Pain mapping and characteristics in breast cancer survivors during task-oriented training: analysis at 3, 6, and 9 months.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency and characteristics of trunk and upper limb pain in women diagnosed with breast cancer, in different movement planes, during task-oriented training (TOT) 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery. METHODS: A prospective cohort study with 20 women. The body pain diagram (BPD), VAS, and McGill questionnaire were used. The TOT consisted of 20 exercises based on the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH) questionnaire. BPD overlay was performed in GIMP® image editor. The chi-square test was applied to the relationship between population characteristics and pain. Freedman's ANOVA and the Cochran's Q test were used in the comparison of pain site frequencies and intensity over time. RESULTS: In total, 297 BPDs were generated, which identified the affected upper limb as the body area with the highest frequency of pain at the three moments. However, at 9 months, the unaffected upper limb presented the same frequency as the affected limb. Radiotherapy presented a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) with pain at 9 months. The pain was characterized as moderate at the three moments, affective at 3 and 6 months, and sensory at 9 months. CONCLUSION: The most frequent area of pain at 3 and 6 months was the affected upper limb however, at 9 months, the unaffected upper limb presented the same frequency of pain as the affected upper limb. Pain was characterized as moderate at the three evaluation moments.

The Effect of Priming on Outcomes of Task-Oriented Training for the Upper Extremity in Chronic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background. Priming results in a type of implicit memory that prepares the brain for a more plastic response, thereby changing behavior. New evidence in neurorehabilitation points to the use of priming interventions to optimize functional gains of the upper extremity in poststroke individuals. Objective. To determine the effects of priming on task-oriented training on upper extremity outcomes (body function and activity) in chronic stroke. Methods. The PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, and PEDro databases were searched in October 2019. Outcome data were pooled into categories of measures considering the International Classification Functional (ICF) classifications of body function and activity. Means and standard deviations for each group were used to determine group effect sizes by calculating mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals via a fixed effects model. Heterogeneity among the included studies for each factor evaluated was measured using the I2 statistic. Results. Thirty-six studies with 814 patients undergoing various types of task-oriented training were included in the analysis. Of these studies, 17 were associated with stimulation priming, 12 with sensory priming, 4 with movement priming, and 3 with action observation priming. Stimulation priming showed moderate-quality evidence of body function. Only the Wolf Motor Function Test (time) in the activity domain showed low-quality evidence. However, gains in motor function and in use of extremity members were measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (UE-FMA). Regarding sensory priming, we found moderate-quality evidence and effect size for UE-FMA, corresponding to the body function domain (MD 4.77, 95% CI 3.25-6.29, Z = 6.15, P < .0001), and for the Action Research Arm Test, corresponding to the activity domain (MD 7.47, 95% CI 4.52-10.42, Z = 4.96, P < .0001). Despite the low-quality evidence, we found an effect size (MD 8.64, 95% CI 10.85-16.43, Z = 2.17, P = .003) in movement priming. Evidence for action observation priming was inconclusive. Conclusion. Combining priming and task-oriented training for the upper extremities of chronic stroke patients can be a promising intervention strategy. Studies that identify which priming techniques combined with task-oriented training for upper extremity function in chronic stroke yield effective outcomes in each ICF domain are needed and may be beneficial for the recovery of upper extremities poststroke.

Efeitos de um programa fisioterapêutico com terapia por tarefas orientadas e treino de marcha para trás na locomoção de pacientes após acidente vascular encefálico: série de casos / Effect of a physical therapy program with task-oriented approach and backward gait training in the locomotion after stroke: case series

Introdução: Pacientes após Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE) costumam ter alteração da marcha, apresentando velocidade lenta, baixa resistência a longas distâncias, e limitação da locomoção independente nas ruas. A recuperação dessa marcha comunitária é para esses indivíduos, um dos principais objetivos para a manutenção de uma vida ativa. Objetivo: Investigar a eficácia de uma intervenção fisioterapêutica com o método de tarefas orientadas e com o treino de marcha para trás sobre a locomoção de pacientes hemiparéticos após AVE. Métodos: Tratase de um estudo de análise de efeito terapêutico do tipo série de casos, no qual o sujeito é seu próprio controle, e são realizadas avaliações múltiplas para cada sujeito nas fases A1- B - A2. Na fase A1 são feitas duas avaliações antes do tratamento, gerando uma linha de base (baseline) que por ter duas medidas inclui a variação normal do sujeito, na fase B também são feitas duas avaliações, mas, durante e imediatamente após o tratamento, para obter as mudanças relacionadas ao mesmo e na fase A2 são feitas duas avaliações após duas semanas e um mês sem tratamento, para avaliar retenção do tratamento. Este estudo foi realizado com indivíduos com sequelas de AVE deambuladores comunitários (capazes de andar na rua, com ou sem auxílio de órteses). Os constructos utilizados para avaliar o efeito da terapia nos participantes foram: equilíbrio avançado, marcha comunitária com capacidade de modificar marcha as tarefas funcionais, equilíbrio e mobilidade, que foram investigados respectivamente com os instrumentos Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB), Índice de Marcha Dinâmica (DGI) e Timed Up Go (TUG). Dois métodos estatísticos foram utilizados: 1) O método visual da banda formada pela média e por dois desvios padrão calculados com os resultados das avaliações feitas na baseline, formando uma banda cujos pontos que caírem fora da banda tem uma significância p < 0.05; e 2) O cálculo do tamanho do efeito da terapia com o método de Delta de Glass. Resultados: Participaram do estudo quatro voluntários com sequelas após AVE. Após aplicação do protocolo de intervenção com tarefas orientadas e marcha para trás, observou-se melhora do equilíbrio e mobilidade, assim como da locomoção e da capacidade de modificação da marcha às atividades funcionais, isso pode ser observado especialmente no TUG em que todos os participantes diminuiram o tempo, após o tratamento em aproximadamente 3 a 20 segundos, p < 0,05. Os tamanhos do efeito após terapia foram grandes a enormes > 0,80 e 1,30 para todos os participantes em dois dos três desfechos primários. Conclusão: A associação do treino por tarefas orientadas com o treino de marcha para trás dentro do processo de reeducação funcional de pacientes após AVE surte efeitos positivos sobre a locomoção. (AU)

Introduction: Patients after stroke usually have gait dysfunctions, presenting slow speed, low resistance over long walking distances, and limitation of independent walking outdoors. The recovery of community walking is for those individuals, one of the main goal necessary to keep an active life. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a physical therapy intervention with the task-oriented method associated with backward gait training on the locomotion of hemiparetic patients after stroke. Methods: This study is a case series, to analyze therapeutic effect, in which the subject is his own control, and multiple evaluations are performed for each subject in phases A1 - B - A2. In phase A1 two pre-treatment assessments are performed, generating a baseline that includes the normal variation of the subject. In phase B two assessments are also made, but during and immediately after treatment to obtain changes related to the treatment effect and, in phase A2, two assessments are made, after two weeks and one month without treatment, phase A2 is to assess retention of treatment. This study was conducted with community-walking strokes survivors (capable of walking on the street, with or without orthoses). The constructs used to assess the effect of therapy on participants were: advanced balance, community gait with ability to change functional tasks, speed and mobility, which were investigated with the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) instruments, Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and Timed Up Go (TUG). Two statistical methods were used: 1) The visual method of the band formed by the mean and by two standard deviations calculated from the results of the baseline evaluations, forming a band where the points that fall outside the band have a significance of p < 0.05 and 2) The size calculation of the effect of therapy with the Glass Delta method. Results: Four volunteers with stroke sequelae participated in the study. After applying the intervention protocol with task-oriented approach and backward gait training, it was observed an improvement in balance and mobility, as well as locomotion and gait modification ability to functional activities, that was observed especially in the TUG where all participants decreased the time after treatment in approximately 3 to 20 seconds, p <0.05. Post-therapy effect sizes were large to huge > 0.80 and 1.30 for all participants in two of the three primary outcomes. Conclusion: The association of task-oriented training with backward gait training within the functional rehabilitation process of patients after stroke has positive effects on locomotion. (AU)

Feasibility and effectiveness of adding object-related bilateral symmetrical training to mirror therapy in chronic stroke: A randomized controlled pilot study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of adding object-related bilateral symmetrical training to mirror therapy (MT) to improve upper limb (UL) activity in chronic stroke patients. METHOD: Sixteen patients with moderate UL impairment were randomly allocated to either the experimental (EG) or control (CG) group. Both groups performed 1 hour sessions, 3 days/week for 4 weeks, involving object-related bilateral symmetrical training. EG performed the tasks observing their nonparetic UL reflected in the mirror, while CG observed the paretic UL directly. The primary outcome measure was unilateral and bilateral UL activity according to the Test d'Évaluation des Membres Supérieurs de Personnes Âgées (TEMPA). All measurements were taken at baseline, post-training, and follow-up (2 weeks). RESULTS: TEMPA total score showed the main effect of time. Significant improvement was found for bilateral but not unilateral tasks. Both groups showed gains after training, with no differences between them. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the feasibility of adding object-related bilateral training to MT. Both types of training improved UL bilateral activity; however, a larger sample is required for a definitive study. Other studies need to be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of combining more distal-oriented movements and object-related unilateral training to improve these effects in chronic stroke patients.