Effects of an Exercise Program and Cold-Water Immersion Recovery in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Feasibility Study.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients present is an increased cardiovascular risk (CVR) linked to systemic inflammatory manifestations. A physical activity program with known positive effects on CVR, followed by cryotherapy because of its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, may be interesting. However, there are no reports in the literature of such a program. This study aimed to determine the feasibility (acceptability, safety, and effectiveness) of an individualized Intermittent Exercise Program followed by cold-water immersion as a recovery for RA patients. The program was conducted three times per week by eighteen RA patients (one man) with means of age and BMI of 55 (11.9) years and 25.5 (4.7) kg·m-2. Outcomes were assessed before and after nine and seventeen sessions and included evaluation of acceptability by perceived exertion (Borg) and water temperature (VAS) measures at each session; safety by a number of painful and swollen joints (echography); physical function (health assessment questionnaire); general health status (Short Form-36) measures; and effectiveness by arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, or PWV) measures. The results showed good acceptability of the program; no patient dropped out of the protocol or even presented difficulties or perceived pain. The HR and PWV values decreased significantly (70.2 ± 8.4 to 66 ± 5.5; p < 0.05 and 8.9 ± 1.2 to 7.0 ± 0.8; p < 0.001) after nine exercise sessions. No aggravation of symptoms has been noted. This program is acceptable, safe, and effective; consider tailoring it for supervised home-based use.

Bilateral capacity is related to bilateral upper limb use after stroke: a study by behavioral maps, accelerometers and perceived amount of use.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the following in individuals after stroke: (1) relationship between upper limb (UL) use by direct observation at home with use perceived and measured by accelerometers; (2) complementarity of these three measurements; and (3) relationship between UL bilateral capacity and bilateral use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one individuals with chronic hemiparesis participated in this cross-sectional study. UL use was assessed using a behavioral map (BM), the Motor Activity Log-Amount of Use (MAL-AOU), and accelerometers, while UL capacity was assessed using the Test d'Evaluation des Membres Supérieurs des Personnes Âgées (TEMPA). RESULTS: The BM was strongly correlated with perceived use (MAL-AOU, ρ = 0.76) and accelerometer (ρ = 0.70). Bilateral UL use (BM) was moderately (ρ = 0.65) correlated with bilateral MAL-AOU and bilateral use by accelerometers (ρ = 0.62). The BM aided our understanding of how the paretic UL was used. The correlation between bilateral capacity (TEMPA bilateral) and bilateral use (BM) was significant (ρ = 0.49), while that with bilateral MAL-AOU and accelerometer were ρ = 0.68 and ρ = 0.50, respectively. CONCLUSION: A BM is a valid way to quantify UL use and can complement information assessed regarding perceived use and by accelerometers.Implications for rehabilitationBehavioral maps may be valuable to complement information assessed by perceived UL use and accelerometers.Quantifying bilateral capacity will reflect in a better understanding of actual paretic UL use after stroke.Accelerometers can underestimate the amount of paretic UL use in asymmetrical bilateral tasks.

Manual Dexterity Is Associated With Use of the Paretic Upper Extremity in Community-Dwelling Individuals With Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Regarding people with stroke, simple outcome measures in clinical settings capable of representing the actual use of the upper extremity (UE) would be useful to rehabilitation professionals for the purposes of goal setting. This study seeks to describe the relative levels of paretic UE use, investigate the association between manual dexterity and task-related UE use, and to establish the manual dexterity cutoff points that correspond to relative levels of paretic UE use. METHODS: Forty-six adults with chronic hemiparesis participated in this cross-sectional study. Behavioral mapping was employed to ascertain the actual amount of UE use by the identifying the unimanual and bimanual activities performed in the participants' homes within a 4-hour period. Participants were classified into 4 levels of paretic UE integration into activities considering the data from the behavioral mapping (activity, hand function, and type of grasp). The Box and Block Test (BBT) and the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) were used to evaluate dexterity. The Spearman test was used to evaluate the correlations. In analyzing the receiver operating characteristic curve, we applied the Youden index to determine the cutoff points. RESULTS: Participants with full/almost full (n = 11), partial (n = 12), and limited (n = 12) integration of the paretic UE into activities and with little/no use (n = 11) were identified. Unimanual and total paretic UE activities were found to have a high correlation with the BBT scores. The boundaries between the integration levels were between full/almost full and partial integration, BBT greater than 30 blocks or NHPT of 41 seconds and less; between partial and limited, BBT greater than 16 blocks; and between limited and little/no use, BBT greater than 3 blocks. Both tests show good accuracy (≥0.81). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The BBT presents a positive high correlation with paretic UE use at home and was shown to be better able to identify "limited" and "partial" integration of the paretic UE. Both tests can identify when the paretic UE is fully/almost fully integrated into activities at home.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A354).

Hand function and type of grasp used by chronic stroke individuals in actual environment.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of paretic upper limb (UL) use in the actual environment is crucial for defining treatment strategies that are likely to enhance performance. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the hand function and type of grasp performed in the actual environment following stroke and determine if any differences in hand use are dependent on the degree of motor impairment. METHOD: This cross-sectional study enrolled 41 participants with chronic hemiparesis classified as having either mild (11), moderate (20), or severe (10) UL impairment. A behavioral map was used while observing hand use over the 4-h experimental period, during which we checked: activity- unimanual, bimanual or non-task-related; hand function- stabilization, manipulation, reach-to-grasp, gesture, support or push; and type of grasp- digital or whole-hand. RESULTS: Participants with severe impairment did not use the paretic UL spontaneously; analyzing the moderate and mild subgroup together, the predominant UL hand functions were stabilization and manipulation, the paretic UL performs the stabilization function using the whole-hand more frequently (71.2%) than digital (28.8%) grasp. In the subgroup analysis, the paretic and non-paretic UL in the moderate and the paretic UL in the mild subgroup perform the whole-hand stabilization more frequently than digital. Digital grasp is more accomplished by the non-paretic UL in reach-to-grasp hand function, particularly in the mild subgroup. CONCLUSION: The paretic UL is predominantly employed for stabilization function using a whole-hand grasp. The type of grasp in the actual environment is affected by motor impairment, and greater motor impairment leads to the performance of less complex tasks.

The activity assessment instruments of the upper limbs do contemplate the most accomplished tasks at home by people with hemiparesis? / Os instrumentos de avaliação de atividade dos membros superiores contemplam as tarefas mais realizadas em domicílio por pessoas com hemiparesia?

Abstract Introduction: There is still no consensus on the recommendation of instruments for evaluation of the upper limb (UL) after Stroke. Objective: Identify the tasks most performed at home by people after stroke, and among these, which are contemplated in the instruments of assessments of UL activity identified in the literature. Method: Direct observation during four hours at the home of 40 participants (57,2±13,0 years old) with hemiparesis, the basic activities of daily life (BADL) and instrumental (IADL) were recorded, identifying those performed by a larger number of participants. Results: From the 247 observed tasks, 70,5% were related to IADL. In the literature we identified six instruments of capacity evaluation: Arm Motor Ability Test (AMAT); Action Research Arm Test (ARAT); Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory (CAHAI); JEBSEN-TAYLOR; Test d'Evaluation des Membres Supérieurs de Personnes Agées (TEMPA) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and four Performance: Motor Activity Log (MAL); Manual Ability Measure (MAM-16 and MAM-36) and ABILHAND. Of the 64 tasks performed by a larger number of participants, the capacity instrument that contemplated the largest number of these was CAHAI (15%) and performance was MAL (33%). The instruments with the greater proportion of tasks observed at home in relation to the total number of the instrument were the TEMPA (all eight) and the MAL (21/30) tasks. Conclusion: Performance instruments contemplate greater proportion of tasks observed directly at home, however the capacity instruments assess distinct tasks. The combination of capacity and performance tools for UL assessment in this population is recommended.

Resumo Introdução: Ainda não há consenso sobre a recomendação de instrumentos para avaliação do membro superior (MS) pós-Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE). Objetivo: Identificar as tarefas realizadas no domicílio por pessoas pós-AVE e, dentre estas, quais estão contempladas nos instrumentos de avaliação de atividade do MS identificados na literatura. Método: Por observação direta, durante quatro horas no domicílio de 40 participantes (57,2±13,0 anos) com hemiparesia, foram registradas as atividades básicas de vida diária (ABVD) e instrumentais (AIVD), identificando aquelas executadas por maior número de participantes. Resultados: Das 247 tarefas observadas, 70,5% foram relacionadas às AIVD. Na literatura, identificamos seis instrumentos de avaliação da capacidade: Arm Motor Ability Test (AMAT); Action Research Arm Test (ARAT); Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory (CAHAI); JEBSEN-TAYLOR; Test d'Evaluation des Membres Supérieurs de Personnes Agées (TEMPA) e Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), e quatro de desempenho: Motor Activity Log (MAL); Manual Ability Measure (MAM-16 e MAM-36) e ABILHAND. Dentre as 64 tarefas realizadas por um maior número de participantes, o instrumento de capacidade que contemplou maior número destas foi o CAHAI (15%) e de desempenho foi o MAL (33%). Os instrumentos com maior proporção de tarefas observadas em domicílio, em relação ao número total do instrumento, foram o TEMPA (todas as oito) e o MAL (21/30 tarefas). Conclusão: Os instrumentos de desempenho contemplam maior proporção das tarefas observadas em domicílio, entretanto os instrumentos de capacidade avaliam tarefas distintas destas. Recomenda-se a combinação de instrumentos de capacidade e desempenho para avaliação do MS nessa população.

Qualidade de vida em mulheres com peso normal, sobrepeso e obesidade: uma perspectiva subjetiva e individual / Caldad de vida en mujeres con peso normal, sobrepeo y obesidad: una perspectiva individual y subjetiva / Quality of life of women with normal weight, overweight andobesity: an individual and subjective perspective

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade de vida em mulheres com peso normal, sobrepeso e obesidade, em duas faixas etárias. Foram avaliadas 50 mulheres, distribuídas em dois grupos de diferentes faixas etárias (31?45 anos e 46?60 anos). Todas responderam uma ficha de identificação para caracterização sóciodemográfica e clínica, seguida da avaliação da massa corporal e estatura, para o cálculo do Índice de Massa Corporal e classificação do estado nutricional. A qualidade de vida foi avaliada por meio do Questionário de Qualidade de Vida. O primeiro grupo foi formado por sete mulheres com peso normal, sete com sobrepeso e onze obesas. O segundo grupo era composto por nove mulheres com peso normal, nove com sobrepeso e sete obesas. De modo geral, as participantes demonstraram uma boa qualidade de vida. Entretanto, o segundo grupo apresentou diferença significativa nos domínios Capacidade Funcional e Vitalidade, indicando que as obesas apresentaram prejuízo nas atividades físicas ou de vida diária e maior sensação de cansaço quando comparadas às mulheres com sobrepeso. Considera-se que a qualidade de vida seja uma percepção subjetiva e individual, pouco afetada pela obesidade.Contudo, não se descarta que a obesidade representa um fator de risco à saúde das mulheres.

Este estudio evaluó la calidad de vida en mujeres con peso normal, sobrepeso y obesidad en diferentes edades. Se evaluaron 50 mujeres, divididas en dos grupos (31?45 años y 46?60 años). Los sujetos respondieron una hoja de identificación de datos socio-demográficos y clínicos, siguiente de la evaluación del peso corporal y la altura para calcular el Índice de Masa Corporal y la clasificación del estado nutricional. Se evaluó la calidad de vida mediante el cuestionario de calidad de vida. El primer grupo se compone de siete mujeres con peso normal, siete con sobrepeso y once obesas. El segundo grupo era compuesto por nueve mujeres con peso normal, nueve con sobrepeso y siete obesas. De manera general, las participantes demostraron una buena calidad de vida. Sin embargo, el segundo grupo mostró diferencias en la capacidad funcional y vitalidad, lo que indica que las mujeres obesas mostraron deterioro en la actividad física o la vida diaria y un mayor sentido defatiga en comparación con las mujeres con sobrepeso. Se considera que la calidad de vida es subjetiva y la percepción individual se ve poco afectada por la obesidad. Sin embargo, no se descartó que la obesidad es un factor de riesgo para la salud de las mujeres.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in of women with normal weight, overweight and obesity in two age groups. We evaluated 50 women, divided into two groups of different age brackets (31?45 years and 46?60 years). All the participants answered an identification form for socio-demographic and clinical aspects, followed by the evaluation of body weight and height to calculate the Body Mass Index and nutritional status classification. The quality of life was assessed by using the Quality of Life Questionnaire. The first group was composed of seven women with normal weight, seven with overweight and eleven obese participants. The second group ? G2 ? contained nine women with normal weight, nine with overweight and seven with obesity. Generally speaking, the participants evidenced a good quality of life. However, the second group showed significant difference in the Functional Capacity and Vitality, indicating that obese women showed impairment in physical activities or in daily life and a greater sense of fatigue when compared to women with overweight. Finally, the quality of life is a subjective and individual perception little affected by obesity. However, it is not implausible that obesity is a risk factor for women?s health.