservative interventions for the treatment of chronic shoulder pain with and without accompanying stiffness. DESIGN: Randomized control trial. Patients: A total of 138 volunteers with unilateral shoulder pain of local mechanical origin. METHODS: Subjects were randomly allocated to receive exercise therapy aimed at restoring dynamic stabilizing mechanisms and muscle co-ordination at the shoulder; or subacromial corticosteroid injection; or a combination of physical modalities and range of motion exercises. Outcome measurements of pain intensity, functional impairment, active range of motion, isometric muscle force and self-assessed improvement were taken at baseline and after 5 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: The mean/median changes in all outcome measurements at 5 weeks indicated that subjects in each treatment group, improved significantly with no difference between the treatment groups. Comparison with an earlier no-treatment trial would suggest that this improvement is greater than that which could be expected by natural recovery. CONCLUSION: Exercise therapy aimed at restoring neuromuscular control, corticosteroid injection and multiple physical modalities and range of motion exercises are equally effective in the short-term treatment of shoulder pain, with exercise therapy and corticosteroid injection being less costly to administer.     

Dynamic water exercise in individuals with late poliomyelitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the specific effects of general dynamic water exercise in individuals with late effects of poliomyelitis. DESIGN: Before-after tests. SETTING: A university hospital department. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight individuals with late effects of polio, 15 assigned to the training group (TG) and 13 to the control group (CG). INTERVENTION: The TG completed a 40-minute general fitness training session in warm water twice weekly. Assessment instruments included the bicycle ergometer test, isokinetic muscle strength, a 30-meter walk indoors, Berg balance scale, a pain drawing, a visual analog scale, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak load, peak work load, peak oxygen uptake, peak heart rate (HR), muscle function in knee extensors and flexors, and pain dimension of the NHP. RESULTS: The average training period was 5 months; compliance was 75% (range, 55-98). No negative effects were seen. The exercise did not influence the peak work load, peak oxygen uptake, or muscle function in knee extensors compared with the controls. However, a decreased HR at the same individual work load was seen, as well as a significantly lower distress in the dimension pain of the NHP. Qualitative aspects such as increased well-being, pain relief, and increased physical fitness were reported. CONCLUSIONS: A program of nonswimming dynamic exercises in heated water has a positive impact on individuals with late effects of polio, with a decreased HR at exercise, less pain, and a subjective positive experience. The program was well tolerated (no adverse effects were reported) and can be recommended for this group of individuals.     

Pain Management in Older Adults

Background

Chronic pain is prevalent among older adults but is underrecognized and undertreated. The approach to pain assessment and management in older adults requires an understanding of the physiology of aging, validated assessment tools, and common pain presentations among older adults.

Objective

To identify the overall principles of pain management in older adults with a specific focus on common painful conditions and approaches to pharmacologic treatment.

Methods

We searched PubMed for common pain presentations in older adults with heart failure, end-stage renal disease, dementia, frailty, and cancer. We also reviewed guidelines for pain management. Our review encompassed 2 guidelines, 10 original studies, and 22 review articles published from 2000 to the present. This review does not discuss nonpharmacologic treatments of pain.

Results

Clinical guidelines support the use of opioids in persistent nonmalignant pain. Opioids should be used in patients with moderate or severe pain or pain not otherwise controlled but with careful attention to potential toxic effects and half-life. In addition, clinical practice guidelines recommend use of oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with extreme caution and for defined, limited periods.

Conclusion

An understanding of the basics of pain pathophysiology, assessment, pharmacologic management, and a familiarity with common pain presentations will allow clinicians to effectively manage pain for older adults.     

Pain management in gout

Gout is currently the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in men. The overall incidence of gout has increased rapidly in the past 20 years. Clinicians in all fields are likely to experience a patient with acute gout in their career. Uncontrolled gout and hyperuricemia can lead to joint destruction and significant morbidity. Fortunately, these diseases can be readily treated and long-term sequelae can be prevented. Recent advances in understanding the role of the innate immune system in acute gout have provided new treatment options. This article addresses the epidemiology, inflammatory pathophysiology, pain management techniques (including recent advances), and treatment of the underlying disease itself.     

Pain Management Needs Assessment: A Survey of Radiation Therapists at a Large Academic Comprehensive Cancer Centre

ObjectiveTo determine the knowledge of pain management among the radiation therapists (RTs) at the Odette Cancer Centre (OCC) to aid in the development of a formalized education strategy.MethodsA needs assessment survey comprising eight topics pertaining to pain management was distributed to 130 RTs at the OCC. Survey topics were ranked using a 4-point Likert scale based on preference for further education, familiarity with the topic, and relevance to practice.ResultsRTs rated topics pertaining to the undertreatment, pathophysiology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of pain as the most relevant topics requiring further education. RTs were most unfamiliar with topics concerning opioids and addiction, but did not find a need for further education. They also felt that breakthrough cancer pain was the most significant topic for further education.ConclusionImplementation of an educational intervention for RTs to more effectively and efficiently address pain management for their patient population is needed. Topics of most clinical relevance include: undertreatment of pain, pathophysiology of pain, assessment and diagnosis of acute and chronic pain as well as its treatment.     

Results of a survey of 201 polio survivors

We present the results of a survey on the late effects of poliomyelitis in 201 persons. The most common new problems were fatigue, weakness in previously affected and unaffected muscles, muscle pain, and joint pain. The median time from poliomyelitis to onset of new problems ranged from 30 to 40 years. Factors at onset of polio most strongly associated with development of these late effects of polio were (1) hospitalization (P less than 0.00001), (2) age greater than 10 years (P less than 0.00001), (3) ventilator use (P less than 0.0029), and (4) paralytic involvement of all four limbs (P less than 0.0240). The differential diagnosis of these new problems, implications for treatment, and areas for future research are discussed.     

Acute MI: analysing health status and setting immediate priorities

This article uses a case study approach to demonstrate how awareness of recent research findings and a sound understanding of pathophysiology enable the nurse to become an effective practitioner. A scenario is described in which the nurse is faced with a man admitted to the coronary care unit with a diagnosis of suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Through analysis of the patient's health status, with frequent reference to pathophysiology, the nurse can perform an accurate nursing assessment and so determine immediate priorities for nursing care. The priority objectives were identified as pain control, management of cardiogenic shock, reperfusion of the myocardium, cardiac monitoring for complications of AMI and the effects of treatment, and management of anxiety. Research-based rationales are provided for all objectives.     

多功能电控训练椅的研制和在脊髓损伤患者康复训练中的应用

自行研制的多功能电控训练椅对76例脊髓损伤患者进行被动运动或抗阻运动,训练4周,目的是加强早期康复训练,防止肌肉萎缩及关节活动异常,促进下肢功能恢复。结果表明,患者在肌容积、肌力、关节活动度和心血管系统功能方面都有较明显的改善,该训练椅设计合理,结构简易,可普及临床和家庭。     

Treating low back pain – Bridging the gap between manual therapy and exercise

As therapists, we often recommend exercise to reduce patients' low-back pain, as well as increase their active range of motion and muscle strength. However, physical therapists face a challenge when recommending exercise to reduce low-back pain because the pain itself often inhibits the patient's ability to exercise or perform activities of daily living. This situation becomes even more challenging if the prescribed exercise program aggravates the individual's low-back pain. This article discusses a method which provides for the effective treatment of low back pain by allowing patients to exercise pain free earlier in the rehabilitation process. The method comprises a unique approach utilizing the following four components simultaneously from the onset of treatment: isometric muscle contraction (IMC); assisted active oscillatory mobilization; end-of-range passive stretch; and mindfulness.