Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Husna Ahmad Ainuddin, Muhammad Hibatullah Romli, Tengku Aizan Hamid, Mazatulfazura S. F. Salim, Lynette Mackenzie
Summary: Research on rehabilitation for falls after stroke in Southeast Asia is limited, with a focus on physical rehabilitation and traditional therapies. Individual-centric interventions are prominent, while community-based and environmental-focused studies are lacking. More innovative research is needed to advance falls prevention and intervention practice with stroke survivors.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Adriana B. Conforto, Andre G. Machado, Nathalia H. V. Ribeiro, Ela B. Plow, Sook-Lei Liew, Claudia da Costa Leite, Artemis Zavaliangos-Petropulu, Isabella Menezes, Sarah M. dos Anjos, Rafael Luccas, Paul Hunter Peckham, Leonardo G. Cohen
Summary: Both RPSS and sham followed by short-duration training showed significant improvement in upper limb motor function, especially in hand strength, in subjects with stroke in the chronic phase.
NEUROREHABILITATION AND NEURAL REPAIR
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Iosa, Stefano Paolucci, Gabriella Antonucci, Irene Ciancarelli, Giovanni Morone
Summary: Thrombolysis administration reduces the risk of death and consequences of stroke in the acute phase, but it doesn't predict neurorehabilitation outcomes in the subacute phase. An artificial neural network analysis can identify prognostic factors and their weights for neurorehabilitation outcomes. The presence of thrombolysis alters the relative importance of clinical factors in predicting response to neurorehabilitation.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Heidi Nedergard, Ashokan Arumugam, Marlene Sandlund, Anna Brandal, Charlotte K. Hager
Summary: Robotic-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT) may have potentially superior effects on biomechanical gait measures post-stroke, with slight improvements in stride length, step length, and temporal asymmetry. However, there is a very low certainty in current evidence, highlighting the need for further high-quality clinical trials to investigate the impact of RAGT on gait biomechanics post-stroke.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Justin Huber, Nicholas Elwert, Elizabeth Salmon Powell, Philip M. Westgate, Emily Hines, Lumy Sawaki
Summary: Stroke is a major public health concern and a leading cause of long-term disability. Dynamic body weight support (DBWS) systems are popular in clinical settings, but there is limited research comparing DBWS to standard of care (SOC) in inpatient settings. This study aimed to determine if incorporating DBWS into inpatient therapy offers greater improvement for acute ischemic stroke survivors compared to SOC.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Marco Iosa, Giovanni Morone, Gabriella Antonucci, Stefano Paolucci
Summary: This study compared the identification of prognostic factors for stroke rehabilitation among regression, neural network, and cluster analysis, finding similar results on a large data sample. All three methods identified older age, severe impairment, unilateral spatial neglect, and total anterior circulation infarcts as important prognostic factors. The accuracy of neural network decreased on the test sample, while binary regression analysis and cluster analysis showed good performance in terms of specificity and sensitivity, respectively.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sujin Hwang, Chiang-Soon Song
Summary: This study aimed to summarize the assistive technology devices used for postural control and gait performance in stroke patients. Of the initially retrieved citations, 30 RCTs were included in this review. The meta-analysis revealed that robot-assistive training was superior to regular therapy in improving postural stability for subacute and chronic stroke patients, but not gait function. The findings suggest that robot-assistive technology devices should be considered in rehabilitative approaches for postural stability and gait function in stroke patients.
Article
Rehabilitation
Nikhil K. Prasad, Rashmita Bajracharya, Marniker Wijesinha, Alan Rathbun, Denise Orwig, Laurence Magder, Ann Gruber-Baldini, Kathleen Mangione, Rebecca L. Craik, Jay Magaziner
Summary: This study compares participants from two different studies and finds that home-based multi-component physical therapy programs can provide better functional improvement after hip fracture compared to usual care.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Peng Zhang, Chun Wang, Junhua Wu, Shiliang Zhang
Summary: This study reviewed 19 studies with data on 5,781 stroke patients, showing that increased levels of plasma D-dimer predict worsened functional outcomes and elevated mortality following stroke. Subgroup analysis indicated that D-dimer levels were more predictive of poorer functional outcomes for ischemic stroke compared to intracerebral hemorrhage. The study provides evidence that higher D-dimer levels are associated with poorer functional outcomes and higher mortality post-stroke.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Jacob Spencer, Steven L. Wolf, Trisha M. Kesar
Summary: Real-time gait biofeedback holds promise for improving biomechanical deficits in post-stroke individuals, but current evidence is inconsistent. Future research should address methodological inconsistencies and develop personalized biofeedback strategies.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Jens Lehmann, Maria Rothmund, David Riedl, Gerhard Rumpold, Vincent Grote, Michael J. Fischer, Bernhard Holzner
Summary: The goal of cancer rehabilitation is to help patients recover physically and psychologically after acute cancer treatment and regain their social life. To assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions, it is important to measure their outcomes. This can be done through clinician reports, patient performance testing, observation of behavior, or direct patient feedback. This paper focuses on patient reports and provides an overview of available questionnaires for assessment and advice on their use. The use of electronic systems for collecting data is highlighted as the most promising approach. The assessment of patient perspective aims to inform decisions on choosing and reimbursing rehabilitation interventions based on patients' needs. The article reviews different types of clinical outcome assessments and emphasizes the importance of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) which provide direct reports from patients about their health condition without interpretation by a third party. The article also discusses the current state of PRO implementation in cancer rehabilitation, highlights trends in using PROs for value-based care, and provides examples of PRO usage and the benefits of electronic PRO collection. Advice is offered on selecting, implementing, and integrating PROs into cancer rehabilitation settings to maximize efficiency.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Sungju Jee, Minah Jeong, Nam-Jong Paik, Won-Seok Kim, Yong-Il Shin, Sung-Hwa Ko, In Sun Kwon, Bo Mi Choi, Yunsun Jung, Wonkee Chang, Min Kyun Sohn
Summary: This study investigated the feasibility of ESD and TC services in patients with cerebrovascular disease and found that ESD and TC may reduce hospital stay and improve patients' activities of daily living.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Bastiaan Cijs, Karin Valkenet, Germijn Heijnen, J. M. Anne Visser-Meily, Marike van der Schaaf
Summary: The study aimed to compare handgrip strength, physical functioning, and health status between patients with and without COVID-19 in the ICU 3 months after discharge. The results showed no significant differences in these parameters between the two groups. Therefore, aftercare is recommended for patients with an ICU length of stay >48 hours, regardless of their COVID-19 status.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Shoji Kinoshita, Masahiro Abo, Takatsugu Okamoto, Kohei Miyamura
Summary: In Japan, the national medical insurance and long-term care insurance systems provide coverage for rehabilitation therapy for patients with stroke at different stages. The government is also planning to establish a comprehensive care system to provide comprehensive medical services and support.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Myriam Villeneuve, Tatiana Ogourtsova, Anne Deblock-Bellamy, Andreanne Blanchette, Marco A. Buhler, Joyce Fung, Bradford J. McFadyen, Anita Menon, Claire Perez, Samir Sangani, Anouk Lamontagne
Summary: The purpose of this study was to develop a VR-based intervention for community walking requirements. Two focus groups and hands-on pilot trial were conducted to explore optimal features, needed support, and favorable/unfavorable factors associated with the intervention. The results showed that the intervention was acceptable and feasible for both clinicians and stroke survivors.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Narelle Hall, Maria Constantinou, Mark Brown, Belinda Beck, Suzanne Kuys
Summary: This retrospective observational study aimed to identify the incidence and patterns of injuries reported from physical therapy presentations for New Zealand Army recruits undertaking basic training over a 4-year period. The results showed that lower limb injuries, especially those sustained at the knee and below, were the most commonly injured regions, suggesting a need for injury prevention interventions to focus on reducing lower limb injuries. Future research on injury surveillance should incorporate clear injury and severity definitions, established injury classification systems, and standardized incidence calculations.
Article
Rehabilitation
Nicholas Flynn, Elspeth Froude, Deirdre Cooke, Jessica Dennis, Suzanne Kuys
Summary: The study found that RT-UL continued to be used regularly with stroke survivors in an inpatient rehabilitation setting two years after initial implementation. While the total number of RT-UL sessions decreased between audits, the average number and duration of sessions for patients remained stable. Physiotherapists were identified as the primary prescribers of RT-UL compared to occupational therapists.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sandra G. Brauer, Suzanne S. Kuys, Louise Ada, Jennifer D. Paratz
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate whether treadmill training embedded in self-management education during stroke rehabilitation can result in higher levels of physical activity compared to usual gait training. The results showed that after 8 weeks, the experimental group walked 1436 more steps per day compared to the control group, and this difference was maintained at 871 more steps per day after 6 months. Although there was little effect on walking or cardiorespiratory fitness, the self-management education seemed to be responsible for the increased physical activity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Susan Stoikov, Mark Gooding, Kassie Shardlow, Lyndal Maxwell, Jane Butler, Suzanne Kuys
Summary: The study aimed to determine the contribution of physiotherapy students to direct patient care activity in a collaborative clinical placement model. The results showed that a group of students in a clinical placement were able to meet or exceed the direct patient care activity of a physiotherapist. Clinical area and CE:student ratio had an impact on the students' performance.
PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Erin L. Caruana, David Rowell, Suzanne S. Kuys, Sandra G. Brauer
Summary: This study found that providing additional Saturday occupational therapy alongside physiotherapy can increase patient participation in weekend therapy and shorten rehabilitation time. Economically, the introduction of Saturday occupational therapy service may bring potential cost savings for the treating hospital.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Narelle Hall, Maria Constantinou, Mark Brown, Belinda Beck, Michael Steele, Jacques Rousseau, Suzanne Kuys
Summary: This study aimed to describe the personal, lifestyle, and physical performance characteristics of New Zealand Army recruits upon entry to basic training. The findings showed that a significant proportion of recruits had reported injuries in the previous year, with the majority of injuries occurring in the lower limbs. Pre-entry alcohol consumption was higher than recommended, and a minority of recruits were smokers. Most recruits had low aerobic fitness, average ankle dorsiflexion range, and low dynamic lower limb stability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lay Fong Chin, Ingrid C. M. Rosbergen, Kathryn S. Hayward, Sandra G. Brauer
Summary: This study explores the perspectives of nurses, therapists, and stroke survivors on self-directed upper limb exercises during early inpatient stroke rehabilitation. The results reveal that stroke survivors play a central role in determining the success of the program, although they require motivation from nurses and therapists. However, many stroke survivors express willingness to participate in the self-directed program to aid in their recovery.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Erin D. Bicknell, Catherine M. Said, Kimberley J. Haines, Suzanne Kuys
Summary: This study aims to describe the experience of post-stroke fatigue during outpatient rehabilitation, including the perspectives of carers. Through semi-structured interviews with stroke survivors and carers, it was found that stroke survivors largely managed fatigue independently during outpatient rehabilitation, while carers played a critical role in learning, monitoring rehabilitation, and managing fatigue.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Mark Trotter, Paul Sanders, Marissa Lindquist, Evonne Miller, Aso Hajirasouli, Andrea Blake, Rosamund Harrington, Heidi Olsen, Tanja Tyvimaa, Gert-Jan Pepping, Suzanne Kuys, Robin Drogemuller
Summary: GrandSchools is a new concept that combines retirement villages with secondary schools in one physical environment, aiming to promote intergenerational inclusivity and enhance the health and well-being of both younger and older generations. Through analyzing the opinions and perceptions of stakeholders, this study summarizes the value, risks, and necessary changes for this model.
AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL ON AGEING
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Anna L. Hatton, Katrina Williams, Mark D. Chatfield, Sheree E. Hurn, Jayishni N. Maharaj, Elise M. Gane, Thomas Cattagni, John Dixon, Keith Rome, Graham Kerr, Sandra G. Brauer
Summary: This study investigated the immediate effects of wearing novel sensory-stimulating textured insoles on balance and gait in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The results showed that wearing textured insoles reduced center of pressure (CoP) movement during standing and did not consistently improve gait compared to smooth insoles or shoes only. Walking barefoot led to poorer gait performance. The study suggests that stimulating the foot with texture could be a potential new treatment option for balance rehabilitation in pwMS, but further research is needed to determine who would benefit the most from textured insoles.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jacinta Foster, Katrina L. Williams, Barbra H. B. Timmer, Sandra G. Brauer
Summary: The commercially available wrist-worn long battery life activity monitor, Garmin Vivofit (R) 4, has been found to accurately measure steps in older adults at higher walking speeds and during outdoor walking. However, it underestimates steps at slow speeds and when walking indoors with postural transitions.
JOURNAL OF AGING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Bernadine Teng, Ingrid C. M. Rosbergen, Sjaan R. Gomersall, Anna Hatton, Sandra G. Brauer
Summary: Through focus group discussions with older adults in Singapore, this study found that individual motivation, individual needs, and environmental support are key factors affecting adherence to prescribed home exercise. Strategies to enhance exercise adherence in older adults should take into account these factors, as well as the culturally unique context and diverse population in this region.
JOURNAL OF AGING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Susan Stoikov, Lyndal Maxwell, Kassie Shardlow, Mark Gooding, Jane Butler, Suzanne Kuys
Summary: The study aimed to explore the views of physiotherapists on the contributions of students during clinical placements. Results showed that students engage in various activities during their placements, some of which contribute to health services while others support student learning. Three major themes were identified: tangible student contribution, non-tangible student contribution, and factors influencing student contribution. It is important to carefully consider these factors to maximize the contribution of students.
PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
Sarah K. Ashcroft, Daniel Ironside, Liam Johnson, Suzanne S. Kuys, Angelica G. Thompson-Butel
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Nicholas Flynn, Elspeth Froude, Deirdre Cooke, Suzanne Kuys
Summary: This study aimed to measure the amount of upper limb practice by subacute stroke survivors, particularly those with severe impairments, before and after implementing robot-assisted therapy (RT-UL). The results showed a significant increase in practice, attributed to the supportive and efficient nature of RT-UL. Notably, RT-UL was able to be integrated into existing clinical practices with minimal training, showcasing its potential for widespread use.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION-ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
