Manual dextrity is frequently evaluated in rehabilitation to estimate hand function. The Box and Block Test(BBT) mearsures gross manual dextrity. The first goal of this study was to verify the test-retest reliability of the BBT for 4, 5 years old children. The second goal of this reserch was to develop normative data from 35 convenient sample of normal children. The results showed the test-retest reliability was high (Pearson product moment correlation coefficients of 0.71 to 0.82).

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the biomechanical variables of the walking patterns of the obese children compared with those of normal children would revealing significant differences. Normal(N=25) and obese(N=19) subjects were screened based on a health record which was examined to eliminate any subjects who had any pathological condition related to their gait. Data for a minimum of 5 repeated walking trials were collected using a stop watch and a tape measure. Basic kinematic analyses yielded data based on the following variables : stride length divided by leg length, and cadence divided by leg length. This measurement data was classified by the Obesity Index calculated from by height, weight data. Results showed no significant difference among normal, obese and subjects(p>.05). Difficulties in formulating the experimental condition and poor equipment quality are thought to be reason for the inconclusive results. Future studies might include medical complications such as tibia vara, genu valgum, other diseases caused by obesity.

Spinal cord injury in child often occurs without evidence of fracture or dislocation. The mechanisms of neural damage in this syndrome of spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality(SCIWORA) include flexion, hyperextension, longitudinal distraction, and ischemia. Inherent elasticity of the vertebral column in infants and young children, among other age-related anatomical peculiarities, render the pediatric spine exceedingly vulnerable to deforming forces. The neurological lesions encountered in this syndrome include a high incidence of complete and severe partial cord lesions. Children younger than 8years old sustain more serious neurological damage and suffer a larger number of upper cervical cord lesions than children aged over 8 years. Of the children with SCIWORA. 52% have delayed onset of paralysis up to 4 days after injury, and most of these children recall transient paresthesia, numbness, or subjective paralysis. The long-term prognosis in cases of SCIWORA is grim. Most children with complete and severe lesions do not recover; only those with initially mild neural injuries make satisfactory neurological recovery.

The techniques of joint mobilization and traction are used to improve joint mobility or to decrease pain by restoring accessory movements to the shoulder joints and thus allowing full, nonrestriced, pain-free range of motion. In the glenohumeral joint, the humeral head would be the convex surface, while the glenoid fossa would be the concave surface. The medial end of the clavicle is concave anterioposteriorly and convex superioinferiorly, the articular surface of the sternum is reciprocally curved. The acromioclavicular joint is a plane synovial joint between a small convex facet on lateral end of the clavicle and a small concave facet on the acromion of the scapula. The relationship between the shape of articulating joint surface and the direction of gliding is defined by the Convex-Concave Rule. If the concave joint surface is moving on a stationary convex surface, gliding occur in the same direction as the rolling motion. If the convex surface is moving on a stationary concave surface, gliding will occur in an opposite direction to rolling. Hypomobile shoulder joints are treated be using a gliding technique.

For the purpose of clarifying to what degree the mothers of developmentally delayed children are involved in treating their child at home. 193 mothers were sampled from 220 mothers of developmentally delayed children below 12 years of age who have visited one of four institutions: the Rehabilitation Hospital of Yonsei Medical Center, Inchon Severance Hospital, Disabled Welfare Center in Myongil-dong, and Nambu Disabled Welfare Hall. The study period was from Mar. 25, 1995 through Apr. 15, 1995. A questionnaire survey was conducted listing the characteristics of the developmentally delayed children, their mothers, mother's satisfaction with their therapists, and the actual conditions of the home treatment. 1. The mothers who treat their child at home for more than 31 minutes a day show a high involvement score, while the mothers of those who give treatment for less than 30 minutes a. day show a low involvement score. That is, the longer the treatment, the greater the involvement score. This indicates a statistically significant result(p<0.01). 2. In cases where a child's father is involved in the home treatment, his/her mother discloses a statistically high involvement score(p<0.001). 3. The result of analysis of cases where other family members, relatives or friends (fathers excepted) reveals a statistically significant high involvement score(p<0.05) for the mother. 4. Mothers in general represent a statistically significant high involvement in home treatment. In the meantime, the mothers in a nuclear family show a higher involvement home treatment than mothers in an extended family(p<0.01). 5. Among those respondents who think that home treatment is helpful and that mothers' involvement in home treatment is helpful, the mothers record a statistically significant high involvement score(p<0.05). When seen from the above perspectives, it seems of much significance that fathers and other relatives or family members play an important role in enhancing the involvement of mothers in home treatment. One point to note here is that providing a long home treatment time is crucial. Therefore, it is recommended that family members have access to rehabilitation treatment for training developmentally delayed children or their care giver; and moreover, we needed to carry out family training or at least arrange for meetings between the family members and medical personnel involved in the child's rehabilitation.