Immediate effects of TECAR therapy on lower limb to decrease hypertonia in chronic stroke survivors: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To analyze immediate effects of TECAR therapy (TT) to reduce lower limb hypertonia and improve functionality in chronic post-stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 36 chronic stroke survivors were divided into two groups. The experimental group received a single 30-minute session of TT with functional massage (FM) on lower limb. The control group received a single 30-minute session sham treatment of TT plus FM. The primary outcome measure was hypertonia (Modified Ashworth Scale, MAS). Secondary outcomes were gait speed (4-Meter Walk-Test), standing knee-flexion (Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale IV-item), change in weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion (Ankle Lunge Test, ALT), and functional lower limb strength (5-Times Sit-to-Stand Test). All measurements were performed at baseline, immediately and 30-minutes after treatment. RESULTS: There was a group-time interaction in MAS-knee (p = 0.044), MAS-ankle (p = 0.018) and ALT (p = 0.016) between T1 and T0 (p<.0001) and T2 and T0 (p<.0001) for the experimental group. There was a significant increase in ALT between T1 and T0 (p = 0.003) in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: A single session of TT performed at the same time as FM immediately reduces plantar-flexors and knee-extensor muscle hypertonia and increases change in weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion in chronic stroke survivors.

Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (TECAR) therapy may improve ankle mobility in stroke survivors.TECAR therapy may improve knee mobility in post-stroke.TECAR therapy may reduce lower limb muscle tone in stroke survivors.TECAR therapy could be used in combination with physiotherapy as a safe technique for the immediate reduction of hypertonia in stroke survivors.

Immediate Effects of TECAR Therapy on Gastrocnemius and Quadriceps Muscles with Spastic Hypertonia in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess changes in muscle properties after a single session of capacitive and resistive energetic transfer (TECAR) therapy on spastic gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles in chronic post-stroke. METHODS: A total of 36 chronic stroke survivors with lower limb hypertonia were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The experimental group (n = 18) received a single 30 min session of TECAR therapy in combination with functional massage (FM) on the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles. The control group (n = 18) received a sham treatment of TECAR therapy (without electrical stimulation) in combination with real FM. The primary outcome was muscle tone of the lower limb muscles assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The secondary outcomes were goniometric degrees of the MAS (goniometer), neuromuscular properties of the gastrocnemius/quadriceps (myotonometer), and passive range of motion (inclinometer). All measurements were performed at baseline (T0), immediately after treatment (T1), and at 30 min post-treatment (T2) by a blinded assessor. RESULTS: The MAS score ankle dorsiflexion significantly decreased at T0-T1 (p = 0.046), and the change was maintained at T0-T2 (p = 0.019) in the experimental group. Significant improvements were noted in the passive range of motion for knee flexion (p = 0.012) and ankle dorsiflexion (p = 0.034) at T2. In addition, knee flexion improved at T1 (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: A single session of Tecar therapy at the same time with FM on the gastrocnemius and rectus femoris immediately reduces muscle tone and increases the passive range of motion of both ankle and knee in chronic stroke survivors. There were no significant changes in the neuromuscular properties measured with myotonometer.

Assessment of the 4-meter walk test test-retest reliability and concurrent validity and its correlation with the five sit-to-stand test in chronic ambulatory stroke survivors.

BACKGROUND: The 4-meter walk test (4-MWT) is a widely used measure to assess gait speed in the elderly but has not been validated for stroke survivors to date. OBJECTIVES: To assess the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of the 4-MWT compared to the 10-meter walk test (10-MWT) as a measure of gait speed in chronic post-stroke. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURE: to assess the correlation of both gait measures with the 5 times sit-to-stand test (5TSTS). METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC-95%). Bland & Altman analysis was used to quantify agreement between the 4-MWT and the 10-MWT. Two consecutive walking trials of the 4-MWT and 10-MWT followed by 5TSTS were performed all on the same day. A single researcher made all measurements. RESULTS: Thirty-six chronic ambulatory post-stroke (average age 58.56 ± 11.28 years) were analyzed at their self-selected walking speed with a dynamic start. The 4-MWT showed excellent concurrent validity and test-retest reliability: ICC2.1 = 0.991 (95% CI: 0.983, 0.996); SEM= 0.032 and MDC- 95% = 0.090 m/second) with a strong positive correlation with the 10-MWT (r = 0.957, p < 0.001). The Bland & Altman analysis showed a concordance of -0.05 m/second bias (p = 0.039) (95% limits of agreement: 0.20 to -0.29 m/second). The paired t-test showed no statistically significant difference in the mean of both walking tests (p < 0.091). However, there was only moderate correlation between the two gait assessments and the 5TSTS. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates excellent test-retest reliability concurrent validity and strong correlation between 4-MWT and 10-MWT with a dynamic start at comfortable speed. The 4-MWT could be used as a measure of gait speed in both outpatients and home settings in chronic ambulatory stroke survivors.

Forgetting Details in Visual Long-Term Memory: Decay or Interference?

Two main explanations for memory loss have been proposed. On the one hand, decay theories consider that over time memory fades away. On the other hand, interference theories sustain that when similar memories are encoded, they become more prone to confusion. The interference is greater as the degree of similarity between memories increases, and as the number of similar traces increases too. To reduce interference, the pattern separation process allows the brain to separate similar memories and build detailed memory representations that are less easily confused. Nonetheless, with time, we tend to remember more general aspects of experiences, which also affects our ability to discriminate. We present the results of one experiment in which brain activity was recorded by EEG while two groups of healthy participants performed a visual memory discrimination task. This task assesses the ability to differentiate new but similar information from previously learned information and thus avoid interference. Unlike previous studies, we used a paradigm that was specifically designed to assess the impact of the number of items (2 or 6) of each category stored in memory, as well as the time elapsed after the study phase (20 min or 24 h), on recognition memory for objects. Behaviorally, our results suggest that mnemonic discrimination is not modulated by the passage of time, but by the number of stored events. ERP results show a reduced amplitude in posterior regions between 500 and 700 ms when comparing short and long delays. We also observe a more positive activity in a centro-posterior region in the 500-700 ms window at retrieval when participants store more items. Interestingly, amplitudes for old hits and similar false alarms were greater than amplitudes for correctly rejected new items between 500 and 700 ms. This finding indicates that a recollection-based process operates in both true and false recognition. We also found that the waveforms for correct rejections of similar lures and the waveforms for correct rejections of new items were comparable.

The Immediate Effect of Informational Manual Therapy for Improving Quiet Standing and Bodily Pain in University Population.

BACKGROUND: The Informational Manual Therapy (IMT) is a therapeutic touch. This study aims to assess the effect of IMT on quiet standing, pain and health status in university population. METHODS: An experiment was conducted on subjects utilizing a comparative paired analysis both before and after the intervention. One IMT session was performed on 57 healthy individuals aged from 18 to 65 years. The primary outcome was quiet standing assessed by the Satel 40 Hz stabilometric force platform. Secondary outcomes were bodily pain assessed by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and health status by EQ-5D-3L. The primary outcome was evaluated before and immediately after treatment. RESULTS: The individuals were divided into 3 age groups, 18-35 (52.6%), 35-50 (29.8%) and 51-65 (17.6%). Statistically significant differences were immediately observed after the session ended when comparing the pre-post quiet stance scores in a number of length parameters: L, Lx, Ly and stabilometry amplitude on Y-axis with eyes open and closed. Significant differences were also found when testing bodily pain (SF-36) and anxiety (5Q-5D-3L). CONCLUSION: One session of IMT produced positive effects when testing quiet standing with eyes open and eyes closed, as well as a significant reduction in pain and anxiety for those tested. Further research is suggested.

Alteraciones en funciones cognitivas en mujeres maltratadas: revisión sistemática y meta-análisis / Alterações nas funções cognitivas em mulheres maltratadas: revisão sistemática e meta-análise / Alterations in cognitive functions in battered women: systematic review and meta-analysis

El presente estudio ha tenido como objetivo realizar una revisión sistemática y meta-análisis sobre alteraciones en funciones cognitivas en mujeres maltratadas. Se ha contado con una muestra inicial de 643 registros obtenidos de las bases de datos: Medline, ERIC, PsycInfo, CNAIL, Proquest y Scielo. Su análisis llevó a la retención de 12 artículos sobre los que se ha centrado el estudio. Los resultados de la síntesis cualitativa indican que la atención, lenguaje, memoria, habilidades visoespaciales, función ejecutiva, velocidad motora y rendimiento educativo se encuentran alteradas en las mujeres maltratadas, con mayor evidencia de deterioro en las áreas de atención, memoria y funciones ejecutivas. Los resultados del meta-análisis sugieren presencia de daño cerebral en estas mujeres y una especial afectación de la memoria y funciones ejecutivas. Estos resultados avalan la existencia de alteraciones en funciones cognitivas en las mujeres que han sido víctimas de maltrato.

O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão sistemática e meta-análise das alterações nas funções cognitivas em mulheres agredidas. Para arealização do estudo, foi utilizada uma amostra inicial de 643 registos nas bases de dados: Medline, ERIC, PsycInfo, CNAIL, Proquest e Scielo. O procedimentode seleção levou à retenção de 12 artigos nos quais o estudo se centrou. Os resultados da síntese qualitativa indicam que a atenção, a linguagem, a memória, as habilidades visuoespaciais, a função executiva, a velocidade motora e o desempenho educacional estão alterados em mulheres agredidas, com maior evidência de deterioração nas áreas de atenção, memória e funções executivas.Os resultados da meta-análise sugerem a presença de dano cerebral nessas mulheres e um comprometimento especial da memória e das funções executivas. Estes resultados sustentam a existência de alterações nas funções cognitivas das mulheres vítimas de abuso.

The present study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on alterations in cognitive functions in battered women. We selected an initial sample of 643 records obtained from the databases: Medline, ERIC,PsycInfo, CNAIL, Proquest and Scielo. Following the study selection procedureled to the retention of 12 articles on which the study has focused. The results of the qualitative synthesis indicate that attention, language, memory, visuospatial skills, executive function, motor speed and educational performance are altered in battered women, with greater evidence of deterioration in the areas of attention, memory and executive functions. The results of the meta-analysis suggest presence of brain damage in these women and a special affectation of the memory and executive functions. These results support the existence of alterations in cognitive functions in women who have been victims of abuse.