Top Stroke Rehabil
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After stroke, many individuals have reduced physical activity. Pedometer use is reported to enhance physical activity in patients with other health conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a community-based, pedometer-monitored walking program and determine its effects on gait speed and distance, quality of life, and balance self-efficacy post stroke. ⋯ This study represents a preliminary step in determining the effectiveness of pedometer-based interventions for enhancing physical activity in persons with chronic stroke. Further study is warranted.
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Multicenter Study
Clinician perspectives of an intensive comprehensive aphasia program.
Intensive comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) have increased in number in recent years in the United States and abroad. ⋯ Although there is a potential for bias with the small sample size, this pilot study gives insight into the clinician perspective of what makes working in an ICAP both worthwhile and challenging.
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Review Case Reports
Central poststroke pain: current diagnosis and treatment.
Central post-stroke pain syndrome (CPSP) is a debilitating sequel that can follow thalamic sensory stroke. Less well recognized, CPSP follows lateral medullary stroke and parietal cortical stroke and may develop anywhere along the spinothalamic or trigemino-thalamic pathways. ⋯ It is treatable disorder. Pharmacological therapy, magnetic stimulation, and invasive electrical stimulation are reviewed and recommendations made.
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The energy cost of transport is higher for persons with stroke compared with neurologically intact subjects, and this has a negative impact on ambulatory activity and function. Whether the high energy cost of walking after stroke is influenced by gait training interventions is generally not considered. ⋯ Energy and caloric cost of transport at self-selected walking speeds improved pre to post training but were unaffected at an absolute walking speed, suggesting that the improved energy cost of transport was through improvements in the subject's self-selected walking speed. These results illustrate that improvements in walking speed following an intervention are an important mechanism by which the energy cost of transport can be reduced post stroke.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Modified constraint-induced movement therapy improved upper limb function in subacute poststroke patients: a small-scale clinical trial.
Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) has been advocated as a means of facilitating motor function in poststroke patients; however, the evidence for its efficacy is controversial. ⋯ Our study provides additional support for the use of modified CIMT during a subacute rehabilitation period of poststroke patients. CIMT may facilitate functional improvement of a plegic hand.