Effectiveness of Telerehabilitation in Dizziness: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Dizziness can be a debilitating condition with various causes, with at least one episode reported in 17% to 30% of the international adult population. Given the effectiveness of rehabilitation in treating dizziness and the recent advancements in telerehabilitation, this systematic review aims to investigate the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in the treatment of this disorder. The search, conducted across Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PEDro databases, included randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of telerehabilitation interventions, delivered synchronously, asynchronously, or via tele-support/monitoring. Primary outcomes focused on dizziness frequency/severity and disability, with secondary outcomes assessing anxiety and depression measures. Seven articles met the eligibility criteria, whereas five articles contributed to the meta-analysis. Significant findings were observed regarding the frequency and severity of dizziness (mean difference of 3.01, p < 0.001), disability (mean difference of -4.25, p < 0.001), and anxiety (standardized mean difference of -0.16, p = 0.02), favoring telerehabilitation. Telerehabilitation shows promise as a treatment for dizziness, aligning with the positive outcomes seen in traditional rehabilitation studies. However, the effectiveness of different telerehabilitation approaches requires further investigation, given the moderate methodological quality and the varied nature of existing methods and programs.

A scoping review of scientific concepts concerning motor recovery after stroke as employed in clinical trials.

The scientific literature on poststroke rehabilitation is remarkably vast. Over the last decades, dozens of rehabilitation approaches have been investigated. However, sometimes it is challenging to trace new experimental interventions back to some of the known models of motor control and sensorimotor learning. This scoping review aimed to investigate motor control models' diffusion among the literature on motor recovery after stroke. We performed a literature search on Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases. The last search was conducted in September 2023. This scoping review included full-text articles published in English in peer-reviewed journals that provided rehabilitation interventions based on motor control or motor learning frameworks for at least one individual with stroke. For each study, we identified the theoretical framework the authors used to design the experimental treatment. To this aim, we used a previously proposed classification of the known models of motor control, dividing them into the following categories: neuroanatomy, robotics, self-organization, and ecological context. In total, 2,185 studies were originally considered in this scoping review. After the screening process, we included and analyzed 45 studies: 20 studies were randomized controlled trials, 12 were case series, 4 were case reports, 8 were observational longitudinal pilot studies, and 1 was an uncontrolled trial. Only 10 studies explicitly declared the reference theoretical model. Considering their classification, 21 studies referred to the robotics motor control model, 12 to the self-organization model, 8 to the neuroanatomy model, and 4 to the ecological model. Our results showed that most of the rehabilitative interventions purposed in stroke rehabilitation have no clear theoretical bases on motor control and motor learning models. We suggest this is an issue that deserves attention when designing new experimental interventions in stroke rehabilitation.

Redefining a minimal rehabilitation assessment protocol for severe acquired brain injuries.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury (sABI) is mandatory in every phase and setting of care, and requires a multidimensional and interdisciplinary approach, to develop the individual rehabilitation project, and monitor long-term functional outcomes. In 2001 the Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER) published the minimal assessment protocol for traumatic sABI, providing a comprehensive, standardized functional assessment based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), 2001. In 2007, a new protocol was published, extended to all sABI patients (PMGCA). In 2019, the SIMFER appointed a working group to provide a revised, updated version: the PMGCA2020. AIM: The purpose of this study was to describe the minimal assessment protocol to be applied at every stage and setting of the care process of patients with sABI. METHODS: The working group, including one neurologist and 11 physiatrists experts in sABI rehabilitation, performed a review of the international recommendations for sABI assessment focusing on the following key words: "sABI assessment," "sABI rehabilitation," "sABI prognostic factors," "sABI rehabilitation assessment," "sABI outcome," in MEDLINE. Revision and integration proposals by each member were written and motivated, discussed and voted. RESULTS: The PMGCA2020 is addressed to sABI adult patients. It investigates the main clinical problems of sABI at any time of the rehabilitation pathway. It includes a demographic/anamnestic section, a clinical/functional assessment section and an outcome measures section following the ICF model of functioning and the model of the construction of the rehabilitation project. CONCLUSIONS: The PMGCA2020 provides an updated tool for the multidimensional rehabilitation assessment of sABI patients, at any stage of the rehabilitation pathway. Further studies will allow the validation of this minimum set of variables paving the way to an assessment standardization of patients with sABI in the rehabilitation settings. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: This minimum set of variables, defining patient's functioning and clinical status and outcomes, at every stage and setting of the care process to provide a framework for the standardization of the clinical evaluation of patients with sABI in rehabilitation settings.

Redefining a minimal assessment protocol for stroke rehabilitation: the new "Protocollo di Minima per l'ICtus" (PMIC2020).

The use of standardized assessment protocols is strongly recommended to identify patient's needs, outcomes, and predictors of response to specific interventions in Stroke rehabilitation. In 2008, the Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER) published the minimal protocol for the person with stroke ("Protocollo di Minima per l'ICtus" [PMIC]), in reference to the International classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. In 2019, the SIMFER appointed a working group to provide a revised, updated version in line with the most recent literature and suitable for all rehabilitation settings: the PMIC2020. Descriptive study based on the consensus of a panel of experts. The study setting includes all the rehabilitation settings. The population included is represented by stroke survivors with disability. The coordinator of the SIMFER National Stroke Section appointed the working group, including the 8 Stroke Section board members, and 4 more experts (3 physiatrists; 1 neurologist). An extensive revision of the international literature on stroke assessment recommendations was performed; each proposed change from PMIC was written and motivated, discussed and voted. The PMIC2020 is a single form, to be administered at any time of the rehabilitation pathway, including a minimum set of variables, consisting of a demographic/anamnestic section, and a clinical/functional assessment section. Newly introduced tools included measures of malnutrition (BMI<18.5); pain in verbal and non-verbal patients (Numeric Rating Scale-pain, Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia Scale); neurological impairment (National Institute of Health-Stroke Scale); activity (Modified Barthel Index, Short Physical Performance Battery); and participation (Frenchay Activity Index). The PMIC2020 provides an updated tool for the multidimensional rehabilitation assessment of the stroke patient, at any stage of the rehabilitation pathway, aiming at a shared minimum set of variables defining patient's needs and at defined outcomes across different rehabilitation facilities and settings. The PMIC2020 identifies patient's needs, outcomes, and predictors of response to specific interventions in Stroke rehabilitation and provide ground for a highly needed Stroke Registry.

The tracheotomy tube weaning in patients with severe acquired brain injury: comparison of two operative procedures in a postacute rehabilitation hospital.

BACKGROUND: Despite the high frequency of tracheotomy in severe acquired brain injury (sABI) patients, available literature about the weaning procedure is mainly represented by expert opinions with no standardized and evidence-based criteria. AIM: The Institute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine "Gervasutta" adopted a new decannulation procedure, recommended by the Italian Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SIMFER). This study evaluates whether the new procedure helps to improve the decannulation process of sABI patients. DESIGN: A prospective observational with historical control was performed by dividing sABI patients into two groups depending on whether they were treated with or without the new procedure. SETTING: The Department of Neurorehabilitation of the Institute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine "Gervasutta" in Udine, Italy. POPULATION: sABI patients with tracheal cannula admitted to the Institute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine "Gervasutta" from January 2015 to March 2019. METHODS: Clinical data were collected as both process and outcome indicators before and after the adoption of the new procedure. Data have been processed with Simple Interactive Statistical Analysis (SISA; Irving, TX, USA) software. RESULTS: A sample of 141 patients was analysed. Among the 141 patients, 57 (40.4%) were treated with the new procedure. No differences were found between the two groups in terms of complications, functional independence measure (FIM), or level of cognitive functioning (LCF) at the admission. When the new procedure was applied, the decannulation rate was significantly higher (OR=1.8; 95% CI=1.2-9.8; P=0.01) and the time (days) between admission and oral feeding resumption was significantly lower (P<0.001; 95% CI=-10, -34 days). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of the new protocol allowed the safe achievement of both oral feeding resumption and decannulation, which are two of the main early rehabilitation goals. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: The standardization of the decannulation process has determined the achievement of a significantly faster oral feeding resumption and an increase in the decannulation rate during the rehabilitation of sABI patients.

First impact of COVID-19 on services and their preparation. "Instant paper from the field" on rehabilitation answers to the COVID-19 emergency.

This paper reports the immediate impact of the epidemic on rehabilitation services in Italy, the first country in Europe hit by COVID-19. In a country with almost 5000 Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine physicians, the webinar had 230 live viewers (4.5%), and more than 8900 individual visualizations of the recorded version. The overall inadequate preparation of the rehabilitation system to face a sudden epidemic was clear, and similar to that of the acute services. The original idea of confining the COVID-19 cases to some areas of rehabilitation wards and/or hospitals, preserving others, proved not to be feasible. Continuous reorganization and adaptation were required due to the rapid changes. Overall, rehabilitation needs had to surrender to the more acute emergency, with total conversion of beds, wards and even hospitals. The quarantine needs heavily involved also outpatient services that were mostly closed. Rehabilitation professionals needed support, but also acted properly, again similarly to what happened in the acute wards. The typical needs of rehabilitation, such as human and physical contacts, but also social interactions including patient, team, family and caregivers, appeared clearly in the current unavoidable need of being suppressed. These notes could serve the preparation of other services worldwide.

Identifying clinical complexity in patients affected by severe acquired brain injury in neurorehabilitation: a cross sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Literature shows that occurrence of comorbidities in people with severe acquired brain injury (sABI) is a common problem in rehabilitation stay. Consequently, patients could require an increase of interventions for diagnosis and treatment of clinical conditions, with a reduction of the rehabilitative take in charge for both clinical and organizational aspects. AIM: The first aim was to evaluate the rate of clinical conditions of sABI patients at admission in rehabilitation and the types of rehabilitative interventions performed in the first week; second objective was to explore the impact of clinical conditions on real rehabilitative take in charge. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation centers. POPULATION: The study included data from 586 sABI patients. METHODS: Collected data regarded anamnestic information, functional status assessed by means of Glasgow Outcome Scale, Levels of cognitive functioning, Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index, comorbidities at admission and type of rehabilitative interventions carried out in first week of rehabilitation stay. Spearman correlation coefficients were applied to detect possible correlations between the number of treatments in first week and clinical variables; through a multiple regression analysis the effect of patient's characteristics on rehabilitative take in charge was explored. RESULTS: Data from the sABI patients: mean age 55.1±17.1 years; etiology of sABI was vascular in 315 patients (53.8%), anoxic in 83 (14.2%), neoplastic in 17 (2.9%), infectious in 15 (2.6%), traumatic in 150 (25.6%); 6 subjects (1%) presented a mixed etiology. Need of cardiorespiratory monitoring, pressure sores, infections or presence of multi drug resistant bacteria were the most frequent comorbidities. Passive mobilization, sitting positioning, arousal/awareness stimulation, evaluation and management of dysphagia were the interventions most frequently carried out in the first week. The regression analysis showed that severe neurological and clinical conditions, acute organ failure, cardio-respiratory instability and paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity significantly limit access to rehabilitative sessions. CONCLUSIONS: In sABI patients clinical comorbidities requiring elevated care assistance are frequent at admission in rehabilitation from acute wards and may interfere with rehabilitative take in charge. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: The knowledge of clinical complexity of sABI patients may improve their care pathways, promoting early and appropriate transition from acute care to rehabilitation settings.

Occurrence and predictive factors of heterotopic ossification in severe acquired brain injured patients during rehabilitation stay: cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: To report occurrence and identify patient's features and risk factors of heterotopic ossifications in patients with severe acquired brain injury in intensive rehabilitation centres. DESIGN: Multicentre cross-sectional survey. SETTING: A total of 48 severe acquired brain injury rehabilitation institutes. PARTICIPANTS: Traumatic and non-traumatic severe brain-injured patients ( N = 689) in rehabilitation centres on 28 May 2016. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Occurrence of heterotopic ossifications diagnosed by standard radiological and/or sonographic evaluation on the basis of clinical suspicion. RESULTS: Heterotopic ossification occurred around one or more joints in 94/689 patients (13.6%) with a significantly higher prevalence in young males. Occurrence did not significantly differ in relation to aetiology (16.3% traumatic, 19.2% anoxic, 11.7% vascular and 11.5% other). Prevalence was significantly higher in patients with diffuse (23.3%) rather than focal brain lesions (12.4%) or unspecified lesions (11.2%; chi-square = 7.81, df = 2, P = 0.020); longer duration of coma ( P = 0.0016) and ventilation support ( P = 0.0145); paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (22.6% versus 11.6%; chi-square = 10.81, df = 1, P = 0.001); and spasticity (22.7% versus 10.1%; chi-square = 18.63, df = 1, P < 0.0001). A longer interval between acute brain injury and admission to rehabilitation centre was significantly associated with higher frequency of heterotopic ossifications. CONCLUSION: Occurrence of heterotopic ossifications is frequent in patients with severe traumatic and non-traumatic brain-injury in rehabilitation centres. Our study confirms male gender, young age, paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity, spasticity, longer duration of coma and ventilation and longer interval between brain injury onset and admission to rehabilitation centre as possible risk factors. Further studies are necessary to investigate the role of early appropriate rehabilitation pathways to reduce occurrence of heterotopic ossifications.

Mobilization in early rehabilitation in intensive care unit patients with severe acquired brain injury: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether early mobilization of patients with severe acquired brain injury, performed in the intensive/neurointensive care unit, influences functional outcome. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Fourteen centres in Italy. SUBJECTS: A total of 103 consecutive patients with acquired brain injury. METHODS: Clinical, neurological and functional data, including the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Disability Rating Scale (DRS), the Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning (LCF), Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index (ERBI), Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were collected at admission and every 3?5 days until discharge from the intensive/neurointensive care unit. Patients were divided into mobilization and no mobilization groups, depending on whether they received mobilization. Data were analysed by intragroup and intergroup analysis using a multilevel regression model. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients were included in the mobilization group. At discharge, both groups showed significant improvements in GCS, DRS, LCF and ERBI scores. The mobilization group showed significantly better improvements in FIM cognitive, GOS and ERBI. The patients in the mobilization group stayed longer in the intensive care unit (p=0.01) and were more likely to be discharged to intensive rehabilitation at a significantly higher rate (p=0.002) than patients in the no mobilization group. No adverse events were reported in either group. CONCLUSION: Early mobilization appears to favour the clinical and functional recovery of patients with severe acquired brain injury in the intensive care unit.

The potential role of pain-related SSEPs in the early prognostication of long-term functional outcome in post-anoxic coma.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest (CA) is a common cause of disability. Multimodal evaluation has improved prognosis but precocious biomarkers are not appropriate in determining long-term functional outcome. AIM: To identify early prognostication markers of long-term functional outcome in post-anoxic coma. DESIGN: Retrospective assessment of outcomes. POPULATION: Individuals older than 18 years with post-anoxic coma hospitalized in intensive care units after cardiac arrest (CA) regardless of cause (cardiac or non-cardiac) and location of event (in or out-of-hospital). METHODS: Clinical, biological and neurophysiological data were collected within 48 hours from CA. Clinical data included time of no and low flow, CA rhythm, pupillary reflex, Glasgow motor score at admission and hyperthermia. Biological marker was the highest creatinine level. Neurophysiological parameters included EEG pattern and reactivity, Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP), and Middle-Latency (ML) SSEP evoked at low (10 mA) and high (50 mA) intensity stimulation. Level of Cognitive Functioning Scale (LCFS), Disability Rating Scale and recovery from coma (Revised coma Recovery Scale [CRS-R]) were collected at 12 months. A LASSO multiple regression analysis was fitted to data to investigate the best predictors of LCF, DRS and CRS-R. In-sample prediction was obtained to verify the quality of fitting, and accuracy indices (i.e., total error rate) produced. RESULTS: Presence of short and medium latency SSEPs with low and high stimulation intensity were identified as prognostic predictors of outcome for all the scales. Error rate was 4.5% for CRS and LCF, and 9.1% for DRS. CONCLUSIONS: Middle latency somatosensory evoked potentials associated with short latency somatosensory evoked potentials during the first 48 hours after a cardiac arrest are strong predictors of functional outcome at 12 months from the event. Replication on larger cohorts is needed to support their routine use as prognostic markers. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: These markers could inform more appropriate allocation of resources, provide a basis for realistic goal-setting, and help the family to adjust its expectations.

Early rehabilitation for severe acquired brain injury in intensive care unit: multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: The increased survival after a severe acquired brain injury (sABI) raise the problem of making most effective the treatments in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)/Neurointensive Care Unit (NICU), also integrating rehabilitation care. Despite previous studies reported that early mobilization in ICU was effective in preventing complications and reducing hospital stay, few studies addressed the rehabilitative management of sABI patients in ICU/NICU. AIM: To collect clinical and functional data about the early rehabilitative management of sABI patients during ICU/NICU stay. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, multicenter study. SETTING: Fourteen facilities supplied by intensive neurorehabilitation units and ICU/NICUs. POPULATION: Consecutive sABI patients admitted to ICU/NICU. METHODS: Patients were evaluated at admission and then every 3-5 days. Clinical, functional and rehabilitative data, including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Disability Rating Scale (DRS), The Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale (LCF), Early Rehabilitation Barthel Index (ERBI), Glasgow Outcome scale (GOS) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were collected. RESULTS: One hundred and two patients (F/M 44/58) were enrolled. The mean duration of ICU stay was 24.7±13.9 days and the first rehabilitative evaluation occurred after 8.7±8.8 days. Regular postural changes and multijoint mobilization were prescribed in 63.7% and 64.7% cases, respectively. The mean session duration was 38±11.5 minutes. Swallowing evaluation was performed in 14.7% patients, psychological support was provided to 12.7% of patients' caregivers, while 17.6% received a psycho-educational intervention, and 28.4% were involved in interdisciplinary team meetings. The main discharge destinations were Severe Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation units for 43.7%, intensive neurorehabilitation units for 20.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Data showed that early rehabilitation was not diffusely performed in sABI subjects in ICU/NICU and rehabilitative interventions were variable; one-third of subjects were not referred to dedicated rehabilitation unit at discharge. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: The study stresses the need to spread and implement a rehabilitative culture also for critical ill patients due to neurological diseases.