Preventive exercise and physical rehabilitation promote long-term potentiation-like plasticity expression in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Loss of long-term potentiation (LTP) expression has been associated with a worse disease course in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) and represents a pathophysiological hallmark of progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS). Exercise and physical rehabilitation are the most prominent therapeutic approaches to promote synaptic plasticity. We aimed to explore whether physical exercise is able to improve the expression of LTP-like plasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: In 46 newly diagnosed RR-MS patients, we explored the impact of preventive exercise on LTP-like plasticity as assessed by intermittent theta-burst stimulation. Patients were divided into sedentary or active, based on physical activity performed during the 6 months prior to diagnosis. Furthermore, in 18 patients with PMS, we evaluated the impact of an 8-week inpatient neurorehabilitation program on clinical scores and LTP-like plasticity explored using paired associative stimulation (PAS). Synaptic plasticity expression was compared in patients and healthy subjects. RESULTS: Reduced LTP expression was found in RR-MS patients compared with controls. Exercising RR-MS patients showed a greater amount of LTP expression compared with sedentary patients. In PMS patients, LTP expression was reduced compared with controls and increased after 8 weeks of rehabilitation. In this group of patients, LTP magnitude at baseline predicted the improvement in hand dexterity. CONCLUSIONS: Both preventive exercise and physical rehabilitation may enhance the expression of LTP-like synaptic plasticity in MS, with potential beneficial effects on disability accumulation.

The effects of higher versus lower protein delivery in critically ill patients: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis.

BACKGROUND: A recent large multicentre trial found no difference in clinical outcomes but identified a possibility of increased mortality rates in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) receiving higher protein. These alarming findings highlighted the urgent need to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to inform clinical practice. METHODS: From personal files, citation searching, and three databases searched up to 29-5-2023, we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adult critically ill patients that compared higher vs lower protein delivery with similar energy delivery between groups and reported clinical and/or patient-centred outcomes. We conducted random-effect meta-analyses and subsequently trial sequential analyses (TSA) to control for type-1 and type-2 errors. The main subgroup analysis investigated studies with and without combined early physical rehabilitation intervention. A subgroup analysis of AKI vs no/not known AKI was also conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-three RCTs (n = 3303) with protein delivery of 1.49 ± 0.48 vs 0.92 ± 0.30 g/kg/d were included. Higher protein delivery was not associated with overall mortality (risk ratio [RR]: 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-1.11; I2 = 0%; 21 studies; low certainty) and other clinical outcomes. In 2 small studies, higher protein combined with early physical rehabilitation showed a trend towards improved self-reported quality-of-life physical function measurements at day-90 (standardized mean difference 0.40, 95% CI - 0.04 to 0.84; I2 = 30%). In the AKI subgroup, higher protein delivery significantly increased mortality (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.11-1.82; I2 = 0%; 3 studies; confirmed by TSA with high certainty, and the number needed to harm is 7). Higher protein delivery also significantly increased serum urea (mean difference 2.31 mmol/L, 95% CI 1.64-2.97; I2 = 0%; 7 studies). CONCLUSION: Higher, compared with lower protein delivery, does not appear to affect clinical outcomes in general critically ill patients but may increase mortality rates in patients with AKI. Further investigation of the combined early physical rehabilitation intervention in non-AKI patients is warranted. PROSPERO ID: CRD42023441059.

Early physical rehabilitation dosage in the intensive care unit associates with hospital outcomes after critical COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between physical rehabilitation parameters including an approach to quantifying dosage with hospital outcomes for patients with critical COVID-19. DESIGN: Retrospective practice analysis from March 5, 2020, to April 15, 2021. SETTING: Intensive care units (ICU) at four medical institutions. PATIENTS: n = 3780 adults with ICU admission and diagnosis of COVID-19. INTERVENTIONS: We measured the physical rehabilitation treatment delivered in ICU and patient outcomes: (1) mortality; (2) discharge disposition; and (3) physical function at hospital discharge measured by the Activity Measure-Post Acute Care (AM-PAC) "6-Clicks" (6-24, 24 = greater functional independence). Physical rehabilitation dosage was defined as the average mobility level scores in the first three sessions (a surrogate measure of intensity) multiplied by the rehabilitation frequency (PT + OT frequency in hospital). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The cohort was a mean 64 ± 16 years old, 41% female, mean BMI of 32 ± 9 kg/m2 and 46% (n = 1739) required mechanical ventilation. For 2191 patients who received rehabilitation, the dosage and AM-PAC at discharge were moderately, positively associated (Spearman's rho [r] = 0.484, p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression (model adjusted R2 = 0.68, p < 0.001) demonstrates mechanical ventilation (ß = - 0.86, p = 0.001), average mobility score in first three sessions (ß = 2.6, p < 0.001) and physical rehabilitation dosage (ß = 0.22, p = 0.001) were predictive of AM-PAC scores at discharge when controlling for age, sex, BMI, and ICU LOS. CONCLUSIONS: Greater physical rehabilitation exposure early in the ICU is associated with better physical function at hospital discharge.

Effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in critically ill adults with mechanical ventilation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is widely used as a rehabilitation methods to restore muscle mass and function in prolonged immobilization individuals. However, its effect in mechanically ventilated patients to improve clinical outcomes remains unclear. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PEDro, and the Cochrane Library from their inception until December 24th, 2023. The search targeted randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NMES with physical therapy (PT) or usual ICU care (CG), for improving clinical outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients. We performed a network meta-analysis utilizing Stata version 14.0 and R 4.3.1. RESULTS: We included 23 RCTs comprising 1312 mechanically ventilated adults. The treatments analyzed were NMES, PT, NMES combined with PT (NMES+PT), and CG. Network meta-analyses revealed that NMES or NMES+PT significantly improved extubation success rate compared to CG, with ORs of 1.85 (95% CI: 1.11, 3.08) and 5.89 (95% CI: 1.77, 19.65), respectively. Additionally, NMES exhibited a slight decrease in extubation success rate compared with NMES+PT, with OR of 0.31 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.93). Nevertheless, neither NMES nor NMES+PT showed any significant improvement in ICU length of stay (LOS), ventilation duration, or mortality when compared with PT or CG. NMES+PT emerged as the most effective strategy for all considered clinical outcomes according to the ranking probabilities. The evidence quality ranged from "low" to "very low" in this network meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: NMES appears to be a straightforward and safe modality for critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. When combined with PT, it significantly improved the extubation success rate against standard ICU care and NMES alone, and showed a better ranking over PT or NMES alone for clinical outcomes. Therefore, NMES combined with PT may be a superior rehabilitation strategy for this patient group.

The impact of foot orthoses on gait in children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta type I, III and IV - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: For children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), a rare genetic bone disease, walking can be difficult to carry out due to a combination of bone fragility and deformity, muscle weakness, joint hypermobility, and pain. Bisphosphonate treatment has facilitated more children being able to walk, but for many, foot and ankle hypermobility is a limiting factor. Current evidence on foot orthoses in children with OI is sparse. This study aimed to evaluate gait characteristics in children with OI walking barefoot as compared to walking with foot orthoses. METHODS: Twenty-three children with OI and hypermobility (mean age 8.3 ± 3.0 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Children conducted three-dimensional gait analysis barefoot, and with foot orthoses and appropriate foot wear (stable yet light-weight), respectively. Walking speed, step length, lower limb kinematics and kinetics were collected. Differences in gait characteristics between test conditions were evaluated using paired sample t-tests. RESULTS: When walking with foot orthoses, the external foot progression angle was reduced, peak ankle dorsiflexion angle increased, and peak plantarflexion moment increased as compared to barefoot. No difference was found in walking speed between test conditions, however, children with OI walked with longer steps with foot orthoses as compared to barefoot. CONCLUSION: The observed gait alterations suggest that foot orthoses, aiming to support the foot and ankle joint, contributed to reduced overall foot rotation as measured by external foot progression, increased peak plantarflexion moment, and increased step length. In a wider perspective, the ability to walk provides the opportunity to be physically active, and thereby increase skeletal loading and prevent fractures, thus, foot orthoses may be an important treatment option to consider in children with OI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Older adults' lived experiences of physical rehabilitation for acquired brain injury and their perceptions of well-being: A qualitative phenomenological study.

AIM: To explore the experiences of older adults (65+) living with acquired brain injury regarding their sense of well-being during physical rehabilitation within the Greek Healthcare System. BACKGROUND: With the increasing ageing population and the life-changing effects of acquired brain injury, there is a need to focus on care for older people and their potential to live well. Rehabilitation systems deserve greater attention, especially in improving the well-being of those who are using them. DESIGN: A qualitative study design with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used. METHODS: Fourteen older adults living with acquired brain injury and undergoing physical rehabilitation in Greece were purposively sampled. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data and were thematically analysed using van Manen's and Clarke and Braun's methods. The COREQ checklist was followed. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Challenges of new life situation, (2) Seeking emotional and practical support through social interaction, (3) Identifying contextual processes of rehabilitation, (4) Realising the new self. CONCLUSIONS: The subjective experiences, intersubjective relations and contextual conditions influence the sense of well-being among older adults living with acquired brain injury, thus impacting the realisation of their new self. The study makes the notion of well-being a more tangible concept by relating it to the degree of adaptation to the new situation and the potential for older adults to create a future whilst living with acquired brain injury. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Identifying the factors that impact older adults' sense of well-being during rehabilitation can guide healthcare professionals in enhancing the quality of care offered and providing more dignified and humanising care. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Older adults living with acquired brain injury were involved in the study as participants providing the research data.

Using patient and care partner experiences to confirm outcomes of relevance for inclusion in a core outcome set for trials of physical rehabilitation in critical illness: A qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: Incorporating the perspectives of patients and care partners is crucial in the development of core outcome sets. One effective approach for achieving this involvement is by seeking input to refine the outcomes for consensus. The objectives of the study were to: i) to determine patient and care partner views on outcomes that should be measured in trials of physical rehabilitation interventions across the critical illness recovery continuum; (ii) to map these views with a pre-established list of thirty outcomes for potential inclusion in a core outcome set for these trials; and (iii) to identify any new outcomes that could be considered for inclusion. METHODS: A qualitative semistructured telephone interview study was conducted with a convenience sample of post-critical illness patients and care partners, as part of core outcome set development work. Anonymised interview transcripts were analysed using a framework approach, and exemplary narrative quotes from participants were reported used to illustrate outcome reporting. FINDINGS: Fourteen participants were recruited (male:female ratio = 8:6, age range [minimum-maximum]: 50-80 years, 13 former patients, one spouse). Time since intensive care unit discharge ranged from less than 1 year to 10 years at the time of interview. Participants described a range of outcomes that could be measured in trials of physical rehabilitation after critical illness that mapped closely with the pre-established list. No new outcomes were introduced by participants during the interviews. Experiences described by participants commonly reflected outcomes related to physical ability and performance, functional level, activities of daily living, and emotional and mental wellbeing. Participants spoke to how the different outcomes directly impacted their day-to-day lives and highlighted their priorities centred around resumption of tasks and activities that had value to them at personal, functional, and societal level. CONCLUSION: Qualitative interviews confirmed the relevance of existing outcomes for potential inclusion in a core outcome set for trials of physical rehabilitation interventions across the critical illness recovery continuum. The added significance of our findings is to provide real-world meaning to these outcomes. REGISTRATION: COMET Initiative, ID288, https://www.comet-initiative.org/studies/details/288.

[Physical rehabilitation in sarcopenia: modern approaches. (A literature review)]. / Fizicheskaya reabilitatsiya pri sarkopenii: sovremennye podkhody. (Obzor literatury).

The number of middle-aged and elderly population is increasing every year. At the same time, the course of most chronic diseases worsens with age, which can be explained by significant changes in body composition, including redistribution and increase of fat mass and decrease in muscle and skeletal mass. Thus, a decrease in muscle mass becomes intrinsic for the body from the age of 40 and develops on average by 0.5-1.0% per year. The prevalence of patients with sarcopenia is estimated to be between 11 and 50% in different age groups of population: middle, elderly and senile. In addition, the decline in physical activity associated with the urbanization and automation of labor exacerbates the disease at a younger age, which predicts an increase in the number of such patients in the future. OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of physical rehabilitation in sarcopenia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review including studies found in PubMed, MedLine, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collections databases for 2019-2022 was conducted. The used enrollment criteria were the following: systematic reviews, including cross-over or cohort studies targeting at persons aged from 40 to 90 years of both sexes, with available data on sarcopenia, its severe form or other combinations of physical performance markers called sarcopenia. The mandatory parameter for inclusion in the study was the presence of the effectiveness assessment of physical rehabilitation without limiting its parameters. The systematic review was performed in accordance with the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020. RESULTS: The best kind of training are 30-60-minute comprehensive methods with predominance of resistance exercises with minimum duration of the course of 3 months and frequency of 3 inconsistent in-person trainings per week under the supervision of a specialist for patients with sarcopenia in order to increase muscle strength and mass, as well as performance. The intensity should consist of the following parameters: start with fewer sets but more repetitions (12-15) with less intensity (55% of maximum) and move to more sets with less repetition (4-6) and greater intensity (>80% of maximum). CONCLUSION: This article describes the parameters of exercises that are most effective in terms of muscle strength and mass increase and safe for patients. The compilation and further study of this complex in practice are needed.

Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness in Patients With Acute Kidney Injury: A Contemporary Review.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) are 2 frequent complications of critical illness that, until recently, have been considered unrelated processes. The adverse impact of AKI on ICU mortality is clear, but its relationship with muscle weakness-a major source of ICU morbidity-has not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, improving ICU survival rates have refocused the field of intensive care toward improving long-term functional outcomes of ICU survivors. We begin our review with the epidemiology of AKI in the ICU and of ICU-AW, highlighting emerging data suggesting that AKI and AKI treated with kidney replacement therapy (AKI-KRT) may independently contribute to the development of ICU-AW. We then delve into human and animal data exploring the pathophysiologic mechanisms linking AKI and acute KRT to muscle wasting, including altered amino acid and protein metabolism, inflammatory signaling, and deleterious removal of micronutrients by KRT. We next discuss the currently available interventions that may mitigate the risk of ICU-AW in patients with AKI and AKI-KRT. We conclude that additional studies are needed to better characterize the epidemiologic and pathophysiologic relationship between AKI, AKI-KRT, and ICU-AW and to prospectively test interventions to improve the long-term functional status and quality of life of AKI survivors.

Determining the Marginal Cost Differences of a Telehealth Versus an In-person Occupational Therapy Evaluation Session for Stroke Survivors Using Time-driven Activity-based Costing.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the marginal cost differences and care delivery process of a telerehabilitation vs outpatient session. DESIGN: This study used a time-driven activity-based costing approach including (1) observation of rehabilitation sessions and creation of manual time stamps, (2) structured and recorded interviews with 2 occupational therapists familiar with outpatient therapy and 2 therapists familiar with telerehabilitation, (3) collection of standard wages for providers, and (4) the creation of an iterative flowchart of both an outpatient and telerehabilitation session care delivery process. SETTING: Telerehabilitation and outpatient therapy evaluation. PARTICIPANTS: Three therapists familiar with care deliver for telerehabilitation or outpatient therapy (N=3). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Marginal cost difference between telerehabilitation and outpatient therapy evaluations. RESULTS: Overall, telerehabilitation ($225.41) was more costly than outpatient therapy ($168.29) per session for a cost difference of $57.12. Primary time drivers of this finding were initial phone calls (0 minutes for OP therapists vs 35 minutes for TR) and post documentation (5 minutes for OP vs 30 minutes for TR) demands for telerehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Telerehabilitation is an emerging platform with the potential to reduce costs, improve health care inequities, and facilitate better patient outcomes. Improvements in documentation practices, staffing, technology, and reimbursement structuring would allow for a more successful translation.

Exploring Temporospatial Gait Asymmetry, Dynamic Balance, and Locomotor Capacity After a 12-Week Split-Belt Treadmill Training in Adolescents with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Clinical Study.

AIM: To investigate the effects of a 12-week split-belt treadmill walking (Sb-TW) practice using an error augmentation strategy on temporospatial gait asymmetries, dynamic balance, and locomotor capacity in adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy (ULCP). METHODS: Fifty-two adolescents with ULCP (age: 10-16 years) were randomized into either the Sb-TW group (n = 26; underwent repeated Sb-TW practice, with exaggeration of the initial step-length asymmetry, three times/week, for 12 sequential weeks) or control group (n = 26; received equivalent dosages of traditional single-belt treadmill training). Step-length and swing-time asymmetries, directional (LoSdirectional) and overall (LoSoverall) limits of stability, and locomotor capacity [6-minute walk test (6-MWT), Timed Up and Down Stair test (TUDS), and 10-m Shuttle Run Test (10mSRT)] were assessed pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: The Sb-TW group demonstrated more favorable changes in step-length asymmetry (p < .001, η2partial = 0.27), LoSdirectional [affected side direction (p = .033, η2partial = 0.09), forward direction (p = .004, η2partial = 0.16), and backward direction (p = .01, η2partial = 0.12)], and LoSoverall (p < .001, η2partial = 0.31) than the control group. Also, the Sb-TW group showed significantly higher locomotor capacity [6-MWT (p < .001, η2partial = 0.38), TUDS (p = .032, η2partial = 0.09), 10mSRT (p = .021, η2partial = 0.10)] as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The Sb-TW-induced adaptations can be capitalized on for remediating spatial gait asymmetry, dynamic balance deficits, and impaired locomotor performance in adolescents with ULCP.

Chronic muscle recordings reveal recovery of forelimb function in spinal injured female rats after cortical epidural stimulation combined with rehabilitation and chondroitinase ABC.

Cervical level spinal cord injury (SCI) can severely impact upper limb muscle function, which is typically assessed in the clinic using electromyography (EMG). Here, we established novel preclinical methodology for EMG assessments of muscle function after SCI in awake freely moving animals. Adult female rats were implanted with EMG recording electrodes in bicep muscles and received bilateral cervical (C7) contusion injuries. Forelimb muscle activity was assessed by recording maximum voluntary contractions during a grip strength task and cortical motor evoked potentials in the biceps. We demonstrate that longitudinal recordings of muscle activity in the same animal are feasible over a chronic post-injury time course and provide a sensitive method for revealing post-injury changes in muscle activity. This methodology was utilized to investigate recovery of muscle function after a novel combination therapy. Cervical contused animals received intraspinal injections of a neuroplasticity-promoting agent (lentiviral-chondroitinase ABC) plus 11 weeks of cortical epidural electrical stimulation (3 h daily, 5 days/week) and behavioral rehabilitation (15 min daily, 5 days/week). Longitudinal monitoring of voluntary and evoked muscle activity revealed significantly increased muscle activity and upper limb dexterity with the combination treatment, compared to a single treatment or no treatment. Retrograde mapping of motor neurons innervating the biceps showed a predominant distribution across spinal segments C5-C8, indicating that treatment effects were likely due to neuroplastic changes in a mixture of intact and injured motor neurons. Thus, longitudinal assessments of muscle function after SCI correlate with skilled reach and grasp performance and reveal functional benefits of a novel combination therapy.

TURN-IT: a novel turning intervention program to improve quality of turning in daily life in people with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: People with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a high fall rate and many falls are associated with turns. Despite this, there is minimal research on effects of rehabilitation on the quality of turns. Further, quantifying turns in the home may have broader implications since rehabilitation of turns would ideally improve turning in real world mobility. METHODS: Sixty people with PD and a history of falls will be randomized to receive either a novel TURNing InTervention (TURN-IT) or no intervention (control group). The TURN-IT group will be seen for 6 weeks (18 visits) for an individualized, progressive program that is based on the specific constraints of turning in PD. Wearable sensors will be used to measure 7 days of mobility, including turns, before and after intervention or control period. In addition, blinded assessments of gait, mobility and turns will occur before and after intervention for both groups and falls will be monitored for twelve months post intervention with bimonthly email questionnaires. DISCUSSION: This study has the potential to change how we rehabilitate and assess turning in people with PD and falls. There are several novel aspects to our study including a comprehensive turning-focused intervention that is tailored to the underlying constraints that impair turning in people with PD. Further, our outcome measure of turning quality during 7 days of daily life is novel and has implications for determining real-life changes after rehabilitation. The ultimate goal of this rehabilitation intervention is to improve how patients turn in daily life and to reduce falls. TRIALS REGISTRATION: This protocol is registered at clinicaltrials.gov; #NCT04897256; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04897256?term=Horak&cond=Parkinson+Disease&draw=2&rank=4 .

Anticytokine Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Observational Report.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, characterized by symmetrical arthritis, and deterioration of articular cartilage and epiphyses leading to progressive destruction and deformation of joints, resulting in disability. The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate the effects of treatment with anti-inflammatory biologic medication, Enbrel (Etanercept), during therapeutic rehabilitation in RA patients. The sample comprised 10 hospitalized patients (8 females and 2 males) of the mean age of 32.2 ± 13.4 years treated with Enbrel in 2008-2010. The drug was administered subcutaneously in a dose of 50 mg once a week. Outcomes consisted of differences in the Disease Activity Score (DAS-28) and the degree of joint impairment based on the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) noted 2 months after treatment onset. The average pre-/post-treatment DAS-28 score was 4.1/2.6, with improvement in 9 patients. The average HAQ score was 1.5/0.6, respectively. We conclude that treatment with Enbrel significantly reduces RA activity and improved joint impairment. The beneficial influence of the drug enabled an earlier commencement of physical rehabilitation, which may have a preventive bearing on the development of disability.

A systematic review of the qualitative literature on older individuals' experiences of care and well-being during physical rehabilitation for acquired brain injury.

AIMS: To acquire an in-depth understanding of how older individuals diagnosed with acquired brain injury (ABI) experience their well-being and care when undergoing physical rehabilitation. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. DATA SOURCES: The electronic databases of PubMed, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, ASSIA and SCOPUS were searched from 2005 to 2020. Extensive reference checking was also conducted. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, including predominantly qualitative studies. Studies' quality was appraised using the critical apraisal skills programme (CASP) tool. RESULTS: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Following methods of thematic synthesis, four overarching interpretive themes were identified: (a) Rehabilitation processes and their impact on older individuals' well-being; (b) Identity and embodiment concerns of older individuals during rehabilitation; (c) Institutional factors affecting older individuals' care and well-being experiences; and (d) Older individuals' participation in creative activities as part of rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Organizational and structural care deficiencies as well as health disparities can adversely impact older individuals' autonomous decision-making and goal-setting potentials. The discrepancy between older individuals' expectations and the reality of returning home along with the illusionary wish to return to a perceived normality, can further negatively affect older individuals' sense of well-being. Constructive communication, emotional support, family involvement in rehabilitation and creating a stimulating, enriching social environment can humanize and facilitate older individuals' adjustment to their new reality following ABI. IMPACT: There is a lack of qualitative research on older individuals' ABI rehabilitation experiences, especially traumatic brain injury incidents. Further study should consider patients' concerns over their involvement in decision-making and goal setting about their care. Overall, this review reveals the need to examine further the significance of humanizing care and the factors that affect older individuals' sense of well-being.

Alterations in the Functional Knee Alignment Are Not an Effective Strategy to Modify the Mediolateral Distribution of Knee Forces During Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises.

Pain felt while performing rehabilitation exercises could be a reason for the low adherence of knee osteoarthritis patients to physical rehabilitation. Reducing compressive forces on the most affected knee regions may help to mitigate the pain. Knee frontal plane positioning with respect to pelvis and foot (functional knee alignment) has been shown to modify the mediolateral distribution of the tibiofemoral joint contact force in walking. Hence, different functional knee alignments could be potentially used to modify joint loading during rehabilitation exercises. The aim was to understand whether utilizing different alignments is an effective strategy to unload specific knee areas while performing rehabilitation exercises. Eight healthy volunteers performed 5 exercises with neutral, medial, and lateral knee alignment. A musculoskeletal model was modified for improved prediction of tibiofemoral contact forces and used to evaluate knee joint kinematics, moments, and contact forces. Functional knee alignment had only a small and inconsistent effect on the mediolateral distribution joint contact force. Moreover, the magnitude of tibiofemoral and patellofemoral contact forces, knee moments, and measured muscle activities was not significantly affected by the alignment. Our results suggest that altering the functional knee alignment is not an effective strategy to unload specific knee regions in physical rehabilitation.

A social VR-based collaborative exergame for rehabilitation: codesign, development and user study.

Immersive virtual reality (VR)-based exercise video games (exergames) are increasingly being employed as a supportive intervention in rehabilitation programs to promote engagement in physical activity, especially for elderly users. A multifaceted and iterative codesign process is essential to develop sustainable exergaming solutions. The social aspect is considered one of the key motivating factors in exergames; however, research on the social aspect of VR exergames has been limited. Previous studies have relied on competitiveness in exergames, but research has shown that competition can lead to adverse effects on users. With the aim of motivating elderly individuals to participate in physical exercise and improving social connectedness during rehabilitation, this work presents a social VR-based collaborative exergame codesigned with elderly participants and therapists. This exergame stimulates full-body exercise and supports social collaboration among users through a collaborative game task. Furthermore, this article presents a user study based on a mixed-methods approach to gather user feedback on exergame design and the effect of social collaboration versus playing alone in a VR exergame in terms of physical exertion and motivation. This study spanned five weeks (99 exergaming sessions) with 14 elderly participants divided into two groups, one playing collaboratively and the other playing individually. Between-group comparisons were performed at baseline (first week) and in the fourth week, and within-group comparisons were performed in the fifth week, when the participants played the exergame in counterbalanced order. In contrast to the first week, the participants exergaming collaboratively in the fourth week reported significantly higher intrinsic motivation on all subscales (enjoyment: p < 0.02, effort: p < 0.002, usefulness: p < 0.01) and physical exertion (p < 0.001) than those playing alone. Thereafter, exergaming in counterbalanced order during the fifth week resulted in significant differences (medium to large effect size) within groups. The participants found the social VR gameplay enjoyable and agreed that collaboration played a vital role in their motivation. They reported various health benefits, a minimal increase in symptoms of simulator sickness, and excellent usability scores (83.75±13.3). In this work, we also identify various key design principles to support healthcare professionals, researchers and industrial experts in developing ergonomic and sustainable VR-based exergames for senior citizens.

Co-designing a remote rehabilitation tool for Parkinson's disease: exploratory values and challenges.

BACKGROUND: Impaired motor function is one of the early symptoms shown in patients with Parkinson Disease (PD). For this reason, rehabilitative interventions have been used for many years to improve motor and non-motor symptoms. Among them, the use of music therapy has shown benefits in helping to overcome some of the most common motor dysfunction. Addressing the challenge of providing access to this type of therapy, this document presents the collaborative design process to develop a remote training support tool for PD based on music therapy. METHODS: A qualitative study with creative co-design methods was used in which different groups of healthcare professionals, patients, and relatives participated in six iterative sessions. Workshops were designed and structured to incrementally discover requirements and needs and validate the proposed prototype ideas. RESULTS: The study provided key aspects that were used for the development and validation of the proposed prototypes for the remote music-based training support tool for PD. Up to 20 factors that had a positive and/or negative influence on patient access to training were detected. These factors were classified into three common themes: daily activities and independence, participation in treatment and barriers to daily treatment, and self-management and personalization of information and telecommunication technologies (ICT). CONCLUSIONS: This paper shows the results of a collaborative design process aimed at identifying the different factors, relevant to patients with PD, to improve their access to remote ICT-based training therapy and their expectations regarding alternative therapies, such as music. The participatory design methods and the iterative model used helped overcome many of the traditionally barriers that this type of technological support solutions usually have, facilitating the future participation.

Personalized physical rehabilitation program and employment in kidney transplant recipients: a randomized trial.

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for kidney failure; however after transplant, reduced physical function, poor self-perceptions, and unemployment are common concerns that remain. This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of a 12-month exercise rehabilitation program (intervention) to standard care alone (control) in kidney transplant recipients. The exercise intervention consisted of a 2 day/week, 60-minute personalized, one-on-one, resistance-based exercise trainings. Eighty participants completed the study (52 intervention vs. 28 control). For individuals unemployed at baseline, there was a 52.3% increase in employment compared to 13.3 % increase in the control group after 12 months (P = <0.0001). For those already employed at baseline, 100% of individuals maintained employment in both groups after 12 months (P = 0.4742). For all comers, there was a positive trend for Global Physical Health (P = 0.0034), Global Mental Health (P = 0.0064), and Physical Function (P = 0.0075), with the intervention group showing greater improvements. These findings suggest the implementation of an exercise rehabilitation program postkidney transplant can be beneficial to increase employment for individuals previously unemployed, improve self-perceived health, physical function, and mental health, overall contributing to better health outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. (Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT02409901).

Physical rehabilitation financing in Iran: a policy analysis using Kingdon's multiple streams.

BACKGROUND: Adequate financing is a crucial function, securing that physical rehabilitation services (i.e., physiotherapy, occupational therapy, prosthetics and orthotics) are available with no financial hardship. Like many other countries, despite the adoption of various policies and strategies in recent decades, Iran enjoys no desirable physical rehabilitation financing (PRF). Accordingly, this qualitative study aimed to explore the PRF-related strategies and issues as well as their impacts on relevant policies in Iran. METHODS: An analysis of PRF-related policies was conducted in Iran using semi-structured interviews and policy documents review. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed to select key informants, including health-policy makers, civil society, rehabilitation-policy makers, university professors, and practitioners. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The analysis was framed within Kingdon's multiple streams. RESULTS: The hindering factors for desirable financing were weak insurance coverage, lack of sustainable financial resources, fragmented financing, lack of split between provider and financer, high-cost of physical rehabilitation services, low engagement of relevant experts in policy-making processes, and corrupt activities. In the policy stream, the following factors were highlighted: involvement of sustainable financial resources, the use of external revenue sources, allocated resources' earmarking, the integration of the current funds to have better pooling, the use of incentive and timely payment mechanisms, the implementation of strategic purchasing principals, and the employment of effective rationing strategies. Moreover, parliament support, changes in administrations, international effects, pressures from interest campaigns and NGOs, and international sanctions were found as factors affecting the politics stream. CONCLUSION: The study findings revealed that a variety of national and international factors affect PRF-related issues in Iran. The recently enacted laws indicate that the PRF policies have already been on the national health political agenda. The study reflected the multifaceted nature of barriers to optimal PRF in Iran.