International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de réadaptation
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Overground robotic exoskeleton gait training is increasingly utilized during inpatient rehabilitation yet without clear guidelines. We describe clinical characteristics associated with robotic exoskeleton gait training and examine outcomes of people with spinal cord injury and stroke who completed usual rehabilitation care with or without robotic exoskeleton gait training. Retrospective review of medical records over a 36 months period. ⋯ Robotic exoskeleton gait training dosage varied between our patients with spinal cord injury and patients post-stroke. Robotic exoskeleton gait training utilization during inpatient rehabilitation required consideration of unique patient characteristics impacting functional outcomes. Application of robotic exoskeleton gait training across diagnoses may require different approaches during inpatient rehabilitation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Pain in persons with mild-moderate Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study of pain severity and associated factors.
The aims of this study were to determine pain severity in persons with mild-moderate Parkinson's disease compared with healthy age- and sex-matched controls, and identify related factors, that is, demographic, disease severity, and functioning, of pain severity in the Parkinson's disease group. A cross-sectional study design was adopted to assess pain severity in 100 persons with Parkinson's disease and 47 healthy controls. Bodily pain was assessed using item 21 of the Short Form 36, whereas pain severity was determined using the entire Short Form 36 Bodily Pain subscale (score ranging from 0 to 100). ⋯ Poorer balance performance, a shorter disease duration, and poorer health-related quality of life were independently associated with pain severity. Pain severity is higher in those living with Parkinson's disease than controls, and severity appears to be associated with disease characteristics and overall health. Further research is required to assess pain origin in Parkinson's disease with the aim of developing targeted interventions.
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Comparative Study
Feasibility of de Morton Mobility Index for adult patients of all ages at low and basic functioning level: a study using the Slovenian translation.
We investigated metric properties of the Slovenian translation of de Morton Mobility Index in patients with musculoskeletal impairments during rehabilitation. The study included 30 inpatients, aged 22-84 years, with musculoskeletal impairments with or without impairment of peripheral nerves. They were assessed repeatedly with de Morton Mobility Index, Functional Ambulation Classification, Ten-metre Walk Test, Six-minute Walk Test, Berg Balance Scale and the motor subscale of the Functional Independence Measure. ⋯ Internal validity of de Morton Mobility Index was confirmed by Rasch analysis. Hence, de Morton Mobility Index is a valid, unidimensional, and responsive measure of mobility for patients with musculoskeletal impairments at rehabilitation regardless of age. Its use is recommended for adult patients at low and basic functioning level.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the physical activity (PA) level of adults with muscle diseases and the association of factors affecting PA behaviour. Forty-five adults with muscle diseases and 44 healthy participants were included. The PA was assessed by a SenseWear Armband and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. ⋯ The total number of steps, energy expenditure and duration of moderate PA of the patients were related to the 6-min walk test (P < 0.05). There was a correlation between total, moderate and vigorous PA and mental health in adults with muscle diseases (P < 0.05). The most important factors in reflecting PA in adults with muscle diseases are considered as BMI from personal factors, functional mobility from activity limitations and quality of life in the dimension of participation.
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Case Reports
Phonemic fluency improved after inhibitory transcranial magnetic stimulation in a case of chronic aphasia.
Twenty-six months after a left hemispheric ischemic stroke an aphasic patient showed a significant improvement in verbal fluency following ten daily sessions of inhibitory 1 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the right cortex homologous to the Broca's area. No improvement was observed for other linguistic functions or for executive ones. Results confirm the segregation of neural circuitries subtending phonemic and semantic fluency and suggest a selective usefulness of the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment.