Biomedical subjects

J Nicklin

Publications and source records attributed to J Nicklin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

A timed test of swallowing capacity for neurological patients.

A timed test of swallowing capacity has been designed for use in patients with neurogenic dysphagia. Swallowing speed (ml/s) has been demonstrated to have high intra- and inter- rater and test- retest reliability, and to be essentially independent of flavour or temperature. "Guideline" normal values were established in individuals without a swallowing disorder: swallowing speed was less in females than males and declined in both groups with age. The validity of a swallowing speed less than 10 ml/s as an index of abnormal swallowing was tested by comparison with the complaint of abnormal swallowing in a group of 81 neurological patients. Swallowing speed had a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 69%: some apparent false positive responses were found in patients with disordered swallowing, mainly due to multiple sclerosis. Using a standard questionnaire and examination a similar pattern of symptoms and signs were statistically associated with both the clinical complaint of abnormal swallowing and swallowing speed. It is concluded that swallowing speed is a reliable and valid index for assessing disordered swallowing in neurological patients and may be of value in monitoring response to therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Laboratory testing of muscle function in the management of neuromuscular disease.

A laboratory was set up to assess muscle weakness and physical disability in patients with peripheral neuromuscular diseases. Muscle strength was mainly measured with a hand held dynamometer and results were expressed in relationship to a "guideline" range for sex: disability was expressed in terms of ordinal data with a performance score and as interval data with simple timed tests. Of 17 patients with polymyositis on immunosuppressive medication followed for a mean of 2.9 years (range 1.1 - 4.7 years) only eight became stronger one of whom died. Assessment of weakness (the major impairment), disability, body weight, creatine kinase and the patient's subjective view of their state were essential to obtaining a clear view of progress.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Evaluation of a maternity cushion (Ozzlo pillow) for backache and insomnia in late pregnancy.

The effect of a wedge-shaped pillow (Ozzlo pillow) was compared with a standard hospital pillow, used to support the abdomen of a pregnant woman while lying on her side, in preventing or alleviating backache and backache-related insomnia; 92 women at 36 weeks' gestation completed the study. Backache was found to be very common (87%), the onset of pain occurring before 29 weeks in 59%. Age, parity, previous backache and type of bed used did not correlate with the backache scores during the period of study. Lower scores for backache were recorded by women in the week they used the Ozzlo pillow compared with the week they used the standard pillow. Sleeping was deemed better by the patient with the Ozzlo pillow, though actual sleeping scores did not corroborate this. While significantly more felt the Ozzlo pillow was superior to a standard pillow for backache and sleeping, some found both methods helpful. The simple measure of supporting the abdomen with a pillow when in lateral recumbency is likely to benefit many women in late pregnancy. A wedge-shaped pillow of the Ozzlo type, conforming to the shape of the abdomen and supporting it more closely, may be of greater help than a standard cushion or pillow.

Back Pain↗

PubMed1987

Shoulder abduction fatiguability.

Shoulder abduction fatiguability has been measured using a hand held myometer in normal subjects and patients with peripheral neuromuscular diseases. An index of fatiguability was based on the decline in force over a series of ten maximum voluntary contractions performed in under a minute. The technique was repeatable and well tolerated. Patients with myasthenia, mitochondrial myopathy and motor neuron disease tended to show excess fatiguability independent of muscle strength. Serial measurements demonstrated alterations in fatiguability but not necessarily strength, associated with changes in symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Hydrotherapy pools.

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Costs and Cost Analysis↗