Intra- and inter-rater reliabilities for novel muscle thickness assessment during Co-contraction with dual-rehabilitative ultrasound imaging.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of dual-rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (D-RUSI) for the simultaneous measurement of the thickness of the tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles in healthy young adults. DESIGN: A single-group repeated-measures reliability study. SETTING: Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six healthy participants (23 males; age = 26.36 ±â€¯5.57 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: D-RUSI was used for the simultaneous measurement of the muscle thickness of the TA and GCM at rest and during maximum voluntary contraction. Two examiners acquired data from all participants during three separate testing sessions. RESULTS: In the results for the intra-examiner reliability of the TA and GCM muscle thickness for two sessions, all ICC values (95% CI) were good to very good, ranging from 0.72 to 0.95 (SEM 0.01-0.05 mm, MDC 0.02-0.13 mm, respectively). In the results for the inter-examiner reliability of the TA and GCM muscle thickness for three sessions, all ICC values (95% CI) were good to very good, ranging from 0.78 to 0.97 (SEM 0.01-0.10 mm, MDC 0.02-0.15 mm, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the potential usefulness of D-RUSI measurements for making management decisions related to muscle function, including muscle co-contraction.

An efficacy study on improving balance and gait in subacute stroke patients by balance training with additional motor imagery: a pilot study.

[Purpose] The few studies conducted on subacute stroke patients have focused only on gait function improvement. This study therefore aimed to confirm the effect of balance training with additional motor imagery on balance and gait improvement in subacute stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Participants were divided into an experimental or control group. The experimental group received balance training for 20 minutes/day with mental imagery for 10 minutes/day, three days/week, for four weeks. The control group received only balance training for 30 minutes. Before and after the 12 sessions, balance and gait ability were assessed by the researcher and a physical therapist. [Results] After completion of the 4-week intervention, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test, Functional Reach Test, and Four Square Step test scores significantly increased in the experimental group. In the control group, Berg Balance Scale and Functional Reach Test scores significantly improved. Changes in the Timed Up and Go test, Functional Reach Test, and Four Square Step Test scores after intervention were significantly higher in the experimental than in the control group. [Conclusion] Specific balance training with additional motor imagery may result in better rehabilitation outcomes of gait and balance ability than balance training alone.

Effect of space balance 3D training using visual feedback on balance and mobility in acute stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of balance training with Space Balance 3D, which is a computerized measurement and visual feedback balance assessment system, on balance and mobility in acute stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] This was a randomized controlled trial in which 52 subjects were assigned randomly into either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group, which contained 26 subjects, received balance training with a Space Balance 3D exercise program and conventional physical therapy interventions 5 times per week during 3 weeks. Outcome measures were examined before and after the 3-week interventions using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS). The data were analyzed by a two-way repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS 19.0. [Results] The results revealed a nonsignificant interaction effect between group and time period for both groups before and after the interventions in the BBS score, TUG score, and PASS score. In addition, the experimental group showed more improvement than the control group in the BBS, TUG and PASS scores, but the differences were not significant. In the comparisons within the groups by time, both groups showed significant improvement in BBS, TUG, and PASS scores. [Conclusion] The Space Balance 3D training with conventional physical therapy intervention is recommended for improvement of balance and mobility in acute stroke patients.

Reliability of the good balance system(®) for postural sway measurement in poststroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine test-retest reliability of the Good Balance system(®) for measurement of postural sway in poststroke patients. [Subjects] Sixty chronic stroke patients (40 men and 20 women; age 63.08 years; stroke duration 16.45 months) participated in this study. [Methods] Postural sway was evaluated using a force platform system (Good Balance system, Metitur Oy, Jyvaskyla, Finland). Two examiners measured postural sway for all participants during two separate testing sessions. The second measurement was performed one week after the first measurement. Intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC(2,1)] were used for estimation of reliability. [Results] The ICC (95% CI) for intra-examiner reliability was good to very good, ranging from 0.69 to 0.93 (0.53-0.96), and the ICC for inter-examiner reliability was good to very good, ranging from 0.85 to 0.98 (0.77-0.99). [Conclusion] The results of the current study indicated that the intra- and inter-examiner reliability of the Good Balance system(®) for measurement of postural sway was good to very good. Therefore, we suggest that measurement of postural sway using the Good Balance system(®) would be useful for clinical assessment in poststroke patients.