Annals of physical and rehabilitation medicine
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Ann Phys Rehabil Med · Nov 2017
Reliability of pelvic floor muscle electromyography tested on healthy women and women with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
Electromyography (EMG) is a well-established method to quantify the relative pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activity. PFM EMG has shown good reliability in healthy women. However, its reliability has not been tested in women with PFM dysfunction. The reliability of EMG analysis methods concerning EMG normalization needs to be determined to assess specific therapeutic interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the intra-session reliability of PFM EMG variables by using 3 different analysis methods in women with PFM dysfunction. ⋯ We need reliable methods to analyse clinical intervention studies. PFM EMG variables had high ICCs, but relatively high SEM and MD values modified the reliability. All EMG analysis methods were comparable in healthy women, but only the visual-onset determination was dependable in women with PFM dysfunction.
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Ann Phys Rehabil Med · Sep 2017
Quantifying cardiorespiratory responses resulting from speed and slope increments during motorized treadmill propulsion among manual wheelchair users.
Cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and training among manual wheelchair (MW) users are predominantly done with an arm-crank ergometer. However, arm-crank ergometer biomechanics differ substantially from MW propulsion biomechanics. This study aimed to quantify cardiorespiratory responses resulting from speed and slope increments during MW propulsion on a motorized treadmill and to calculate a predictive equation based on speed and slope for estimating peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) in MW users. ⋯ Increasing speed and slope while propelling a MW on a motorized treadmill increases cardiorespiratory response along with RPE. RPE can be used to easily and accurately monitor cardiorespiratory responses during MW exercise. The VO2 can be predicted to some extent by speed and slope during MW propulsion. A testing protocol is proposed to assess cardiorespiratory fitness during motorized MW propulsion.
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Ann Phys Rehabil Med · Apr 2017
Predicting falls with the cognitive timed up-and-go dual task in frail older patients.
The cognitive timed up-and-go dual task (CogTUG) has been proposed to improve the performance of the timed up-and-go (TUG) test for predicting falls in older patients and as a screening tool for early detection of frailty. We aimed to determine whether the CogTUG score is associated with a history of falls in frail older outpatients with gait disorders. ⋯ Unlike TUG scores, the CogTUG score was not associated a history of falls in frail older outpatients with gait disorders. Our results underline that weight loss and low muscle strength are related to falls.
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common forms of arthritis. There is accumulating evidence to suggest that OA is an inflammatory disease of the entire synovial joint and has multiple phenotypes. This presents the OA research community with new challenges and opportunities. The main challenge is to understand the root cause of the disease and identify differences and similarities between OA phenotypes. The key opportunity is the possibility of developing personalized and individualized prevention and treatment strategies for OA patients with different phenotypes of the disease. Indeed, it has been suggested that this is the era of 'personalized prevention' for OA. The aim of this mini-review paper is to focus on the pathophysiological aspects of OA development and progression, review the current concepts and discuss the future of personalized medicine for OA. ⋯ There has been slow but steady progress in our understanding of the pathophysiology of OA over the last two decades. However, large gaps remain in our knowledge of OA pathogenesis and this impacts negatively on patients and drug development pipeline. In the absence of new pharmaceutical agents and disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) it is clear that lifestyle modification and physical activity are important and may delay the need for surgical intervention.
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Ann Phys Rehabil Med · Sep 2016
ReviewThe effects of mirror therapy on pain and motor control of phantom limb in amputees: A systematic review.
Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a major problem after limb amputation. Mirror therapy (MT) is a non-pharmacological treatment using representations of movement, the efficacy of which in reducing PLP remains to be clarified. Here, we present the first systematic review on MT efficacy in PLP and phantom limb movement (PLM) in amputees (lower or upper limb). ⋯ We cannot recommend MT as a first intention treatment in PLP. The level of evidence is insufficient. Further research is needed to assess the effect of MT on pain, prosthesis use, and body representation, and to standardize protocols.