F-2-13-07
OBSERVATIONS ON MEMORY DEFICITS & MEMORY RETRAINING IN STROKE PATIENTS IN INDIAN CONDITIONS
Dr. A. K. Varma, Dept. of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Patna Medical College, Patna, India.
Cognitive deficits follow stroke patients. Evaluation of memory impairments give useful prognostic informations. Thus assessment of memory deficits become imperative. A detail analysis of memory functions are required in all stroke patients.
To assess memory specifically (Attention Span, Short Term Memory and Long Term Memory) Wechsler memory scale subtests and Wechsler adult intelligence scale tests (WMS/WAIS) were done. This included all stroke patients reporting to emergency wards and OPD attendances.
Specific memory retraining programmes, which included various external and internal devices, were included in the total rehabilitation management of such patients.
The results clearly indicated that memory retraining definitely improves cognitive functions and thus it is to be considered as an integral part of the total medical rehabilitation management.
F-2-14-01
ROLE OF AQUA THERAPY IN REHABILITATION
Meeta D. Peer, M.D. (Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA)
Recently, aqua therapy in comprehensive rehabilitation has become a successful modality in the treatment of neurological and orthopedic disorders in the U.S.A. Patients with chronic pain, neurological deficits and musculoskeletal disorders not responding to other physical modalities or exercise programs, have revealed significant improvement in their symptoms and became more functional with water therapy.
Water itself has tremendous healing properties by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation in neurological disorders. This facilitation can be performed in the water, and the unique property of water to resist the movement of a body part through it in direct proportion to the speed of the movement, improves maximum physical abilities.
Aqua therapy, which is really an ancient remedy of past centuries, has been prescribed widely and frequently in all age groups in multiple disabilities and disorders in the U.S.A. in the last few years. Water therapy has become extremely popular and cost effective, and has distinct advantages to the patient to improve strength, reduce pain and enhance function, and restore their hopes of a better lifestyle.
In conclusion, aqua therapy techniques and designing the appropriate program to the disability is certainly a challenge, but the outcome of therapy is worth the effort.
