ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT NATIONAL CONGRESS, PRETORIA, APRIL 1991 GROSS MOTOR CLASSES FOR SEVERELY TO PROFOUNDLY RETARDED MENTALLY HANDICAPPED b y ] A C G ilder Lentegeur H ospital A sim ple gross m o to r “c ircu it” consisting of a balance bench, stepping stones, tyres, stairs and a hollow drum is used to improve gross m o to r function in sem i-m obile and mobile clients that are profoundly m entally handicapped. U p to fifteen residents from a ward a re brought to the R ecreation Hall of the L entegeur C are and R ehabilitation C e n tre twice a week with nursing staff as escorts and assistants. They a re taken around the circuit individually with various levels of assistance being given. A three level score is used to assess progress. T he program m e is being extended into the wards w here gross m o to r “ playgrounds” are being co n stru cted fo r form al classes a well as free activity. Alternatives a re given for indoor activity during the inclem ent C ape W inter. A clinical description of the developm ent of the gross m o to r classes will be given, as well as the progress achieved in gross m otor function, as well as progress in self-care skills, com m unication and socialisation. PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF GUllLAIN-BARRE PATIENTS IN THE JOHANNESBURG HOSPITAL by L Hale Johannesburg H ospital Physiotherapy Department AIM A retrospective study of all the cases of G uillain-B arr6 syndrom e adm itted to the Johannesburg H ospital during the period January 1985 to D ecem ber 1989 with the view to improving the efficacy of physiotherapy m anagem ent. METHOD: A review of the patients' clinical records and a survey of the recent literature. RESULTS 77 patients were adm itted during this period. T he incidence increased from 10 cases in 1985 to 18 cases in 1989. T he statistics of sensory and cranial nerve involvement, and the num ber of cases requiring ventilatory support were in keeping with those re p o rte d in Scandinavia, A ustralia, Am erica and Israel. In 1988 and 1989, an average o f th ree severely affected patients w ere receiving physiotherapy at any o ne time. T he therapy was in tense and involved two hours p e r day p e r patient. CONCLUSION T h e increase in incidence of cases adm itted was primarily d ue to the increase in referrals to the Joh a n n e sb u rg Hospital as it offers the c u rre n t trea tm e n t of choice - plasm apheresis - and the facilities for intensive c are and prolonged hospitalisation. T h ere was inconclusive evidence that the intensity o f physiother­ apy rehabilitation given is indeed efficient. T he need to research the effects of the different m odalities used to treat patients with Guil- lain-B arrd is a necessity especially as the ratio o f the num ber of patients per physiotherapy is on the increase. PRESSURE SORES IN PARAPLEGIA - WHERE ARE WE NOW? by R Henn R an d M utual H ospital Physiotherapy Departm ent INTRODUCTION P ressure sores are currently one of the main com plications which will lead to hospitalisation in paraplegia. It is also the m ost expensive com plication at present. T here are num erous causes fo r pressure sores according to the lite ratu re available and a tru e understanding and knowledge of every possible cause is necessary in the prevention and trea tm e n t of p re ss­ ure sores. This p a p er will m ention all possible causes. TREATMENT METHODS U p to now a variety of m ethods are being used in the trea tm e n t of pressure sores, and a review of all surgical and conservative m ethods will be given according lo the literature. V arious physiother­ apy m odalities have been used up to now and will be discussed. CONCLUSION T he main factor in the m anagem ent of pressure sores however is the prevention of pressure sores and here it is the sole responsibility of the paraplegic, if he was effectively rehabilitated. A m ulti-disciplinary team approach is necessary lo prevent, trea t and prevent recurrence of pressure sores in paraplegia. LOW POWER INFRA-RED LASER IRRADIATION IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC TENDINITIS IN ATHLETES by L Jankelowitz Sports Science, U C T M edical School T he purpose of this study was to investigate the efficiency o f low pow er infra-red laser irradiation on the trea tm e n t of chronic overuse injuries in athletes. Twelve a thletes presenting with chronic tendinitis w ere m atched fo r injury site and severity and random ly allocated to e ith e r an experim ental o r a control group. P atients were instructed to rest over the fourteen day d u ra tio n o f the study and both groups received the sam e standard physiotherapy trea tm e n t. In addition, low pow er laser irradiation was adm inistered to both groups in a d ouble blind placebo controlled fashion. On days 1 and 14, patients perform ed a functional treadm ill running test during which they re p o rte d pain on a scale of 0-10, fo r each m inute run. A rea u nder the pain vs tim e curve, average pain p e r m etre and average pain per m inute w ere then calculated. Daily 24 h o u r recall scores for rest, walking and overall pain w ere also recorded. Rain scores deceased significantly (p < 0 .0 5 ) fo r both groups over the 14 days of treatm ent, but no difference w ere observed between the two groups. M uscle pow er to rq u e strength tests w ere conducted on day 1 and day 14 and p ercentage change fo r these m easurem ents over the 14 days was calculated. N o significant im provem ents (p < 0 .0 5 ) w ere found. Standard physiotherapy is th ere fo re sufficient in the tre a t­ m ent of chronic tendonitis and com bining this with a low pow er laser irradiation does not a p p e a r to influence clinical outcom e. ♦ Bladsy 76 Fisioterapie, November 1991, deel 47 no 4 R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )