European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Feb 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialPursed lip breathing improves exercise tolerance in COPD: a randomized crossover study.
Although pursed-lip breathing (PLB) has been advocated to reduce respiratory rate and improve oxygen saturation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at rest, the evidence of its effects on dynamic hyperinflation (DH) and exercise tolerance is scarce. ⋯ This study points to a possible application of PLB in a selected group of COPD patients aiming at improving the exercise tolerance. PEF measurements can help to indicate PLB for COPD patients.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Feb 2015
ReviewRecommendations for clinical practice and research in severe brain injury in intensive rehabilitation: the Italian Consensus Conference.
The paper reports the final statements of the jury of a National Consensus Conference organized in November 2010 at Salsomaggiore (Parma) to draw up recommendations on the rehabilitation programs for acquired brain injury (sABI) patients in the intensive hospital phase. Because of the few clinical studies of good quality found by means of the literature research we choose a mixed approach: a systematic review of the published studies and a consensus conference in order to obtain recommendations that come from the clinical evidence and the expert opinion. The final recommendations of the jury, based on the best available evidence combined with clinical expertise and the experience of persons with disabilities and other stakeholders, cover 13 topics: 1) Management of paroxysmal manifestations (sympathetic storms); 2) management of neuroendocrine problems; 3) nutrition; 4) swallowing; 5) ventilation/respiration, 6) clinical and instrument diagnosis and prognosis of vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS), 7) rehabilitative and pharmacological facilitation of renewed contact with surroundings; 8) neurosurgical complications and hydrocephalus; 9) sensorimotor impairment and disability; 10) rehabilitation methods; 11) assessment and treatment of cognitive-behavioural impairment and disability; 12) methodology and organization of care; 13) involving family and caregivers in rehabilitation.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Feb 2015
The value of adding transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (VitalStim) to traditional therapy for post-stroke dysphagia: a randomized controlled trial.
Dysphagia is not uncommon after stroke. Dysphagia may delay the functional recovery and substantially affects the quality of life after stroke, mainly if lest untreated. To detect and treat dysphagia as early as possible is critical for patients' recovery after stroke. Electrical stimulation has been reported as a treatment for pharyngeal dysphagia in recent studies, but the therapeutic effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (VitalStim®) therapy lacks convincing supporting evidence, needs further clinical investigation. ⋯ VitalStim® therapy coupled with traditional swallowing therapy can improve functional recovery for post-stroke dysphagia.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Dec 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises following lumbar microdiscectomy on pain, mobility and return to work. Randomized controlled trial.
Various lumbar exercise programs are prescribed for rehabilitation purposes following microdiscectomy applied for the treatment of lumbar disk herniation. The literature contains several studies on this subject. However, there are no studies investigating the effects of supervised dynamic lumbar stabilization exercises on fear and fear/regression attitudes of patients and on their return to work. ⋯ DLS exercises may be recommended to patients following spinal surgery due to their benefits in reducing pain, increasing spinal mobility, and ensuring faster return to work periods.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Dec 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of manual therapy techniques on headache disability in patients with tension-type headache. Randomized controlled trial.
Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common type of primary headache however there is no clear evidence as to which specific treatment is most effective or whether combined treatment is more effective than individual treatments. ⋯ Although individual manual therapy treatments showed a positive change in headache features, measures of photophobia, photophobia and pericranial tenderness only improved in the group that received the combined treatment suggesting that combined treatment is the most appropriate for symptomatic relief of TTH.