The reliability of knee joint position testing using electrogoniometry

BACKGROUND: The current investigation examined the inter- and intra-tester reliability of knee joint angle measurements using a flexible Penny and Giles Biometric electrogoniometer. The clinical utility of electrogoniometry was also addressed. METHODS: The first study examined the inter- and intra-tester reliability of measurements of knee joint angles in supine, sitting and standing in 35 healthy adults. The second study evaluated inter-tester and intra-tester reliability of knee joint angle measurements in standing and after walking 10 metres in 20 healthy adults, using an enhanced measurement protocol with a more detailed electrogoniometer attachment procedure. Both inter-tester reliability studies involved two testers. RESULTS: In the first study, inter-tester reliability (ICC[2,10]) ranged from 0.58-0.71 in supine, 0.68-0.79 in sitting and 0.57-0.80 in standing. The standard error of measurement between testers was less than 3.55 degrees and the limits of agreement ranged from -12.51 degrees to 12.21 degrees . Reliability coefficients for intra-tester reliability (ICC[3,10]) ranged from 0.75-0.76 in supine, 0.86-0.87 in sitting and 0.87-0.88 in standing. The standard error of measurement for repeated measures by the same tester was less than 1.7 degrees and the limits of agreement ranged from -8.13 degrees to 7.90 degrees . The second study showed that using a more detailed electrogoniometer attachment protocol reduced the error of measurement between testers to 0.5 degrees . CONCLUSION: Using a standardised protocol, reliable measures of knee joint angles can be gained in standing, supine and sitting by using a flexible goniometer

Pharmacist perceptions of new competency standards

Objective: To suggest revisions to the Thai pharmacy competency standards and determine the perceptions of Thai pharmacy practitioners and faculty about the proposed pharmacy competency standards. Methods: The current competency standards were revised by brainstorming session with nine Thai pharmacy experts according to their perceptions of society’s pharmacy needs. The revised standards were proposed and validated by 574 pharmacy practitioners and faculty members by using a written questionnaire. The respondents were classified based on their practice setting. Results: The revision of pharmacy competency standard proposed the integration and addition to current competencies. Of 830 distributed questionnaires, 574 completed questionnaires were received (69.2% response rate). The proposed new competency standards contained 7 domains and 46 competencies. The majority of the respondents were supportive of all 46 proposed competencies. The highest ranked domain was Domain 1 (Practice Pharmacy within Laws, Professional Standards, and Ethics). The second and third highest expectations of pharmacy graduates were Domain 4 (Provide pharmaceutical care) and Domain 3 (Communicate and disseminate knowledge effectively).Conclusion: The expectation for pharmacy graduates’ competencies were high and respondents encouraged additional growth in multidisciplinary efforts to improve patient care

トウガラシ カジツ オヨビ シュシ ノ ハッタツ ニ オヨボス ジュフンゴ コウオン ストレス ノ エイキョウ

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(農学)甲第13872号農博第1687号新制||農||953(附属図書館)学位論文||H20||N4339(農学部図書室)UT51-2008-C788京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻(主査)教授 縄田 栄治, 教授 矢澤 進, 教授 間藤 徹学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Agricultural ScienceKyoto UniversityDA

Imvestigation of approaches to learning of medical students at Prince of Songkla University

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Physiotherapy assessment of knee proprioception following stroke

This survey investigates methods used by physiotherapists to assess knee proprioception in stroke patients. Five hundred and seventeen Australian physiotherapists were surveyed using a 12-item survey with 326surveys returned (63% response rate). Work experience ranged from less than 2years to more than 20years. Most physiotherapists assessed both joint position sense and joint movement sense in supine (43.1%), followed by sitting (26.1%) and standing (17.0%). Proprioception at the knee, toe, ankle and hip were measured with the largest proportion of assessments involving the knee joint (38.2%). Testing typically required patients to have their eyes closed, to respond verbally to the direction of movement, to match the position of a joint, as well as to copy movements of the affected limb with the unaffected limb. Most physiotherapists passively moved the patients’ joints for the static and dynamic tests. Three to ten repetitions of each test were used with five repetitions most often chosen

Studies of Free Falling Object and Simple Pendulum Using Digital Video Analysis

The motion of a free falling object and a simple pendulum were analyzed by digital cameras and computer programs (Sony Vegas, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Excel). The positions of the moving objects were evaluated every 33 ms from a series of images and experimental results were compared with fundamental equations in mechanics to verify the technique. For the free falling experiment, the displacement was proportional to the time squared and the velocity can be averaged from the change in position during each 33 ms interval. From the simple pendulum experiment, the angular displacement had a periodic variation with the time. This oscillation exhibited damping amplitudes and a constant time period. The time period squared had a linear relationship with the length of the pendulum. The agreements between the experimental results and the theory led to the acceleration due to the gravity with an acceptable level of accuracy. From this demonstration, a simple setup consisting of a conventional camera and software can not only be applied in the context of simple problems but also shows a potential in the teaching of advanced mechanics

Task Oriented Training Activities Post Stroke Will Produce Measurable Alterations in Brain Plasticity Concurrent with Skill Improvement

BACKGROUND: Task-oriented training with upper extremity (UE) skilled movements has been established as a method to regain function post stroke. Although improved UE function has been shown after this type of therapy, there is minimal evidence that brain plasticity is associated with this training. The accelerated skill acquisition program (ASAP) is an example of an approach for promoting UE function using targeting movements. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a single 2-hour session of ASAP in individuals with stroke on measures of brain plasticity as represented by corticospinal excitability (CE) and determine associations with reach-to-grasp (RTG) performance. METHODS: Eighteen post-acute stroke patients were randomized to two groups. Experimental group (n = 9) underwent ASAP for 2 hours, while the control group (n = 9) received dose equivalent usual and customary care. Both groups were evaluated for CE and RTG performance prior to the session and then four times after training: immediately, 1 day, 6 days, and 12 days. RESULTS: Significant alterations in CE were found in the peak-to-peak of Motor Evoked Potential amplitude of elbow and wrist extensor muscles in the lesioned hemisphere. The experimental group also demonstrated improved execution (shortened total movement time, TMT), feed-forward mechanism (deceleration time, DT) and planning (lengthened relative time to maximum hand aperture, RTApmax) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Alterations in brain plasticity occur concurrently with improvements in RTG performance in post-acute stroke patients with mild impairment after a single 2-hour session of task-oriented training and persist for at least 12 days