Assessing the cervical range of motion in infants with positional plagiocephaly

Purpose: To determine if infants with positional plagiocephaly have limitations of active and passive cervical range of motion measured with simple and reliable methods. Methods: The examiners assessed bilateral active and passive cervical rotations and passive cervical lateral flexion. Cervical assessment was performed twice by 2 different physicians to assess intertester reliability. To assess intratester reliability the first investigator performed a second examination 48 hours after the first one. Results: One-hundred nine subjects were analyzed; 70.7% of the sample had head positional preference on the right, while 29.3% had head positional preference on the left (x2 35.52, P <0.001). Cervical rotations and lateral flexion showed reliable levels of agreement for intra and intertester reliability. Conclusions: The most limited range of motion in infants with positional plagiocephaly was cervical active rotation which affected more than 90% of patients. Passive cervical rotations and lateral flexion were limited in more than 60% of patient

Il percorso riabilitativo nella donna operata al seno

Lo scopo della presente ricerca è stato quello di analizzare l’impatto di una proposta riabilitativa di gruppo, sulla qualità della vita (Core Quality of Life Questionnaire e Short Form-36 Health Survey) in un gruppo di 44 donne dopo chirurgia al seno per carcinoma. Attraverso l’utilizzo di scale specifiche ( Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire e Constant Scale) sono stati analizzati come outcomes secondari la funzione della spalla anche in relazione al linfedema e lo stato emotivo (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory e la Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) prima del trattamento riabilitativo (T0), alla fine dello stesso (T1) e dopo tre mesi di follow-up (T2). La compliance al trattamento proposto è stata dell’80%. Dai risultati si evince un significativo miglioramento in termini di punteggio della CONSTANT (χ2=12.81, p=0.002), della DASH (χ2=9.50, p=0.009), e minore ma ancora significativo anche in termini di HRSD (χ2=6.05, p=0.049). Anche in termini di qualità della vita si è registrato un miglioramento significativo per l’attività fisica (χ2=9.38, p=0.009), il dolore fisico (χ2=8.15, p=0.017) e la vitalità (χ2=7.68, p=0.021) mantenuto al follow-up

Effects of a Multidisciplinary Educational Rehabilitative Intervention in Breast Cancer Survivors: The Role of Body Image on Quality of Life Outcomes

In breast cancer survivors, own body image may change due to physical and psychological reasons, worsening women’s living. The aim of the study was to investigate whether body image may affect the functional and quality of life outcomes after a multidisciplinary and educational rehabilitative intervention in sixty women with primary nonmetastatic breast cancer who have undergone conservative surgery. To assess the quality of life was administered The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Study Group on Quality of Life core questionnaire, while to investigate the psychological features and self-image were administered the following scales: the Body Image Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. To assess the recovery of the function of the shoulder were administered: the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire and the Constant-Murley Score. Data were collected at the baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. We found a general improvement in the outcomes related to quality of life, and physical and psychological features after treatment (P < 0.001). During follow-up period, a higher further improvement in women without alterations in body image in respect of those with an altered self-perception of their own body was found (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the body image may influence the efficacy of a rehabilitative intervention, especially in the short term of follow-up