Disability and Rehabilitation

PURPOSE: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a condition that greatly diminishes quality of life. Phantom motor execution (PME), enabled by myoelectric pattern recognition combined with virtual and augmented reality, is a novel treatment for PLP. Here we, aimed to describe patients' experiences of this treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Qualitative, using semi-structured interviews one month after completed PME treatment. Twenty-one Swedish and Dutch patients (mean age 57, 16 males, 16 lower limb amputations) participated...

PURPOSE: Families experience stress and burden following their child's traumatic brain injury (TBI). Parenting styles are related to parent stress and child behavior problems and executive dysfunction. Parent-child interactions are shown to be a promising intervention target. We aimed to examine the preliminary efficacy of Gaining Real life skills Over the Web (GROW) in improving responsive parenting and reducing parent stress and depression in parents of children ages 0-4 who experienced TBI...

PURPOSE: The review aims to identify what characteristics are reported in randomised controlled trials for the non-pharmacological management of post-stroke anxiety and/or depression and whether research has explored the correlation between participant characteristics and their outcomes. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic search was completed of five databases: CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, Web of Science, and The World Health Organisation. Google Scholar was also accessed...

PURPOSE: To investigate impact of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) personal factors on pain, function, or quality of life following lower limb orthopaedic surgery in children with cerebral palsy (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic review of prospective studies of lower limb orthopaedic surgery in children with CP reporting relationships between ICF personal factors, and pain, function, or quality of life. RESULTS: Eight prospective studies reporting various orthopaedic procedures (median follow-up 2...

PURPOSE: To summarise information about tools available to rate observed performance in activities, tested with populations with upper limb impairment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A scoping review was conducted. Articles were included if they reported psychometric properties of tools that could be used with populations with upper limb impairment, had at least one activity item, and item/s involved use of the upper limbs. Information about the tools was extracted, summarised and key findings are presented...

PURPOSE: While stroke is becoming increasingly prevalent in young people (<65 years), diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and management continue to reflect the needs of older people. This study aimed to characterise and appreciate the healthcare experiences of young stroke survivors, whose needs and trajectories differ from those of older people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 stroke survivors aged 18-49 using virtual conferencing software...

PURPOSE: Engaging parents in child-focused interventions is considered important for intervention effectiveness but is rarely investigated in behaviour analysis literature. METHODS: This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 clinicians working with parents in child-focused behavioural interventions in Aotearoa New Zealand. Interpretive description was the overarching methodology for the study, with thematic analysis utilised to analyse data...

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on pulmonary and diaphragmatic function, exercise capacity, balance and quality of life (QOL), in post-stroke individuals. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, PEDro, Web of Science and China Biological Medicine databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a PEDro score ≥6 focusing on the effects of IMT were included. The GRADE system was used to determine the certainty of evidence for each outcome...

PURPOSE: This study compares the effect of intensive motor learning approaches on improving the quality of upper extremity skills in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) by working on vertical surfaces versus horizontal surfaces during rehabilitation sessions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty UCP children of both sexes were randomized into two equal groups. All participants received 60 min of intensive motor learning approaches three days/week for three successive months...

PURPOSE: To identify factors that contribute to the enhanced life of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in Sweden. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study combined workshops ( n  = 38) and survey data ( n  = 243) from people living with SCI and their relatives, health professionals, and personal care assistants working with people living with SCI. The data were first categorized using Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model, followed by a conventional content analysis...

PURPOSE: The Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA) supports the notion of personalized intervention for individuals who are affected by aphasia. However, knowledge about LPAA among speech-language therapists (SLTs), professionals who support the communication rehabilitation of people with aphasia, is unknown. SLTs with an established understanding of LPAA may be more likely to apply the approach in their practices. However, there is a lack of valid and reliable tools to measure SLTs' knowledge about LPAA...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in pain management in subjects with oncologic process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Several databases were searched in December 2023. Randomized Controlled Trials that evaluated the application of tDCS on pain in adults with oncologic process were selected. Random-effects meta-analysis with 95%CI were used to quantify the change scores in pain between tDCS and control groups. RESULTS: Six trials with 482 participants were included...

PURPOSE: After traumatic brain injury (TBI), individuals may face challenges in their social participation, self-awareness, and self-identity. However, positive life changes can also be experienced (i.e., post-traumatic growth). This study aimed to characterize the social participation, self-awareness, and self-identity of individuals with TBI displaying post-traumatic growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen participants (male = 10, mean age = 49.7 years) with moderate to severe TBI (average years post-injury = 15...

PURPOSE: This study aims to overcome the challenges experienced in the regional development and implementation of home-based stroke rehabilitation (HBSR) and to understand the change process needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using participatory action research (PAR), participants and researchers collaboratively produced knowledge and took action to improve the offered HBSR. Different methods for data generation and analysis were used, depending on the aim of the PAR phase and the participants' stages of change...

PURPOSE: To review existing research on psychosocial factors associated with athlete adaptation to acquired spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in February 2023. MEDLINE (Pubmed), PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus databases were used, and peer-reviewed academic journal entries fully retrievable from the researcher's institution library or online were considered for inclusion. Publications were identified according to predetermined eligibility criteria, and 18 publications were included in the review...

PURPOSE: To understand the breadth of sensory dysregulation on participation in daily tasks for young people with tic disorders, as research identified that sensory dysregulation experiences are broader than the symptoms being assessed. METHODS: Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 families with children (5-16 years) with tic disorders. Interviews ranged from 45 to 120 min and were transcribed verbatim. Data collected from parents and young people were analysed and coded together...

PURPOSE: Prioritisation exercises seek out what matters to key stakeholders to inform the planning of research. Social media platforms are potentially useful data sources. The aim was to examine the content of tweets, short messages containing text and pictures, to ascertain the priorities of Twitter users regarding stroke recovery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Content analysis of Twitter was conducted. An electronic search used the identifiers: #strokesurvivor and #strokerecovery...

PURPOSE: Stroke is often regarded as a disease of the elderly. However, 10-15% of strokes occur in people aged 18 to 50, and rates continue to rise. Young stroke survivors face unique challenges due to their occupational, family and personal commitments, which current stroke rehabilitation services may not fully address. Our qualitative study aimed to identify gaps in patient care and resources for young stroke survivors. We used these findings to develop recommendations to inform clinical care, healthcare system design, and health policy...

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the impact of childhood hearing loss on the family unit and their resulting intervention needs. MATERIALS & METHODS: Qualitative descriptive methodology was used, with in-depth interviews analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four family units of children with hearing loss participated in the study, including parents ( n  = 5), grandparents ( n  = 7), and siblings ( n  = 5)...

PURPOSE: To identify the content and the constructs measured in the Lower Extremity Motor Activity Log (LE-MAL) based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework and to determine whether the instrument items fit within the ICF mobility domain. METHODS: Concepts and constructs measured within each scale were linked to the best-matched ICF categories and classified using established linking rules. Two independent researchers determined the initial linkages...