Article
Rehabilitation
Anthony F. DiMarco, Robert T. Geertman, Kutaiba Tabbaa, Gregory A. Nemunaitis, Krzysztof E. Kowalski
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the use of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to improve bowel management in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Results showed that SCS significantly reduced time required for bowel management, increased airway pressure generation, and improved overall quality of life. Importantly, the improvement in bowel management was associated with restoration of intra-abdominal pressure development.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xiao-Na Xiang, Hui-Yan Zong, Yi Ou, Xi Yu, Hong Cheng, Chun-Ping Du, Hong-Chen He
Summary: The study findings indicate that exoskeleton-assisted walking significantly improves pulmonary function parameters in spinal cord injury patients, showing potential benefits for individuals with lower thoracic neurological levels of SCI. Additionally, robotic exoskeletons help facilitate walking.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Review
Rehabilitation
James J. Laskin, Zeina Waheed, Nancy P. Thorogood, Tom E. Nightingale, Vanessa K. Noonan
Summary: This scoping review provides an overview of the current status of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) research for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The review identifies the need for more rigorous study designs, larger sample sizes, comparative studies, improved reporting of stimulation parameters and adverse event data, and alignment of outcomes with the priorities of the SCI community.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Review
Rehabilitation
Nicholas Dietz, Sarah Wagers, Susan J. Harkema, Jessica M. D'Amico
Summary: The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy, dosing, and safety profiles of intrathecal and oral baclofen in treating spasticity after spinal cord injury (SCI). The study found that baclofen is the most commonly-prescribed antispasmodic after SCI, but there is a lack of large, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trials, and further research is needed to compare baclofen with alternative treatments.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Tim C. Crul, Marcel W. M. Post, Johanna M. A. Visser-Meily, Janneke M. Stolwijk-Swuste
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of SCI-related pain during initial inpatient rehabilitation and explore their relationships with demographic and lesion characteristics. The results showed that SCI-related pain was highly prevalent during inpatient rehabilitation and different factors such as sex, age, and type of injury were associated with the presence of pain.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Sara J. T. Guilcher, Mary-Ellen Hogan, Qi Guan, Daniel McCormack, Andrew Calzavara, Tejal Patel, Sander L. Hitzig, Tanya Packer, Aisha K. Lofters
Summary: The study found a significant proportion of individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury were prescribed opioids in a recent one-year period, with some receiving doses exceeding the maximum recommended by the Canadian opioid guideline. The research also identified risk factors associated with chronic, high-dose opioid use.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Lynn A. Worobey, Allen W. Heinemann, Kim D. Anderson, Denise Fyffe, Trevor A. Dyson-Hudson, Theresa Berner, Michael L. Boninger
Summary: This study investigated the frequency and consequences of wheelchair repairs and found that over 50% of wheelchair users were significantly affected by financial and personal costs. The highest repair rates were found for seating systems, electronics, and tires. Active users experienced more repairs and consequences compared to less active users. Repairs were more common among Black individuals and power wheelchair (PWC) users, whereas consequences were more common among Black individuals, PWC or power assist users, and those with public insurance. The consequences lasted longer than 2 weeks for many and could be minimized by having a working backup chair. Costs may present a barrier to repair completion for some individuals.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Yue Cao, David Murday, Elizabeth H. Corley, Nicole D. DiPiro, James S. Krause
Summary: The study found that 70% of patients with spinal cord injury in the southeastern United States were rehospitalized within five years of initial discharge, with high costs involved. Participants who could walk independently had fewer rehospitalizations, shorter length of stay, and lower charges, and college education was associated with lower charges.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Lynn A. Worobey, Gina McKernan, Maria Toro, Jonathan Pearlman, Rachel E. Cowan, Allen W. Heinemann, Trevor A. Dyson-Hudson, Jessica Presperin Pedersen, Matthew Mesoros, Michael L. Boninger
Summary: This study assessed the effectiveness of group wheelchair maintenance training and identified participant characteristics associated with training responsiveness. The results showed that the training improved maintenance capacity and performance for both manual and power wheelchair users. Furthermore, delivering the training in a structured group format reduced costs and enhanced the likelihood of adoption into clinical practice.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Angel Gil-Agudo, Alvaro Megia-Garcia, Jose Luis Pons, Isabel Sinovas-Alonso, Natalia Comino-Suarez, Vicente Lozano-Berrio, Antonio J. del-Ama
Summary: This study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of using the HANK exoskeleton for walking rehabilitation, and investigate its effects on walking function. The results showed that the use of HANK exoskeleton in clinical settings is safe and well-tolerated by the patients. Patients receiving treatment with the exoskeleton improved their walking independence as measured by the WISCI-II.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nicola Postol, Neil J. Spratt, Andrew Bivard, Jodie Marquez
Summary: This study evaluated the feasibility of therapy with a free-standing exoskeleton for individuals with SCI and found potential health benefits for a small subset of patients. Participants showed positive trends in function and other outcomes, and the intervention was highly acceptable to all. Further research is needed to determine the characteristics of patients most likely to benefit from this intervention.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Rehabilitation
Nicole D. DiPiro, James S. Krause
Summary: The objective of this study was to identify patterns and relationships of nonprescription psychoactive substance (PAS) use among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The results demonstrated a prevalent use of nonprescription PAS among adults with chronic SCI, with clear differences in patterns and characteristics of use.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Robert W. Evans, Jason Bantjes, Claire L. Shackleton, Sacha West, Wayne Derman, Yumna Albertus, Leslie Swartz
Summary: This study discusses the reports of participants in a randomised controlled trial of a novel intervention for spinal cord injury rehabilitation in Cape Town, South Africa. The participants showed enthusiasm and gratitude for participating in the study, but their high hopes and unrealistic expectations may lead to disappointment. This raises important ethical considerations for researchers and clinicians in poorly resourced contexts.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION-ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Christopher C. H. Yip, Chor-Yin Lam, Kenneth M. C. Cheung, Yat Wa Wong, Paul A. Koljonen
Summary: In addition to helping individuals with SCI regain ambulation, robotic exoskeletons offer biophysical benefits that can reduce complications from immobilization. These benefits include improved upper body fitness, circulatory response, bowel movement regularity, and reduced pain and spasticity. Exoskeleton use has also been suggested to improve quality of life and increase participation in day-to-day activities. However, there is a lack of large-scale and conclusive studies on the effects of exoskeleton use.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Hannah Tough, Mirja Gross-Hemmi, Silvia Stringhini, Inge Eriks-Hoogland, Christine Fekete
Summary: This study aimed to develop a more thorough understanding of the risk factors for loneliness in persons with a physical impairment, using a population-based sample of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), based on regression modeling and a recursive partitioning approach. The results showed that individuals with disadvantaged socioeconomic characteristics and greater functional limitations were more likely to experience loneliness.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
