Journal of Ecophysiology and Occupational Health

Tanavi S. Patel ¹, Suraj Kanase ²

Affiliations
1 Intern, Krishna College of Physiotherapy, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences “Deemed to be” University, Karad – 415110, Maharashtra, IN
2 Associate Professor, Department of Neurosciences, Krishna College of Physiotherapy, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences “Deemed to be” University, Karad – 415110, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

Purpose: Post-stroke spasticity may be maladaptive and interfere with an individual’s ability to perform functionally useful movement. However studies investigating how the spasticity relates to motor recovery are rare. Reducing the limb spasticity will help post stroke individuals function better at the activities of daily living. There is a paucity of literature showing the effect of task oriented approach on spasticity when compared to the standard conventional approach. Hence, there is a need to find out the effect of task oriented training on spasticity in post stroke individuals. Methods: A comparative study with a study design of Randomised Clinical Trial (RCT) was conducted among 60 post stroke individuals (30 post stroke individuals in group A and Group B respectively). Group A was given a task oriented approach for managing the spasticity and group B was given conventional treatment along with a task oriented approach to manage the spasticity. The treatment protocol for both the groups lasted for 6 weeks (4 days a week). Results: The mean and standard deviation on the Modified Ashworth Scale of Group A and Group B at baseline is 3.46 ± 0.68 and 3.56 ± 0.72 respectively which shows no significance (p value = 0.2925 and t value = 0.5493). The mean and standard deviation of Group A and Group B at 6 weeks is 2.4 ± 1.04 and 1.33 ± 1.1 respectively which is significant (p value = 0.0003, t value = 3.877.) Conclusion: It can be concluded that task oriented training alone is effective in acute stroke survivors, but in chronic stroke survivors it is not remarkably efficacious and requires a combined approach of task oriented training along with conventional management for finer outcomes.

Keywords

Activities of Daily Living, Spasticity, Stroke, Task Oriented Approach.

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Gandhali Situt ¹, Suraj Kanase ²

Affiliations
1 Intern, Krishna College of Physiotherapy, Deemed to be University, Karad (Malkapur) − 415539, Maharashtra, IN
2 Department of Neurosciences, Krishna College of Physiotherapy, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Deemed to be University, Karad (Malkapur) − 415539, Maharashtra, IN

Abstract

The release of hormones like relaxin and estrogen occur during the gestational period and the fetal growth takes place which expands the uterus resulting in increased pressure against the abdominal wall. This causes stretching of the connective tissue, linea alba and as the weeks proceed the fetal growth occurs more and more rapidly resulting in further stretching of the connective tissue and the abdominal muscles causing an eventual decrease contraction strength weakening of muscles and can lead to a separation and widening of the space between the two rectus abdomen is muscles known as Diastasis of Recti Abdominis Muscles (DRAM). Diastasis recti is thus most common during pregnancy having a prevalence of 100% at gestational week 35 and can lead to various secondary problems like low back pain, shallow breathing and pelvic region pain. Though it is the most commonly occurring condition, it might not be painful in most cases initially and thus goes unnoticed and untreated. Purpose of the study was to compare the effects of NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Kinesiotaping along with core stabilization exercises on diastasis recti in postnatal women, in terms of inter recti distance, abdominal muscle strength and low back pain. A total of 40 women with significant diastasis recti, 6 weeks postnatal, participated in the study. They were equally divided with random selection of 20 subjects in two groups each, Group A was treated with NMES and Group B received Kinesiotaping and both the groups in addition received core stabilization exercises. The results revealed very significant improvement in both the groups in all the measured parameters, (p<0.05). However, the intergroup comparisons showed significant improvement in all the measured parameters in group A (p<0.05). Thus, the study concluded that NMES along with core stabilization exercises is effective in recovery of diastasis recti and increasing abdominal muscle strengthas well as improvement in its complications like low back pain.

Keywords

Core Stabilization Exercises, Diastasis Recti, Inter Recti Distance, Kinesiotaping, Low Back Pain, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation.

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