International Recommendations to Manage Poststroke Equinovarus Foot Deformity Validated by a Panel of Experts Using Delphi.

OBJECTIVE: To establish international recommendations for the management of spastic equinovarus foot deformity. DESIGN: Delphi method. SETTING: International study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 24 international experts (N=24) in neuro-orthopedic deformities, from different specialties (Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine physicians, neurologists, geriatricians, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons). INTERVENTIONS: Experts answered 3 rounds of questions related to important aspects of diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of spastic equinovarus foot deformity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A consensus was established when at least 80% of experts agreed on a statement RESULTS: A total of 52 items reached consensus. Experts recommend assessing effect of the deformity on functional activities before treatment. Before treatment, it is crucial to differentiate spastic muscle overactivity from soft tissue contractures, identify which muscles are involved in the deformity, and evaluate the activity of antagonist muscles. Motor nerve blocks, 2-dimensional video analysis, and radiologic examinations are often required to complement a clinical examination. The treatment of equinovarus foot depends on the correctability of the deformity and the patient's ability to stand or walk. The preoperative assessment should include an interdisciplinary consultation that must finalize a formal agreement between physicians and the patient, which will define personalized attainable goals before surgery. CONCLUSION: The establishment of guidelines on managing equinovarus foot will help physicians and surgeons, specialists, and nonspecialists to diagnoses and assess the deformity and direct patients to a network of experts to optimize patient functional recovery and improve their autonomy.

Economic impact of work disability due to chronic low back pain from the patient perspective.

OBJECTIVES: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the main expenditure items for health systems. Data on the economic impact of LBP are uncommon from the patient perspective. The aim of this study was to estimate the economic impact of work disability related to chronic LBP from the patient perspective. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis from patients aged over 17 years suffering from non-specific LBP for at least 3 months. Systematic medical, social and economic assessments were collected: pain duration and intensity; functional disability with the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (0-100); quality of life with the Dallas Pain Questionnaire; job category; employment status; duration of work disability due to LBP, and income. Factors associated with loss of income were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We included 244 workers (mean age 43 ± 9 years; 36% women); 199 patients had work disability, including 196 who were on sick leave, 106 due to job injury. Three were unemployed due to layoff for incapacity. The mean loss of income for patients with work disability was 14% [SD 24, range -100 to 70] and was significantly less for patients on sick leave due to job injury than on sick leave not related to job injury (p < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, the probability of loss of income with LBP was about 50% less for overseers and senior managers than workers or employees (odds ratio 0.48 [95% confidence interval 0.23-0.99]). CONCLUSION: Work disability due to LBP resulted in loss of income in our study. The loss of income depended on the type of social protection and job category. It was reduced for patients on sick leave related to work injury and for overseers and senior managers.

Determinants of disability at 6 months after stroke: The GRECogVASC Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the contributions of background disorders responsible for participation restriction as indexed by a structured interview for the modified Rankin Scale (mRS-SI). METHODS: A subset of 256 patients was assessed at 6 months after stroke using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), gait score, comprehensive cognitive battery (yielding a global cognitive Z-score), behavioral dysexecutive disorders (DDs), anxiety and depressive symptoms, epilepsy, and headache. Following bivariate analyses, determinants of participation restriction were selected using ordinal regression analysis with partial odds. RESULTS: Poststroke participation restriction (mRS-SI score > 1) was observed in 59% of the patients. In bivariate analyses, mRS-SI score was associated with prestroke mRS-SI score, 6-month NIHSS score, gait score, global cognitive Z-score, behavioral DDs, and presence of anxiety and depression (all: p = 0.0001; epilepsy: p =0.3; headache: p = 0.7). After logistic regression analysis, NIHSS score was associated with increasing mRS-SI score (p = 0.00001). Prestroke mRS-SI score (p = 0.00001), behavioral DDs (p = 0.0008) and global cognitive Z-score (p = 0.01) were associated with both mRS-SI score > 1 and mRS-SI score > 2. In addition, gait score was associated with mRS-SI score > 2 (p = 0.00001). This model classified 85% of mRS-SI scores correctly (p = 0.001). Structural equation modeling showed the contributions of gait limitation (standardized coefficient [SC]: 0.68; p = 0.01), prestroke mRS-SI (SC: 0.41; p = 0.01), severity of neurological impairment (SC: 0.16; p = 0.01), global cognitive Z-score (SC: -0.14; p = 0.05), and behavioral DDs (SC: 0.13; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: These results provide a statistical model of weights of determinants responsible for poststroke participation restriction and highlight a new independent determinant: behavioral DDs.

Comparative study of psychometric properties of three assessment tools for degenerative rotator cuff disease.

OBJECTIVE:: To compare psychometric properties of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and Constant-Murley scale, in patients with degenerative rotator cuff disease (DRCD). DESIGN:: Longitudinal cohort. SETTING:: One French university hospital. METHODS:: The scales were applied twice at one-week interval before physiotherapy and once after physiotherapy two months later. The perceived improvement after treatment was self-assessed on a numerical scale (0-4). The test-retest reliability of the DASH, SPADI and Constant-Murley scales was assessed before treatment by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The responsiveness was assessed by the paired t-test ( P < 0.05) and standardized mean difference (SMD). The correlation between the percentage of variation in scale scores and the self-assessed improvement score after treatment was measured by the Spearman coefficient. RESULTS:: Fifty-three patients were included. Twenty-six only were available for reliability. The test-retest reliability was very good for the DASH (ICC = 0.97), SPADI (0.95) and Constant-Murley (0.92). The scale score was improved after treatment for each scale ( P < 0.05). The SMD was moderate for the DASH (0.56) and SPADI (0.56) scales, and small for the Constant-Murley (0.44). The correlation between the percentage of variation in scores and self-assessed improvement score after treatment was high, moderate and not significant for the SPADI (0.59, P < 0.0001), DASH (0.42, P < 0.01) and Constant-Murley scales, respectively. CONCLUSION:: The test-retest reliability of the DASH, SPADI and Constant-Murley scales is very good for patients with DRCD. The highest responsiveness was achieved with the SPADI.

AMOBES (Active Mobility Very Early After Stroke): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intensive physical therapy (PT) facilitates motor recovery when provided during a subacute stage after stroke. The efficiency of very early intensive PT has been less investigated. We aimed to investigate whether intensive PT conducted within the first 2 weeks could aid recovery of motor control. METHODS: This multicentre randomized controlled trial compared soft PT (20-min/d apart from respiratory needs) and intensive PT (idem+45 minutes of intensive exercises/day) initiated within the first 72 hours after a first hemispheric stroke. The primary outcome was change in motor control between day (D) 90 and D0 assessed by the Fugl-Meyer score. Main secondary outcomes were number of days to walking 10 m unassisted, balance, autonomy, quality of life, and unexpected medical events. All analyses were by intent to treat. RESULTS: We could analyze data for 103 of the 104 included patients (51 control and 52 experimental group; 64 males; median age overall 67 [interquartile range 59-77], 67 right hemispheric lesions, 80 ischemic lesions, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥8 for 82%). Fugl-Meyer score increased over time (P<0.0001), with no significant effect of treatment (P=0.29) or interaction between treatment and time (P=0.40). The median change in score between D90 and D0 was 27.5 (12-40) and 22.0 (12-56) for control and experimental groups (P=0.69). Similar results were found for the secondary criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Very early after stroke, intensive exercises may not be efficient in improving motor control. This conclusion may apply to mainly severe stroke. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01520636.

Effect of dynamic humeral centring (DHC) treatment on painful active elevation of the arm in subacromial impingement syndrome. Secondary analysis of data from an RCT.

BACKGROUND: The physiotherapy dynamic humeral centring (DHC) aims to prevent subacromial impingement of rotator cuff tendons during elevation of the arm. The objective of the study was to determine whether DHC acts via an effect on subacromial impingement mechanism by assessing its effect on painful elevation of the arm in subacromial impingement syndrome. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of results of a randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of DHC. Sixty-nine patients with subacromial impingement syndrome were prospectively included. Patients and the assessor were blinded to the study hypothesis and treatment, respectively. Patients underwent DHC or non-specific mobilisation as a control for 6 weeks in 15 supervised individual outpatient sessions with home exercises. Outcomes were pain-free range of motion and presence of painful arc of the shoulder, both in active flexion and abduction of the arm at 3 months. RESULTS: At 3 months, pain-free range of motion, both flexion and abduction, was greater in the DHC group than in the mobilisation group. The number of patients with painful arc during flexion was decreased in the DHC group. CONCLUSIONS: DHC improves painful active elevation of the arm. We suggest that DHC may act via a specific effect on subacromial impingement mechanism.

Preventing falls: the use of machine learning for the prediction of future falls in individuals without history of fall.

Nowadays, it becomes of paramount societal importance to support many frail-prone groups in our society (elderly, patients with neurodegenerative diseases, etc.) to remain socially and physically active, maintain their quality of life, and avoid their loss of autonomy. Once older people enter the prefrail stage, they are already likely to experience falls whose consequences may accelerate the deterioration of their quality of life (injuries, fear of falling, reduction of physical activity). In that context, detecting frailty and high risk of fall at an early stage is the first line of defense against the detrimental consequences of fall. The second line of defense would be to develop original protocols to detect future fallers before any fall occur. This paper briefly summarizes the current advancements and perspectives that may arise from the combination of affordable and easy-to-use non-wearable systems (force platforms, 3D tracking motion systems), wearable systems (accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial measurement units-IMUs) with appropriate machine learning analytics, as well as the efforts to address these challenges.

Dual-task versus single-task gait rehabilitation after stroke: the protocol of the cognitive-motor synergy multicenter, randomized, controlled superiority trial (SYNCOMOT).

BACKGROUND: Gait disorders and cognitive impairments are prime causes of disability and institutionalization after stroke. We hypothesized that relative to single-task gait rehabilitation (ST GR), cognitive-motor dual-task (DT) GR initiated at the subacute stage would be associated with greater improvements in ST and DT gait, balance, and cognitive performance, personal autonomy, disability, and quality of life in the short, medium and long terms after stroke. METHODS: This multicenter (n=12), two-arm, parallel-group, randomized (1:1), controlled clinical study is a superiority trial. With p<0.05, a power of 80%, and an expected loss to follow-up rate of 10%, the inclusion of 300 patients will be required to evidence a 0.1-m.s-1 gain in gait speed. Trial will include adult patients (18-90 years) in the subacute phase (0 to 6 months after a hemispheric stroke) and who are able to walk for 10 m (with or without a technical aid). Registered physiotherapists will deliver a standardized GR program (30 min three times a week, for 4 weeks). The GR program will comprise various DTs (phasic, executive function, praxis, memory, and spatial cognition tasks during gait) in the DT (experimental) group and gait exercises only in the ST (control) group. The primary outcome measure is gait speed 6 months after inclusion. The secondary outcomes are post-stroke impairments (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and the motor part of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the lower extremity), gait speed (10-m walking test), mobility and dynamic balance (timed up-and-go test), ST and DT cognitive function (the French adaptation of the harmonization standards neuropsychological battery, and eight cognitive-motor DTs), personal autonomy (functional independence measure), restrictions in participation (structured interview and the modified Rankin score), and health-related quality of life (on a visual analog scale). These variables will be assessed immediately after the end of the protocol (probing the short-term effect), 1 month thereafter (the medium-term effect), and 5 months thereafter (the long-term effect). DISCUSSION: The main study limitation is the open design. The trial will focus on a new GR program applicable at various stages after stroke and during neurological disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03009773 . Registered on January 4, 2017.

Construction and pilot assessment of the Upper Limb Assessment in Daily Living Scale.

OBJECTIVE: The upper limb function of hemiplegic patients is currently evaluated using scales that assess physical capacity or daily activities under test conditions. The present scale, the Upper Limb Assessment in Daily Living (ULADL) Scale, was developed to explore the subjective and objective functional capacities of such patients in a proximal to distal sequence. METHODS: A group of experts constructed a scale addressing 17 upper limb functions (five active passive and 12 active) which could be explored by a questionnaire (Q) and a test (T). Reproducibility, internal consistency, concurrent validity (Rivermead Motor Assessment (RMA)) and learning effect were estimated in a multicentre study. RESULTS: 49 stroke patients were each rated three times within 7 days by a total of 21 physicians, yielding a total of 142 ratings. The ULADL took 16±8 min to complete compared with 9±5 min for the RMA. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.95 for Q and 0.97 for the practical tests (T). The global Q and T scores, and in particular the global Q score, were slightly higher at the second rating. The intra-rater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.65 (95% CI (0.44 to 0.79)) for Q and 0.97 (0.95 to 0.98) for T, and the inter-rater ICC was 0.95 for both Q and T. The Bland and Altman method showed good intra- and inter-rater reliability with no systematic trend. Correlation coefficients for ULADL versus RMA were >0.80 for both Q and T. CONCLUSIONS: The ULADL Scale has good psychometric properties and can explore patients with different degrees of upper limb impairment.

Value of a clinical test of sub-acromial impingement to predict response to physiotherapy with dynamic humeral centering: A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Dynamic humeral centering (DHC) is a physiotherapy modality that aims to prevent sub-acromial impingement of rotator cuff tendons. We recently developed a new clinical manoeuver - the Viggo-Cochin test - to enhance the ability of the Neer test to detect sub-acromial impingement. Here we hypothesised whether the DHC effect may differ between individuals with positive and negative Viggo-Cochin test results. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between DHC and Viggo-Cochin test results. METHODS: Individuals with shoulder pain due to sub-acromial impingement underwent the Neer and Viggo-Cochin tests at baseline. They were assessed before and after DHC by the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). A positive response to DHC was defined as a 20% reduction in the SPADI. RESULTS: We included 50 individuals (53 shoulders). The response to DHC did not differ by Neer test result at baseline: OR 0.73 [95% CI 0.22-2.38] (p= 0.601). By contrast, the response to DHC was 5-fold higher with a positive than negative Viggo-Cochin test result: OR 5.11 [95% CI 1.47-17.78] (p= 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher clinical response to DHC with a positive than negative Viggo-Cochin test result at baseline in individuals with shoulder pain due to rotator cuff disease.

Walking speed at the acute and subacute stroke stage: A descriptive meta-analysis.

Gait disorders are one of the leading patient complaints at the sub-acute stroke stage (SSS) and a main determinant of disability. Walking speed (WS) is a major vital and functional index, and the Ten-Meter Walk Test is considered the gold standard after stroke. Based on a systematic review of the literature, studies published between January 2000 and November 2021 were selected when WS was reported (ten-meter walk test for short distance and/or 6-min walking distance for long distance) within 6 months following a first ischemic and/or hemorrhagic stroke (SSS) in adults prior to receiving specific walking rehabilitation. Following PRISMA guidelines, a meta-analysis was conducted on two kinds of WS: the principal criterion focused on short-distance WS (ten-meter walking test) and the secondary criteria focused on long-distance WS (6-min test) and meta-regressions to study the association of WS with balance, cognitive disorders and autonomy. Nine studies comprising a total of 939 data on post-stroke patients were selected. The weighted average age was 61 years [95% IC [55-67] and males represented 62% ± 2.7 of patients [57-67]. Average short-distance WS was 0.36 ± 0.06 m.s-1 [95% CI (0.23-0.49)]. Average long-distance WS was 0.46 ± 0.1 m.s-1 [95% CI (0.26-0.66)]. The funnel plot revealed asymmetry of publication bias and high heterogeneity of the nine studies (I 2 index 98.7% and Q-test p < 0.0001). Meta-regressions of secondary endpoints could not be performed due to a lack of study data. At the SSS, WS would be lower than data in general population published in literature, but above all, lower than the WS required for safe daily autonomy and community ambulation after stroke. WS must be a priority objective of stroke rehabilitation to increase walking function but also for survival, autonomy, social participation and health-related quality of life.

A review of center of pressure (COP) variables to quantify standing balance in elderly people: Algorithms and open-access code.

Postural control is often quantified by recording the trajectory of the center of pressure (COP)-also called stabilogram-during human quiet standing. This quantification has many important applications, such as the early detection of balance degradation to prevent falls, a crucial task whose relevance increases with the aging of the population. Due to the complexity of the quantification process, the analyses of sway patterns have been performed empirically using a number of variables, such as ellipse confidence area or mean velocity. This study reviews and compares a wide range of state-of-the-art variables that are used to assess the risk of fall in elderly from a stabilogram. When appropriate, we discuss the hypothesis and mathematical assumptions that underlie these variables, and we propose a reproducible method to compute each of them. Additionally, we provide a statistical description of their behavior on two datasets recorded in two elderly populations and with different protocols, to hint at typical values of these variables. First, the balance of 133 elderly individuals, including 32 fallers, was measured on a relatively inexpensive, portable force platform (Wii Balance Board, Nintendo) with a 25-s open-eyes protocol. Second, the recordings of 76 elderly individuals, from an open access database commonly used to test static balance analyses, were used to compute the values of the variables on 60-s eyes-open recordings with a research laboratory standard force platform.

Sinking skin flap syndrome and paradoxical herniation after hemicraniectomy for malignant hemispheric infarction.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: "Sinking skin flap" (SSF) syndrome is a rare complication after large craniectomy that may progress to "paradoxical" herniation as a consequence of atmospheric pressure exceeding intracranial pressure. The prevalence and characteristics of SSF syndrome after hemicraniectomy for malignant infarction of the middle cerebral artery are not well known. METHODS: We analyzed a prospective cohort of 27 patients who underwent hemicraniectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction. All had a clinical and brain imaging follow-up at 3 months and were followed until cranioplasty. RESULTS: Three of 27 patients (11%) had, at 3 to 5 months posthemicraniectomy, SSF syndrome with severe orthostatic headache as the main symptom. In addition, 4 patients (15%) had radiological SSF syndrome but no clinical symptoms except partial seizures in one. Patients with SSF syndrome had a smaller surface of craniectomy (76.2 cm(2) versus 88.7 cm(2), P=0.05) and a tendency toward larger infarct volume, an older age, and a longer delay to cranioplasty than those without this syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: SSF syndrome either clinically symptomatic or asymptomatic affects one fourth of patients 3 to 5 months after hemicraniectomy for malignant middle cerebral artery infarction. It should be diagnosed as early as possible to avoid progression to a paradoxical herniation.

Lumbar spinal stenosis and disc alterations affect the upper lumbar spine in adults with achondroplasia.

In achondroplasia, lumbar spinal stenosis arises from congenital dysplasia and acquired degenerative changes. We here aimed to describe the changes of the lumbar spinal canal and intervertebral disc in adults. We included 18 adults (age ≥ 18 years) with achondroplasia and lumbar spinal stenosis. Radiographs were used to analyze spinal-pelvic angles. Antero-posterior diameter of the spinal canal and the grade of disc degeneration were measured by MRI. Antero-posterior diameters of the spinal canal differed by spinal level (P < 0.05), with lower values observed at T12-L1, L1-2 and L2-3. Degrees of disc degeneration differed by intervertebral level, with higher degrees observed at L1-2, L2-3 and L3-4. A significant correlation was found between disc degeneration and thoraco-lumbar kyphosis at L2-3, between antero-posterior diameter of the spinal canal and lumbar lordosis at T12-L1 and L2-3, and between antero-posterior diameter of the spinal canal and thoraco-lumbar kyphosis at L1-2. Unlike the general population, spinal stenosis and disc degeneration involve the upper part of the lumbar spine in adults with achondroplasia, associated with thoraco-lumbar kyphosis and loss of lumbar lordosis.

Shoulder adhesive capsulitis: diagnostic value of active and passive range of motion with volume of gleno-humeral capsule as a reference.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis is currently based on restricted range of motion (ROM) but its diagnostic value has only been rarely investigated. AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of active global and passive gleno-humeral ROM to diagnose shoulder adhesive capsulitis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: One French center for Rehabilitation Medicine. POPULATION: Patients referred for treatment of shoulder adhesive capsulitis in our center were included. Inclusion criteria were: shoulder pain; limitation of active global ROM (abduction or flexion <180°); limitation of passive gleno-humeral ROM (abduction or flexion <90° or 25% reduction at less of lateral rotation versus the opposite shoulder); no gleno-humeral arthropathy on radiography. METHODS: The volume of the gleno-humeral capsule was assessed during a procedure of arthro-distension. The reference criterion for adhesive capsulitis was a volume <12 mL. We analyzed the correlation between the parameters of mobility and the volume of the gleno-humeral capsule; and the positive predictive value (PPV) of inclusion criteria, with the reference criterion for the diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis. RESULTS: We included 38 patients. Passive gleno-humeral ROM in abduction only was correlated with volume of the gleno-humeral capsule: r=0.33, P=0.043. The PPV of inclusion criteria was 82% for the diagnosis of shoulder adhesive capsulitis. Rather than 90°, when we considered 80°, 60° and 40° as the threshold of passive gleno-humeral ROM in abduction, the PPV increased from 83% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Passive gleno-humeral ROM in abduction is correlated with volume of the gleno-humeral capsule. The PPV is high for active global and passive gleno-humeral ROM for diagnosis of shoulder adhesive capsulitis. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Limitation of active and passive shoulder ROM, especially passive abduction gleno-humeral, is a good criterion to diagnose shoulder adhesive capsulitis, in patients with shoulder pain and no gleno-humeral arthropathy on radiography.

Predictors of Extubation Failure Related to Aspiration and/or Excessive Upper Airway Secretions.

BACKGROUND: Extubation failure may have several causes, including swallowing dysfunction, aspiration, and excessive upper airway secretions. We hypothesized that a bedside global swallowing pattern assessment including 9 criteria (volume of pharyngeal secretions, 5 swallowing motor items, swallowing reflex, and 2 gag reflexes) performed prior to extubation could identify patients at risk of extubation failure. METHODS: In a multicenter prospective observational study, all consecutive patients intubated and mechanically ventilated for ≥6 d were included. Before a planned extubation, a physiotherapist evaluated the 9 criteria of the swallowing assessment. The final extubation decision was left to the physician's discretion, blinded to the swallowing assessment. Extubation failure was defined as the need for re-intubation related to aspiration or excessive upper airway secretions within the first 72 h after extubation. Results are expressed as median (interquartile range [IQR]). RESULTS: The study included 159 subjects (age 61 y [IQR 48-75]; male/female ratio 1.5; Simplified Acute Physiologic score II 54 [IQR 42-66]; duration of mechanical ventilation 11 d [IQR 8-17]). A total of 23 subjects (14.5%) required re-intubation, with 16 occurring within the first 72 h after extubation and 7 related to aspiration or excessive secretions. Swallowing assessment was significantly lower in subjects with re-intubation related to aspiration or excessive secretions within the first 72 h after extubation versus those not re-intubated for aspiration or excessive secretions (6 [IQR 5-7] vs 8 [IQR 7-8], P = .008, respectively). Among the 9 swallowing assessment criteria, normal right pharyngeal gag reflex was associated with a lower incidence of re-intubation related to aspiration or excessive secretions (odds ratio 0.12, 95% CI 0.03-0.59, P = .01), as well as normal left pharyngeal gag reflex (odds ratio 0.13, 95% CI 0.03-0.63, P = .01), with a negative predictive value of 0.98 for each reflex. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with prolonged ventilation, the presence of one or both gag reflexes could predict a reduction in extubation failure related to aspiration or excessive upper airway secretions. (Clinical trials.gov registration NCT00780078.).

An opinion paper on the maintenance of robustness: Towards a multimodal and intergenerational approach using digital twins.

The increasing number of frail elderly people in our aging society is becoming problematic: about 11% of community-dwelling older persons are frail and another 42% are pre-frail. Consequently, a major challenge in the coming years will be to test people over the age of 60 years to detect pre-frailty at the earliest stage and to return them to robustness using the targeted interventions that are becoming increasingly available. This challenge requires individual longitudinal monitoring (ILM) or follow-up of community-dwelling older persons using quantitative approaches. This paper briefly describes an effort to tackle this challenge. Extending the detection of the pre-frail stages to other population groups is also suggested. Appropriate algorithms have been used to begin the tracing of faint physiological signals in order to detect transitions from robustness to pre-frailty states and from pre-frailty to frailty states. It is hoped that these studies will allow older adults to receive preventive treatment at the correct institutions and by the appropriate professionals as early as possible, which will prevent loss of autonomy. Altogether, ILM is conceived as an emerging property of databases ("digital twins") and not the reverse. Furthermore, ILM should facilitate a coordinated set of actions by the caregivers, which is a complex challenge in itself. This approach should be gradually extended to all ages, because frailty has no age, as is testified by overwork, burnout, and post-traumatic syndrome.

Non-pharmacological interventions for spasticity in adults: An overview of systematic reviews.

OBJECTIVES: Spasticity causes significant long-term disability-burden, requiring comprehensive management. This review evaluates evidence from published systematic reviews of clinical trials for effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for improved spasticity outcomes. METHODS: Data sources: a literature search was conducted using medical and health science electronic (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library) databases for published systematic reviews up to 15th June 2017. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: two reviewers applied inclusion criteria to select potential systematic reviews, independently extracted data for methodological quality using Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). Quality of evidence was critically appraised with Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). RESULTS: Overall 18 systematic reviews were evaluated for evidence for a range of non-pharmacological interventions currently used in managing spasticity in various neurological conditions. There is "moderate" evidence for electro-neuromuscular stimulation and acupuncture as an adjunct therapy to conventional routine care (pharmacological and rehabilitation) in persons following stroke. "Low" quality evidence for rehabilitation programs targeting spasticity (such as induced movement therapy, stretching, dynamic elbow-splinting, occupational therapy) in stroke and other neurological conditions; extracorporeal shock-wave therapy in brain injury; transcranial direct current stimulation in stroke; transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for other neurological conditions; physical activity programs and repetitive magnetic stimulation in persons with MS, vibration therapy for SCI and stretching for other neurological condition. For other interventions, evidence was inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the available range of non-pharmacological interventions for spasticity, there is lack of high-quality evidence for many modalities. Further research is needed to judge the effect with appropriate study designs, timing and intensity of modalities, and associate costs of these interventions.

Decrease in post-stroke spasticity and shoulder pain prevalence over the last 15 years.

OBJECTIVES: The usual complications after recent stroke such as disabling spasticity and shoulder pain seemed less frequent in recent years. This study examined the frequency of spasticity and shoulder pain in recent post-stroke patients over time in our physical and rehabilitation medicine department. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of post-stroke inpatients over the last 15 years. Spasticity and shoulder pain prevalence were analyzed, as were demographic, clinical and stroke characteristics. RESULTS: We reviewed medical records for 786 patients (506 men); mean age 58.1 years (SD 13.2); 530 (68%) with ischemic stroke and 256 (32.36%) hemorrhagic stroke. After a first increase from 2000 to 2006, the prevalence of disabling spasticity decreased from 2006 to 2015 (31%-10%; P<0.001). Shoulder pain at admission and during hospitalization also decreased (13% of patients in 2000 to 8% in 2015, P<0.001). Disabling spasticity was associated with shoulder pain (26% of patients with disabling spasticity presented shoulder pain at admission vs 7% with hyperreflexia of the deep tendon reflexes, P<0.05). Characteristics of stroke, time of admission after stroke and length of stay did not change over the years. We observed an increase in number of walking patients at admission and number with a functional paretic arm at admission and discharge (P<0.05), which may explain the increase in functional independence measure scores at admission and discharge (both P<0.05). Prevalence of cognitive disorders increased over the same period (24% in 2000 vs 63% in 2015, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Disabling spasticity and shoulder pain frequency in recent post-stroke patients decreased over the last 15 years, and functional abilities both at admission and discharge improved. Confirmation of these results in a multicentric study may be important evidence of an improvement in stroke healthcare both in stroke and physical and rehabilitation medicine units in the last 10 years in France and could affect future estimations of the need for rehabilitation care after stroke.

Botuloscope: 1-year follow-up of upper limb post-stroke spasticity treated with botulinum toxin.

BACKGROUND: Botuloscope is a cohort study supported by a French public grant and aiming to evaluate a 1-year treatment of the post-stroke spastic upper limb with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in terms of individual satisfaction with respect to personalized goals and quality of life. METHODS: This was an open-label prospective, multicentric study (11 French centres) that followed 330 adults [mean (SD) age 53.7 (13.7) years] over 1 year; participants had ranked 5 therapeutic goals at inclusion [mean (SD) 5.1 (7.3) years post-stroke], had severe hemiparesis [median motricity index (MI) 40 (Q1-Q3 24 to 60)], and were assessed at inclusion (M0) and at month 3 (M3) and M12. Outcome criteria were: spasticity, range of motion, pain [visual analog scale (VAS)], motor function [Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)] and activities (MI; Frenchay Arm Test), and overall satisfaction with the achievement of each goal (VAS) and quality of life (Reintegration to Normal Life Index). Criteria at M0 and M12 were compared. Adverse effects were also collected, as were medication changes. RESULTS: The primary goal was comfort and activities for 63% of participants and motor function for 36%. Participants underwent a mean of 2.4 injection sessions, 19% causing adverse effects. The greatest spasticity attenuation occurred with wrist flexors (median decrease in MAS -2 [Q1-Q3; -2 to -1], P<10-3). Fewer individuals took oral anti-spastic drugs (56% at M12 vs 50% at M0; P<10-2). Range of motion increased by 16°, on average (13 to 19; P<10-3) for wrist extension. Pain prevalence decreases at rest (29% at M0 vs. 19% at M12; P<10-4) and during mobilization (64% vs. 43%; P<10-4), and fewer participants took analgesics (25% vs. 17%; P<10-3). Satisfaction was high for the goals "hand hygiene" and "pain release" and moderate for "improvement in upper limb function". However, function was more improved for participants who selected this goal as the first priority than others (P<10-2). Overall, 22% had the goal "improving gait and balance", which was reasonably achieved at M12. Quality of life improved markedly [median 8 (4 to 11) vs. 6 (3 to 10); P<10-4]. Prevalence of complete dissatisfaction with the first objective was 10% to 15%. CONCLUSION: This is the first long-term follow-up of BoNT-A treatment for upper limb spasticity involving a large cohort independent of industry. Quality of life was improved by treating upper limb spasticity with BoNT-A, even at 5 years post-stroke. Personalizing objectives of the treatment amplified its efficacy. BoNT-A was a powerful analgesic when pain was spasticity-related. Treating the spastic upper limb also improved balance and gait abilities.