Assessment of backward walking unmasks mobility impairments in post-stroke community ambulators

Background: While over half of stroke survivors recover the ability to walk without assistance, deficits persist in the performance of walking adaptations necessary for safe home and community mobility. One such adaptation is the ability to walk or step backward. Post-stroke rehabilitation rarely includes backward walking (BW) assessment and BW deficits have not been quantified in post-stroke community ambulators.

Objective: To quantify spatiotemporal and kinematic BW characteristics in post-stroke community ambulators and compare their performance to controls.

Methods: Individuals post-stroke (n = 15, 60.1 ± 12.9 years, forward speed: 1.13 ± 0.23 m/s) and healthy adults (n = 12, 61.2 ± 16.2 years, forward speed: 1.40 ± 0.13 m/s) performed forward walking (FW) and BW during a single session. Step characteristics and peak lower extremity joint angles were extracted using 3D motion analysis and analyzed with mixed-method ANOVAs (group, walking condition).

Results: The stroke group demonstrated greater reductions in speed, step length and cadence and a greater increase in double-support time during BW compared to FW (p < .01). Compared to FW, the post-stroke group demonstrated greater reductions in hip extension and knee flexion during BW (p < .05). The control group demonstrated decreased plantarflexion and increased dorsiflexion during BW, but these increases were attenuated in the post-stroke group (p < .05).

Conclusions: Assessment of BW can unmask post-stroke walking impairments not detected during typical FW. BW impairments may contribute to the mobility difficulties reported by adults post-stroke. Therefore, BW should be assessed when determining readiness for home and community ambulation.     

Walking speed as a predictor of community mobility and quality of life after stroke

Background: Community mobility (CM) is considered a part of community reintegration that enhances Quality of Life (QoL). Achieving an appropriate gait speed is essential in attaining an independent outdoor ambulation and satisfactory CM.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify whether gait speed is a predictor of CM and QoL in patients with stroke following a multimodal rehabilitation program (MRP).

Methods: This was a baseline control trial with 6-months follow-up in an outpatient rehabilitation setting at a university hospital. Twenty-six stroke survivors completed the MRP (24 sessions, 2 days/wk, 1 hr/session). The MRP consisted of aerobic exercise, task-oriented exercises, balance exercises and stretching. Participants also performed an ambulation program at home. Outcome variables were: walking speed (10-m walking test) and QoL (physical and psychosocial domains of Euroquol and Sickness Impact Profile).

Results: At the end of the intervention, comfortable and fast walking speed increased by an average of 0.16 (SD 0.21) (*p < .05) and 0.40 (SD 0.51) (**p < .001) m/s, respectively. After the intervention, all participants achieved independent outdoor ambulation with an increase of 34.14 of walking minutes/day in the community and a decrease of sitting time of 95.45 minutes/day. Regarding QoL there were increased mean scores on the physical and psychosocial dimensions of Euroquol and the Sickness Impact Profile, respectively (**p < .001).

Conclusions: The results suggest that improved walking speed after the MRP is associated with CM and higher scores in QoL. These findings support the need to implement rehabilitation programs to promote increased speed.     

Cognitive rehabilitation for individuals with opioid use disorder: A randomized controlled trial*

Aim: To examine the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation treatment (CRT) for people with opioid use disorder who were recruited into a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programme.

Method: 120 male subjects were randomly assigned to (1) MMT plus CRT in two months or (2) MMT plus a control intervention. Subjects were assessed at the beginning, mid-point and post-intervention as well as at 1-, 3- and 6-month follow-up time points.

Results: Analysis with repeated measure ANOVA showed that the CRT group performed significantly better in tests of learning, switching, processing speed, working memory and memory span. Moreover, the CRT group had significantly lower opiate use over the control group during 3-months follow-up. Analysis including only those with a history of methamphetamine use showed that the CRT group had significantly lower amphetamine use. No group differences were observed for treatment retention.

Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence that adding CRT as an adjunct intervention to MMT can improve cognitive performance as well as abstinence from both opiates and stimulants.     

Effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis: a meta-synthesis of patient perspectives

While previous randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses offer only limited evidence for the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation, qualitative studies examining patient perspectives report more positive outcomes. This meta-synthesis of qualitative studies examined patient perspectives of cognitive rehabilitation for memory, attention, and executive function problems in people with multiple sclerosis. Using set eligibility criteria, we screened electronic databases, reference lists, and academic networks for relevant papers. Seven papers (195 participants) were selected. Two independent researchers conducted quality appraisals of papers. Data analysis, guided by the thematic synthesis approach, yielded six main themes. These suggested that patients benefitted from the group environment in rehabilitation. Cognitive rehabilitation facilitated the participants’ reflection and awareness of their cognitive deficits, and was associated with increased knowledge and understanding of their illness. Increased strategy use was reported and associated with improvements in cognitive functioning and greater confidence and perseverance. Participants reported emotional and social improvements, and felt more optimistic. Overall, these changes had a positive impact on participants’ quality of life. This synthesis of qualitative studies indicates that people with multiple sclerosis who experience cognitive deficits benefit from cognitive rehabilitation programmes. This finding must, however, be viewed in light of the limitations of this meta-synthesis. The meta-synthesis was registered in the PROSPERO database under CRD42017040148.     

系统性呼吸功能训练对哮喘-慢性阻塞性肺疾病重叠综合征患者肺功能及呼吸指标的影响

目的 探讨系统性呼吸功能训练对哮喘-慢性阻塞性肺疾病重叠综合征(asthma-COPD overlap syndrome,ACOS)患者肺功能和呼吸指标的影响。方法 选择笔者所在医院2019年5月-2020年10月收治的102例ACOS患者作为研究对象,采用随机数字表法将其分为对照组和研究组,各51例。对照组行常规护理,研究组在对照组基础上融合系统性呼吸功能训练。比较2组干预前后的肺功能指标和呼吸指标。结果 干预后,研究组的肺功能各项指标均明显优于对照组(P<0.05);气道阻力各项指标显著优于对照组(P<0.05),呼吸困难程度轻于对照组(Z=-2.996,P=0.003)。结论 对ACOS患者在护理过程中融合系统性呼吸功能训练,可明显降低患者气道阻力指标,对改善肺功能、缓解患者呼吸困难具有明显效果。     

Changes in knee range of motion after large osteochondral allograft transplantations

BackgroundOur study purpose was to determine if primary osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplant surgeries for large (>4 cm²) single-surface, multisurface, or bipolar articular defects in the knee would be associated with significant gains in knee range of motion (ROM) at ≥1-year follow-up when compared to preoperative ROM.MethodsPatients were prospectively enrolled into a dedicated registry to follow outcomes after OCA with or without meniscal allograft transplantation using Missouri Osteochondral Preservation System (MOPS)-preserved allografts. Patients were included if they had surgery to repair at least one osteochondral defect, and when at least one year of ROM data and Visual Analog Scale pain scores were available. Data on complications and reoperations, patient-reported outcome measures, compliance with rehabilitation, revisions, or failures were recorded.ResultsFor patients who met inclusion criteria after OCA surgery (n = 75), overall ROM increased from 127.8 ± 17 degrees preoperatively, to 130.5 ± 14 post-operatively. Non-compliance was the largest factor contributing to postoperative ROM lag or loss. Knee manipulation/lysis of adhesion rates were comparable to rates in TKA and ACL procedures (2.96–4.54% for ACL/TKA, 4% for OCAs in the present study).ConclusionResults suggest that OCA with or without meniscal allograft transplantation in the knee using high-viability grafts, advanced graft cutting and implantation techniques, and procedure-specific rehabilitation protocols can result in consistently successful outcomes in a high percentage (92%) of selected patients. Most patients (95%) can expect to regain, or improve, to “full” functional range of motion (130°) at 1 year after surgery such that highly functional activities can be performed.Level of Evidence: Cohort study; Level III.     

项目教学法在教学中的应用效果研究

目的探讨项目教学法在康复治疗学专业认知功能评定教学中的应用效果研究。方法将2018年6月—2020年6月在苏州大学附属第三医院康复医学科进行临床实习的60名康复治疗技术专业的实习生随机分为两组,每组各30名。对照组采用常规教学方法,观察组使用项目教学法,对比两组的教学效果、考核成绩、自主学习能力以及自我评价。结果观察组的实习同学对“有利于激发学习兴趣”“有利于提高沟通及协作能力”“有利于提高自主学习能力”“有利于提高综合职业能力”“有利于缩小教学与临床的距离”以及“有利于熟悉规范的认知功能评定流程及主要工作内容”等几个教学方面的肯定率高于对照组(P<0.05);同时,观察组理论考核成绩、操作技能考核成绩、实习态度成绩以及考核总分高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组在自主学习、自我管理、信息能力、合作能力等自主学习能力评分也均高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论项目教学法在康复治疗学专业认知功能评定教学中的应用效果显著,明显提高了教学效果,提升了学生的自主学习能力和学习成绩。