Physical therapy evidence based practice articles Research Paper

Physical therapy evidence based practice articles - Research Paper Example Moreover, the patients were expected to have no pre-existing conditions limiting mobility or contra-indications or balance to TENS. Furthermore, the participants were selected from local community stroke factions and volunteers from the research groups database. Additionally, the participants were expected to be able to give an explicit consent and travel to the study facilities for the necessary testing. The intervention involved a single session of "active TENS" given through a "sock electrode" (frequency between 70-30Hz over a 5s cycle) as well as a course of control treatment (participants wearing the sock electrode lacking stimulation), lasting about two hours in total. There was blinding where all the patients acted as their own control while the randomization followed the order in which the control or TENS was issued thus all participants receiving both stimulation and control conditions. The outcomes reported were obtained from plantar flexor and dorsiflexor strength and proprioception employing an Isokinetic Dynamometer, balance, gait speed and falls risk. The analysis was an exploratory trial to determine the effects of "activeTENS." The study provided initial evidence of the possibility of "activeTENS" to benefit physical function following stroke that merits further second phase trials to improve the intervention. All the patients tolerated "activeTENS" and most of the parameters, advanced throughout stimulation with activeTENS; gait speed (p = 0.002), balance (p = 0.009), proprioception of plantar flexion (p = 0.029) and plantar flexor strength (p = 0.008), except dorsiflexion proprioception (p = 0.078) and dorsiflexor strength (p = 0.194). There was no threat to validity or reliability as the only complaint of leg pain after treatment was resolved the following day. Moreover, the concerns that "activeTENS" could have

Health Psychology Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Health Psychology Master - Essay Example As Tudor (1996) states mental health should be seen as a 'positive concept', that must be seen as different from psychopathology. Good mental health is not only about not having difficulties which cannot be overcome, but also implies that the individual will develop in, an emotionally and intellectually, healthy way across their lifetime. These healthy skills will give the individual, child or adult, the strength to be able to manage when life's inevitable problems find them, as well as being able to form fulfilling interpersonal relationships (BMA, 2006; MHF, 2006). The term mental health covers a wide range of difficulties that individuals may encounter throughout their lives. These can range from everyday concerns, such as a homework deadline, to severe and crippling problems, such as depression (BMA, 2006). The ONS (2006) defines mental health disorders as a set of clinically recognised abnormal behaviour and symptoms, which cause the individual extreme distress and distortion to their everyday lives. These crippling problems cause great suffering for the individual, and severely affect their ability to function in everyday life. However, these disorders do not manifest over night. They are usually brought on slowly and have roots in childhood (Ahrons, 2004). Therefore, if British children are already suffering from mental health difficulties, then as an adult they will have a high chance of these problems continuing or reoccurring. As has been reported in the media (USAtoday, 2008; The Times, 2008; BBC, 2008) British society seems to be letting down their children, as they are reportedly 'the unhappiest children in Europe' (UNICEF, 2006). Other research has implied these same results (Alexander & Hargreaves, 2007; Porthouse, 2006). Research published in Porthouse (2006) stated that John Bradshaw has shown that British children were more unhappy than most of their European counterparts. This led to a flurry of research on the matter. Bradshaw's report (Porthouse, 2006) and later ones from UNICEF (2006) have suggested that Britain is one of the worst places for child health, that British teenagers have the second lowest score for their hopes and ambitions for their future careers and employment prospects. The UNICEF (2006) report covered six main dimensions including material wealth, family relationships and peer relationships, education, the child's subjective understanding of their well-being, all brought toget her to present an encompassing picture of British children's lives. Alexander & Hargreaves (2007) state that what was most striking from their research was the amount of agreement which the results showed, particularly in the main areas of 'educational purpose, curriculum and assessment, the condition of childhood and society, and the world in which today's children are growing up' (p.1). What was more striking though was the negativity and 'critical tenor' that these issues told the researchers. The researchers found repeatedly that the children felt under powerful or even extreme pressure from the schools they attended. However, Harris and Guten (1979) state an individual's health behaviour shows little consistency. They may go to the gym everyday to look after their bodies, and then eat fast-food burger on the way home. This makes applying theory difficult. In addition, health behaviour tends to change over periods of time, making conclusive assumptions of