European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of a multimodal exercise program on balance, functional mobility and fall risk in older adults with cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled single-blind study.
Exercise programs have important role in prevention of falls, but to date, there are conflicting findings about the effects of exercise programs on balance, functional performance and fall risk among cognitively impaired older adults. AIM. To investigate the effects of a multimodal exercise program on static and dynamic balance, and risk of falls in older adults with mild or moderate cognitive impairment. ⋯ Based on our results, the multimodal exercise program may be a promising fall prevention exercise program for older adults with mild or moderate cognitive impairment improving static balance but it is supposed that more emphasis should be put on walking component of exercise program and environmental fall risk assessment.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Oct 2013
Spinal pain management. The role of physical and rehabilitation medicine physicians. The European perspective based on the best evidence. A paper by the UEMS-PRM Section Professional Practice Committee.
One of the objectives of the Professional Practice Committee (PPC) of the Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) Section of the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS) is the development of the field of competence of PRM physicians in Europe. To achieve this objective, UEMS PRM Section PPC has adopted a systematic action plan of preparing a series of papers describing the role of PRM physicians in a number of disabling health conditions, based on the evidence of effectiveness of the PRM interventions. ⋯ A wide variety of PRM interventions including patient education, behavioural therapies, exercise, a number of physical modalities, manual techniques, and multidisciplinary rehabilitation may help patients with low back pain and cervical pain in improving their functioning. PRM physicians may address many of the problems encountered by these patients in many life areas taking the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference guide and may have an important role in improving the quality of their lives.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Oct 2013
The Italian National Registry of severe acquired brain injury: epidemiological, clinical and functional data of 1469 patients.
The lack of knowledge about epidemiological and clinical data of patients with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) admitted to Rehabilitation facilities in Italy led to the creation, in June 2008, of a data collection on-line registry. ⋯ The creation of a National registry allows the collection of data about patients with ABI in order to study the clinical course, the functional outcome and to establish a basis for comparison with other data sources. Clinical Rehabilitation Impact. Data collection could be useful in the evaluation and planning of rehabilitation pathways, and to assess the allocation of healthcare and rehabilitative resources.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Oct 2013
Upper limb function and quality of life in breast cancer related lymphedema: a cross-sectional study.
One of the most frequent impairments in breast cancer survivors is secondary lymphedema of the upper limbs. Several impairments and activity limitations frequently occur in these patients leading to participation restrictions and influencing Quality of Life. ⋯ Lymphedema has to be early diagnosed and treated with an adequate rehabilitative plan to prevent activity limitations and participation restrictions.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Oct 2013
Alpha lipoic acid and superoxide dismutase in the treatment of chronic low back pain.
Neuropathic mechanisms largely contribute to low back pain (LBP) and oxidative stress is acknowledged as one of the causes of nerve damage typical of neuropathic pain: antioxidant agents may be a useful choice in the multimodal treatment strategy for chronic LBP patients. ⋯ Oral combination of ALA and SOD may be a powerful adjuvant in multimodal therapy of chronic LBP patients.