Managing Paratonia in Persons With Dementia: Short-term Effects of Supporting Cushions and Harmonic Techniques |
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Authors: | Bieke Van Deun Nele Van Den Noortgate Anke Van Bladel Koen De Weerdt Dirk Cambier |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium;2. Department of Geriatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium |
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Abstract: | ObjectivesParatonia, a form of hypertonia typically seen in dementia, is often associated with difficulties in positioning and daily care. No evidence-based therapy or clinical guideline for management is available. In this study, the short-term effect of harmonic techniques (HT) and supporting cushions (SC) on paratonia was explored.DesignThis was a multicenter interventional clinical trial with AB/BA crossover design. Each intervention (SC or HT) was subsequently implemented over 1 week in each of the participants.Setting and participantsThe study included 22 participants with moderate to severe paratonia from 9 different nursing homes in Flanders, Belgium.MethodsMeasurements of biceps brachii and rectus femoris muscle tone (MyotonPRO), maximal elbow and knee extension (goniometer), and pain (Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors With Limited Ability to Communicate) were performed on 3 different days within 1 week. The effect of HT on nursing care was evaluated with the Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors With Limited Ability to Communicate and visual analog scale ratings of discomfort items.ResultsAfter 30 minutes of positioning with SC, participants had lower biceps brachii muscle tone (P = .041) and higher maximal elbow extension (P = .006) than without SC. After a 30-minute session of HT, a significant increase in biceps brachii muscle tone (P = .032) and maximal extension of elbow (P < .001) and knee (P = .028) was found. Pain (P = .003) and discomfort (P = .001 to P = .019) during morning care were significantly lower when care was preceded by 30 minutes of HT.Conclusions/ImplicationsThis explorative study revealed beneficial short-term effects on range of motion for both SC and HT and a positive effect of SC on upper limb muscle tone. Beneficial effects of HT were found on resident's pain and caregiver's discomfort during care. The results of the present study are encouraging and can contribute to the development of evidence-based interventions for paratonia. |
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Keywords: | Address correspondence to Bieke Van Deun PhD Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy Campus UZ Gent 1B3 entrance 46 Corneel Heymanslaan 10 B-9000 Ghent Belgium Dementia paratonia intervention supporting cushions harmonic techniques |
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