European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Aug 2013
A long-term pulmonary rehabilitation program progressively improves exercise tolerance, quality of life and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with COPD.
Support and treatment options have been widely discussed in recent decades with the aim of improving morbidity, mortality and quality of life of chronic respiratory disease (COPD) patients. Although it is believed that longer pulmonary rehabilitation programs can provide better results, most of the evidence comes from short-term programs. ⋯ Our study suggests that long-term pulmonary rehabilitation programs can result in further improvements in the aforementioned cardiorespiratory variables.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Jun 2013
Observational StudyRehabilitation of acquired brain injuries: a multicentric prospective survey.
The rehabilitation of the persons with Severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is an important concern to be approached with a comprehensive program aimed to improve the recovery of patients.The efficacy of an early and intensive rehabilitation program has been shown in large number of studies. Few studies focused on the prevalence of TBI and the data are often extrapolated in indirect ways. ⋯ Considering the evidence of an early treatment benefit the delay ofthe rehabilitation program start is far from being satisfactory. The high frequency of the home discharge indicate a good compliance of national family network.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Jun 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialAdapted physical activity is beneficial on balance, functional mobility, quality of life and fall risk in community-dwelling older women: a randomized single-blinded controlled trial.
Exercise programmes have important role in prevention of falls, but to date, we have little knowledge about the effects of Adapted Physical Activity programme on balance of older women. ⋯ Based on our results, the Adapted Physical Activity programme may be a promising fall prevention exercise programme improving static balance and functional mobility for community-dwelling older women.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Jun 2013
Distribution-based estimates of clinically significant changes in the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury motor and sensory scores.
Although the psychometric properties and statistical significance of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury Patients (ISNCSCI) have been widely examined, the clinical significance of motor and sensory scores (i.e., the improvement in score that has a meaningful impact on patients) is unknown. ⋯ Our results provide useful benchmarks for clinicians and researchers with which changes in patient ISNCSCI motor and sensory scores can be interpreted as true and clinically meaningful, thus allowing a clinical judgment on interventions based on patients' progress. The proportion of patients with clinically significant improvements may be a useful benchmark in clinical trials: an intervention should be considered to be effective not only if it produces a greater statistically significant improvement in neurological status than another intervention or the natural course of the lesion, but also if it effects an increase in the percentage of subjects who achieve a clinically significant improvement.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Apr 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyPain and electrophysiological parameters are improved by combined 830-1064 high-intensity LASER in symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome versus Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. A randomized controlled study.
The aim of the study was to compare LASER versus transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in reducing pain and paraesthesia; and in improving motor and sensory median nerve conduction parameters in mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). ⋯ High-intensity combined LASER wavelengths of 830 nm and 1064 nm, which produce a better transparency with less scattering and a high energy transfer, are better than TENS in improving both pain and paraesthesia as well as neurophysiological parameters in CTS.