Kinematic and clinical analyses of upper-extremity movements after constraint-induced movement therapy in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) relative to traditional intervention on motor-control strategies for upper-arm reaching and motor performance at the impairment and functional levels in stroke patients. DESIGN: Two-group randomized controlled trial (RCT); pretreatment and posttreatment measures. SETTING: Rehabilitation clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven stroke patients (mean age, 55y) 3 weeks to 37 months postonset of a first-ever cerebrovascular accident. INTERVENTIONS: Forty-seven patients received either CIMT (restraint of the less affected hand combined with intensive training of the more affected upper extremity) or traditional intervention (control treatment) during the study. The treatment intensity was matched between the 2 groups (2h/d, 5d/wk for 3wk). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were evaluated using (1) kinematic variables of reaching movement used to describe the control strategies for reaching, (2) the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of motor-impairment severity, and (3) the Motor Activity Log (MAL) evaluating the functional ability of the upper extremity. RESULTS: After treatment, the CIMT group showed better strategies of reaching control than the control group (P<.03). The CIMT group also showed less motor impairment on the FMA (P=.019) and higher functional ability on the MAL (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first RCT to show differences in motor-control strategies as measured by kinematic variables after CIMT versus traditional intervention. In addition to improving motor performance at the impairment and functional levels, CIMT conferred therapeutic benefits on control strategies determined by kinematic analysis.     

Mirror therapy improves hand function in subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial

Yavuzer G, Selles R, Sezer N, Sütbeyaz S, Bussmann JB, Köseo?lu F, Atay MB, Stam HJ. Mirror therapy improves hand function in subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective

To evaluate the effects of mirror therapy on upper-extremity motor recovery, spasticity, and hand-related functioning of inpatients with subacute stroke.

Design

Randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded, 4-week trial, with follow-up at 6 months.

Setting

Rehabilitation education and research hospital.

Participants

A total of 40 inpatients with stroke (mean age, 63.2y), all within 12 months poststroke.

Interventions

Thirty minutes of mirror therapy program a day consisting of wrist and finger flexion and extension movements or sham therapy in addition to conventional stroke rehabilitation program, 5 days a week, 2 to 5 hours a day, for 4 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

The Brunnstrom stages of motor recovery, spasticity assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and hand-related functioning (self-care items of the FIM instrument).

Results

The scores of the Brunnstrom stages for the hand and upper extremity and the FIM self-care score improved more in the mirror group than in the control group after 4 weeks of treatment (by 0.83, 0.89, and 4.10, respectively; all P<.01) and at the 6-month follow-up (by 0.16, 0.43, and 2.34, respectively; all P<.05). No significant differences were found between the groups for the MAS.

Conclusions

In our group of subacute stroke patients, hand functioning improved more after mirror therapy in addition to a conventional rehabilitation program compared with a control treatment immediately after 4 weeks of treatment and at the 6-month follow-up, whereas mirror therapy did not affect spasticity.     

Water-based exercise for cardiovascular fitness in people with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of an 8-week, water-based exercise program (experimental group) with that of an upper-extremity function program (control group) to increase cardiovascular fitness within a community setting for people with stroke. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Public community center. PARTICIPANTS: A volunteer sample of 12 community-dwelling people with stroke with mild to moderate residual motor deficits. INTERVENTION: Study subjects participated in group exercise programs for 1 hour, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The experimental group exercised in chest-deep water at targeted heart rates. The control group performed arm and hand exercises while sitting.Main outcome measures The primary outcome measure was cardiovascular fitness (V(O2)max). Secondary measures were maximal workload, muscle strength, gait speed, and the Berg Balance Scale score. RESULTS: The experimental group attained significant improvements over the control group in cardiovascular fitness, maximal workload, gait speed, and paretic lower-extremity muscle strength. The relatively short program (8 wk) of water-based exercise resulted in a 22% improvement in cardiovascular fitness in a small group of people with stroke who had relatively high function. CONCLUSIONS: A water-based exercise program undertaken as a group program may be an effective way to promote fitness in people with stroke.     

Cortical reorganization following modified constraint-induced movement therapy: a study of 4 patients with chronic stroke

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cortical changes occur following participation in a program of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT). DESIGN: Pre-post, case series. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Two men and 2 women with unilateral stroke occurring more than 1 year prior to study entry and moderate stable motor deficits. INTERVENTION: Subjects participated in mCIMT, comprised of structured, 30-minute therapy sessions emphasizing affected arm use in valued activities, which occurred 3 days a week for 10 weeks. Their unaffected arms were restrained 5 days a week for 5 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), upper-extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Motor Activity Log (MAL), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 4T were administered before and after mCIMT. RESULTS: Three subjects exhibited score increases on the MAL, ARAT, and FMA, representing increased affected arm use, impairment, and function. These subjects reported new ability to perform valued activities with the affected hand, such as writing. These subjects also displayed cortical reorganization on fMRI. One subject exhibited minimal affected arm use changes, modest function changes, and no cortical fMRI changes. CONCLUSIONS: Increased affected arm use during mCIMT appears to induce cortical reorganization, as measured by fMRI. In patients who responded to mCIMT, cortical reorganization was positively related to degree of increase in affected arm use and ability. Because mCIMT is more easily administered than longer duration protocols, mCIMT may be a more practicable way of studying plasticity.     

Comparison of a functional restoration program with active individual physical therapy for patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the short-term outcomes of active individual therapy (AIT) with those of a functional restoration program (FRP). DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled study. SETTING: Two rehabilitation centers and private ambulatory physiotherapy facilities. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred thirty-two adults with chronic low back pain. Fifty-one percent of patients on sick leave or out of work (mean duration, 180d in the 2y before treatment). INTERVENTIONS: For 5 weeks, FRP (at 25h/wk) or AIT (at 3h/wk). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Trunk flexibility, back flexor, and extensor endurance (Ito and Sorensen tests), general endurance, pain intensity, Dallas Pain Questionnaire (DPQ) scores, daily activities, anxiety depression, social interest, and work and leisure activities, and self-reported improvement (work ability, resumption of sport and leisure activities). RESULTS: All outcome measures improved after treatment except endurance in AIT. There was no between-group difference for pain intensity or DPQ daily activities or work and leisure activities scores. Better results were observed in FRP for all other outcome measures. There was a significant effect of treatment and the initial value for the gain of the Sorensen score with a treatment or initial value interaction; a significant effect of treatment and initial value on the gains of Ito, endurance, and DPQ social interest and anxiety depression scores, with no treatment or initial value interaction; and a significant effect of initial value but not treatment for the gains of DPQ daily activities and work and leisure activities scores. CONCLUSIONS: Low-cost ambulatory AIT is effective. The main advantage of FRP is improved endurance. We speculate that this may be linked to better self-reported work ability and more frequent resumption of sports and leisure activities.     

Effect of mirror therapy on hand function in patients with hand orthopaedic injuries: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of mirror therapy (MT) in restoring hand function in patients with active range of motion (AROM) impairments following orthopaedic injuries. Method: In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 30 patients with active ROM impairment (8 men and 22 women; mean age: 38 years) were measured. Intervention group received MT, 30?min a day, five days a week for three weeks, as well, half an hour conventional rehabilitation after each MT session. Patients in the control group received the same treatment programme, but instead of mirror, they observed directly the affected hand. In addition, both groups performed a 15?min home programme, including MT for intervention group and AROM with direct observation of the affected hand for control group, twice daily. Outcome measures, including total active motion (TAM) and Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, were administered pre- and post-treatment and three weeks later. This study was registered as an RCT, no. NCT01503762 in http://clinicaltrials.gov/. Results: Final analysis was performed on 23 patients. The mean (SD) changes at post-test from baseline TAM was 154 (32) in the MT (N?=?12) and 61 (24) in the control group (N?=?11); mean difference (95% CI) 93 (68–118), p?=?0.001. The mean (SD) change at post-test from baseline DASH was ?34 (7) in the MT (N?=?12) and ?15 (11) in the control group (N?=?11); mean difference (95% CI) 19 (?27 to ?11), p?=?0.001. Conclusions: Despite significant improvement at post-test in both groups and maintenance of improvement during the follow-up period, MT combined with conventional rehabilitation produced more improvement in hand function than control group.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Hand orthopaedic injuries can result in disabilities in activities of daily living.

• Mirror therapy (MT) provides perception of two healthy limbs through reflection of the healthy limb as the injured limb.

• In a randomized controlled trial, our study shows positive effects of MT combined with a classical rehabilitation programme to improve hand function in patients with orthopaedic injuries.

     

Steps,duration and intensity of usual walking practice during subacute rehabilitation after stroke: an observational study

Background

Duration of therapy time is an inadequate indicator of stroke rehabilitation. Steps, duration, and intensity of active therapy time may provide a better indicator of practice.

Effectiveness of gait training using an electromechanical gait trainer, with and without functional electric stimulation, in subacute stroke: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of conventional gait training (CGT), gait training using an electromechanical gait trainer (EGT), and gait training using an electromechanical gait trainer with functional electric stimulation (EGT-FES) in people with subacute stroke. DESIGN: Nonblinded randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation hospital for adults. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty patients were recruited within 6 weeks after stroke onset; 46 of these completed the 4-week training period. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 gait intervention groups: CGT, EGT, or EGT-FES. The experimental intervention was a 20-minute session per day, 5 days a week (weekdays) for 4 weeks. In addition, all participants received their 40-minute sessions of regular physical therapy every weekday as part of their treatment by the hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Five-meter walking speed test, Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS), Berg Balance Scale, Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC), Motricity Index leg subscale, FIM instrument score, and Barthel Index. RESULTS: The EGT and EGT-FES groups had statistically significantly more improvement than the CGT group in the 5-m walking speed test (CGT vs EGT, P=.011; CGT vs EGT-FES, P=.001), Motricity Index (CGT vs EGT-FES, P=.011), EMS (CGT vs EGT, P=.006; CGT vs EGT-FES, P=.009), and FAC (CGT vs EGT, P=.005; CGT vs EGT-FES, P=.002) after the 4 weeks of training. No statistically significant differences were found between the EGT and EGT-FES groups in all outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample with subacute stroke, participants who trained on the electromechanical gait trainer with body-weight support, with or without FES, had a faster gait, better mobility, and improvement in functional ambulation than participants who underwent conventional gait training. Future studies with assessor blinding and larger sample sizes are warranted.     

Evaluation of a functional hand orthosis combined with electrical stimulation adjunct to arm-hand rehabilitation in subacute stroke patients with a severely to moderately affected hand function

Purpose: To investigate the usability and effectiveness of a functional hand orthosis, combined with electrical stimulation adjunct to therapy-as-usual, on functional use of the moderately/severely impaired hand in sub-acute stroke patients.

Materials and Methods: Single case experiment (A-B-A′-design) involving eight sub-acute stroke patients. The functional hand orthosis and electrical stimulation were used for six weeks, four days/week, 45′/day. Outcome measures: Action_Research_Arm_Test, Intrinsic_Motivation_Inventory.

Results: At group level, patients improved 19.2 points (median value) (interquartile range: [8.8, 29.5] points) on the Action_Research_Arm_Test (p?=?0.001). After correcting for spontaneous recovery and/or therapy-as-usual effects Action_Research_Arm_Test scores still improved significantly (median: 17.2 points; interquartile range: [5.1, 29.2] points) (p?=?0.002). At individual level, six patients had improved as to arm-hand skill performance at follow-up (p?<?=?0.010). In one patient, arm-hand skill performance improvement did not attain statistical significance. In another patient, no arm-hand skill performance improvement was observed. Average Intrinsic_Motivation_Inventory sub-scores were between 4.6 and 6.3 (maximum: 7), except for ‘perceived pressure/tension’ (3.3).

Conclusion: Sub-acute stroke patients who display only little/modest improvement on their capacity to perform daily activities, seem to benefit from training with a dynamic arm orthosis in combination with electrical stimulation. Patients’ perceived intrinsic motivation and sense of self-regulation was high.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• Arm-hand training featuring the dynamic hand orthosis in combination with electrical stimulation shows a shift from no dexterity to dexterity.

• As to the users’ experience regarding the dynamic hand orthosis, patients perceive a high-intrinsic motivation and sense of self-regulation.

• Combining the orthosis with electrical stimulation creates opportunities for a nonfunctional hand towards task-oriented training.

     

Upper-extremity functional electric stimulation-assisted exercises on a workstation in the subacute phase of stroke recovery

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of functional electric stimulation (FES)-assisted exercise therapy (FES-ET) on a workstation in the subacute phase of recovery from a stroke. DESIGN: Single-blind, randomly controlled comparison of high- and low-intensity treatment. SETTING: Laboratory in a rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen stroke survivors (10 men, 9 women; mean age +/- standard deviation, 60.6+/-5.8y), with upper-extremity hemiplegia (mean poststroke time, 48+/-17d). The main inclusion criteria were: stroke occurred within 3 months of onset of trial and resulted in severe upper-limb dysfunction, and FES produced adequate hand opening. INTERVENTION: An FES stimulator and an exercise workstation with instrumented objects were used by 2 groups to perform specific motor tasks with their affected upper extremity. Ten subjects in the high-intensity FES-ET group received FES-ET for 1 hour a day on 15 to 20 consecutive workdays. Nine subjects in the low-intensity FES-ET group received 15 minutes of sensory electric stimulation 4 days a week and on the fifth day they received 1 hour of FES-ET. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measure included the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). Secondary outcome measures included the Motor Activity Log (MAL), the upper-extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and the combined kinematic score (CKS) derived from workstation measurements. The WMFT, MAL, and FMA were used to assess function in the absence of FES whereas CKS was used to evaluate function assisted by FES. RESULTS: Improvements in the WMFT and CKS were significantly greater in the high-intensity group (post-treatment effect size, .95) than the low-intensity group (post-treatment effect size, 1.3). The differences in MAL and FMA were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects performing high-intensity FES-ET showed significantly greater improvements on the WMFT than those performing low-intensity FES-ET. However, this was not reflected in subjects' self-assessments (MAL) or in their FMA scores, so the clinical significance of the result is open to debate. The CKS data suggest that high-intensity FES-ET may be advantageous in neuroprosthetic applications.     

新理疗技术在手外伤患者术后康复中应用的效果研究

目的 探讨多种新理疗技术在手外伤患者术后康复中应用的效果.方法 将手外伤术后患者150例随机分为观察组87例和对照组63例.对照组患者接受常规治疗及护理,观察组患者在此基础上接受氦氖激光治疗仪照射、醋疗、静电磁场疗法.比较2组患者术后康复的效果.结果 观察组疼痛、肿胀消退时间短于对照组,手功能康复程度优于对照组,2组比较,差异均有统计学意义.P<0.05.结论 手外伤术后患者结合应用新理疗技术能明显缩短康复时间,提高康复质量.     

Effect of single-session dual-tDCS before physical therapy on lower-limb performance in sub-acute stroke patients: A randomized sham-controlled crossover study

Anodal stimulation increases cortical excitably, whereas cathodal stimulation decreases cortical excitability. Dual transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS; anodal over the lesioned hemisphere, cathodal over the non-lesioned hemisphere) was found to enhance motor learning. The corresponding tDCS-induced changes were reported to reduce the inhibition exerted by the unaffected hemisphere on the affected hemisphere and restore the normal balance of the interhemispheric inhibition. Most studies were devoted to the possible modification of upper-limb motor function after tDCS; however, almost no study has demonstrated its effects on lower-limb function and gait, which are also commonly disordered in stroke patients with motor deficits. In this randomized sham-controlled crossover study, we included 19 patients with sub-acute stroke. Participants were randomly allocated to receive real or sham dual-tDCS followed by conventional physical therapy with an intervention interval of at least 1 week. Dual-tDCS was applied over the lower-limb M1 at 2-mA intensity for 20 min. Lower-limb performance was assessed by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Five-Times-Sit-To-Stand (FTSTS) tests and muscle strength was assessed by peak knee torque of extension. We found a significant increase in time to perform the FTSST for the real group, with improvements significantly greater than for the sham group; the TUG score was significantly increased but not higher than for the sham group. An after-effect on FTSTS was found at approximately 1 week after the real intervention. Muscle strength was unchanged in both limbs for both real and sham groups. Our results suggest that a single session of dual-tDCS before conventional physical therapy could improve sit-to-stand performance, which appeared to be improved over conventional physical therapy alone. However, strength performance was not increased after the combination treatment.     

Scapular movement training versus standardized exercises for individuals with chronic shoulder pain: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundScapular focused exercise interventions are frequently used to treat individuals with shoulder pain. However, evidence for changes in scapular motion after intervention is limited.ObjectiveTo compare the effects of scapular movement training versus standardized exercises for individuals with shoulder pain.MethodsThis will be a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Sixty-four individuals with shoulder pain for at least 3 months, scapular dyskinesis, and a positive scapular assistance test will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: Scapular Movement Training (group 1) and Standardized Exercises (group 2). Group 1 will receive education about scapular position and movement, and be trained to modify the scapular movement pattern. Group 2 will perform stretching and strengthening exercises. Both groups will be treated twice a week for eight weeks. Three-dimensional scapular kinematics and muscle activity of the serratus anterior and upper, middle, and lower trapezius during elevation and lowering of the arm will be assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment. Pain intensity, function, fear avoidance beliefs, and kinesiophobia will be assessed at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of treatment.ConclusionsThe results of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the efficacy of scapular focused treatments for individuals with shoulder pain. Clinical trial registration: NCT03528499     

Passive stretching does not enhance outcomes in patients with plantarflexion contracture after cast immobilization for ankle fracture: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of short- and long-duration passive stretches with a control treatment for the management of plantarflexion contracture after cast immobilization for ankle fracture. DESIGN: Assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Hospital physical therapy outpatient departments. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with plantarflexion contracture (N=150) after cast immobilization for ankle fracture. All subjects were weight bearing or partial weight bearing. INTERVENTIONS: Exercise only, exercise plus short-duration passive stretch, and exercise plus long-duration passive stretch. All subjects had a 4-week course of exercises. In addition, subjects in the short-duration stretch plus exercise group completed 6 minutes of stretching per day, and subjects in the long-duration stretch plus exercise group completed 30 minutes of stretching per day. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lower Extremity Functional Scale and passive dorsiflexion range of motion with the knee bent and straight at baseline, and at 4 weeks and 3 months postintervention. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-nine (93%) subjects completed the 4-week assessment and 134 (89%) subjects completed the 3-month assessment. There were no statistically significant or clinically important between-group differences for the primary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of passive stretching confers no benefit over exercise alone for the treatment of plantarflexion contracture after cast immobilization for ankle fracture.     

Effectiveness of graded activity versus physiotherapy in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: midterm follow up results of a randomized controlled trial

Background

Low back pain (LBP) is a major health and economic problem worldwide. Graded activity and physiotherapy are commonly used interventions for nonspecific low back pain. However, there is currently little evidence to support the use of one intervention over the other in the medium-term.

Efficacy of a physical therapy program in patients with Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a physical therapy (PT) program in groups of people with Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with a crossover design. SETTING: Two outpatient rehabilitation clinics in Boston and Amsterdam, respectively. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-eight subjects diagnosed with typical, idiopathic PD, Hoehn and Yahr stage II or III, and stable medication use. INTERVENTION: Group A received PT and medication therapy (MT) for the first 6 weeks, followed by MT only for the second 6 weeks. Group B received only MT for the first 6 weeks and PT and MT for the second 6 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP-68), the mobility portion of the SIP-68, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and comfortable walking speed (CWS) at baseline, 6-week, 12-week, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: At 6 weeks, differences between groups were significant for the SIP mobility ( P =.015; effect size [ES]=.55), for CWS ( P =.012; ES=.49), for the activities of daily living (ADL) section of the UPDRS ( P =.014; ES=.45), and for the total UPDRS ( P =.007; ES=.56). The total SIP and the mentation and motor sections of the UPDRS did not differ significantly between groups. Significant differences were found at 3 months compared with baseline for CWS, the UPDRS ADL, and total scores. CONCLUSIONS: People with PD derive benefits in the short term from PT group treatment, in addition to their MT, for quality of life related to mobility, CWS, and ADLs; long-term benefits were found in CWS, UPDRS ADL, and total scores but varied between groups.