Physical Treatments Journal
Volume:5 Issue: 4, Winter 2016

Thoracic outlet syndrome is one of the most controversial topics in clinical medicine due to its difficult assessment and management. The appropriate treatment depends on accurate and comprehensive assessment. This study aimed to review the current assessments of these patients.
This study was conducted by review of the articles published between 1990 and 2014. Search was conducted by keywords such as assessment, evaluation, outcome measure, tool, thoracic outlet syndrome, non-surgical treatments, conservative, and rehabilitation. In this regard, internal and external databases, including PubMed, OVID, ProQuest, Web of science, Elsevier, OT seeker, SID, Magiran, Iran Medex, Medlib, and Google scholar were used.
The results showed that the most common assessments for these patients in a clinical and research setting included a thorough review of history and subjective evaluation. No specific tools were found for patients with thoracic outlet syndrome but 5 generic outcome measures were suggested to measure the outcome of interventions in these patients.
At present, comprehensive evaluation of patients with thoracic outlet syndrome needs different assessments and using the generic questionnaire that is designed for people with orthopedic conditions. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment tool with a holistic view and specific for patients with thoracic outlet syndrome is necessary.

The traditional view regards limb selection in reaching a hemispheric specialization and an permanent biological phenomenon. However, recent studies have questioned this idea. Instead, they suggest that the task conditions is also an effective factor. The present study includes two experiments in right and left handed children examining the effect of object location as a task condition on limb selection in unilateral reaching.
A total of 84 children aged 5-6 years (48 right handed and 36 left handed) were recruited in this study. Participants performed reaching task in two conditions: 1) Picking a cube from 1 of 7 locations and putting it in a box placed in the front of them at mid-line and 2) Picking a cube from 1 of 7 locations and putting it in a box placed on the opposite location.
Measurement was performed by calculating and recording the percentages of the responses and the data were analyzed using Chi-square test. In both experiments, most of the subjects used their dominant limb in the ipsilateral hemispace (P The findings of this study are against the end-state comfort and in accordance with the hemispheric bias hypothesis. The findings are in line with previous studies that the object location can affect limb selection in unilateral reaching in children.

Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the most serious health problems in infants. Many studies indicate that LBW infants, who survive, may suffer from long- and short-term physical,mental, and social problems. This study aimed to determine the effect of massage therapy on weight gain of LBW neonates.
This study was a randomized clinical trial. A total of 45 LBW neonates were randomly allocated into experiment and control group. Three 15-minute period massages per day were administered in 5 days for the experiment group. Infants’ weights were measured in both groups in 5 all days.
Based on the results, weight gain in the experiment group was significantly higher than the control group.
Massage through tactile-kinetic stimulation result in weight gain of LBW neonates. Massage therapy can be recommended as the special and complementary care for LBW neonates. It can also be effective in prevention of neurologic and developmental problems in infants.

Core stability and leg stiffness are two determinant mechanisms in athletic performance and risk injury. This study aimed to investigate the gender differences and relationship of these two factors in athletes.
In this cross-sectional study, core stability and leg stiffness of 12 male and 12 female Iranian squash players at national level were examined utilizing McGill’s test (including flexor, extensor, left side bridge and right side bridge tests) and hopping test at 2.2 Hz. Total core stability was calculated by integrating its 4 parts and their ratios which were considered as balance criteria of core stability. Leg stiffness was normalized to body mass. Independent t test and Pearson correlation test were performed to investigate the research purposes. All statistical analyses were done using SPSS 16.0.
The core stability in two groups had no significant difference. However, the female group had more unbalanced core stability than male group. Leg stiffness was higher in male group than the female group but this difference disappeared after normalizing body mass. The significant correlation between core stability and leg stiffness was explored (r=0.46, P=0.02).
Although the female participants of the study achieved the same scores as males, their unbalanced core and possible adopted strategy to compensate their less stiff structures, may expose them to greater injury risk. These results are noteworthy for designing training programs and choosing proper movement strategies. The significant, but weak correlation between variables indicates the power transmitting role of core musculature in leg stiffness regulation during hopping that should be considered.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) increases the risk of secondary degenerative changes and subsequent total hip arthroplasty. The postoperative quality of life in patients with DDH who have been born and grown with this disability and adapted to it during the life, is one of the most challenging issues. This study aimed to compare the quality of life of patients with DDH before and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) operation.
This research has a quasi-experimental/interventional design. A group of 20 patients with DDH, who underwent THA operation in Akhtar and Shafaya Hyaiyan hospitals, were evaluated before operation and 6 months after it using SF36 quality of life questionnaire.
Findings showed significant improvement in all SF-36 subscales scores, including physical function, role physical, role emotional, vitality, mental health, social function, bodily pain, general function, and general health as well as total score (P=0.002). SF-36 mean(SD) scores before and after surgery was 27.41(22.75) and 79.12(28.03), respectively.
THA operation improves the quality of life of patients with DDH

The first step to manage motor impairment of upper limb in patients with subacute stroke is having an accurate assessment tool. The Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper extremity and 9-hole pegboard test are used to evaluate motor function and hand dexterity in stroke survivals. The present study aimed to investigate the test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) in these two tests.
A total of 15 patients with subacute stroke (54-76 years old) participated in this study. They were selected non-randomly from rehabilitation clinics and hospitals of Tehran, Iran, based on inclusive and exclusive criteria. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error measurement (SEM), and MDC were used for investigating intraday and interday reliability for 1 hour and 3 days.
Intraday reliabilities of Fugl-Meyer and 9-hole pegboard were excellent with ICC of 0.98 and 0.98, also MDC of 1.96 and 8.59, respectively. The interday reliabilities of these tests were also excellent with ICC of 0.99 and 0.96, as well as MDC of 1.52 and 12.69, respectively. The absolute reliability (SEM) was less than 10% of maximum acquired scores indicating acceptable errors of measurement.
Results show that the Fugl-Meyer assessment and 9-hole pegboard test have excellent test-retest reliability. Therefore these tests can be used for appropriate treatment planning and clinical decision making in patients with subacute stroke

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of kinesio-taping on the range of motion of cervical lateral flexion point in subjects with trigger point in upper trapezius muscle.
A total of 32 subjects with myofascial trigger point in upper trapezius participated in this randomized controlled trial (RCT). The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: Kinesio-taping (n=16) and KT placebo (n=16). The ipsilateral and contralateral cervical lateral flexion range of motion was measured before and immediately after treatment in both groups using a standard goniometer. Paired t test was used to determine any significant difference in the range of motion after treatment sessions compared with pretreatment score in the control and experimental group. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was calculated to determine the significance of differences between two groups in posttest scores, with pretreatment scores used as covariates in the analysis.
Statistical analysis (paired t test) revealed no significant increase in cervical lateral flexion range of motion in both ipsilateral and contralateral side immediately after KT application in both groups compared with pretreatment score (P>0.05). In the ANCOVA, while controlling for pretest scores, no significant difference was found between the two groups (KT and placebo) after treatment sessions (P>0.05)
Application of kinesio-taping cannot immediately produces an improvement n cervical lateral flexion in subjects with trigger point in upper trapezius muscles.