Dietary calcium intake in 18-year-old women: comparison with recommended daily intake and dietary energy intake

Average dietary calcium intake and energy intake of 113 18-year-old university students in Western Australia was examined Four-day, weighted diet records, including 1 weekend day, were completed by the subjects A large proportion of the students (68%) had an average daily calcium consumption below the 800 mg recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia A strong positive association was also found between dietary calcium and dietary energy intakes Many young women on self-imposed energy reduction diets are at risk of a dietary calcium intake deficit at a tune when it should be enhanced These findings are significant for nursing practice as they indicate the need for further health education concerning the importance of dietary calcium in young women     

Community Reintegration in Rehabilitated South Indian Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

Samuelkamaleshkumar S, Radhika S, Cherian B, Elango A, Winrose W, Suhany BT, Prakash MH. Community reintegration in rehabilitated South Indian persons with spinal cord injury.

Objectives

To explore community reintegration in rehabilitated South Indian persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the level of community reintegration based on demographic variables.

Design

Survey.

Setting

Rehabilitation center of a tertiary care university teaching hospital.

Participants

Community-dwelling persons with SCI (N=104).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART).

Results

The mean scores for each CHART domain were physical independence 98±5, social Integration 96±11, cognitive independence 92±17, occupation 70±34, mobility 65±18, and economic self sufficiency 53±40. Demographic variables showed no statistically significant difference with any of the CHART domains except for age and mobility, level of education, and social integration.

Conclusions

Persons with SCI in rural South India who have completed comprehensive, mostly self-financed, rehabilitation with an emphasis on achieving functional ambulation, family support, and self-employment and who attend a regular annual follow-up show a high level of community reintegration in physical independence, social integration, and cognitive independence. CHART scores in the domains of occupation, mobility, and economic self-sufficiency showed lower levels of community reintegration.     

Nigerian physiotherapists’ perceptions of their profession’s prestige and implications

This study investigated Nigerian physiotherapists’ perceived prestige of their profession relative to 11 selected occupations and how their perception was influenced by selected sociodemographics. A total of 368 copies of a questionnaire adapted from a previous study were sent to registered physiotherapists working in Nigeria as of May 2007. Data were analysed using Chi-square, Kendall’s W, and multidimensional scaling analysis. Two hundred sixty copies of the questionnaire were completed and returned (70.7% response rate). Respondents included 161 men (62%) and 99 women (38%). Most of them (78.5%) were aged between 20 years and 39 years and were bachelor degree holders (67.2%). Physiotherapy was ranked second on level of education, third on usefulness to the society, fifth on level of responsibility, sixth on social standing, and seventh on income. Physiotherapy was rated fifth overall. The only sociodemographic variable that significantly influenced overall perceived occupational prestige of physiotherapy was type of workplace. Physiotherapists in Nigeria perceived their profession as having moderate occupational prestige, placing it in the fifth position below accountant, lawyer, doctor, and engineer. Physiotherapists in Nigeria need to work hard on improving the prestige standing of their profession.     

Hyperactive stretch reflexes, co-contraction, and muscle weakness in children with cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to examine the repeatability of and relationships among spasticity, co-contraction of agonist–antagonist, and muscle strength in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Eight children with spastic diplegic CP (five males, three females; Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] Levels I–III; mean age 10y 2mo [SD 2y 9mo], range 6–13y) and nine children in a comparison group (six males, three females; mean age 8y 10mo [SD 2y 4mo], range 6y to 12y 6mo) were assessed twice to examine repeatability of Composite Spasticity Scale, soleus stretch reflexes, electromyography (EMG) co-contraction ratio, and torque recorded during maximal isometric voluntary contraction of ankle dorsiflexors and plantarflexors. Sixty-one children with spastic CP, (54 diplegic, seven hemiplegic; 32 males, 29 females; GMFCS levels I–III; mean age 10y 8mo [SD 2y 9mo], range 6–15y) were then assessed to delineate possible correlations among these measures. Intraclass correlation coefficients (0.78–0.97) showed high data repeatability in both groups. Children with spastic CP demonstrated significantly larger soleus stretch reflex/M-response areas smaller torques, but larger EMG co-contraction ratios during both voluntary dorsiflexion and plantarflexion (all p <0.05). Children with spastic CP who had larger soleus stretch reflex/M-response areas demonstrated larger plantarflexion co-contraction ratio ( r = 0.28), and produced smaller plantarflexion and dorsiflexion torques ( r = –0.48 and –0.27 respectively). However, no correlation was noted between soleus stretch reflex and clinical spasticity. Our findings demonstrated that hyperactive soleus stretch reflex affected torque production of ankle muscles. Moreover, the severity of spasticity may not be fully described by either stretch reflex or tone measure alone.     

Respiratory characteristics of individuals with non‐specific low back pain: A cross‐sectional study

Non‐specific low back pain (NS‐LBP) is known to cause respiratory dysfunction. In this study, we investigated alterations in breathing, respiratory strength and endurance, core stability, diaphragm mobility, and chest expansion among patients with NS‐LBP and healthy individuals. The specific aim of the study was to correlate between respiratory function and other variables among NS‐LBP patients. Thirty four patients with NS‐LBP were matched with 34 healthy participants before undergoing total faulty breathing scale, spirometer, respiratory pressure meter, chest expansion, ultrasound, and pressure biofeedback measurements. There were signs of faulty breathing in the NS‐LBP patients when compared to the healthy participants. Diaphragmatic mobility and respiratory muscle endurance were lower in the NS‐LBP group. Chest expansion exhibited a significant decrease at the level of the fourth intercostal space in the NS‐LBP group, but respiratory muscle strength and core stability were not significant between the two groups. Positive correlations were found to be fairly significant regarding respiratory muscle strength. The findings of this study indicated altered respiratory characteristics in the NS‐LBP patients, and suggested that they would improve through respiratory exercises.     

Factors shaping e‐feedback utilization following electronic Objective Structured Clinical Examinations

The development of student‐practitioners' practical clinical skills is essential in health professional education. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations are central to the assessment of students performing clinical procedures on simulated patients (actors). While feedback is considered core to learning providing timely, individualised student OSCE feedback is difficult. This study explored the perceptions of students about the multiple factors which shape the utility of e‐feedback following an electronic Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, which utilized iPad and specialised software. The e‐feedback was trialled in four courses within occupational therapy and physiotherapy pre‐professional programs with a cohort of 204 students. Evaluation of student perceptions about feedback was collected using two surveys and eight focus groups. This data showed three factors shaped perceptions of the utility of e‐ Objective Structured Clinical Examinations feedback: 1) timely accessibility within one day of the assessment, 2) feedback demonstrating examiners' academic literacy and 3) feedback orientated to ways of improving future performance of clinical skills. The study found training in the provision of feedback using IPads and software is needed for examiners to ensure e‐feedback meets students' needs for specific, future‐oriented e‐feedback and institutional requirements for justification of grades.