Abstract. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of combine warm-up and stretching on hamstring flexibility with a healthy 28 years old male as a subject. A single case design, consisting of a baseline phase (A) and intervention phase (B), was used. Phase A began with daily measurement of the right hip flexion range using a goniometer during a passive straight leg raise (SLR), performing three measurements on the same session a day for 7 consecutive days. In the phase B the subject jogged on the spot for 3 minutes and performed three consecutive 30 second stretches of the right hamstring, immediately before daily measurement for 7 days. Results showed there was significant difference in hamstring flexibility between two phases. It was concluded that a combined warm-up and stretching regime is an effective way in increasing hamstring flexibility.

Many children with spina bifida who require long term and costly clinical management and rehabilitation are seen at the Ontario Crippled Children's Centre (OCCC). The aims of orthopaedic management can best be achieved through an “effective” assessment of each child, which guides the provision of conservative and operative treatment throughout infancy and childhood. Surgery and orthotic aids are the major ways available to correct or prevent the formation of orthopaedic deformities. At present the only way of assessing an orthosis is to wait and see if it improves function or prevents a deformity. This paper addresses pilot work undertaken to elucidate the factors which contribute to deformity progression in the lower limbs. The intent was to measure these factors in as cost effective and non-invasive a manner as possible and utilize the information gained in orthotic assessment and development for these children. The initial goal of the study was to quantify the effect of a prescribed orthosis upon the gait of each child. Some 15 children with a lumbar or sacral level myelomeningocele have been examined in a total of 59 trials. The data collection process involved a three stage protocol implemented by the orthopaedist, physical therapist and engineer. A comprehensive clinical examination, a visual gait assessment from video-tape and an instrumented gait assessment were performed in the OCCC gait laboratory. Assessment criteria were proposed and extracted from the data collected. These criteria were posed after examining the frequency distribution of certain features of gait in the study group. A case study illustrating the application of the assessment is provided. In examining the performance and influence of an orthosis upon a child's gait situations were identified in which no clear statement of “best” or “better” could be made. The value of the assessment was to point out the trade-offs and relative merits of selected orthotic options. By combining the objectivity of data acquired with gait analysis instrumentation with the subjective, but tangible, skills of the experienced observer, significant improvement in performance of the assessment is likely.

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Restoration of elbow flexion in the setting of brachial plexopathy is crucial and can be accomplished in a number of ways. Current options include non-free muscle transfers, including tendon, nerve, and pedicled flap transfers, and free functional muscle transfers, most frequently involving transfer of the gracilis muscle.