Esra Aki

The assessment of Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency in children

OBJECTIVE The primary objective is to research the relationship between motor abilities and demographic characteristics such as age and sex, in healthy children aged 4-11 years. METHODS One hundred and twenty children in kindergarten (n = 30) and primary school (n = 90) were included in the study and evaluated by the Occupational Therapy Unit. All children were divided into four groups according to age, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-11 years. The primary school children were classified according to academic learning, being successful or unsuccessful. In this study, Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency was used to assess the gross motor skills and fine motor skills. These tests are running speed and agility (subtest 1/item 1), balance/walking forward heel-to-toe on walking line (subtest 2/item 6), bilateral coordination/tapping-foot and finger on same side synchronized (subtest 3/item 2), strength/standing broad jump (subtest 4/item 1), response speed (subtest 6/item 1), visual motor control/cutting out a circle with preferred hand (subtest 7/item 1), upper-limb speed and dexterity/pacing pennies in two boxes with both hands (subtest 8/item 2). RESULTS When the children were classified according to sex, there were significant differences in subtests 6 and 7. According to academic learning, there were significant differences in subtests 2 and 8. When the results were evaluated due to age, important differences were found in subtests 1, 2, 4 and 8. CONCLUSION It was seen that gross and fine motor skills in early childhood showed variety between age, sex and academic learning. The scores of motor abilities were better in successful children than unsuccessful children. The outcome of this study revealed that the Bruininks-Oseretsky test can be useful to investigate unexplored aspects of motor development.

The environmental barriers of children with Muscular Dystrophies and its effect on mother's low back pain

Purpose : The aim of this study is to determine the architectural barriers of children with Muscular Dystrophy at home according to their diminished functional capacity and its effect on their mothers back problem. Method : Twenty children with Muscular Dystrophy (11.1 - 4.14 years) were evaluated with Brooke Scale and WeeFIM. Quebec and Oswestry Disability Scales were used for determining physical disability of their mothers (38.65 - 5.91 years). The architectural barriers have been detected with attention to standard criterias of International Organizations for all countries around the world. Results : The heights of thresholds, switches of wall plugs, shelves, cupboards, mirrors, hangers, arm of windows and siphons were found to be higher than standard values. The relation between back disability questionnaire results of mothers and dependency level of children on Activity of Daily Living has showed negative correlation (p < 0.05). Conclusions : The protective back health programmes and home arrangements that are suitable for disabled children must be added to the neuromuscular rehabilitation programmes.

Physical fitness of visually impaired adolescent goalball players.

This study compared the physical fitness of 28 visually impaired goalball players (M = 13 yr.) and a group of 27 less active age-matched adolescents. Physical characteristics (age, height, weight, sex) and visual acuity of the children were recorded. Body composition (Body Mass Index, skinfold thickness of triceps plus calf), musculoskeletal function (trunk-lift, curl-up, isometric push-up, shoulder-stretch tests) and aerobic function (1-mile run/walk test) were evaluated according to the Brockport Physical Fitness Test Battery. Also, anaerobic power was assessed by a vertical jump test. Physical fitness of visually impaired goalball players was higher than that of the more sedentary group (p<.05), except shoulder-stretch test values (p>.05). It was considered that directing visually impaired children to participation sports or recreational activities such as goalball has importance in improving their physical fitness.

Training Motor Skills of Children with Low Vision

The aim of this study was to study the effectiveness of a motor training program for visually impaired children. 40 children with low vision took part in the study. 20 children (10 boys, 10 girls), mean age 8:9 yr.:mo. (SD = 1:6), were in a Training group and 20 children (10 boys, 10 girls), mean age 8:10 yr.:mo. (SD = 1:65), were in a Home Training group. The Snellen Chart and Bruininks Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test were used for assessment. Training program included training balance, coordination, strength, visuomotor control, and finger dexterity. Significant differences were found on all skills after training in the Training group, but no significant differences were observed, other than visual motor control, in the Home Training group. Children with low vision have some useable vision and learning to use the available vision depends on proper rehabilitation.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UPPER EXTREMITY KINESTHETIC SENSE AND WRITING PERFORMANCE BY STUDENTS WITH LOW VISION

Kinesthetic sense plays an important role in writing. Children with low vision lack sensory input from the environment given their loss of vision. This study assessed the effect of upper extremity kinesthetic sense on writing function in two groups, one of students with low vision (9 girls and 11 boys, 9.4 ± 1.9 yr. of age) and one of sighted students (10 girls and 10 boys, 10.1 ± 1.3 yr. of age). All participants were given the Kinesthesia Test and Jebsen Hand Function Test-Writing subtest. Students with low vision scored lower on kinesthetic perception and writing performance than sighted peers. The correlation between scores for writing performance and upper extremity kinesthetic sense in the two groups was significant (r = −.34). The probability of deficiencies in kinesthetic information in students with low vision must be remembered.

Cognition in 4-11 year old children in Turkey

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among age, sex and academic performance with cognitive ability on healthy age groups. METHODS The subjects were 71 children, aged 4-11 years (x = 7.11). The children were divided into four age groups: 22 of the 71 children were at kindergarten and 49 children were in primary education. Thirty nine children were girls and 32 were boys. Twenty six children had good academic achievement and 23 did not. Each child was tested on the LOTCA battery by the Occupational Therapy Unit of Hacettepe University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. In this study, seven subtests were used from LOTCA (Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment). These are orientation for place, orientation for time, overlapping figures, praxis, reproduction of a two dimensional model, drawing a clock, and categorization. RESULTS Statistical analysis of the relationships demographic variables, academic achievement and performance on the battery revealed that age was significant, sex was insignificant and academic achievement was significant when correlated with cognitive abilities. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that cognitive abilities tested show some differences. For this reason, in the school or other educational settings, children who have low academic achievement should be assessed also for cognitive abilities and then provided with occupational therapy.

Two different back pain scales and their relation to pain intensity in women

People suffering from low back pain (LBP) fail in performing many daily living activities. The aim of this study was to compare two different back pain scales and to determine the relation between pain intensity and these scales on women with low back pain. Fifty-five women with chronic LBP (X ± SD: 37.76 ± 5.12 years) participated in this study. Their disabilities were determined by Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) and Oswestry Low Back Disability Questionnaire Scale (OLBDQS). Pain intensity was measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Outcome of this study showed that the QBPDS and OLBDQS were highly correlated. Also, VAS scores were correlated with both scale scores but this correlation was less strong. These two disability measuring methods are comparable, but OLBDQS has the advantage of requiring shorter time. summary

Overuse syndrome and related problems in professional and student string players

Abstract Introduction: Overuse syndrome in musicians, a common disorder, is characterized by pain, tenderness, and loss of function in muscles and joint ligaments of the upper limb. The most prevalent problems involve overuse of muscles resulting from repetitive movements of playing, often in combination with prolonged weight bearing in an awkward position. Many authors have described other problems such as tightness, cramp, fatigue, loss of performance, crepitation, focal dystonia and performance anxiety in classical music performers. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate overuse syndrome, pain intensity and other related problems of string players and to determine the relation between these conditions and performing times. Patients and methods: Twenty-seven professional string players (13 male, 14 female) from the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, ranging from 24 to 50 years of age (mean: 33.00 ± 7.83 years), and 25 students (8 male, 17 female) from Hacettepe University Conservatory, ranging fro...

The effect of independence level of the children with muscular dystrophies on the mother's low back pain

Abstract Introduction: Forward bending, rotation, lifting, carrying, pulling and pushing during bathroom activities, dressing, transferring, feeding, etc. increase stress on structures in the back and neck of mothers caring for disabled children. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of independence level of children with muscular dystrophies on their mothers low back pain. Methods: Thirty mothers who had children with muscular dystrophies were included in this study. They were divided two groups as mothers of nonambulatory (group 1) and ambulatory (group 2) disabled children. To investigate the activities of daily living the WeeFIM scale was used; to investigate the functional status the Broke Scale was used. Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS) was used to measure disability and a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure pain in mothers. Results: The QBPDS scores of mothers were higher in group 1 (36.13 ± 17.9) than in group 2 (20.8 ± 14.87). There was positive correlation betwe...

Correlations of conceptual development with motor skills for a Turkish sample of kindergarten children.

The purpose was to research the conceptual development and motor skills of 36 healthy children of kindergarten age (M age = 67.6 mo., SD =3.6). 19 girls and 17 boys completed the Bracken Basic Concept Scale-Revised and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency–Short Form.