Neurorehabilitation and neural repair
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · Jun 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized, Sham-Controlled, Feasibility Trial of Hyperbaric Oxygen for Service Members With Postconcussion Syndrome: Cognitive and Psychomotor Outcomes 1 Week Postintervention.
Background Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and residual postconcussion syndrome (PCS) are common among combatants of the recent military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) is a proposed treatment but has not been rigorously studied for this condition. Objectives In a secondary analysis, examine for possible effects on psychomotor (balance and fine motor) and cognitive performance 1 week after an HBO2 intervention in service members with PCS after mTBI. ⋯ Outcome measures, including computerized posturography (balance), grooved pegboard (fine motor speed/dexterity), and multiple neuropsychological tests of cognitive performance, were collected preintervention and 1-week postintervention. Results Despite the multiple sensitive cognitive and psychomotor measures analyzed at an unadjusted 5% significance level, this study demonstrated no immediate postintervention beneficial effect of exposure to either 1.5 ATAO2 or 2.0 ATAO2 compared with the Sham Air intervention. Conclusions These results do not support the use of HBO2 to treat cognitive, balance, or fine motor deficits associated with mTBI and PCS.
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · Jun 2014
Rest-Activity Cycle Disturbances in the Acute Phase of Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
Sleep-wake disturbances are among the most persistent sequelae after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and probably arise during the hospital stay following TBI. These disturbances are characterized by difficulties sleeping at night and staying awake during the day. ⋯ Patients with acute moderate/severe TBI had an altered rest-activity cycle, probably reflecting severe fragmentation of sleep and wake episodes, which globally improved over time. A faster return to rest-activity cycle consolidation may predict enhanced brain recovery.
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · Jun 2014
Assessment of Spinothalamic Tract Function Beyond Pinprick in Spinal Cord Lesions: A Contact Heat Evoked Potential Study.
Background Although a mainstay of clinical sensory examination after damage in the spinal cord, pinprick sensation represents only one afferent modality conveyed in the spinothalamic tract. As an objective outcome, complementary information regarding spinothalamic tract conduction may be elucidated by measuring contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs). Objective To assess the value of CHEPs to measure spinothalamic tract function in spinal cord disorders compared with pinprick scoring. ⋯ In contrast, the pain perception to contact heat stimulation was independent of pinprick scores. Conclusion Applying pinprick testing is of limited sensitivity to assess spinothalamic tract function in spinal cord disorders. The application of CHEPs (using standard and increased baseline temperatures) as an objective readout provides complementary information of spinothalamic tract functional integrity beyond pinprick testing.
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · May 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized trial of a robotic assistive device for the upper extremity during early inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
A recent Cochrane Review showed that early robotic training of the upper limb in stroke survivors can be more effective than other interventions when improving activities of daily living involving the arm function is the aim of therapy. ⋯ The robot therapy by NeReBot did not lead to better outcomes compared with conventional inpatient rehabilitation.
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Neurorehabil Neural Repair · May 2014
Mirrored feedback in chronic stroke: recruitment and effective connectivity of ipsilesional sensorimotor networks.
Mirrored feedback has potential as a therapeutic intervention to restore hand function after stroke. However, the functional (effective) connectivity of neural networks involved in processing mirrored feedback after stroke is not known. ⋯ Mirrored feedback recruits ipsilesional brain areas relevant for control of the affected hand. These data provide a neurophysiological basis by which mirrored feedback may be beneficial as a therapy for restoring function after stroke.