Review
Rehabilitation
Marco Tramontano, Valentina Russo, Grazia Fernanda Spitoni, Irene Ciancarelli, Stefano Paolucci, Leonardo Manzari, Giovanni Morone
Summary: The systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation (VR) in patients with neurologic disorders. Results indicate that customized VR provides greater improvements than traditional rehabilitation programs for patients with central nervous system diseases. However, due to the lack of high-quality studies and treatment protocol heterogeneity, clinical practice recommendations on the efficacy of VR cannot be made.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Review
Rehabilitation
Silvia Marazzi, Pawel Kiper, Katie Palmer, Michela Agostini, Andrea Turolla
Summary: This review suggests that whole body vibration treatment can significantly improve gait performance in patients with Parkinson's disease compared to standard treatment, but not significantly better for other outcomes. Studies on localized vibration were not suitable for quantitative meta-analysis due to high heterogeneity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL AND REHABILITATION MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Physiology
Yunzhi Wu, Yuqi Dong, Yunqi Tang, Weiran Wang, Yulong Bo, Cui Zhang
Summary: This study aims to review the relationship between motor performance and cortical activity of older patients with neurological disorders during walking and balance tasks. The results showed that motor performance and cortical activation were affected under difficult task conditions, with poor performance and increased activation observed in Parkinson's disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis patients. More comprehensive and profound analysis is needed to further understand the relationship between motor performance and activation of the motor-related cortex.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
K. Talar, T. Vetrovsky, M. van Haren, J. Negyesi, U. Granacher, M. Vaczi, E. Martin-Arevalo, M. F. Del Olmo, E. Kalamacka, T. Hortobagyi
Summary: This systematic review with meta-analysis found that combining aerobic exercise with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may enhance the effects on cognitive function in older individuals, especially those with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Isobel Briggs, Joel B. Chidley, Corinna Chidley, Callum J. Osler
Summary: Research suggests that caffeine ingestion has a significant negative impact on balance control in older individuals, while its effect on younger individuals is minor. This indicates an age-dependent effect of caffeine on human standing balance.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Riona Mc Ardle, Stephanie Pratt, Christopher Buckley, Silvia Del Din, Brook Galna, Alan Thomas, Lynn Rochester, Lisa Alcock
Summary: This study aimed to identify differences in balance impairments between different dementia disease subtypes, with the results showing that the Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) group demonstrated significantly higher balance impairments compared to the Alzheimer's disease (AD) group. However, accelerometer-based balance during quiet standing was not accurate in differentiating dementia disease subtypes, suggesting the need for more challenging assessments to support differential diagnosis.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Giovanni Morone, Fioravante Capone, Marco Iosa, Alessandro Cruciani, Matteo Paolucci, Alex Cinnera, Gabriella Musumeci, Nicoletta Brunelli, Carmelina Costa, Stefano Paolucci, Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
Summary: This study assessed the combined effect of dual tDCS and exoskeleton robotic training on upper limb motor function recovery in patients with chronic stroke. The results showed that dual tDCS did not provide additional benefits for recovery in chronic patients. However, patients with severe corticospinal dysfunction (absence of MEPs) showed significant improvement with real tDCS.
NEUROREHABILITATION AND NEURAL REPAIR
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Jitka Veldema, Alireza Gharabaghi
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation/spinal cord stimulation on gait, balance, and lower limb motor recovery in stroke patients. The findings indicate that this stimulation is effective in supporting recovery, but the effects vary across studies.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Cara Herbers, Joseph Schroeder, Chiahao Lu, Helen Geng, Raymond Zhang, Jessica Mehregan, Kada Malakowsky, Arthur Erdman, Matthew D. Johnson, Scott E. Cooper
Summary: Individuals with Parkinson's disease exhibit shorter reactive step length after losing balance, but dopamine replacement therapy can normalize it.
Article
Clinical Neurology
William De Doncker, Sasha Ondobaka, Annapoorna Kuppuswamy
Summary: The study found that post-stroke fatigue symptoms can be significantly improved by increasing cortical excitability using anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), with the effect lasting up to a week. Additionally, the degree of improvement in fatigue was associated with baseline anxiety levels.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Gabriel Venas Santos, Matheus Silva d'Alencar, Andre Frazao Helene, Antonio C. Roque, Jose Garcia Vivas Miranda, Maria Elisa Pimentel Piemonte
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a two-dimensional balance assessment to identify the decline in postural control associated with PD progression.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Jesco Streumer, Ashok K. Selvaraj, Erkan Kurt, Bastiaan R. Bloem, Rianne A. J. Esselink, Ronald H. M. A. Bartels, Dejan Georgiev, R. Saman Vinke
Summary: Axial disability, including gait disturbances, is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), especially in advanced stages. Epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been investigated as a treatment option for gait disorders in PD. This review examines the literature on SCS in PD and evaluates its efficacy, optimal stimulation parameters, optimal electrode locations, possible effects of concurrent deep brain stimulation, and possible working mechanisms on gait.
PARKINSONISM & RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matteo Guidetti, Alessandro Bertini, Francesco Pirone, Gessica Sala, Paola Signorelli, Carlo Ferrarese, Alberto Priori, Tommaso Bocci
Summary: Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques have shown potential in improving symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly cognitive and motor impairments in Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease. However, their effect on disease progression is still unclear, although recent evidence suggests a possible neuroprotective role.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Piotr Wodarski, Jacek Jurkojc, Justyna Michalska, Anna Kamieniarz, Grzegorz Juras, Marek Gzik
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the level of Parkinson's disease (PD) progression based on the analysis of the center of foot pressure (COP) displacement signals. The results showed higher TCI values in PD patients compared to the control group. The study provides new insights into the impact of PD on balance maintenance strategy.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Rehabilitation
Alessandro Picelli, Marianna Capecci, Mirko Filippetti, Valentina Varalta, Cristina Fonte, Rita Di Censo, Alessandro Zadra, Irene Chignola, Stefano Scarpa, Angelo P. Amico, Roberto Antenucci, Alessio Baricich, Paolo Benanti, Luciano Bissolotti, Paolo Boldrini, Donatella Bonaiuti, Enrico Castelli, Loredana Cavalli, Giuseppina Di Stefano, Francesco Draicchio, Vincenzo Falabella, Silvia Galeri, Francesca Gimigliano, Mauro Grigioni, Johanna Jonsdodttir, Carmelo Lentino, Perla Massai, Stefano Mazzoleni, Stefano Mazzon, Franco Molteni, Sandra Morelli, Giovanni Morone, Daniele Panzeri, Maurizio Petrarca, Federico Posteraro, Michele Senatore, Elisa Taglione, Giuseppe Turchetti, Thomas Bowman, Antonio Nardone
Summary: Robot-assisted gait training shows therapeutic effects on postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease, especially in terms of balance and freezing of gait. The research results indicate a high level of evidence that robot-assisted gait training can improve patients' quality of life.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL AND REHABILITATION MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rodrigo Vitorio, Martina Mancini, Patricia Carlson-Kuhta, Fay B. Horak, Vrutangkumar V. Shah
Summary: This study found that considering both clinical factors and objective balance and gait characteristics is important for distinguishing fallers from non-fallers in Parkinson's disease.
PARKINSONISM & RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Carla Silva-Batista, Graham Harker, Rodrigo Vitorio, Fay B. Horak, Patricia Carlson-Kuhta, Sean Pearson, Jess VanDerwalker, Mahmoud El-Gohary, Martina Mancini
Summary: This study tested the feasibility of using a physical therapist assisted system (Mobility Rehab) with wearable sensors for one session of treadmill training in 10 people with Parkinson's disease (PD). The training significantly improved foot-strike angle, trunk coronal range-of-motion (RoM), and arm swing RoM during overground walking. Participants perceived moderate to excellent effects on their gait. One session of treadmill training with Mobility Rehab is feasible for people with mild-to-moderate PD.
Editorial Material
Engineering, Biomedical
Julia Das, Rosie Morris, Gill Barry, Yunus Celik, Alan Godfrey, Claire McDonald, Richard Walker, Rodrigo Vitorio, Samuel Stuart
EXPERT REVIEW OF MEDICAL DEVICES
(2023)
Review
Rehabilitation
Briar Coman, Dylan Powell, Julia Das, Lisa Graham, Rachel Mason, Mark Harrison, Glen Rae, Rodrigo Vitorio, Alan Godfrey, Samuel Stuart
Summary: Following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), early active rehabilitation may improve recovery time and symptom resolution. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding specific intervention protocols.
PHYSIOTHERAPY CANADA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julia Das, Gill Barry, Richard Walker, Rodrigo S. Vitorio, Rosie S. Morris, Samuel S. Stuart
Summary: This study aimed to explore the experiences of people with Parkinson's disease in using technology as part of a home-based visuo-cognitive training program compared to traditional approaches to rehabilitation. The perceived value of technology, ease of use, and support mechanisms were found to be key factors influencing the implementation potential of technology-based interventions for this population.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Hayslenne A. G. O. Araujo, Suhaila M. Smaili, Rosie Morris, Lisa Graham, Julia Das, Claire McDonald, Richard Walker, Samuel Stuart, Rodrigo Vitorio
Summary: Although the multifactorial nature of falls in Parkinson's disease (PD) is well described, optimal assessment for the identification of fallers remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to identify clinical and objective gait measures that best discriminate fallers from non-fallers in PD, with suggestions of optimal cutoff scores.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Rodrigo Vitorio, Ellen Lirani-Silva, Diego Orcioli-Silva, Victor Spiandor Beretta, Anderson Souza Oliveira, Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi
Summary: This study investigated whether people with Parkinson's disease (PD) show distinct brain activity during regular walking and obstacle avoidance compared to healthy individuals. The results showed that during regular walking, PD patients had higher alpha/beta ratio in the left sensorimotor cortex. When approaching obstacles, both groups decreased alpha and beta power in the premotor and right sensorimotor cortices, and increased gamma power in the primary visual cortex. Only PD patients decreased alpha power and alpha/beta ratio in the left sensorimotor cortex. These findings suggest that PD affects cortical control of walking and changes electrocortical dynamics during obstacle avoidance.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Beatriz Regina Legutke, Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi, Diego Orcioli-Silva, Paulo Cezar Rocha dos Santos, Gabriel Antonio Gazziero Moraca, Rodrigo Vitorio, Victor Spiandor Beretta
Summary: Balance impairments in people with Parkinson's disease may be attributed to deficits in brain structures involved in postural control. This study analyzed the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the center of pressure (CoP) parameters during an adapted tandem position in people with PD. The results showed that a single session of 2 mA tDCS did not improve the postural control in people with PD.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Carla Silva-Batista, Graham Harker, Rodrigo Vitorio, Mike Studer, Brady Whetten, Jodi Lapidus, Patricia Carlson-Kuhta, Sean Pearson, Jess Vanderwalker, Fay B. Horak, Mahmoud El-Gohary, Martina Mancini
Summary: The study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of adding sensor-based feedback to physical therapy in an outpatient setting for older adults. The results showed that PT + MR improved gait speed and arm swing ROM, suggesting that it could be beneficial in improving gait and balance in older adults in outpatient clinics.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Lisa Alcock, Rodrigo Vitorio, Samuel Stuart, Lynn Rochester, Annette Pantall
Summary: Gait speed declines with age, and this study investigates the reasons why older adults do not walk faster despite being capable. The research utilizes functional near infrared spectroscopy to monitor changes in regional oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) in the frontal lobe while participants walk at preferred and fast speeds. The results suggest that walking fast requires increased activation of motor regions in older adults, highlighting the importance of this study for rehabilitation purposes.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Stefany Carolaine Bezerra Silva, William Rodrigues Tebar, Gerson Ferrari, Italo Ribeiro Lemes, Beatriz Anizia Santos Aguilar, Milena S. Teixeira, Jorge Mota, Raphael Mendes Ritti-Dias, Victor Spiandor Beretta, Diego Giulliano Destro Christofaro
Summary: This study analyzed the relationship between the time spent in physical activity in different domains and quality of life in adults. The results showed that different domains of physical activity were associated with different aspects of quality of life. Regardless of the intensity of physical activity and other factors, walking and biking were associated with indicators of mental health and vitality.
JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lisa Graham, Jordan Armitage, Rodrigo Vitorio, Julia Das, Gill Barry, Alan Godfrey, Claire McDonald, Richard Walker, Martina Mancini, Rosie Morris, Samuel Stuart
Summary: Background: Visual cues can improve gait in Parkinson's disease (PD), including those experiencing freezing of gait (FOG). However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Objective: This study aims to examine visual exploration and gait with and without visual cues in PD patients with and without self-reported FOG, and healthy controls (HC). Results: PD patients had impaired gait compared to HC, and dual-tasking worsened gait variables in all groups. Visual cues improved stride length, foot strike angle, and stride time in all groups. Visual cueing also affected saccade frequency, peak velocity, and amplitude. Conclusion: Visual cues improved gait outcomes in PD and HC, with similar responses in freezers and non-freezers. The associations between cue-related changes in visual exploration and gait indicated different underlying visuo-cognitive processing in these subgroups.
NEUROREHABILITATION AND NEURAL REPAIR
(2023)
