Interlimb coupling in poststroke rehabilitation: a pilot randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Background

The interlimb coupling, coordination between the limbs, gets hampered in post-stroke hemiparesis. Most of the poststroke motor regimes primarily focus on the more affected limb.     

Pelvic obliquity as a compensatory mechanism leading to lower energy recovery: Characterization among the types of prostheses in subjects with transfemoral amputation

BackgroundSubjects with transfemoral amputation (TFA) show an asymmetric gait pattern associated with a decreased ability to recover mechanical energy and an increased metabolic cost of walking.Research questionThis study aimed to identify the spatio-temporal and kinematic gait variables correlated with mechanical energy values in subjects with TFA and to observe the ability of the identified parameters to discriminate between TFA and controls according to the type of prosthesis.MethodsThe gait of 40 subjects with TFA was evaluated with a motion 3-D optoelectronic system. Nine subjects wore a mechanical prosthesis (TFAm), seventeen a C-Leg prosthesis (TFAc), and fourteen a Genium prosthesis (TFAg). Spatio-temporal and pelvic kinematic parameters were measured. Energy recovery was measured relative to the whole-body center of mass (CoM) kinematics as the fraction of mechanical energy recovered during each walking step (R-step). Correlation tests and multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the correlation and association between kinematic and energy variables, respectively. Receiver operating characteristics curves were plotted to assess the ability of the correlated parameter to distinguish subjects with TFA from controls, and optimal cutoff point values were calculated according to the type of prosthesis.ResultsAmong the spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters correlated to R-step, only pelvic obliquity of the prosthetic side was significantly associated with R-step. It showed an excellent ability to discriminate between TFA and controls. Furthermore, pelvic obliquity showed an excellent discriminative ability in identifying TFAm and TFAc and a good discriminative ability in identifying TFAg from controls.SignificancePelvic obliquity plays an important role in energy recovery during gait for subjects using prosthetics. This information might be exploited to monitor the adaptation of subjects with TFA to prosthetic devices, to lower the energetic cost of walking potentially, and to reduce the long-term risks of secondary physical complications in prosthetic users.     

肌电生物反馈对痉挛型脑瘫患儿下肢运动功能影响的Meta分析

目的:应用Meta分析评价肌电生物反馈治疗痉挛型脑瘫的作用。方法:检索PubMed、Embase、Cochrane图书馆及中国生物医学文献数据库、CNKI、维普、万方数据库中2009年1月~2019年6月关于肌电生物反馈治疗痉挛型脑瘫的随机对照试验,利用RevMan 5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果:纳入10项随机对照试验,共613个病例;肌电生物反馈可以改善脑瘫患儿踝关节活动度(MD=5.06,95%CI=4.01~6.10,P<0.01),改善粗大运动功能(GMFM D区MD=3.75,95%CI=2.75~4.75,P<0.01;GMFM E区MD=6.04,95%CI=4.82~7.26,P<0.01),改善腓肠肌痉挛程度(MD=5.19,95%CI=-0.52^-0.39,P<0.01)。结论:肌电生物反馈在改善脑瘫患儿下肢运动功能方面具有一定效果,但所纳入研究的方法有局限性,还需更严格的设计和高质量的研究方法进一步证明。     

Biomechanical factors affecting individuals with lower limb amputations running using running-specific prostheses: A systematic review

BackgroundRunning-specific prostheses (RSPs) are biomechanically designed to enable individuals with lower limb amputations to engage in high level sports.Research questionWhat is the influence of RSP use on the running biomechanics of individuals with lower limb amputations?MethodsAn article search was conducted in six databases since their inception to July 2021. Two independent reviewers assessed the title, abstract and full texts in the review process. The quality of the papers was appraised. The review included a total of 35 articles.ResultsMain findings indicate force production is a limitation of RSPs. Individuals with lower limb absence employ a variety of compensatory strategies such as adjusting their step frequency, contact length and joint kinetics to improve their running performance. Leg stiffness modulation and external factors relating to the RSP design and fitting play important roles in RSP biomechanics. For individuals with unilateral amputations, the increased loading of the intact limb could increase the risk of acute injury or chronic joint degradation.SignificanceTo improve their running performance, runners with lower limb amputations employ various compensatory strategies, such as altering the spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters. Factors relating to RSP height, stiffness, shape, and alignment also play an important role in terms of running biomechanics and should be considered in RSP design and fitting. Future studies should focus on the use of RSPs for recreation, in pediatric populations, with certain amputation levels, as well as the impact of training and running techniques.     

张力平衡针法联合电针对脑卒中足下垂患者下肢功能及日常生活能力的影响

目的:研究张力平衡针法联合电针对脑卒中足下垂患者下肢功能及日常生活能力的影响。方法:选取我院2016年1月—2019年5月收治的脑卒中足下垂患者78例,根据随机数字表法分为两组,各39例。对照组给予电针疗法,治疗组在对照组基础上给予张力平衡针法,对比两组患者治疗前后的肌张力和CSI评分、足内翻角度和足下垂角度、Barthel指数评分和FMA评分、SF-36量表评分。结果:经治疗后,两组患者肌张力评分显著升高,CSI评分显著降低(P<0.05),且治疗组改善程度较大(P<0.05);两组患者足内翻角度和足下垂角度显著低于治疗前(P<0.05),且治疗组降低程度较大(P<0.05);两组患者FMA评分和Barthel指数评分显著升高(P<0.05),且治疗组升高程度较大(P<0.05);两组患者情感功能、生理功能和社会功能评分均显著高于治疗前(P<0.05),且治疗组升高程度较大(P<0.05)。结论:采用张力平衡针法联合电针治疗脑卒中足下垂能够改善日常生活能力及下肢功能,值得在临床上推广应用。     

Prostatic Artery Embolization Using 100–300-μm Trisacryl Gelatin Microspheres to Treat Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributable to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Single-Center Outcomes Analysis with Medium-Term Follow-up

PurposeTo report medium-term outcomes of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) using 100–300-μm trisacryl gelatin microspheres to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and to evaluate how cone-beam computed tomography-measured prostate gland volume (PGV), median lobe enlargement (MLE), age, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) affect these results.Materials and MethodsSeventy-four consecutive patients who underwent PAE from April 2014 through August 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients had International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) >12, Quality of Life (QoL) score >2, prostate gland volume (PGV) >40 mL, age older than 45 years, and medical therapy failure. Twelve patients were excluded for bladder pathology or prostate cancer. Patients (n = 62, age = 71.8 ± 9.3 years, CCI = 3.5 ± 1.7, PGV = 174 ± 110 mL) had pre-procedure IPSS = 22.4 ± 5.6, QoL score = 4.4 ± 0.9, and post-void residual (PVR) = 172 ± 144 mL. Post-procedure values were compared to baseline at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Associations between outcomes and PGV, MLE, age, and CCI were evaluated. Adverse event recording used Clavien-Dindo classification.ResultsOne month after PAE (n = 37), IPSS improved to 7.6 ± 5.2 (P < .0001) and QoL score improved to 1.7 ± 1.4 (P < .0001). At 3 months (n = 32), improvements continued, with IPSS = 6.4 ± 5.1 (P < .0001), QoL score = 1.2 ± 1.2 (P < .0001), PVR = 53 ± 41 mL (P < .001), and PGV = 73 ± 38 mL (P < .0001). Results were sustained at 6 months (n = 35): IPSS = 6.4 ± 4.1 (P < .0001), QoL score = 1.2 ± 1.2 (P < .0001), PVR = 68 ± 80 mL (P < .0001), PGV = 60 ± 19 mL (P < .001). At 12 months, patients (n = 26) had IPSS = 7.3 ± 5.5 (P < .0001), QoL score = 1.2 ± 0.8 (P <.0001), PVR = 89 ± 117 mL (P < .0001), PGV = 60 ± 48 mL (P < .01). At 24 months, patients (n = 8) had IPSS = 8.0 ± 5.4 (P < .0001), QoL score = 0.7 ± 0.5 (P < .0001), PVR = 91 ± 99mL (P = 0.17), and PGV = 30 ± 5mL (P = .11). Improvements were independent of PGV, MLE, age, and CCI. Two grade II urinary infections occurred.ConclusionsPAE with 100–300-μm microspheres produced sustained substantial improvements in LUTS, PGV, and PVR, which were independent of baseline PGV, MLE, age, or CCI.