Effects of robot-assisted gait training using the Welwalk on gait independence for individuals with hemiparetic stroke: an assessor-blinded, multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Gait disorder remains a major challenge for individuals with stroke, affecting their quality of life and increasing the risk of secondary complications. Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) has emerged as a promising approach for improving gait independence in individuals with stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of RAGT in individuals with subacute hemiparetic stroke using a one-leg assisted gait robot called Welwalk WW-1000. METHODS: An assessor-blinded, multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in the convalescent rehabilitation wards of eight hospitals in Japan. Participants with first-ever hemiparetic stroke who could not walk at pre-intervention assessment were randomized to either the Welwalk group, which underwent RAGT with conventional physical therapy, or the control group, which underwent conventional physical therapy alone. Both groups received 80 min of physical therapy per day, 7 days per week, while the Welwalk group received 40 min of RAGT per day, 6 days per week, as part of their physical therapy. The primary outcome was gait independence, as assessed using the Functional Independence Measure Walk Score. RESULTS: A total of 91 participants were enrolled, 85 of whom completed the intervention. As a result, 91 participants, as a full analysis set, and 85, as a per-protocol set, were analyzed. The primary outcome, the cumulative incidence of gait-independent events, was not significantly different between the groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that the interaction between the intervention group and stroke type did not yield significant differences in either the full analysis or per-protocol set. However, although not statistically significant, a discernible trend toward improvement with Welwalk was observed in cases of cerebral infarction for the full analysis and per-protocol sets (HR 4.167 [95%CI 0.914-18.995], p = 0.065, HR 4.443 [95%CI 0.973-20.279], p = 0.054, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of RAGT using Welwalk and conventional physical therapy was not significantly more effective than conventional physical therapy alone in promoting gait independence in individuals with subacute hemiparetic stroke, although a trend toward earlier gait independence was observed in individuals with cerebral infarction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials ( https://jrct.niph.go.jp ; jRCT 042180078) on March 3, 2019.

Advanced Home-Based Shoulder Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review of Remote Monitoring Devices and Their Therapeutic Efficacy.

Shoulder pain represents the most frequently reported musculoskeletal disorder, often leading to significant functional impairment and pain, impacting quality of life. Home-based rehabilitation programs offer a more accessible and convenient solution for an effective shoulder disorder treatment, addressing logistical and financial constraints associated with traditional physiotherapy. The aim of this systematic review is to report the monitoring devices currently proposed and tested for shoulder rehabilitation in home settings. The research question was formulated using the PICO approach, and the PRISMA guidelines were applied to ensure a transparent methodology for the systematic review process. A comprehensive search of PubMed and Scopus was conducted, and the results were included from 2014 up to 2023. Three different tools (i.e., the Rob 2 version of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal tool, and the ROBINS-I tool) were used to assess the risk of bias. Fifteen studies were included as they fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The results showed that wearable systems represent a promising solution as remote monitoring technologies, offering quantitative and clinically meaningful insights into the progress of individuals within a rehabilitation pathway. Recent trends indicate a growing use of low-cost, non-intrusive visual tracking devices, such as camera-based monitoring systems, within the domain of tele-rehabilitation. The integration of home-based monitoring devices alongside traditional rehabilitation methods is acquiring significant attention, offering broader access to high-quality care, and potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with in-person therapy.

Eficacia del protocolo Start to move en funcionalidad, DA-UCI y delirio: ensayo clínico aleatorizado / Efficacy of the «Start to move» protocol on functionality, ICU-acquired weakness and delirium: Randomized clinical trial

Objetivo Evaluar la eficacia del protocolo Start to move comparado con el tratamiento convencional en sujetos mayores de 15 años hospitalizados en la UCI sobre una mejoría en funcionalidad, disminución de debilidad adquirida en la UCI (DA-UCI), incidencia de delirio, días de ventilación mecánica (VM), estadía en la UCI y mortalidad a los 28 días. Diseño Ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado. Ámbito Unidad de paciente crítico. Participantes Incluye adultos mayores a 15 años con VMI mayor a 48h, asignación aleatoria. Intervenciones Protocolo «Start to move» y tratamiento convencional. Variables de interés principales Se analizó funcionalidad, incidencia DA-UCI, incidencia delirio, días VM, estadía UCI y mortalidad-28 días, ClinicalTrials.gov número, NCT05053724. Resultados Sesenta y nueve sujetos fueron ingresados al estudio, 33 al grupo Start to move y 36 a tratamiento convencional, comparables clínico y sociodemograficamente. En el grupo Start to move la incidencia DAUCI al egreso de la UCI fue de 35,7 vs. 80,7% grupo tratamiento convencional (p=0,001). La funcionalidad (FSS-ICU) al egreso de la UCI corresponde a 26 vs. 17 puntos a favor del grupo Start to move (p=0,001). La diferencia en Barthel al egreso de la UCI fue del 20% a favor del grupo Start to move (p=0,006). No hubo diferencias significativas en incidencia de delirio, días de VM, estadía UCI y mortalidad-28 días. El estudio no reportó eventos adversos, ni suspensión de protocolo. Conclusiones La aplicación del protocolo Start to move en la UCI se asoció reducción en la incidencia DA-UCI, aumento en funcionalidad y menor caída en puntaje Barthel al egreso. (AU)

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the Start to move protocol compared to conventional treatment in subjects over 15 years of age hospitalized in the ICU on an improvement in functionality, decrease in ICU-acquired weakness (IUCD), incidence of delirium, days of mechanical ventilation (MV), length of stay in ICU and mortality at 28 days. Design Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting Intensive care unit. Participants Includes adults older than 15 years with invasive mechanical ventilation more than 48h, randomized allocation. Interventions Start to move protocol and conventional treatment. Main variables of interest Functionality, incidence of ICU-acquired weakness, incidence of delirium, days on mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and mortality-28 days, ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05053724. Results Sixty-nine subjects were admitted to the study, 33 to the Start to move group and 36 to conventional treatment, clinically and sociodemographic comparable. In the “Start to move” group, the incidence of IUCD at ICU discharge was 35.7% vs. 80.7% in the “conventional treatment” group (P=.001). Functionality (FSS-ICU) at ICU discharge corresponds to 26 vs. 17 points in favor of the “Start to move” group (P=.001). The difference in Barthel at ICU discharge was 20% in favor of the “Start to move” group (P=.006). There were no significant differences in the incidence of delirium, days of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and 28-day mortality. The study did not report adverse events or protocol suspension. Conclusions The application of the “Start to move” protocol in ICU showed a reduction in the incidence of IUCD, an increase in functionality and a smaller decrease in Barthel score at discharge. (AU)

Tailoring Upper-Limb Robot-Aided Orthopedic Rehabilitation on Patients' Psychophysiological State.

Physical therapy keeps exploiting more and more the capabilities of the robot of adapting the treatments to patients' needs. This paper aims at presenting a psychophysiological-aware control strategy for upper limb robot-aided orthopedic rehabilitation. The main features are the capability of i) generating point-to-point trajectories inside an adaptable workspace, ii) providing assistance in guiding the patients' limbs in accomplishing the assigned task allowing them to freely move with a certain degree of spatial and temporal autonomy and iii) tuning the control parameters according to the patients' kinematics performance and psychophysiological state. The implemented control strategy is validated in a real clinical setting on eight orthopedic patients undergoing twenty daily robot-aided rehabilitation sessions. The psychophysiological-aware control strategy evidenced a positive impact on the enrolled participants since they are effectively conducted in a calmer condition with respect to the patients who did not receive the psychophysiological adaptation. Moreover, clinical performance indicators suggest that the proposed tailored control strategy improves motor functions.

Movement therapy in lung transplantation candidates assisted by a lightweight wearable robot.

The aim of this pilot-study was to investigate the safety, feasibility and tolerability of an assisted mobilization of patients with advanced pulmonary diseases, using a lightweight, exoskeleton-type robot (Myosuit, MyoSwiss AG, Zurich, Switzerland). Ten patients performed activities of daily life (ADL) both with and without the device. The mean age was 53.6 (±5.6) years; 70% were male. The assessment of outcome included the evaluation of vital signs, adverse events, rates of perceived exertion and dyspnea (PRE, PRD), the ability to perform ADL and the individual acceptability. Robotic-assisted mobilization was feasible in all patients. No adverse events occurred. RPE and RPD showed no significant difference with or without the Myosuit (mean difference in RPE -1.7, 95%-confidence interval (CI) -1.16, 4.49; p = 0.211; mean difference in RPD 0.00, 95%-CI -1.88, 1.88; p = 0.475). 80% of patients were interested to participate in a robotic-assisted training on a regular basis. A robotic exoskeleton-assisted mobilization is safe, feasible, well-tolerated and well-accepted. The results are highly encouraging to further pursue this highly innovative approach.

Sticky Mittens Training to Improve Reaching Skills and Manual Exploration of Full-Term and At-Risk Infants: A Systematic Review.

AIM: To systematically review evidence of the effectiveness of sticky mittens training to improve reaching skills and manual exploration of full-term and at-risk infants and optimal training dosage. METHODS: The Cochrane Collaboration and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guided this systematic review. The electronic search was performed from September 2017 to August 2021 on PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Cochrane databases. Eligibility criteria followed PICO terms: clinical trials investigating the effects of sticky mittens training on reaching skills and manual exploration of full-term and at-risk infants. PEDro scale and GRADE assessed methodological quality and quality of evidence, respectively. RESULTS: Eight studies (313 children) were included. Five studies found statistically significant differences between experimental and control groups (62.6%). One study presented high methodological quality. Evidence synthesis showed very low and low evidence of the beneficial effects of sticky mittens training in full-term and at-risk infants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that sticky mittens training facilitates reaching skills and manual exploration. However, results should interpretation with caution because studies targeted full-term infants. Future research should focus on infants at risk or with motor impairments since sticky mittens training seems to show positive effects and is easy to apply.

Eficacia y seguridad del sistema de rehabilitación intensiva dinámica con traje terapéutico en pacientes pediátricos con daño neurológico central / Efficacy and safety of the dynamic intensive rehabilitation system with a therapeutic suit in pediatric patients with central neurological damage

ANTECEDENTES: En el marco de la metodología ad hoc para evaluar solicitudes de tecnologías sanitarias. aprobada mediante Resoluc én del Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación Nr 111-IETSI-ESSALUD-2021. se ha elaborado el presente dictamen. el cual expone la evaluación de la eficacia y seguridad del sistema de rehabilitación intensiva dinámica con traje terapéutico en pacientes pediátricos con daño neurológico central. De este moco. la Dra. Jeanette Borja Arroyo. especialista en medicina física y rehabilitación del Servicio de Rehabilitación Pediátrica del Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM). siguiendo la Directiva N° 001-IETSI-ESSALUD2018. envía al Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación - IETSI la solicitud de inclusión del sistema de rehabilitación mediante protocolo Pediasuit en el petitorio de Dispositivos Médicos de EsSaiud. ASPECTOS GENERALES Las lesiones del sistema nervioso central causan una amplia gama de manifestaciones clínicas que varían de acuerdo con la ubicación y la gravedad del daño neuronal y del tejido conectivo circundante (Popovió & Sinkjr. 2013). Específicamente, la zona de la lesión focalizada en áreas motoras se relaciona con una interrupción del haz de axones dentro del sistema nervioso central o un nervio periférico que se manifiesta con la perdida de movilidad y sensibilidad de un grupo muscular (Popovió & Sinkjr, 2013). Uno de los desórdenes más comunes causado por una lesión en la corteza motora cerebral es la parálisis cerebral (PC). que se produce por la interacción de diversos factores o eventos que ocurren en el periodo prenatal, durante el parto, periodo posnatal o en los primeros años de vida, e impiden el desarrollo adecuado de la morfología cerebral. METODOLOGÍA: Se llevó a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica amplia y exhaustiva con el objetivo de identificar la mejor evidencia disponible sobre la eficacia y seguridad del sistema de rehabilitación intensiva dinámica con traje terapéutico en pacientes pediátricos con daño neurológico central. La búsqueda bibliográfica se realizó en las bases de datos bibliográficas PubMed, The Cochrane Library. Web of Science y LILACS (Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud) Asimismo, se realizó una búsqueda dentro de la información generada en las páginas web de grupos o instituciones que realizan revisiones sistemáticas (RS). evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias (ETS) y guías de práctica clínica (GPC), tales como el National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), la C,anadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). el Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC). la Haute Authorité de Santé (HAS). el Institute for Quality and Efficiency in HealthCare (IQWiG), el Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) yen la Base Regional de Informes de Evaluación de Tecnologias en Salud de las Américas (BRISA). y en las principales instituciones o sociedades especializadas en Fisioterapia: la Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. y la American Physical Therapy Association Además, se llevó a cabo una búsqueda manual en el motor de búsqueda Google utilizando los términos. -(motor function OR functionality OR functioning) AND (suit OR Pediasuit OR Therasuit OR Adeirsuit OR Modified suit OR Neurosuit OR Penguin suit OR Bungy suit)'. revisando en :as diez primeras páginas de resultados. a fin de poder identificar otras publicaciones de relevancia que pudiesen haber sido no identificadas durante la búsqueda en las cases de datos bibliográficas consideradas. Finalmente. serealizó una búsqueda manual en ClinicalTnals.gov para identificar ensayos clínicos aleatorizados (ECA) en curso o que no hayan sido publicados aún. RESULTADOS: Luego de la búsqueda bibliográfica hasta el 11 de julio de 2022 y la selección de evidencia. seidentificaron. dos GPC (NICE. 2012: Jackman et al.. 2021) y un ECA (Alagesan et al.. 2010). los cuales fueron considerados para su inclusión en el presente documento. CONCLUSIÓN: Por lo expuesto, el IETSI no aprueba el uso del sistema de rehabilitación intensiva dinámica con traje terapéutico en pacientes pediátricos con daño neurológico central Se recomienda a los especialistas que, en caso de identificar nueva evidencia que responda a la población de la PICO de interés, envíen sus propuestas para ser evaluadas en el marco de la Directiva N° 001-IETSI-ESSALUD-2018.

Estimulação elétrica nervosa transcutânea (tens) e ultrassom para os sintomas da síndrome do intestino irritável: um estudo de caso / Transcutaneous nervous electrical stimulation (tens) and ultrasound for irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a case study / Estimulación nerviosa eléctrica transcutánea (tens) y ultrasonido para los síntomas del síndrome del intestino irritable: un estudio de casos

Introdução: O intestino é um órgão vital, entretanto, seu mau funcionamento pode gerar alguns distúrbios como por exemplo, "A síndrome do intestino irritável". O quadro desses pacientes são dores na barriga, inchaço abdominal e alteração na frequência das evacuações e na consistência das fezes. A fisioterapia tem apresentado meios que favorecem analgesia. Objetivo: Verificar os efeitos da Estimulação Elétrica Nervosa Transcutânea (TENS) e do Ultrassom (US) nos sintomas da síndrome do intestino irritável. Método: Foi utilizado o TENS na região abdominal, durante 15 minutos. O Ultrassom foi usado durante 3 minutos em cada região abdominal, somando 12 minutos ao total. O tratamento foi realizado durante um mês, com 9 sessões. Utilizou-se a Escala Visual Analógica (EVA) e o questionário Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ). Resultados: Nos sintomas intestinais obteve-se progresso de 5 pontos no questionário IBDQ e nos sintomas emocionais houve uma evolução de 9 pontos, sendo este, estatisticamente significante. Na escala EVA a média de escore diminui de 5,6 para 3,6 ao final da intervenção. Conclusão: A intervenção fisioterapêutica surtiu efeitos positivos e contribuiu para a diminuição da dor e os outros sintomas como: inchaço abdominal e diminuição na quantidade de evacuações e essa evolução auxiliou na qualidade de vida do voluntário.

Introduction: The intestine is a vital organ, however, due to its malfunction, some disorders appear, for example, "The irritable bowel syndrome", patients with this syndrome experience pain in the belly, abdominal swelling, changes in the frequency of bowel movements and stool consistency. Physiotherapy uses means that help to cause analgesia. Objective: To verify the effects of TENS and Ultrasound on the symptoms of the individual with irritable bowel syndrome, contributing to the quality of life. Method: TENS was used in the abdominal region in Burst mode with a frequency of 150Hz with amplitude until it caused a slight contraction, for 15 minutes. Ultrasound was used in continuous mode with a frequency of 1MHZ, with a dose of 0.5w / cm2, for 3 minutes in each abdominal region, adding 12 minutes to the total. The treatment was carried out for one month, with 9 sessions. The EVA scale and the IBDQ questionnaire were used. Results: In the intestinal symptoms there was an improvement of 5 points in the IBDQ questionnaire and in the emotional aspect there was an improvement of 9 points and in the emotional aspect it was statistically significant, passing through the Wilcoxon test, P (est.) = 0.031 P (exact) ) = 0.031. On the EVA scale, the mean score before the intervention was 5.6 and at the end 3.6. Conclusion: The physical therapy intervention had positive effects, helping to reduce pain and other symptoms such as:abdominal swelling, decrease in the amount of bowel movements and this improvement helped the individual's emotional state, however a study on the subject is still necessary.

Introducción: El intestino es un órgano vital, sin embargo, su mal funcionamiento puede generar algunos trastornos como el "síndrome del intestino irritable". Los síntomas de estos pacientes son dolor de estómago, hinchazón abdominal y alteración de la frecuencia de las deposiciones y de la consistencia de las heces. La fisioterapia ha presentado medios que favorecen la analgesia. Objetivo: Verificar los efectos de la Estimulación Nerviosa Eléctrica Transcutánea (TENS) y el Ultrasonido (US) en los síntomas del síndrome del intestino irritable. Método: Se utilizó TENS en la región abdominal durante 15 minutos. Los ultrasonidos se utilizaron durante 3 minutos en cada región abdominal, sumando 12 minutos en total. El tratamiento se llevó a cabo durante un mes, con 9 sesiones. Se utilizaron la Escala Visual Analógica (EVA) y el Cuestionario de Enfermedad Inflamatoria Intestinal (IBDQ). Resultados: En los síntomas intestinales hubo una progresión de 5 puntos en el cuestionario IBDQ y en los síntomas emocionales hubo una evolución de 9 puntos, siendo esto, estadísticamente significativo. En la escala VAS, la puntuación media disminuyó de 5,6 a 3,6 al final de la intervención. Conclusión: La intervención fisioterapéutica tuvo efectos positivos y contribuyó a la reducción del dolor y de otros síntomas como: hinchazón abdominal y disminución de la cantidad de deposiciones y esta evolución ayudó a la calidad de vida del voluntario.

Fisioterapia com dispositivo individual de pressão expiratória positiva do tipo máscara (PEP)/pressão expiratória nas vias aéreas (EPAP) para o tratamento da Fibrose Cística / Physiotherapy with individual pressure device positive expiratory mask type (PEP)/pressure expiratory airway (EPAP) for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis

INTRODUÇÃO: A FC é uma doença genética, com incidência nacional de aproximadamente 1:7.576 nascidos vivos. A FC é uma doença complexa e multissistêmica, de característica progressiva e potencialmente letal, que afeta o epitélio do sistema respiratório, gastrointestinal, hepático e geniturinário e que ocorre mais frequentemente em populações descendentes de caucasianos. As manifestações pulmonares da doença são a principal causa de morbimortalidade. A fisioterapia respiratória tem por objetivo preservar a capacidade respiratória e física, e deve ser iniciada logo após o diagnóstico. Existem vários tipos de fisioterapia respiratória, as quais auxiliam no processo de remoção muco. Algumas devem ser realizadas por profissionais treinados, enquanto outras podem ser realizadas pelo próprio paciente após treinamento. A escolha de uma técnica em detrimento da outra leva em conta a idade, o estilo de vida e a preferência do paciente, uma vez que a adesão ao tratamento é responsável pelo sucesso terapêutico. A fisioterapia respiratória deve almejar a independência e autonomia do paciente. TECNOLOGIA: Fisioterapia com dispositivo individual de pressão expiratória positiva do tipo máscara (PEP)/pressão expiratória nas vias aéreas (EPAP) para o tratamento da Fibrose Cística. PERGUNTA: A fisioterapia com equipamento fisioterápico de pressão expiratória positiva de uso individu

Effects of Dynamic Overground Body Weight Support Training During Inpatient Rehabilitation After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective Case Series.

ABSTRACT: Rehabilitation strategies after traumatic spinal cord injury aim to maximize functional recovery by applying principles of neuroplasticity via task-specific, repetitive training. Rehabilitation of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury poses unique challenges, including bilateral limb involvement, autonomic dysfunction, loss of proprioception, and potentially spinal precautions/bracing. The purpose of this retrospective case series was to determine whether use of dynamic body weight support would yield greater improvement in functional recovery compared with standard of care in adults with traumatic spinal cord injury. Data were collected from patients with traumatic spinal cord injury who completed inpatient rehabilitation incorporating dynamic body weight support (n = 5) and who completed inpatient rehabilitation without dynamic body weight support (n = 5). The primary outcome measure was the change in Functional Independence Measures. The dynamic body weight support group had a significantly greater improvement in Total Functional Independence Measures and in Functional Independence Measures motor subscale compared with the standard of care group (P = 0.023 and P = 0.033, respectively). This study presents initial evidence that dynamic body weight support therapy during inpatient rehabilitation has the potential to improve functional independence compared with standard of care in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. Larger prospective randomized studies need to be conducted to expand on these findings.

Quantitative assessment of the level of instability of a single-plane balance platform.

BACKGROUND: Balance training on unstable surfaces is widely used in medicine and sports. The main disadvantage of balance platforms is weakly definable assessment of the level of instability (IL) they create. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanical characteristics of a suspended single-plane instability balance platform which determines quantitative instability characteristics. METHODS: Three criteria influencing the IL were evaluated: 1. The displacement of the platform board by changing the position of the object on the board; 2. Amount of force required for board displacement; 3. The vibration damping of the platform. RESULTS: 1. 1IL the displacement of the object on the board affected 0.66 cm. the displacement of the board relative to the platform frame; 2IL - 0.79 cm; 3IL - 0.91 cm.; 2. A force of 2.64 is required for a board displacement of 1IL compared to 2IL and 5.76 times that of 3IL. 3. Damping factor 1IL - 0.015, 2IL - 0.006, 3IL - 0.003. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The longer the suspension, the change in the position of the object on the board affects the greater movement of the board relative to the platform. 2. Different IL can be compared with each other depending on how different the force required to cause the board to move. 3. The platform dampens vibrations weakly, but the damping between 1 and 3 IL differs about 5 times.

Output of Electronic Muscle Stimulators: Physical Therapy and Police Models Compared.

INTRODUCTION: Both physical therapists and police officers use electrical muscle stimulation. The typical physical therapist unit is attached with adhesive patches while the police models use needle-based electrodes to penetrate clothing. There have been very few papers describing the outputs of these physical therapy EMS (electrical muscle stimulator) units. METHODS: We purchased 6 TENS/EMS units at retail and tested them with loads of 500 Ω, 2 kΩ, and 10 kΩ. RESULTS: For the typical impedance of 500 Ω, the EMS units delivered the most current followed by the electrical weapons; TENS units delivered the least current. At higher im-pedances (> 2 kΩ) the electrical weapons delivered more current than the EMS units, which is explained by the higher voltage-compliance of their circuits. Some multi channel EMS units deliver more calculated muscle stimula tion than the multi-channel weapons. CONCLUSION: Present therapeutic electrical muscle stimula-tors can deliver more current than present law-enforcement muscle stimulators.

Demonstration of central conduction time and neuroplastic changes after cervical lordosis rehabilitation in asymptomatic subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

A randomized controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation of the cervical sagittal configuration on sensorimotor integration and central conduction time in an asymptomatic population. Eighty (32 female) participants with radiographic cervical hypolordosis and anterior head translation posture were randomly assigned to either a control or an experimental group. The experimental group received the Denneroll cervical traction while the control group received a placebo treatment. Interventions were applied 3 × per week for 10 weeks. Outcome measures included radiographic measured anterior head translation distance, cervical lordosis (posterior bodies of C2-C7), central somatosensory conduction time (latency) (N13-N20), and amplitudes of potentials for spinal N13, brainstem P14, parietal N20 and P27, and frontal N30. Outcomes were obtained at: baseline, after 10 weeks of intervention, and at 3 months follow up. After 10 weeks and 3-months, between-group analyses revealed statistically significant differences between the groups for the following measured variables: lordosis C2-C7, anterior head translation, amplitudes of spinal N13, brainstem P14, parietal N20 and P27, frontal N30 potentials (P < 0.001), and conduction time N13-N20 (P = 0.004). Significant correlation between the sagittal alignment and measured variables were found (P < 0.005). These findings indicate restoration of cervical sagittal alignment has a direct influence on the central conduction time in an asymptomatic population.

Superior pedal function recovery of newly designed three spike insole over total contact insole in refractory plantar fasciitis: A randomized, double-blinded, non-inferiority study.

INTRODUCTION: Plantar fasciitis is one of the common foot complaints that is chronic and can induce dysfunction. Total contact insole (TCI) is simple but effective in treating plantar fasciitis. Despite its effect, the cost and long duration for production have been the major flaws. Therefore, we developed a newly designed three-spike insole (TSI) that can be commercially productive and compared its clinical outcomes to TCI. METHODS: Patients with plantar fasciitis refractory to conservative treatment for more than 6 weeks were candidates. We produced insoles with hardness of 58 ± 5 Shore-A. Twenty-eight patients were randomized with equal allocation to either TSI or TCI. The following assessment tools were used: visual analog scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle score, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, Karlsson-Peterson (KP) score, Short Form-36 for quality of life, and Foot Function Index. Non-inferiority was declared if VAS was within the statistical variability of minimal important difference. A blinded assessor evaluated the groups at baseline and after 6, 12, and 24 weeks. RESULTS: The groups were homogenous for majority of variables at baseline. Overall patient-reported satisfaction showed improvement from mean 5.2 (range, 1-12) weeks of wearing and all clinical outcome scores showed significant improvements in both groups over time on Friedman test (p ≤.032). TSI showed non-inferiority to TCI at each time point. Post hoc analysis revealed that many scales showed significant superiority of TSI at 3 month (p ≤.008) and KP score at 6 month (p < .001). CONCLUSION: We reaffirmed that semi-rigid insole is effective in refractory plantar fasciitis and showed TSI restores pedal function more rapidly than TCI. TSI can be not only effective in deriving better clinical outcomes but also be manufactured for popularization to lower the price and producing time of orthosis.

Stable, simultaneous and proportional 4-DoF prosthetic hand control via synergy-inspired linear interpolation: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Current commercial prosthetic hand controllers limit patients' ability to fully engage high Degree-of-Freedom (DoF) prosthetic hands. Available feedforward controllers rely on large training data sets for controller setup and a need for recalibration upon prosthesis donning. Recently, an intuitive, proportional, simultaneous, regression-based 3-DoF controller remained stable for several months without retraining by combining chronically implanted electromyography (ciEMG) electrodes with a K-Nearest-Neighbor (KNN) mapping technique. The training dataset requirements for simultaneous KNN controllers increase exponentially with DoF, limiting the realistic development of KNN controllers in more than three DoF. We hypothesize that a controller combining linear interpolation, the muscle synergy framework, and a sufficient number of ciEMG channels (at least two per DoF), can allow stable, high-DoF control. METHODS: Two trans-radial amputee subjects, S6 and S8, were implanted with percutaneously interfaced bipolar intramuscular electrodes. At the time of the study, S6 and S8 had 6 and 8 bipolar EMG electrodes, respectively. A Virtual Reality (VR) system guided users through single and paired training movements in one 3-DoF and four different 4-DoF cases. A linear model of user activity was built by partitioning EMG feature space into regions bounded by vectors of steady state movement EMG patterns. The controller evaluated online EMG signals by linearly interpolating the movement class labels for surrounding trained EMG movements. This yields a simultaneous, continuous, intuitive, and proportional controller. Controllers were evaluated in 3-DoF and 4-DoF through a target-matching task in which subjects controlled a virtual hand to match 80 targets spanning the available movement space. Match Percentage, Time-To-Target, and Path Efficiency were evaluated over a 10-month period based on subject availability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In 3-DoF, S6 and S8 matched most targets and demonstrated stable control after 8 and 10 months, respectively. In 4-DoF, both subjects initially found two of four 4-DoF controllers usable, matching most targets. S8 4-DoF controllers were stable, and showed improving trends over 7-9 months without retraining or at-home practice. S6 4-DoF controllers were unstable after 7 months without retraining. These results indicate that the performance of the controller proposed in this study may remain stable, or even improve, provided initial viability and a sufficient number of EMG channels. Overall, this study demonstrates a controller capable of stable, simultaneous, proportional, intuitive, and continuous control in 3-DoF for up to ten months and in 4-DoF for up to nine months without retraining or at-home use with minimal training times.

Effect of the External Physical Vibration Lithecbole on the Discharge of Upper Urinary Stones: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The external physical vibration lithecbole (EPVL) is a new device that accelerates the discharge of urinary stones by changing the patient's body position and providing multi-directional simple harmonic waves. It is clinically employed to improve the stone-free rate (SFR). However, it is not widely accepted in clinical practice due to the lack of high-level evidentiary support and a standard protocol. The present meta-analysis aims at the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of EPVL treatment in improving the SFR. METHODS: This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Medline, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as recent as April 2020 that evaluated the efficacy and safety of EPVL treatment for patients with stones/residual stones in the upper urinary tract. RESULTS: In total, 7 prospective studies with 1414 patients were included. Compared with patients in the control group, patients treated with an EPVL (the intervention group) had higher SFRs (95% CI: 0.59-0.86, RR = 0.71, P = .0004) and lower complication rates (95% CI: 1.37-3.12, RR = 2.07, P = .0006). In a subgroup analysis based on previous surgery (ESWL, RIRS), the intervention group had an improved SFR as compared to the control group (95% CI: 0.59-0.95, RR = 0.75, P = .02; 95% CI: 0.56-0.73, RR = 0.64, P < .00001, respectively). In a subgroup analysis based on stone location, the SFRs for stones in the upper/middle/lower calyx and renal pelvis were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group: for residual stones in the upper and middle calyx, 95% CI: 0.63-0.98, RR = 0.79, and P = .03; for residual stones in the lower calyx, 95% CI: 0.54-0.75, RR = 0.64, and P < .00001; for residual stones in the renal pelvis, 95% CI: 0.47-0.79, RR = 0.61, and P = .0002. However, the SFRs for ureter stones were not significantly different between groups (95% CI: 0.82 -1.05, RR = 0.93, P = .23). CONCLUSION: The external physical vibration lithecbole can effectively improve the SFR after ESWL and RIRS without significant side effects, especially for residual stones in the upper/middle/lower calyx and renal pelvis.

Comparison of low power laser and kinesio taping for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Although carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common neuromuscular disorder, studies on its conservative treatment are inadequate and contradictory. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate and compare the effectiveness of low power laser therapy (LPLT) and Kinesio taping (KT) for the treatment of CTS. METHODS: Sixty patients with CTS were included in this study. One group received 15 sessions of KT, and the second group underwent 15 sessions of LPLT within three weeks. All patients were assessed with hand grip strength (HGS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-pain, Douleur Neuropathique-4 (DN4) score, Boston Questionnaire (BQ), and electroneuromyography before and after treatment. RESULTS: Before treatment, all clinical and neurophysiological parameters were similar between the groups. After treatment, both groups significantly improved in terms of HGS, VAS-pain, DN4, and BQ. However, the LPLT group had significantly better HGS, VAS-pain, DN4, and BQ than the KT group. In addition, while median nerve motor distal latency and median nerve sensory conduction velocity improved significantly with treatment in both groups, the LPLT group's improvement was significantly better than that of the KT group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CTS, both LPLT and KT were effective treatments. However, the LPLT group had significantly better improvements than the KT group.

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training Using an Electronic Device on Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background Cardiac surgery causes pathophysiological changes that favor the occurrence of pulmonary and functional complications. Objective To investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with an electronic device on patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. A control group (CG) received conventional physical therapy care, and an intervention group (IG) received IMT using the POWERbreathe K5® electronic device. Two daily sessions of physical therapy were performed at the intensive care unit and one daily session at the ward until the sixth postoperative day. The following variables were measured preoperatively and on the sixth postoperative day, in both groups: inspiratory muscle strength, dynamic inspiratory muscle strength, and peak inspiratory flow. Data distribution was evaluated by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Analysis of variance was used, and the results were considered statistically significant when p < 0.05. Results Maximal inspiratory pressure (71.7 ± 17.1 cmH2O vs 63.3 ± 21.3 cmH2O; p = 0.11], S-index (52.61 ± 18.61 vs 51.08 ± 20.71), and peak inspiratory flow [(2.94 ± 1.09 vs 2.79 ± 1.26)] were maintained in the IG but had a significant reduction in the CG. Conclusion IMT performed with an electronic device was effective at maintaining inspiratory muscle strength, dynamic inspiratory muscle strength, and peak inspiratory flow when compared to conventional physical therapy. Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0

Wearable vibrotactile stimulation for upper extremity rehabilitation in chronic stroke: clinical feasibility trial using the VTS Glove.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the feasibility and potential impacts on hand function using a wearable stimulation device (the VTS Glove) which provides mechanical, vibratory input to the affected limb of chronic stroke survivors. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, controlled feasibility study including sixteen chronic stroke survivors (mean age: 54; 1-13 years post-stroke) with diminished movement and tactile perception in their affected hand. Participants were given a wearable device to take home and asked to wear it for three hours daily over eight weeks. The device intervention was either (1) the VTS Glove, which provided vibrotactile stimulation to the hand, or (2) an identical glove with vibration disabled. Participants were randomly assigned to each condition. Hand and arm function were measured weekly at home and in local physical therapy clinics. RESULTS: Participants using the VTS Glove showed significantly improved Semmes-Weinstein monofilament exam results, reduction in Modified Ashworth measures in the fingers, and some increased voluntary finger flexion, elbow and shoulder range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: Vibrotactile stimulation applied to the disabled limb may impact tactile perception, tone and spasticity, and voluntary range of motion. Wearable devices allow extended application and study of stimulation methods outside of a clinical setting.

Gait changes following robot-assisted gait training in children with cerebral palsy.

This study investigated changes of gait pattern induced by a 4-week robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in twelve ambulatory spastic diparesis children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 10.4+/-3.2 years old by using computerized gait analysis (CGA). Pre-post intervention CGA data of children with CP was contrasted to the normative data of typically developing children by using cross-correlation and statistically evaluated by a Wilcoxon test. Significant pre-post intervention changes (p<0.01) include: decreased muscle activity of biceps femoris, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior; a decrease in range of internal hip joint rotation, higher cadence, step length, and increased stride time. This study suggests that RAGT can be used in muscle reeducation and improved hip joint motion range in ambulatory children with CP.