The quantitative reduction of muscle strength in the spine, hip, and ankle, along with impaired proprioception, visual sense, and smaller base of support, were the main causes for postural instability in Parkinson's disease patients. A correlation was seen between muscle strength, static and dynamic balance, and gait in both ON and OFF states. In contrast to the previous studies, the present study showed that medications improved the muscle strength, gait speed, and use of ankle strategy but did not worsen proprioceptive sense.

Fibromyalgia is a multi-symptomatic disorder characterized by generalized pain. The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia is supposedly an interplay between central nervous system hyper-responsiveness, autonomic dysfunction, and peripheral pain. In this cross-sectional study, the objective was to assess central sensitization and autonomic activity in patients with fibromyalgia compared with control. Fifty adults diagnosed with fibromyalgia by the modified American College of Rheumatology 2010 criteria and an equal number of age-and sex-matched controls participated in the study in an urban tertiary care hospital. Central sensitization was assessed by history and by evidence of increased prefrontal cortical activity as measured by cortical oxygenation using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Autonomic activity was assessed by heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, and deep breathing test in three physiological states: rest, sympathetic stress (cold pressor test), and deep breathing. Mann-Whitney U-test, paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, and Friedman test with Bonferroni a priori were used to analyze the data. Cortical activity was significantly higher in the fibromyalgia group than control. There was no significant difference in autonomic activity between the fibromyalgia and control groups. In the fibromyalgia group, variable degrees of sympathetic hyperactivity and normal parasympathetic activity were observed. Central sensitization may be playing a primary role in the pathophysiology of generalized pain in fibromyalgia.

We have been experiencing multiple waves of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. With these unprecedented waves, we have entered into an era of ‘new normal’. This pandemic has enforced us to rethink the very basics of childhood learning: Habits, health etiquette, and hygiene. Rehabilitation has immense importance during this pandemic considering a few aspects. Multidisciplinary COVID-19 rehabilitation clinics are essential to address the demand. The equitable distribution of COVID-19 rehabilitation services for differently-abled individuals during the pandemic is an important aspect. Rehabilitation needs identification and further studies on various rehabilitation interventions are among the key unmet future research needs.

In the present series 116 cases of spastic cerebral palsy were selected; in whom perineal care and ambulation was affected. These cases were given peripheral nerve block (obturator 110, posterior tibial 134 and median nerve 2) with 6% aqueous phenol solution. The block relieved the spastic condition, allowed better nursing care, freed the patient from the embarrassment of a contorted limb, allowed voluntary movement to take place and eased in fitment of caliper to aid further ambulation. The period of effectiveness ranged from 3 months to 18 months, with an average of 13 months. Paraesthesia occurred following 5 nerve blocks. Eleven nerve blocks had to be repeated. Ease, simplicity, safety, therapeutic benefits and economic advantages of peripheral nerve block using phenol in cerebral palsy warrant its more widespread use.

No abstract