Cognitive Assessment and Rehabilitation Pathway for Stroke (CARPS)

Abstract

Complex cognitive impairments are common after stroke and they can significantly impede individuals’ progress in rehabilitation. Treatment strategies that allow patients to compensate for such deficits are therefore an important part of multidisciplinary rehabilitation, as acknowledged by various clinical guidelines. In part due to the heterogeneity of poststroke cognitive impairments, the evidence base for treatments in this area is often unclear or inconsistent. There are no straightforward clinical tools or guidelines available to facilitate poststroke cognitive rehabilitation across cognitive domains. The present article proposes a cognitive assessment and rehabilitation pathway for stroke (CARPS), which aims to provide a structure to guide stroke rehabilitation teams in this difficult area of clinical practice. Practical treatment strategies are also discussed in some detail. Finally, the limitations of the proposed pathway are acknowledged, as is the importance of further research.     

A one-year follow-up after modified constraint-induced movement therapy for chronic stroke patients with paretic arm: a prospective case series study

Abstract

Background:

Despite the confirmed short-term effects of constraint-induced movement therapy, the long-term effects have not been sufficiently verified in terms of functional improvement of the affected arm.

Objective:

To evaluate the long-term effects and relationship between arm use in activities of daily living and arm improvement with modified constraint-induced movement therapy in chronic stroke patients.

Methods:

At 1 year after completing modified constraint-induced movement therapy, arm function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment) and amount of daily arm use (motor activity log) were assessed.

Results:

Fourteen post-stroke patients with mild to moderate impairment of arm function were analyzed. One year after completing modified constraint-induced movement therapy, participants consistently showed improvements in arm function and amount of daily arm use (analysis of variance: Fugl-Meyer Assessment, P?<?0.001; Motor Activity Log, P?<?0.001). For the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, post-hoc tests detected significant improvements (pre versus post, P?=?0.009; pre versus 1 year, P?<?0.0001; post versus 1 year, P?<?0.036). For the Motor Activity Log, post-hoc tests also detected significant improvements (pre versus post, P?=?0.0001; pre versus 1 year, P?<?0.0001; post versus 1 year, P?=?0.0014). The magnitude of the change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment score correlated significantly with the change in Motor Activity Log score (R?=?0.778, P?=?0.001).

Conclusions:

Among post-stroke patients with mild to moderate impairments of arm function, modified constraint-induced movement therapy without any other rehabilitation after intervention may improve arm function and increase arm use for 1 year. In addition, increasing arm use may represent an important factor in improving arm function, and vice versa.     

Ankle torque steadiness and gait speed after a single session of robot therapy in individuals with chronic hemiparesis: a pilot study

Background: Anklebot therapy has proven to be effective in improving hemiparetic gait. However, neither ankle torque steadiness nor the relationship between changes in force control and functional tasks after therapy with Anklebot were described.

Objective: To assess whether a single session of robotic therapy promotes short-term ankle adaptations that influence ankle torque steadiness and walking speed in individuals with chronic hemiparesis.

Methods: A sample of participants who had residual hemiparesis deficits (hemiparesis group; n = 13) and age- and sex-matched healthy control participants (control group; n = 13). For sample characterization, balance, mobility, sensorimotor impairment, and daily living activities performance were measured.

Results: Differences in functional tests were identified only when the control and hemiparesis groups (F = 29.1; p = .001) were compared during the 10-metre Walking Test. Regarding the pre- and post-robotic assistance session, no significant difference was observed for any comparison (p > .05), except for the steadiness test, as demonstrated by the standard deviation (F = 7.10; p = .01) and coefficient of variation (F = 6.20; p = .02). The hemiparesis group showed better torque steadiness during dorsiflexion post-robotic assistance therapy (p ≥ 0.02) when compared with pre-robotic assessment. Correlations were identified between steadiness and walking speed variables.

Conclusion: People with chronic hemiparesis presented short-term performance gains in torque steadiness, especially during dorsiflexion, after a single robotic therapy session. The robotic therapy did not influence the walking speed, although low to moderate correlations between torque steadiness variables and walking speed were observed.     

Increasing physical activity in stroke survivors using STARFISH,an interactive mobile phone application: a pilot study

Background: Following stroke, people are generally less active and more sedentary which can worsen outcomes. Mobile phone applications (apps) can support change in health behaviors. We developed STARFISH, a mobile phone app-based intervention, which incorporates evidence-based behavior change techniques (feedback, self-monitoring and social support), in which users’ physical activity is visualized by fish swimming.

Objective: To evaluate the potential effectiveness of STARFISH in stroke survivors.

Method: Twenty-three people with stroke (12 women; age: 56.0 ± 10.0 years, time since stroke: 4.2 ± 4.0 years) from support groups in Glasgow completed the study. Participants were sequentially allocated in a 2:1 ratio to intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 8) groups. The intervention group followed the STARFISH program for six weeks; the control group received usual care. Outcome measures included physical activity, sedentary time, heart rate, blood pressure, body mass index, Fatigue Severity Scale, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living Scale, Ten-Meter Walk Test, Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale, and Psychological General Well-Being Index.

Results: The average daily step count increased by 39.3% (4158 to 5791 steps/day) in the intervention group and reduced by 20.2% (3694 to 2947 steps/day) in the control group (p = 0.005 for group–time interaction). Similar patterns of data and group–time interaction were seen for walking time (p = 0.002) and fatigue (p = 0.003). There were no significant group–time interactions for other outcome measures.

Conclusion: Use of STARFISH has the potential to improve physical activity and health outcomes in people after stroke and longer term intervention trials are warranted.     

住院期间他汀类药物治疗对伴有慢性肾脏病的急性缺血性卒中患者短期卒中复发的影响

目的 分析住院期间使用他汀类药物降低伴有慢性肾病（chronic kidney disease,CKD）的急性缺血性卒中患者短期复发的效果。      

European Stroke Initiative (EUSI) Recommendations for Stroke ManagementThe European Stroke Initiative Writing Committee

The European Stroke Initiative (EUSI) is the common body of stroke-related activities within the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS), the European Neurological Society (ENS) and the European Stroke Council (ESC). The Executive committee of the EUSI has authorized the writing committee of the EUSI to create recommendations for stroke management covering all areas of stroke treatment. The recommendations are listed according to levels of evidence pre-specified and modified according to several proposals in the literature. The recommendations have been approved by the executive committees of the EUSI, the ESC, the EFNS and the ENS. They are called recommendations rather than guidelines in order to underline the large amount of individual decision making due to the fact that for many important questions, no data of high evidence level is available. The EUSI plans to review and update the recommendations on a regular basis.     

Outcomes for Patients With In-Hospital Stroke: A Multicenter Study From the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR)

Background

The quality of care and outcomes for people who experience stroke whilst in hospital for another condition has not been previously studied in Australia.

TENS and optokinetic stimulation in neglect therapy after cerebrovascular accident: a randomized controlled study

Background:  In a randomized controlled type Ib study, the effectiveness of three different forms of therapy for the treatment of visual neglect was assessed by comparing therapy outcomes in three groups of patients after cerebrovascular accidents.
Methods:  A control group received only standard exploration training, whilst the second and third group received exploration training combined with either contralateral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or optokinetic stimulation (OKS) respectively.
Results:  It was found that exploration training alone resulted in no improvement on both standard neglect tests (NTs) and everyday-relevant measures of reading and writing performance. In contrast, the groups receiving TENS or OKS showed significant improvements in both sets of measures with the difference that for the TENS group the improvement in NT scores at the end of therapy had disappeared 1-week later. However, both treatments resulted in significant improvements in reading and writing which were still present upon retesting 1-week after the end of therapy.
Conclusion:  Both methods can be recommended for neglect therapy and are superior to exploration therapy alone.     

浅谈脑血管病融合病房的基本概念和建设框架

随着诊疗技术的发展,脑血管病的诊疗越来越多地需要其他相关学科的参与和合作,既往基于卒中单元为基础的合作模式需要更多的科室加入和更深入的合作方式。例如：缺血性卒中超急性期的再灌注治疗需要神经内科、神经外科、急诊科、神经重症监护科、神经介入科、放射科和康复科的配合;在卒中二级预防阶段,急性和亚急性期的卒中患者更强调营养支持和康复锻炼。融合性卒中单元作为卒中单元的升级模式,旨在促进神经病学、神经外科、康复部门的深入合作,以不同的合作模式,抓住分秒必争的契机,实施最佳临床实践,为患者争取更好的临床结果。探索脑血管病融合病房的初衷就是为了探索深入合作的融合病房模式,进一步加强再灌注治疗、二级预防、围手术期管理等卒中诊疗多环节的多科室协作,为构建适合不同医疗机构的卒中诊疗多科室联合模式提供参考。     

Relationships between characteristics of the ward atmosphere and treatment outcome in a psychiatric day-care unit based on occupational therapy

The relationships between characteristics of the ward atmosphere and treatment outcome in a psychiatric day-care unit were investigated. The treatment programme was based on occupational group therapy and included long-term mentally ill patients, equally distributed with regard to psychosis and non-psychosis diagnoses. The ward atmosphere was rated on the Community-Oriented Programs Environment Scale (COPES), and outcome variables concerned symptoms, global mental health, quality of life, and functioning in daily life. The COPES ratings were re-coded in order to control for the fact that different levels of ward atmosphere factors are recommended for psychotic and non-psychotic patients. The results revealed that an optimal initial level of anger and aggression in treatment was significantly associated with improvement in global mental health and functioning in everyday life. Initial optimal levels of staff control and practical orientation were significantly associated with improvement in psychiatric symptoms. The characteristics of the ward atmosphere at the end of the treatment period were significantly correlated with various aspects of functioning in daily life. The study demonstrated associations with outcome variables not previously linked with ward atmosphere characteristics, e.g. functioning in daily life and quality of life.     

Very early cognitive screening and return to work after stroke

Background: Stroke is a common cause of long-term disability worldwide, and an increasing number of persons affected by stroke are of working age. In addition to physical impairments, a majority of patients reportedly suffer cognitive impairments after stroke. Reduced cognitive function may hinder poststroke return to work (RTW); however, most studies of this relationship have assessed cognitive function months after the stroke.

Objectives: The current study aims to investigate the degree of post-stroke RTW, and whether very early cognitive function screening can predict RTW after a stroke.

Methods: This study included 145 persons treated for stroke at 18–63 years of age at a large university hospital in Sweden between 2011 and 2016. Data were retrieved from the GOTVED database. Within 36–48 h after hospital admission, cognitive function was screened using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Full and partial RTW were assessed based on the Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s register. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the potential predictors of RTW at 6 months and 18 months.

Results: Neither global cognitive function nor executive function at 36–48 h after stroke predicted any degree of RTW at 6 or 18 months. Male sex, lower stroke severity, and not being on sick leave prior to stroke were significant predictors of RTW.

Conclusions: Screening for cognitive impairments at 36–48-h post stroke is apparently too early for predicting RTW, and thus cannot be the sole basis for discharge planning after stroke. Additional research is needed to further analyze cognitive function early after stroke and RTW.