Revista Iberoamericana de Fisioterapia y Kinesiología最新文献

We are currently living an interesting stage in all the subjects related with Balneology and Hydrotherapy, terms that the nonspecialists usually confuse. It is the aim of this work to differentiate them.

This study describes how the physical therapy opens the way to new hydrotherapy centers or SPAs in the cities. This is a challenge as it implies defending one of our competencies, that is, using the hydrotherapy means for treatment in the health setting and preventing unqualified professional practice.

Specifically we are describing our experience, that of a Spa that counts on physiotherapists in its staff. We have designed a cross-sectional, descriptive work or cut off that aims to obtain data on the set of individuals who requested the services of physical therapy as well as the reason for consultation and their satisfaction after completing the proposed intervention of their physiotherapist.

During the 6-month study (January-June 2007), a total of 276 clients were recorded in the SPA, 57 (20.6 %) of whom came to the center due to a health problem. The most frequent reason for consultation was suffering some type of painful and/or inflammatory condition (76.32 %).

Regarding client satisfaction after completing the intervention, it was considered positive in most of the cases. Thus, and based on the results obtained, we can predict that physical therapy could make its way within these centers, many of which are used for esthetics and have true hotbeds of unqualified professionals.

Introduction

Adaptation to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is going to involve a deep restructuring of university teaching regarding curriculum design, learning methodologies and assessment models (“Competences”). The aim of this present study is to evaluate and present the quantitative and qualitative results of a new learning methodology and assessment system based on active learning: the “Essentials” Program.

Material and method

A cross-sectional, descriptive study based on the analysis of: a) results achieved by the students in the February, June and September exams from year 03-04 to year 05-06; b) the students’ opinion obtained from an anonymous self-reported questionnaire.

Results

a) A quantitative analysis (n = 653): 69.5% passed the nuclear contents and 71.1 %of them passed the course. The results obtained with the “Essentials” Program are independent of the course type and course calendar (p < 0.05). b) Qualitative analysis (n = 51): 94.1% consider that the didactic methodology makes learning easier and helps them arrange and plan their studies; 80.4 % indicate that the assessment system is in better keeping with their individual conditions (they grade it 7.1 on a 10-point scale).

Conclusions

The “Essentials” Program makes the learning process easier. This means a high percentage of students who passed (over 70 %) and high satisfaction. The academic results obtained following this methodology does not depend on the kind of subject or the official examination time.

We present a case of Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber's syndrome in a 16-year-old female teenager who has lymphedemas in the lower limbs that has been worsening, causing pain, lack of mobility and difficulty in walking. Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber's syndrome is a neurocutaneous syndrome with vascular involvement and tissue hardening.

Introduction

Dementia is a chronic and neurodegenerative disease responsible for a progressive decline of cognition and physical capacity.

Objective

To verify the effectiviness of three months of physiotherapy intervention on cognitive functions and balance of institutionilized elderly people with dementia.

Patients and methods

This study has comprised thirty subjects, divided in two groups: EG (experimental group) and CG (control group). EG was composed by 15 participants with mean age of 71,6 ± 8,5 years and scholarity of 4,7 ± 4,2 years. CG wasformed by 15 subjects with mean age of 78,5 ± 7,6 years and scholarity of2,2 ± 1,8years. The sample was evaluated by means ofthe following instruments: Mini-Mental State Examination, Semantic Verbal Fluency test, Clock Drawing test, Berg Balance Scale and Timed Get Up and Go test. The statistical procedures were done by means of Multivariate Analisis ofVariance (MANOVA), with significance of 5 % (p < 0,05).

Results

The results has shown a heterogeneity of both groups related to age (F = 0,2, p < 0,05) and scholarity (F = 2,6,p < 0,05). MANOVA pointed beneficts of physiotherapy on balance (F = 7,3, p < 0,01) but not on cognitive functions (F = 0,3, p > 0,05).

Conclusions

Three months of physiotherapy were effective to improuve physical capacity of institucionilized elderly people with dementia. Neverthless, it was not able to minimize cognitive decline commonly seen on dementia. The question if a prolonged intervention could propitiate cognitive beneficts remains, specially in a more homogeneous groups.

Introduction

In spite of contradict techniques of traditional rehabilitation where passive exercises are begun in order to go to the active ones later, this protocol is expected to inmobilize selectively the most proximal articulations permiting an active mobilization of the distal articulation.

Material and method

we have documented the tendinous injuries treated in our centre by immediate active mobilization and we have checked the results with a controlled group followed by immediate passive mobilization.

Conclusions

the use of this technique,allows us to solve three problems simultaneously. a) To solve the articular weakness and soft tissues; b) to change the active mobility pattern becoming more productive, and c) tTo mobilize the chronic oedema.

When it is tried to reduce the stress of an articulation through the use of fixed orthosis, we are provoking a weakness of the passive mobilization which cannot be treated with passive mobilizations. Only negative effectshave been researched, also a better passive movement which does not correspond with a better active mobility. The abnormal patterns of movement provoke changes at the somesthetic cortex level. The recovery of the mobility cover a mechanic rehabilitation and normal patterns of movement rehabilitation at the cortex level.

Using this methodology allows us to create movement patterns wanted without the appearance of compensatory movements.