Nutritional Care for Adults in Nursing Homes: A Scoping Review.

The need for improved nutrition in older adults requiring care has been acknowledged, but, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of systematic review and integration of nutritional care studies with older adults in nursing homes. This scoping review aimed to examine the scope and nature of nutritional care research for older adults in nursing homes and to identify research gaps, following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute. We found varied nutritional care for older adults living in nursing homes, including individualized sessions, such as nutrition counseling, the addition of foods and preparations for increased nutritional intake, and the maintenance of an eating environment, such as feeding assistance and calling. The nutritional care identified in this scoping review also included studies that have improved the nutritional status of older adults in nursing homes by implementing educational programs for care staff. For future research on effective nutritional care for older adults in nursing homes, we suggest evaluating both short- and long-term intervention effects with an adequate sample size.

The effect of preoperative rehabilitation on the prevention of postoperative ileus in colorectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Previous research suggests that the preoperative rehabilitation of colorectal cancer patients can reduce postoperative ileus. However, the evidence is insufficient and further research is warranted. This study aimed to investigate whether short-term preoperative rehabilitation, both on an outpatient and inpatient basis, can reduce the incidence of postoperative ileus after colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study that drew on data from multicenter electronic medical records. Patients with stage 1-3 colorectal cancer who underwent surgery and postoperative rehabilitation were included. The incidence of postoperative ileus was compared between patients who received short-term preoperative rehabilitation and those who did not. Propensity score adjustment using inverse probability weighting and subgroup analysis by type of surgery was performed. RESULTS: Four thousand seventy-six eligible patients (43.4% female; mean age 75.1 ± 10.9 years) were included; 1914 (47.0%) received short-term preoperative rehabilitation. The preoperative rehabilitation group had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative ileus than the no preoperative rehabilitation group (pre-adjustment: 5.5% vs. 9.9%, p < 0.001; post-adjustment: 5.2% vs. 9.0%, p < 0.001). Therefore, preoperative rehabilitation was significantly associated with a lower incidence of postoperative ileus (OR: 0.554, 95% CI: 0.415-0.739, p < 0.001). In an adjusted analysis of surgery type subgroups, the incidence of postoperative ileus was significantly lower in the preoperative rehabilitation group for all types of surgery. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that short-term preoperative rehabilitation for patients with stage 1-3 colorectal cancer, both with inpatients and outpatients, significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative ileus.

Early physical rehabilitation effectiveness in frail older patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia: analysis of a nationwide database in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a significant predictor of prognosis in older patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). No effective therapy has been reported in frail patients with CAP, with frailty determined using the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). AIMS: To investigate whether early physical rehabilitation intervention would effectively minimize adverse outcomes in frail older patients (determined using the HFRS) hospitalized for CAP. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis involved patients with CAP aged ≥ 65 years enrolled in the Japanese Diagnostic Procedure Combination Database between 2014 and 2020 and assessed as being frail. We compared 30-day mortality and readmission rates for patients who did and who did not receive physical rehabilitation within three days of admission and evaluated the association between outcomes and receiving early physical rehabilitation using Cox regression models and inverse probability weighting (IPW) for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The analysis involved 31,133 frail older patients hospitalized for CAP (mean age 84.3 ± 6.3 years; females, 49.1%), including 11,515 (37.0%) who received early physical rehabilitation. Cox regression analysis showed that early physical rehabilitation intervention was inversely associated with 30-day mortality and readmission rates. The IPW model also showed similar results. DISCUSSION: Early physical rehabilitation was associated with reduced risks of 30-day mortality, overall in-hospital mortality, and 30-day readmission rates in frail older patients with CAP. CONCLUSIONS: Early physical rehabilitation in frail older patients hospitalized for CAP may improve outcomes. This finding highlights the importance of simultaneously introducing the HFRS and early physical rehabilitation intervention into clinical practice for frail older patients with CAP.

Association of poor oral health status and faecal incontinence in patients with dysphagia: A cross-sectional analysis from the Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database.

BACKGROUND: Poor oral health status may alter oral and gut microbiota. Previous studies have shown that poor oral health can exacerbate gut inflammation. Therefore, poor oral health status may be related to faecal incontinence via changes in the gut. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between poor oral health status and faecal incontinence in inpatients with dysphagia. METHODS: This multicentre cross-sectional study included 423 patients (mean age 79.8 ± 11.5 years, 48.2% female) with dysphagia. Oral health status was assessed at each facility using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) or the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG). Poor oral health status was defined as an OHAT score of ≥3 or a ROAG score of ≥13. A multivariate logistic model was used to analyse the association between poor oral health status and faecal incontinence. RESULTS: A total of 351 (83.0%) patients had poor oral health and 97 (22.7%) had faecal incontinence. Patients with poor oral health status had a higher proportion of faecal incontinence than those with normal oral health status (25.4% vs. 11.1%, p = .009). A multivariate logistic model revealed an association between faecal incontinence and poor oral health status (adjusted odds ratio = 2.501, 95% confidence interval = 1.065-5.873, p = .035). CONCLUSIONS: Poor oral health status assessed by OHAT or ROAG in inpatients with dysphagia may adversely affect faecal incontinence. Further studies are needed to determine the causal relationship between poor oral health status and faecal incontinence.

Strategies for cost-effectiveness analysis of rehabilitation for older patients with acute heart failure.

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing in the ageing world population, and its burden on the medical and health economic fields is enormous. Rehabilitation is an essential component of the nonpharmacological treatment of patients with HF; however, its efficacy and cost-effectiveness for patients with acute HF remain unclear. A trial assessed the cost-effectiveness of acute cardiac rehabilitation among older adults. Herein, we discussed strategies for the cost-effectiveness analysis of acute cardiac rehabilitation using the rehabilitation therapy in older acute heart failure patients trial.

Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation for impairment and disability in people after stroke.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) is a non-invasive treatment method that can penetrate to deeper structures with painless stimulation to improve motor function in people with physical impairment due to brain or nerve disorders. rPMS for people after stroke has proved to be a feasible approach to improving activities of daily living and functional ability. However, the effectiveness and safety of this intervention for people after stroke remain uncertain. This is an update of the review published in 2019. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of rPMS for improving activities of daily living and functional ability in people after stroke. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), in the Cochrane Library; MEDLINE; Embase; the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL); PsycINFO; the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED); OTseeker: Occupational Therapy Systematic Evaluation of Evidence; the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro); Ichushi-Web; and six ongoing trial registries on 5 October 2021. We screened reference lists and contacted experts in the field. We placed no restrictions on the language or date of publication when searching the electronic databases. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted to assess the therapeutic effect of rPMS for people after stroke. The following comparisons were eligible for inclusion: 1) active rPMS only compared with 'sham' rPMS (a very weak form of stimulation or a sound only); 2) active rPMS only compared with no intervention; 3) active rPMS plus rehabilitation compared with sham rPMS plus rehabilitation; and 4) active rPMS plus rehabilitation compared with rehabilitation only. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion in the review. The same review authors assessed methods and risk of bias, undertook data extraction, and evaluated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. We contacted trial authors to request unpublished information if necessary. Any disagreements were resolved through discussion. MAIN RESULTS: We included four trials (three parallel-group RCTs and one cross-over trial) involving a total of 139 participants. This result was unchanged from the review published in 2019. Blinding of participants and physicians was well reported in three trials, with no information on whether personnel were blinded in one trial. We judged the overall risk of bias across trials as low. Only two trials (with 63 and 18 participants, respectively) provided sufficient information to be included in the meta-analysis. We found no clear effect of rPMS on activities of daily living at the end of treatment (mean difference (MD) -3.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) -16.35 to 10.35; P = 0.66; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-certainty evidence) and at the end of follow-up (MD -2.00, 95% CI -14.86 to 10.86; P = 0.76; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-certainty evidence) when comparing rPMS plus rehabilitation versus sham rPMS plus rehabilitation. We found no statistical difference in improvement of upper limb function at the end of treatment (MD 2.00, 95% CI -4.91 to 8.91; P = 0.57; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-certainty evidence) and at the end of follow-up (MD 4.00, 95% CI -2.92 to 10.92; P = 0.26; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-certainty evidence) when comparing rPMS plus rehabilitation versus sham rPMS plus rehabilitation. We observed a decrease in spasticity of the elbow at the end of follow-up (MD -0.41, 95% CI -0.89 to 0.07; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-certainty evidence) when comparing rPMS plus rehabilitation versus sham rPMS plus rehabilitation. In terms of muscle strength, rPMS treatment was not associated with improved muscle strength of the ankle dorsiflexors at the end of treatment (MD 3.00, 95% CI -2.44 to 8.44; P = 0.28; 1 trial; 18 participants; low-certainty evidence) when compared with sham rPMS. No studies provided information on lower limb function or adverse events, including death. Based on the GRADE approach, we judged the certainty of evidence related to the primary outcome as low, owing to the small sample size of the studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence to permit the drawing of any conclusions about routine use of rPMS for people after stroke. Additional trials with large sample sizes are needed to provide robust evidence for rPMS after stroke.

Effects of In-Hospital Rehabilitation on Preventing Hospital Readmissions in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of rehabilitation on hospital readmissions in patients with cirrhosis. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Acute hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients hospitalized due to cirrhosis (N=6485). INTERVENTIONS: We defined rehabilitation as any type and intensity of rehabilitation administered by physical, occupational, or speech therapists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Readmission within 30 days after discharge. RESULTS: Rehabilitation was provided to 1177 patients (19.0%). After propensity score matching, rehabilitation was associated with 30- and 90-day readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that rehabilitation is associated with lower proportions of 30- and 90-day readmissions in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, rehabilitation may be one way to reduce the risk of readmission in patients hospitalized for cirrhosis.

Relationship between Neurological Deterioration and Blood Pressure/Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction.

OBJECTIVES: Neurological deterioration (ND) during hospitalization is an independent predictor of poor prognosis after stroke. Risk factors affecting early ND within 48 h post stroke have been intensively investigated, while few data are available on those for late ND after transfer to a wheelchair. Therefore, it was investigated whether hemodynamic factors may affect the late ND during hospitalization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 135 patients with atherothrombotic or cardiogenic cerebral infarction who were admitted to our hospital between April 1st, 2014 and July 31st, 2017. During hospitalization, average, maximum, and minimum values were determined for systolic blood pressure (sBP), diastolic BP (dBP), and heart rate (HR), respectively.135 patients were classified into two groups; ND (+) group, in which modified Barthel index score at the time of transfer to a wheelchair showed five points or more decrease between wheelchair transfer and discharge, and ND (-) group, which did not. Vital indices were compared between the two groups and subjected to ROC-curve analysis. RESULTS: The ND (+) group included 32 patients, and the ND (-) 103. Significant differences were found between the groups in four items; sBPmin (p = 0.029), dBPmin (p = 0.019), HRave (p = 0.028), and HRmax (p < 0.01). The ND (+) group showed lower sBPmin and dBPmin, and higher HRave and HRmax than the ND (-) group. CONCLUSIONS: Late ND after transfer to a wheelchair is related to the vital indices during hospitalization and should be cautiously managed to prevent late ND.

Predictive validity of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form for rehabilitation patients: A retrospective analysis of the Japan Rehabilitation Nutrition Database.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with worse outcome in rehabilitation patients; however, appropriate malnutrition screening tools for this population have not been investigated. We examined the predictive validity of specific cut-off values of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form version 2 (MNA-SFv2) for Japanese rehabilitation patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed adult patients (≥ 20 years) in the Japan Rehabilitation Nutrition Database who were in convalescent rehabilitation wards after stroke or hip fracture. Patients were classified into three categories based on MNA-SFv2 original (0-7, 8-11 and 12-14 points, respectively) or modified (0-5, 6-7 and 8-14 points, respectively) cut-off values: malnutrition, at risk of malnutrition or well-nourished. Functional independence measure (FIM) and home discharge were compared between the categories. RESULTS: Overall, 489 patients were analyzed. Based on the MNA-SFv2 original and modified cut-off values, 64.4% and 36.0% were malnourished, 32.3% and 28.4% were at risk of malnutrition, and 3.3% and 35.6% were well-nourished, respectively. Malnutrition defined by both cut-off values was significantly associated with the FIM at admission, whereas only those defined by modified cut-off values predicted the FIM at discharge (B, -7.1; 95% confidence interval = -12.3 to -1.9). Neither original, nor modified cut-off values predicted discharge to home and long-term care facilities. CONCLUSIONS: An MNA-SFv2 score of 0-5 points may be useful to identify Japanese patients with poor outcomes in a rehabilitation setting.

Influence of potentially inappropriate medications on activities of daily living for patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: A retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are a major concern in geriatric care. Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are more common among the elderly, who are more likely to receive long-term analgesics for pain and additional medications for complications, but no studies have examined the effects of PIMs on OVCFs. The purpose of our study was to clarify the association between PIMs and activities of daily living (ADL) among patients with OVCFs. METHODS: The subjects were 170 patients aged 65 years or older with OVCFs treated conservatively who underwent rehabilitation between October 2014 and August 2019. Patients' clinical information, including age, sex, body mass index, total number of drugs used for treatment at admission, number and type of PIMs used at admission, bone mineral density, use of drugs for osteoporosis, fracture type, comorbidity severity, nutritional status, Barthel Index (BI), presence and extent of lower back pain, and length of hospital stay were examined retrospectively. The possible association between these clinical factors and the BI and use of PIMs was assessed. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients (57.1%) were prescribed PIMs at admission. Mean BI at discharge was significantly lower among patients receiving PIMS (70 points vs. 83 points; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis for BI gain after propensity score matching showed that the number of PIMs and BI at admission affected the BI gain. CONCLUSION: The use of PIMs hindered the improvement in ADL. Our results demonstrate the importance of appropriate drug control for patients with OVCFs.

Preoperative rehabilitation for patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: We investigated the impact of preoperative short-term rehabilitation on activities of daily living among patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study utilized a hospital-based database containing Diagnosis Procedure Combination survey data from over 100 participating acute-care hospitals. We extracted data on consecutive inpatients hospitalized with stage 1 and 2 colorectal cancer. We compared characteristics and outcomes between patients who underwent short-term rehabilitation before surgery and those who did not. Primary outcomes measured were Barthel Index decline and number of complications during hospitalization. RESULTS: Among of included inpatients (male, 57%; older individuals aged over 65 years, 79%; mean Barthel Index, 93.4), the number of patients who underwent preoperative rehabilitation was 760 (39.3%). Patients in the preoperative rehabilitation group were less likely to have a decline in the Barthel Index compared with the control group (5.9% vs 10.1%, P < 0.001) and after propensity score adjustment using inverse probability weighting (6.3% vs 9.8%, P = 0.024). The preoperative rehabilitation group had fewer complications during hospitalization compared with the control group (P < 0.001) and after inverse probability weighting (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that preoperative short-term rehabilitation was associated with maintenance and improvement of activities of daily living and fewer complications among patients with stage 1 and 2 colorectal cancer.

The effects of promoting oral intake using the Kuchi-kara Taberu index, a comprehensive feeding assistant tool, in older pneumonia patients: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The multidisciplinary comprehensive care (MDCC) program promotes the improvement of oral intake for older patients. The Kuchi-kara Taberu (ingesting orally in Japanese, KT) index was developed to objectively assess patient conditions in the MDCC program. This trial examined the effects of the index in promoting oral intake in older patients with pneumonia. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 10 local hospitals targeting older patients with pneumonia (≥65 years). Ten hospitals were allocated randomly to either the intervention or the control group. Both groups (each with five hospitals) received the MDCC program for oral feeding, which consisted of professional assessment, care, and treatment. The KT index was used by the intervention group, focusing on improving low score items. The primary outcome was determined using the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) at discharge or 1 month after admission. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve patients (46 women and 66 men) who participated from 10 hospitals, with a median age of 88 years (interquartile range [IQR], 80-91), were examined. The median FOIS level and the number of patients with oral intake (FOIS ≥ level 4) at discharge were 4 (IQR, 4-6) and 89 (79.5%), respectively. The duration of nil per os was 2 (IQR, 1-5) days. Clusters were not matched in the presence of Kuchi-kara Taberu Shiawase-wo Mamoru-kai-certified medical staff promoting oral intake in patients with dysphagia in each hospital. The median FOIS levels of 53 patients in the intervention group and 59 patients in the control group were 5 (IQR, 4-6) and 4 (IQR, 4-5), respectively, showing no statistically significant difference (P = 0.76). According to a multivariate analysis, the KT index had no positive effect on FOIS levels. CONCLUSIONS: This trial was not able to demonstrate the usefulness of the KT index due to random assignment failure. However, both the intervention and control groups showed a high prevalence of oral intake (FOIS ≥ level 4) at discharge. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-Clinical Trial Registry, UMIN000025172, December 17, 2016.

Shorter Interval between Onset and Admission to Convalescent Rehabilitation Wards Is Associated with Improved Outcomes in Ischemic Stroke Patients.

As Japan's population ages, there is a growing interest in regional health care coordination. Our study aimed to evaluate whether the interval between onset and admission to convalescent rehabilitation wards (onset-admission) was associated with outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a single rehabilitation hospital. Ischemic stroke patients consecutively admitted to the wards were eligible to enroll. Outcomes included Functional Independence Measure (FIM)-motor gain, the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS) and a discharge rate to home. FIM assesses functional independence, including motor (FIM-motor) and cognitive domains, and is a measure of activities of daily living (ADLs). The FIM-motor gain indicates the difference between the FIM-motor scores at admission and discharge. FILS is a 10-point observer-rated scale to measure swallowing. After enrollment, 481 patients (mean age 74.4 years; 45.7% women) were included. The median [interquartile range] onset-admission interval was 13 [10-20] days and the median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score, a measure of stroke severity, was 8 [3-13]. In multivariate analysis, the onset-admission interval was independently associated with FIM-motor gain (ß = -0.107, p = 0.024), FILS score at discharge (ß = -0.159, p = 0.041), and the rate of discharge to home (odds ratio: 0.946, p = 0.032). In conclusion, a shorter interval between stroke onset and admission to convalescent rehabilitation wards contributes to improved outcomes, including ADLs, dysphagia, and a discharge rate to home, in ischemic stroke patients, regardless of stroke severity.

Impact of Multiple Texture-Modified Diets on Oral Intake and Nutritional Status in Older Patients with Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Texture-modified diets (TMD) is often used in clinical practices for the treatment and prevention of pneumonia. However, it is unclear how stages of TMD affect the swallowing ability and nutritional status in patients with pneumonia. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the various stages of TMD and swallowing ability and nutritional status in older inpatients with pneumonia. In this retrospective cohort study, data for patients aged ≥ 65 years with pneumonia were obtained from the Japan Rehabilitation Nutrition Database. We performed coarsened exact matching with Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) on admission. Ultimately, 218 patients (mean age 82.9 ± 9.8 years) were included and divided into two groups based on the stages of TMD in the facility: multiple TMD (M-TMD) group (stages of TMD ≥ 6) and control group (stages of TMD < 6). The main outcome was the rate of improvement in the Food Intake Level Scale (FILS) and the maintenance or improvement in the MNA-SF score. We used the within-hospital correction with generalized estimation equations that are commonly used to analyze clustered data while correcting for confounding factors by clustering. Multivariate multiple logistic analysis showed that M-TMD was independently associated with FILS improvement rate and the maintenance or improvement in the MNA-SF score (odds ratio [OR] 3.252; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.602-6.601; p = 0.001 and OR 1.873; 95% CI 1.054-3.330; p = 0.032, respectively). M-TMD in the facility was associated with the maintenance or improvement in swallowing ability and the nutritional status of patients with pneumonia.

Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation for impairment and disability in people after stroke.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) is a non-invasive treatment method that can penetrate to deeper structures with painless stimulation to improve motor function in people with physical impairment due to brain or nerve disorders. rPMS for people after stroke has proved to be a feasible approach to improving activities of daily living and functional ability. However, the effectiveness and safety of this intervention for people after stroke currently remain uncertain. This is an update of the review published in 2017. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of rPMS in improving activities of daily living and functional ability in people after stroke. SEARCH METHODS: On 7 January 2019, we searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), in the Cochrane Library; MEDLINE; Embase; the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL); PsycINFO; the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED); Occupational Therapy Systematic Evaluation of Evidence (OTseeker); the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro); ICHUSHI Web; and six ongoing trial registries. We screened reference lists, and we contacted experts in the field. We placed no restrictions on the language or date of publication when searching electronic databases. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted to assess the therapeutic effect of rPMS for people after stroke. Comparisons eligible for inclusion were (1) active rPMS only compared with 'sham' rPMS (a very weak form of stimulation or a sound only); (2) active rPMS only compared with no intervention; (3) active rPMS plus rehabilitation compared with sham rPMS plus rehabilitation; and (4) active rPMS plus rehabilitation compared with rehabilitation only. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion. The same review authors assessed methods and risk of bias, undertook data extraction, and used the GRADE approach to assess the quality of evidence. We contacted trial authors to request unpublished information if necessary. We resolved all disagreements through discussion. MAIN RESULTS: We included four trials (three RCTs and one cross-over trial) involving 139 participants. Blinding of participants and physicians was well reported within all trials. We judged the overall risk of bias across trials as low. Only two trials (with 63 and 18 participants, respectively) provided sufficient information to be included in the meta-analysis. We found no clear effect of rPMS on activities of daily living at the end of treatment (mean difference (MD) -3.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) -16.35 to 10.35; P = 0.66; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-quality evidence) and at the end of follow-up (MD -2.00, 95% CI -14.86 to 10.86; P = 0.76; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-quality evidence) when comparing rPMS plus rehabilitation versus sham plus rehabilitation. We found no statistical difference in improvement of upper limb function at the end of treatment (MD 2.00, 95% CI -4.91 to 8.91; P = 0.57; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-quality evidence) and at the end of follow-up (MD 4.00, 95% CI -2.92 to 10.92; P = 0.26; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-quality evidence) when comparing rPMS plus rehabilitation versus sham plus rehabilitation. We observed a significant decrease in spasticity of the elbow at the end of follow-up (MD -0.48, 95% CI -0.93 to -0.03; P = 0.03; 1 trial; 63 participants; low-quality evidence) when comparing rPMS plus rehabilitation versus sham plus rehabilitation. In terms of muscle strength, rPMS treatment was not associated with improved muscle strength of the ankle dorsiflexors at the end of treatment (MD 3.00, 95% CI -2.44 to 8.44; P = 0.28; 1 trial; 18 participants; low-quality evidence) when compared with sham rPMS. No studies provided information on lower limb function or adverse events, including death. Based on the GRADE approach, we judged the quality of evidence related to the primary outcome as low, owing to the small sample size of the studies. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Available trials provided insufficient evidence to permit any conclusions about routine use of rPMS for people after stroke. Additional trials with large sample sizes are needed to provide robust evidence for rPMS after stroke.

Relationship between nutritional status and improved ADL in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship of nutritional status with improvement of activities of daily living in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury. SETTING: A convalescent rehabilitation ward at the Toyama Prefectural Rehabilitation Hospital and Support Center for Children with Disabilities in Japan. METHODS: This retrospective analysis investigated adults (age ≥20 years) with cervical spinal cord injury who were consecutively admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward between 2006 and 2015. Data of 154 patients were analyzed. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA; 3 groups: well-nourished, suspected of being malnourished or moderately malnourished, severely malnourished) and body mass index (BMI; 3 groups: underweight, standard, and overweight and obese). The main outcome was functional independence measure (FIM) efficiency. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship of SGA and BMI to FIM efficiency. RESULTS: FIM efficiency was significantly higher in the well-nourished group based on the SGA than in the two groups with malnutrition (P = .007: 0.32 vs. 0.26 vs. 0.10). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that FIM efficiency was similar in the underweight and standard group, but was significantly higher in the overweight and obese group (P = .006: 0.20 vs. 0.21 vs. 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: SGA and BMI on admission may be independently associated with FIM efficiency in patients with cervical spinal cord injury.

Effectiveness of Intensive Rehabilitation Therapy on Functional Outcomes After Stroke: A Propensity Score Analysis Based on Japan Rehabilitation Database.

AIM: To examine the association of the amount of rehabilitation with functional gains of elderly stroke patients at a convalescent rehabilitation ward using propensity score analysis methods and the Japan Rehabilitation Database. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort study. From the database, 6875 patients who were admitted to the convalescent rehabilitation wards with stroke were identified. After excluding 4586 patients, 2325 were eligible for the study. Intensive rehabilitation therapy (IRT) was defined as rehabilitation therapy of more than 15 hours per week by a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and/or a speech therapist. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gain, discharge rate to home, and FIM efficiency were examined using student's t test and the χ2 test after inverse probability weighting (IPW). RESULTS: IRT was provided to 862 patients (37.1%). The unadjusted data showed that patients in the IRT group had a longer hospital stay, more physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy. After adjustment for IPW, the baseline characteristics were found to be closely matched between the 2 groups. The IRT group showed significantly higher motor FIM gain, cognitive FIM gain, FIM gain, and discharge rate to home. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that a longer rehabilitation time per week was associated with increased functional gain in elderly stroke patients at convalescent rehabilitation wards.

Impact of Nutrition Therapy and Rehabilitation on Acute and Critical Illness: A Systematic Review.

There have been no reviews describing the efficacy of the combination of both rehabilitation and nutritional treatments. This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of nutritional therapy on patients with an acute and critical illness undergoing rehabilitation. Online searches using PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE (ELSEVIER), and Ichu-shi Web databases identified 986 articles, and 16 additional articles were found through other sources. Each trial assessed for the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool, and the quality of the body of evidence with The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Two randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Jones et al reported that with an enhanced rehabilitation program, there was no effect of nutritional intervention on quality of life (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.55, 95% confidence intervals [CI] -0.05 to 1.15; P = 0.12). However, Hegerova et al reported positive effects of physical therapy and oral supplements on muscle mass (0.65; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.93; P < 0.00001) and activities of daily living (SMD 0.28, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.56; P = 0.05). Strengthened nutritional intervention with enhanced rehabilitation treatment for patients with acute and critical illness may possibly be effective for increasing muscle mass, as well as for improving activities of daily living within a short period after discharge.

Impact of orthotic therapy for improving activities of daily living in individuals with spinal cord injury: a retrospective cohort study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of leg orthotic therapy for improving activities of daily living after spinal cord injury. SETTING: Participating acute care and rehabilitation hospitals across Japan. METHODS: We retrospectively identified individuals with spinal cord injury admitted to eight participating hospitals in 2015-2016 from the Japan Rehabilitation Database. Data for 293 individuals were analyzed. Propensity score analysis by inverse probability weighting (IPW) was applied to adjust for potential bias and create two comparable groups. Outcomes were compared between the leg orthotic group and the non-leg orthotic group, using IPW. The primary outcome was motor Functional Independence Measure® (FIM) effectiveness score and the secondary outcome was motor FIM score at discharge. FIM was measured on hospital admission and discharge. RESULTS: Leg orthoses were prescribed for 26% of the 293 individuals. Those prescribed leg orthoses had significantly higher motor FIM effectiveness scores than those who were not, before and after IPW (motor FIM effectiveness: 0.54 vs. 0.35, p < 0.01 and 0.45 vs. 0.36, p = 0.02). Discharge motor FIM was significantly higher in individuals who were prescribed leg orthoses than in those who were not, before and after IPW (discharge motor FIM: 64.5 vs. 52.2, p < 0.01 and 58.9 vs. 53.5, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Leg orthoses may improve activities of daily living in individuals with spinal cord injury after the acute phase.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Evaluation of Neural Network Development in Patients Undergoing Therapeutic Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation following Stroke.

We aimed to investigate plastic changes in cerebral white matter structures using diffusion tensor imaging following a 15-day stroke rehabilitation program. We compared the detection of cerebral plasticity between generalized fractional anisotropy (GFA), a novel tool for investigating white matter structures, and fractional anisotropy (FA). Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) of 2400 pulses applied to the nonlesional hemisphere and 240 min intensive occupation therapy (OT) daily over 15 days. Motor function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). Patients underwent diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on admission and discharge, from which bilateral FA and GFA values in Brodmann area (BA) 4 and BA6 were calculated. Motor function improved following treatment (p < 0.001). Treatment increased GFA values for both the lesioned and nonlesioned BA4 (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, resp.). Changes in GFA value for BA4 of the lesioned hemisphere were significantly inversely correlated with changes in WMFT scores (R2 = 0.363, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that the GFA may have a potentially more useful ability than FA to detect changes in white matter structures in areas of fiber intersection for any such future investigations.