Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

OBJECTIVE: Steering-by-leaning is a promising innovation for manual wheelchairs. It may enable improved energy efficiency, one-handed manoeuvrability, and increased trunk activity during wheelchair use in daily life. To explore the feasibility of this concept, the lateral trunk function of active wheelchair users was assessed before comparing 3 preliminary dynamic backrest designs in a virtual steering exercise. DESIGN: Repeated measures, cross-over study. SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of 15 individuals who had been full-time users of manual wheelchair for at least 1 year...

OBJECTIVE: In patients with Parkinson's disease, limited sit-to-stand, walk and turn contribute to decreased independence and quality of life. The 20-meter Ambulation Test (AT20) evaluates walking a total of 20 m, over a 10-m distance, back and forth between 2 chairs, starting and ending in a seated position. The aim of this study was to evaluate test-retest and inter-rater reliability of the AT20 in patients with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease performed the AT20 in 3 conditions: free speed, fast speed, and with large steps, twice 1 week apart...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation followed by treadmill training on dual-task gait performance and contralesional cortical activity in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Forty-five chronic stroke participants were randomized into 3 groups: a bilateral transcranial direct current stimulation and treadmill training group; a cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation and treadmill training group; and a sham transcranial direct current stimulation and treadmill training group for 50 min per session (20 min transcranial direct current stimulation followed by 30 min treadmill training), 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks...

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OBJECTIVE: When linking outcomes to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), inter-rater reliability is typically assessed at the conclusion of the linking process. This method does not allow for iterative evaluation and adaptations that would improve inter-rater reliability as novices gain experience. This pilot study aims to quantify the inter-rater reliability of novice linkers when using an innovative, sequential, iterative linking method to link prosthetic outcomes to the ICF...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of exercise rehabilitation in people with multimorbidity. Exercise capacity was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were: health-related quality of life, activities of daily living, cardiometabolic outcomes, mental health outcomes, symptom scores, resource utilization, health behaviours, economic outcomes, and adverse events. DATA SOURCES: A search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases...

OBJECTIVE: Quantification of lower limb spasticity after stroke and the differentiation of neural from passive muscle resistance remain key clinical challenges. The aim of this study was to validate the novel NeuroFlexor foot module, to assess the intrarater reliability of measurements and to identify normative cut-off values. METHODS: Fifteen patients with chronic stroke with clinical history of spasticity and 18 healthy subjects were examined with the NeuroFlexor foot module at controlled velocities...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term functional, psychosocial and participation outcomes in an Australian cohort of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) survivors. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of adult NHL survivors at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (between 2015 and 2020), participated by completing validated questionnaires. A series of analyses described their current level of function, psychosocial well-being, and participation. RESULTS: Of 129 participants (mean (M) ± standard deviation (SD) age: 62...

OBJECTIVE: Current treatments for osteoarthritis do not resolve the underlying cause. Dextrose prolotherapy is an alternative method that has been proposed for treatment of osteoarthritis, due to its ability to aid tissue regeneration, improve clinical manifestations, and repair damaged tissue structures, which are pathological conditions in osteoarthritis. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of dextrose prolotherapy compared with other interventions in the management of osteoarthritis...

OBJECTIVE: To define the anatomical landmarks of tibial motor nerve branches for selective motor nerve blocks of the gastrocnemii,  soleus and tibialis posterior muscles in the management of spastic equinovarus foot. DESIGN: Observational study. PATIENTS: Twenty-four children with cerebral palsy with spastic equinovarus foot. METHODS: Considering the affected leg length, motor nerve branches to the gastrocnemii, soleus and tibialis posterior muscles were tracked using ultrasonography, and located in the space (vertical, horizontal, deep) according to the position of fibular head (proximal/distal) and a virtual line from the middle of popliteal fossa to the Achilles tendon insertion (medial/lateral)...

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effects of cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation with physiotherapy on lower extremity motor recovery in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Adults with incomplete spinal cord injury. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with incomplete spinal cord injury were randomized into either an intermittent theta-burst stimulation or a sham group...

OBJECTIVE: Self-regulation, participation and health-related quality of life are important rehabilitation outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore associations between these outcomes in a multi-diagnostic and heterogenic group of former rehabilitation patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey used the Self-Regulation Assessment (SeRA), Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-participation (USERParticipation) and the Patient-Reported-Outcome-Measurement-System (PROMIS) ability and PROMIS satisfaction with participation in social roles, and the EuroQol-5L-5D and PROMIS-10 Global Health...

BACKGROUND: Rates of return-to-work after stroke are low, yet work is known to positively impact people's wellbeing and overall health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To understand return-to-work trajectories, barriers encountered, and resources that may be used to better support participants during early recovery and rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS: The experiences of 31 participants (aged 25-76 years) who had or had not returned to work after stroke were explored...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate patients' expectations, met/unmet expectations and satisfaction with intrathecal baclofen treatment in relation to effect on spasticity, pain intensity, sleep quality, occupational performance, well-being and self-efficacy. DESIGN: A prospective longitudinal study with follow-up at 1 year. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients, age ≥ 18 years with a disabling spasticity of cerebral or spinal origin selected for intrathecal baclofen treatment at 2 university hospitals in Sweden were included...

OBJECTIVE: Post-stroke fatigue may be associated with functioning even in patients with mild stroke. In order to guide rehabilitation, the aim of this study was to investigate the independent contribution of 12 function-related domains to severe long-term fatigue. DESIGN: Observational follow-up study. SUBJECTS: A total of 144 stroke survivors (mean age 67.3, standard deviation (SD) 10.9 years) were included. METHODS: Fatigue 3-4 years post-stroke was measured with the Fatigue Severity Scale (cut-off ≥5)...

OBJECTIVE: International guidelines recommend early screening for identification of patients who are at risk of long-term cognitive impairments after cardiac arrest. However, information about predictors is not provided. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify early predictors of long-term cognitive outcome after cardiac arrest. METHODS: Scopus and PubMed were systematically searched to identify studies on early predictors of long-term cognitive outcome in patients after cardiac arrest...

OBJECTIVE: To identify and compare physical activity levels in the Spanish population with chronic low back pain and their associated factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional national study. SUBJECTS: A total of 3,220 adults with chronic low back pain from the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey. METHODS: Three groups were defined according to physical activity level (low, moderate, and high) assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire...

OBJECTIVE: To correlate ultrasound characteristics of spastic muscles with clinical and functional measurements in chronic stroke survivors. METHODS: Ultrasound assessment and clinical and functional assessments were performed in 28 ambulatory stroke survivors (12 females, mean age 57.8 ± 11.8 years, 76 ± 45 months after stroke). RESULTS: Muscle thickness in the affected side was decreased compared with the contralateral side (p < 0...

OBJECTIVE: Based on long-term follow-up of patients with COVID-19, to evaluate whether the severity of acute COVID-19 infection affects rehabilitation outcomes. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SUBJECTS: A total of 61 post-acute COVID-19 patients underwent inpatient and outpatient customized rehabilitation treatment. METHODS: The severity of acute COVID-19 infection was measured with the World Health Organization Clinical Progression Scale (WHO-CPS)...

OBJECTIVES: To explore the content of, and adherence to, self-management activities reported by patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs), and whether adherence to self-management activities is associated with changes in self-reported health and function over a 1-year period following rehabilitation in specialized healthcare. METHODS: Participants (n = 523) reported function and health outcomes at admission, discharge, and 4, 8 and 12 months post-rehabilitation...