Seven hemiplegic stroke patients suffering elbow flexor spasticity were selected for musculocutaneous nerve (MN) blocks. The MN was identified at the proximal 1/3 area on anteromedial surface of upper arm at supine position. An injectable monopolar EMG needle electrode was inserted into MN under real time ultrasonography. The 7% phenol solution was injected 0.2 ml at a time into MN until biceps brachii and brachialis muscle contractions were completely blocked at a maximum of 5 mA electrical stimulation. The total dose of injected phenol solution was 1.2~2.2 ml. We examined modified Ashworth scale (MAS) of elbow flexor and elbow angle at the standing position. In all the subjects, MAS was decreased and elbow angle was increased after nerve block. Ultrasonography guidance makes it exact to identify MN and to inject neurolytic solution to target. It can lead minimal complications by using the least dosage of neurolytic drug.
Arm ; Elbow* ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes ; Humans ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Musculocutaneous Nerve* ; Needles ; Nerve Block ; Phenol* ; Stroke ; Supine Position ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To compare the exercise capacity after cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. METHOD: 27 patients who underwent PCI and 18 patients who underwent CABG surgery were included. All the subjects performed supervised exercise training for 6~8 weeks at hospital and self-exercise at community for additional 16~18 weeks. Exercise capacity was measured by symptom limited graded exercise tests at study entry and 6 months later. RESULTS: After 6 months of CR, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was significantly increased, resting heart rate (HR) and submaximal rate pressure product (RPP) were significantly decreased in both groups (p<0.05). There were no significant change of maximal HR in both groups (p<0.05). Maximal RPP in CABG increased significantly (p<0.05) but did not change significantly in PCI group. Resting HR was significantly higher, VO2max was significantly lower in CABG group than PCI group at study entry (p<0.05). Resting HR was not significantly different in both groups but, VO2max was still lower in CABG group than PCI group even after 6 months of CR (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The cardiac rehabilitation program was effective in both PCI and CABG group. Although VO2max in PCI group was higher than CABG group after 6 month CR, the range of improvement was greater in CABG group than PCI group.
Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Exercise Test ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Oxygen Consumption ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: To know the characteristics of muscle strength and tendon diameter of rotator cuff in the elite thrower and correlation between both parameters. METHOD: Twenty-four elite throwers (male 16, female 8) without pain and injury were included. Dominant hand was right side in all subjects. Thickness and width of rotator cuff except teres minor were measured with ultrasonography. Concentric strengths of shoulder internal (IR) and external rotators (ER) were measured with isokinetic device. RESULTS: There was no difference between dominant and nondominant shoulder in tendon diameter except that thickness and width of dominant infraspinatus were greater than nondominant. ER/IR peak torque ratio was about 1.0 in both sides. There were significant correlations between subscapularis thickness and IR strength, infraspinatus width and ER strength, supraspinatus thickness and ER strength, supraspinatus width and ER strength, infraspinatus thickness and IR strength, infraspinatus width and IR strength in nondominant side, and subscapularis thickness and ER strength in dominant side. CONCLUSION: It is possible that external rotation peak torque is increased in elite thrower. Muscle strength could not be expected by tendon diameter except nondomiant subscapular thickness and infraspinatus width. This study will be the basis of the next study about elite thrower.
Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles* ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder* ; Tendons* ; Torque ; Ultrasonography