European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Aug 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialHow could robotic training and botolinum toxin be combined in chronic post stroke upper limb spasticity? A pilot study.
Spasticity has a role of primary importance in functional motor recovery of upper limb after a stroke. The widespread intervention is the botulinum toxin neurolysis, however robotic training could have a role as useful addition to this conventional therapy. ⋯ With the limits of small sample, the results showed some equivalence between these two approaches with respect to motor recovery and spasticity reduction suggesting that the cost effectiveness of each treatment may have an important role in this choice.
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Spasticity is a frequent complication after severe brain injury, which may impede the rehabilitation process and diminish the patients' quality of life. ⋯ Managing spasticity at first signs could improve rehabilitation of patients with disorders of consciousness and maximize their chances of recovery. In addition, decreasing this trouble could allow a better quality of life for these non-communicative patients.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Aug 2015
Cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary test-retest reliability of the Italian version of the Complexity Rehabilitation Scale-Extended (13th version).
In Italy, the lack of appropriate use of intensive rehabilitative services is an acknowledged issue, as demonstrated by periodic epidemiological surveys. Rehabilitation activities are planned without considering the clinical complexity, known to be one of the most fundamental factors able to outline the real patients' needs on recently clinical practice rehabilitation guidelines. Alternative diagnostic systems become, therefore, necessary. For this reason, we would like to propose the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale - Extended version (RCS-E) within intensive rehabilitation units in Emilia Romagna. ⋯ Further statistical validation will assess the Italian RCS-E as a possible instrument for guiding the patients' assignment to the rehabilitation settings that best suit their specific needs. These preliminary data represent the first step through this purpose.