Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptability of Online Mind-Body Exercise Programs for Older Adults: A Scoping Review.

Objectives: Engaging in mind-body exercises (MBEs: e.g., Tai Chi and yoga) can have physical and mental health benefits particularly for older adults. Many MBEs require precise timing and coordination of complex body postures posing challenges for online instruction. Such challenges include difficulty viewing instructors as they demonstrate different movements and lack of feedback to participants. With the shift of exercise programs to online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a scoping review to examine the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of online MBE classes for older adults. Materials and Methods: We followed the scoping review methodology and adhered to the PRISMA reporting checklist. We searched five databases: Medline, Embase, CINHAL, Web of Science, and ACM digital library. Screening of articles and data extraction was conducted independently by two reviewers. Settings/Location: Online/virtual. Subjects: Older adults ≥55 years of age. Outcome Measures: Feasibility measures. Results: Of 6711 studies retrieved, 18 studies were included (715 participants, mean age 66.9 years). Studies reported moderate to high retention and adherence rates (mean >75%). Older adults reported online MBE classes were easy to use and reported high satisfaction with the online format. We also identified barriers (e.g., lack of space and privacy and unstable internet connection) and facilitators (e.g., convenience and technical support) to the online format. Opinions related to social connectedness were mixed. Conclusion: Online MBE programs for older adults appear to be a feasible and acceptable alternative to in-person programs. It is important to consider the type of exercise (e.g., MBE), diverse teaching styles, and learner needs when designing online exercise classes.

The effect of ultrasound or phonophoresis as an adjuvant treatment for non-specific neck pain: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of ultrasound/phonophoresis as an adjuvant to exercise or manual therapy for the improvement of patient-centred outcomes in adults with non-specific neck pain (NSNP). METHODS: Seven electronic databases were systematically searched up to September 2020. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to judge the Quality of Evidence (QoE). RESULTS: Six studies involving 249 participants were included. The QoE was very low GRADE. Phonophoresis with capsaicin plus exercise improved pain at immediate post-treatment (MD: -3.30 [-4.05, -2.55]) but not with diclofenac sodium plus exercise as compared to exercise. Continuous ultrasound (CUS) plus exercise improved pain and pressure pain threshold (PPT) at immediate post-treatment (pain: MD: -3.42 [-4.08, -2.7]); (PPT: MD: 0.91 [0.68, 1.14]) and at intermediate-term as compared to exercise. CUS or high power pain threshold (HPPT) ultrasound plus manual therapy and exercise showed no benefit for pain reduction (MD: -0.75 [-2.08, 0.58]) did not improve function/disability (MD: -1.05 [-4.27, 2.17]) at immediate or short-term as compared to manual therapy and exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Due to high risk of bias, inconsistency, and indirectness the QoE is very low in support of benefit of ultrasound/phonophoresis as an adjuvant treatment for NSNP.Implication for rehabilitationDue to high risk of bias, inconsistency, and indirectness the quality of evidence (QoE) is very low in support of benefit of adding ultrasound or phonophoresis to exercise or manual therapy for pain reduction or improvement in function/disability for those with sub-acute and chronic myofascial associated neck pain. However, our confidence in the findings is very low and conclusions are likely to change as more evidences emerges.Clinicians using ultrasound therapy as an adjuvant intervention for management of chronic myofascial associated neck pain should carefully consider the available evidence on ultrasound, including the benefits and costs involved.

Using a Web-Based App to Deliver Rehabilitation Strategies to Persons With Chronic Conditions: Development and Usability Study.

BACKGROUND: The global rise in the incidence of chronic conditions and aging is associated with increased disability. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists can mitigate the resulting burden on the health care system with their expertise in optimizing function. Rehabilitation self-management strategies can assist people with chronic conditions to accept, adjust, and manage different aspects of their daily functioning. Interventions delivered using technology have the potential to increase the accessibility, availability, and affordability of rehabilitation self-management support and services. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the development and usability evaluation of iamable, a web-based app created to provide rehabilitation self-management support for people with chronic conditions. METHODS: The development and evaluation of iamable were undertaken in several phases. We used user-centered design principles and an iterative process that included consultations with rehabilitation experts; developed a prototype; and conducted usability tests, heuristic evaluations, and a focus group analysis. RESULTS: The iamable app was developed to provide rehabilitation self-management strategies in the areas of exercise, fall prevention, fatigue management, pain management, physical activity, and stress management. We engaged adults aged ≥45 years with at least one chronic condition (N=11) in usability testing. They identified navigation and the understanding of instructions as the primary issues for end users. During the heuristic evaluation, clinicians (N=6) recommended that some areas of app content should be more succinct and that help should be more readily available. The focus group provided input to help guide clinical simulation testing, including strategies for selecting patients and overcoming barriers to implementation. CONCLUSIONS: We engaged end users and clinicians in the development and evaluation of the iamable app in an effort to create a web-based tool that was useful to therapists and their patients. By addressing usability issues, we were able to ensure that patients had access to rehabilitation strategies that could be used to help them better manage their health. Our app also provides therapists with a platform that they can trust to empower their patients to be more active in the management of chronic conditions. This paper provides a resource that can be used by others to develop and evaluate web-based health apps.

Environmental, behavioural and multicomponent interventions to reduce adults' sitting time: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the overall effectiveness of interventions for reducing adult sedentary behaviour and to directly compare environmental, behavioural and multicomponent interventions. DESIGN: Intervention systematic review with meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Ovid PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCOHost CINAHL, EBSCOHost SPORTDiscus and PubMed were searched from inception to 26 July 2017. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Trials including randomised controlled trials, quasi-randomised, cluster-randomised, parallel group, prepost, factorial and crossover trials where the primary aim was to change the sedentary behaviour of healthy adults assessed by self-report (eg, questionnaires, logs) or objective measures (eg, accelerometry). RESULTS: Thirty-eight trials of 5983 participants published between 2003 and 2017 were included in the qualitative synthesis; 35 studies were included in the quantitative analysis (meta-analysis). The pooled effect was a significant reduction in daily sitting time of -30.37 min/day (95% CI -40.86 to -19.89) favouring the intervention group. Reductions in sitting time were similar between workplace (-29.96 min/day; 95% CI -44.05 to -15.87) and other settings (-30.47 min/day; 95% CI -44.68 to -16.26), which included community, domestic and recreational environments. Environmental interventions had the largest reduction in daily sitting time (-40.59 min/day; 95% CI -61.65 to -19.53), followed by multicomponent (-35.53 min/day; 95% CI -57.27 to -13.79) and behavioural (-23.87 min/day; 95% CI -37.24 to -10.49) interventions. CONCLUSION: Interventions targeting adult sedentary behaviour reduced daily sitting time by an average of 30 min/day, which was likely clinically meaningful.

Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity and factor structure of a falls risk perception questionnaire in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Older adults with type 2 diabetes (DM2) are at increased risk of falling due to complications including: diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, autonomic neuropathy and diabetic foot ulcers. The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity and to perform factor analysis of a new falls Risk Perception Questionnaire (RPQ) in older community-dwelling adults with DM2. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 30 community-dwelling older adults, ≥ 55 years, with DM2 was assembled. At baseline, perceived risk of falling, fear of falling and physical activity were measured. At time 2 (T2), at least 2 days later, perceived risk of falling was assessed again to determine the test-retest reliability of the RPQ. At time 3 (T3), approximately six weeks later, and time 4 (T4), at least 2 days after T3, perceived risk of falling was assessed by phone to determine the test-retest reliability of the RPQ when administered by phone. RESULTS: The RPQ demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability when delivered in person (ICC = 0.78, 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 0.59-0.89) and by phone (ICC = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.65-0.91), good internal consistency (α = 0.78) and adequate construct validity (r = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.20-0.74, p = 0.003) in older adults with DM2. CONCLUSION: Given the good psychometric properties in this sample of persons with Diabetes, the RPQ has the potential to be used in clinical practice as a risk assessment and fall prevention tool. However, further testing needs to be done using a larger sample.

Using Exploratory Trials to Identify Relevant Contexts and Mechanisms in Complex Electronic Health Interventions: Evaluating the Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Tool.

BACKGROUND: Designing appropriate studies for evaluating complex interventions, such as electronic health solutions to support integrated care, remains a methodological challenge. With the many moving parts of complex interventions, it is not always clear how program activities are connected to anticipated and unanticipated outcomes. Exploratory trials can be used to uncover determinants (or mechanisms) to inform content theory that underpins complex interventions before designing a full evaluation plan. OBJECTIVE: A multimethod exploratory trial of the electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) tool was conducted to uncover contexts, processes and outcome variables, and the mechanisms that link these variables before full-scale evaluation. ePRO is a mobile app and portal designed to support goal-oriented care in interdisciplinary primary health care practices (clinical-level integration). This paper offers evaluation findings and methodological insight on how to use exploratory trial data to identify relevant context, process, and outcome variables, as well as central (necessary to achieving outcomes) versus peripheral (less critical and potentially context dependent) mechanisms at play. METHODS: The 4-month trial was conducted in 2 primary health care practices in Toronto, Canada. The patients were randomized into control and intervention groups and compared pre and post on quality of life and activation outcome measures. Semistructured interviews were conducted with providers and patients in the intervention group. Narrative analysis was used to uncover dominant mechanisms that inform the intervention's content theory (how context and process variables are linked to outcomes). RESULTS: Overall, 7 providers, 1 administrator, and 16 patients (7-control, 9-intervention) participated in the study. This study uncovered many complex and nuanced context, process, and outcome variables at play in the intervention. Narrative analysis of patient and provider interviews revealed dominant story lines that help to tease apart central and peripheral mechanisms driving the intervention. Provider and patient story lines centered around fitting the new intervention into everyday work and life of patients and providers and meaningfulness of the intervention. These themes were moderated by patient-provider relationships going into and throughout the intervention, their comfort with technology, and the research process. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying dominant story lines using narrative analysis helps to identify the most relevant context and process variables likely to influence study outcomes. Normalization process theory emerges as a useful theory to uncover underlying mechanisms because of its emphasis on the social production and normalization of technological, processual, and social aspects of work; all found to be critical to our intervention. The number of complex, overlapping influencing variables suggests that complex interventions such as ePRO require us to pay careful attention to central versus peripheral mechanisms that will influence study outcomes. The narrative methods presented here are shown to be useful in uncovering these mechanisms and help to guide subsequent larger evaluation studies.

Physiotherapy in the neurotrauma intensive care unit: A scoping review.

PURPOSE: This scoping review summarizes the literature on the safety and effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in patients with neurological and/or traumatic injuries in the intensive care unit (ICU), identifies literature gaps and provides recommendations for future research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched five databases from inception to June 2, 2018. We included published retrospective studies, case studies, observation and randomized controlled trials describing physiotherapy interventions in ICU patients with neurotrauma injuries. Two reviewers reviewed the databases and independently screened English articles for eligibility. Data extracted included purpose, study design, population (s), outcome measures, interventions and results. Thematic analysis and descriptive numerical summaries are presented by intervention type. RESULTS: 12,846 titles were screened and 72 met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were observational studies (44 (61.1%)) and RCTs (14 (19.4%)). Early mobilization, electrical stimulation, range of motion, and chest physiotherapy techniques were the most common interventions in the literature. Physiotherapy interventions were found to be safe with few adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Gaps in the literature suggest that future studies require assessment of long term functional outcomes and quality of life, examination of homogenous populations and more robust methodologies including clinical trials and larger samples.

Identifying non-pharmacological risk factors for falling in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: To identify the non-pharmacological risk factors for falling in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). METHODS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional studies and before/after studies was conducted. Eligible studies identified non-pharmacological risk factors for falling in older adults with DM2. Medline, Embase, Pubmed and CINAHL were searched for relevant studies published through December 2015. Reference lists were also searched for relevant studies. Search terms were DM2, risk factors, falls and falling, older adults, aging, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, accidental falls and trip. Publication language was restricted to English. RESULTS: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria: four cross-sectional, six prospective cohorts, two randomized controlled trials and one before/after study. These studies included a total of 13,104 participants, ≥50 years. The most common risk factors for falling were impaired balance, reduced walking velocity, peripheral neuropathy and comorbid conditions. However, lower extremity pain, being overweight and comorbid conditions had the greatest impact on fall risk. CONCLUSION: Interventions to reduce falling in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus should focus on reducing lower extremity pain, reducing body weight and managing comorbid conditions. Implications for Rehabilitation Diabetes mellitus: • Older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) have a higher risk for falling than older adults without. • Older adults with DM2 are more likely to suffer serious injuries when they fall. • Comprehensive risk factor identification is necessary for rehabilitation professionals to accurately determine whether their clients are at risk for falling. • Rehabilitation professionals also need to tailor interventions based on the client's risk factors in order to effectively reduce falls and fall-related injuries.