Cycling using functional electrical stimulation therapy to improve motor function and activity in post-stroke individuals in early subacute phase: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Stroke necessitates interventions to rehabilitate individuals with disabilities, and the application of functional electrical stimulation therapy (FEST) has demonstrated potential in this regard. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and effectiveness of cycling using FEST to improve motor function and lower limb activity in post-stroke individuals. METHODS: We performed a systematic review according to the recommendations of the PRISMA checklist, searching MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, LILACS, and PEDro databases by July 2022, without any date or language limitations. Studies were selected using the following terms: stroke, electrical stimulation therapy, cycling, and clinical trials. Randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials that investigated the effectiveness of cycling using FEST combined with exercise programs and cycling using FEST alone for motor function and activity in subacute post-stroke individuals were included. The quality of included trials was assessed using the PEDro scores. Outcome data were extracted from eligible studies and combined in random-effects meta-analyses. The quality of evidence was determined according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. RESULTS: Five randomized clinical trials involving 187 participants were included. Moderate-quality evidence indicates that cycling using FEST combined with exercise programs promotes relevant benefits in trunk control (MD 9 points, 95% CI 0.36-17.64) and walking distance (MD 94.84 m, 95% CI 39.63-150.05, I = 0%), the other outcomes had similar benefits. Cycling using FEST alone compared to exercise programs promotes similar benefits in strength, balance, walking speed, walking distance, and activities of daily living. CONCLUSION: This systematic review provides low- to moderate-quality evidence that cycling using FEST may be an effective strategy to consider in improving motor function and activity outcomes for post-stroke individuals in the early subacute phase. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42022345282).

Access to telehealth by stroke patients: which are the main barriers and how they are explained by the UTAUT theoretical model? A systematic review / Acceso de los pacientes con ACV a la telesalud: ¿cuáles son las principales barreras y cómo se explican desde el modelo teórico UTAUT? Una revisión sistemática / Acesso de pacientes com AVC à telessaúde: quais são as principais barreiras e como são explicadas pelo modelo teórico UTAUT? Uma revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT Stroke is a chronic health condition that requires monitoring. In this sense, telehealth emerges as a tool to enable better access. However, since it is related to use of technology, this modality might face new barriers. Our goal was to identify, with a systematic literature review, the perceived barriers to telehealth access by stroke patients and conceptualize them within the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. The systematic review was carried out in the following electronic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS, and PEDro; and the combination of descriptors were: "Barriers to Access to Health Care," "Telerehabilitation," "Telehealth," "Stroke," and "Physical Therapy Modalities." The included studies focused on telehealth barriers perceived by stroke patients. Initially, 298 articles were found, 295 via databases search, and three via active search; of these, only six articles were included in this review. Overall, the articles revealed the perception of more than 220 stroke patients, with barriers categorized into eight types, most of them related to the dimensions of Effort Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions of the UTAUT model. The barriers of the Effort Expectation dimension that are related to the knowledge in the use of technologies are likely to be overcome since training can be carried out before the telehealth service. However, the barriers related to the Facilitating Conditions dimension regarding financial aspects, the internet, and home context are difficult to overcome, possibly interfering with user's acceptance of telehealth.

RESUMEN El accidente cerebrovascular (ACV) como una condición de salud requiere de monitoreo. En este contexto, la telesalud emerge como una posibilidad que permite un mejor acceso a los servicios de salud. Sin embargo, dado que esta modalidad está relacionada con el uso de la tecnología, se pueden surgir nuevas barreras. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar, mediante una revisión sistemática de la literatura, las barreras percibidas por los pacientes con ACV con respecto al acceso a la telesalud y conceptualizarlas dentro del modelo de la Teoría Unificada de Aceptación y Uso de la Tecnología (UTAUT). La revisión sistemática se realizó en las siguientes bases de datos electrónicas: PubMed, MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS y PEDro; a partir de la combinación de los descriptores "barreras de acceso a la atención médica", "telerrehabilitación", "telesalud", "accidente cerebrovascular" y "modalidades de fisioterapia". Inicialmente, se encontraron 298 artículos, de los cuales se obtuvieron 295 mediante la búsqueda en la base de datos y tres por la búsqueda activa; de estos, solo seis artículos se incluyeron en la revisión. Los artículos revelaron la percepción de más de 220 sujetos que sufrieron ACV y ocho tipos de barreras; la mayoría de ellas relacionadas con las dimensiones Expectativa de Esfuerzo y Condiciones Facilitadoras del modelo UTAUT. Las barreras de la dimensión Expectativa de Esfuerzo, relacionadas con el conocimiento en el uso de tecnologías, se pueden superar mediante una capacitación previa antes de utilizar la telesalud. Sin embargo, las barreras asociadas con la dimensión de las Condiciones Facilitadoras respecto a los aspectos financieros, de Internet y el contexto del hogar son difíciles de superar y, por lo tanto, pueden interferir en la aceptación del uso de la telesalud por parte del usuario.

RESUMO O acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), como condição crônica de saúde, requer monitoramento. Nesse sentido, a telessaúde surge com o objetivo de possibilitar um melhor acesso aos serviços de saúde. Porém, por estar relacionada ao uso de tecnologia, essa modalidade pode enfrentar novas barreiras. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar, por meio de uma revisão sistemática da literatura, as barreiras percebidas por pacientes com AVC quanto ao acesso à telessaúde e conceituá-las dentro do modelo da Teoria Unificada de Aceitação e Uso de Tecnologia (UTAUT). A revisão sistemática foi realizada nas seguintes bases de dados eletrônicas: PubMed, MEDLINE, SciELO, LILACS e PEDro; por meio da combinação dos descritores "barreiras de acesso aos cuidados de saúde", "telerreabilitação", "telessaúde", "acidente vascular cerebral" e "modalidades de fisioterapia". Inicialmente, foram encontrados 298 artigos, sendo 295 por meio da busca em bases de dados e três por meio de busca ativa, e, destes, apenas seis artigos foram incluídos na revisão. Somados, os artigos revelaram a percepção de mais de 220 indivíduos que sofreram AVC e oito tipos de barreiras, a maioria delas relacionadas às dimensões de Expectativa de Esforço e Condições Facilitadoras do modelo UTAUT. As barreiras da dimensão Expectativa de Esforço relacionadas ao conhecimento no uso de tecnologias são passíveis de serem superadas, pois treinamentos podem ser realizados previamente ao serviço de telessaúde. No entanto, as barreiras relacionadas à dimensão das Condições Facilitadoras no que se refere a aspectos financeiros, internet e contexto domiciliar são difíceis de superar, podendo, portanto, interferir na aceitação do usuário quanto ao uso da telessaúde.

Associação entre a capacidade funcional, transtorno do sono e nível de atividade física em indivíduos com doença de Parkinson durante o período de pandemia de covid-19: um estudo transversal / Association between functional capacity, sleep disorder and physical activity level in individuals with Parkinson's disease during the covid-19 pandemic period: a cross-sectional study

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o nível de atividade física, considerando as condições sociodemográficas, clínicas e funcionais, de pessoas idosas com Doença de Parkinson (DP). Método Foi realizado um estudo transversal a partir dos seguintes dados: nível de atividade física (International Physical Activity Questionnaire versão curta - IPAQ curto), transtornos do sono, queixa cognitiva, tempo de doença, grau de dependência para realizar atividades básicas do dia a dia pela escala Schwab & England (S & E) de indivíduos idosos com DP atendidos em um serviço de saúde terciário, durante a pandemia da covid-19. Regressão de Poisson, teste U de Mann-Whitney e teste t de Student foram utilizados para análise estatística. Resultados A cada 10 pontos de elevação na escala de S & E, a razão de prevalência de ser ativo foi maior em 1,04 (IC 95% 1,01 - 1,08) e quem não referiu transtorno de sono teve razão de prevalência de 1,17 (IC95% 1,02-1,34) vez maior de ser ativo. Indivíduos com DP inativos eram mais velhos e tinham maior tempo de doença. Conclusão Ênfase deve ser dada a capacidade funcional e ao sono de indivíduos com DP para o manejo adequado do nível de AF em períodos de restrição social.

Abstract Objective To assess the level of exercise of older people with Parkinson's disease (PD), taking into account sociodemographic, clinical, and functional characteristics. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out based on the following data: level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version - short IPAQ), sleep disorders, cognitive complaints, duration of illness, degree of dependence to perform basic daily activities through Schwab & England (S&E) scale of older individuals with PD treated at a tertiary health service during the covid-19 pandemic. Poisson regression, Mann-Whitney U test and Student's t test were used for statistical analysis. Results The prevalence ratio of being active increased by 1.04 (95% CI 1.01 - 1.08) for every 10 points of elevation on the S&E scale, whereas those who did not report sleep difficulties had a prevalence ratio of 1.17 (95% CI 1.02-1.34) times greater to be active. Inactive individuals with PD were older and had longer disease duration. Conclusion Emphasis should be given to the functional capacity and sleep of individuals with PD for the adequate management of the PA level in periods of social restriction.

General and comparative self-rated health in chronic stroke: an important outcome measure for health professionals.

BACKGROUND: After a stroke, several aspects of health and function may influence how individuals perceive their own health. However, self-rated health (SRH), as well as its relationship with functioning, has been little explored in individuals with stroke. The aims of this study were to determine how individuals with chronic post-stroke disabilities evaluate their health, considering general, time- and age-comparative SRH questions and to investigate whether SRH measures would be influenced by the following health and functioning domains: mental/physical functions and personal factors. METHODS: Sixty-nine individuals with chronic post-stroke disabilities answered the three types of SRH questions and were assessed regarding depressive symptoms (emotional function domain), physical activity levels (physical function domain), and engagement in physical activity practice (personal factor domain). Subjects were divided into the following groups: good/poor for the general SRH question; better, similar, and "worse" for both time- and age-comparative questions. Between-group differences in the three domains for each SRH question were investigated (α = 5%). RESULTS: General SRH was rated as good by 73% of the participants. Time- and age-comparative SRH was rated as better by 36% and 47% and as similar by 31% and 28% of the subjects, respectively. Significant between-group differences in emotional function were found for both the general and age-comparative questions. For the time-comparative question, significant differences were only observed for physical function. CONCLUSION: SRH evaluation differed in individuals with chronic post-stroke disabilities according to the types of questions and health/functioning domains.

Effects of a power strength training using elastic resistance exercises on the motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease H&Y 1-3: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (PARK-BAND Study).

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in Brazil. Physical activity is a complementary intervention in managing inherent declines associated with the disease like strength, balance, gait, and functionality and benefit health-related outcomes. Here, we report the PARK-BAND Study protocol, which aims to investigate potential benefits of power training using elastic devices in participants with PD. Our intervention will be provided in patients with PD using elastic devices like elastic bands and tubes. Therefore, we used the term Park from Parkinson's disease and band from elastic bands. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This randomised single-blind single-centre two-arm parallel, superiority trial will include 50 participants with PD attending the clinical setting. Those who meet the eligibility criteria and provide consent to participate will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the exercise group, which will receive power training programme or the health education group, which will receive the education programme. Randomisation will be performed by permuted block randomisation with a block size of eight. Both groups will receive a 12-week intervention. The exercise group will have two sessions per week and the health education group will have one session per week. Changes from baseline in bradykinesia, as assessed by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor examination subscore and physical functional performance, will be the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes include other neurological, neurophysiological and physical variables, as well as the quality of life, depression, cognition, sleep quality and disturbances, assessed before and after interventions. We hypothesise that the exercise group will have greater improvement in primary and secondary outcomes than the health education group. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study is approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hospital Universitário Walter Cantidio and all participants will provide their written informed consent (register number 91075318.1.0000.5045).Trial results will be disseminated via peer reviewed journal articles and conference presentations, reports for organisations involved with PD and for participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos Registry (RBR-5w2sqt); Pre-results.

Self-rated health after stroke: a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Self-rated health (SRH) allows for comparison and identification of the health status of various populations. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to expand the understanding of SRH after stroke. METHODS: This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017056194) and conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies published until December 2018 that evaluated the SRH of adults with stroke were included. RESULTS: Of the 2132 identified studies, 51 were included. Only four studies had experimental designs (7.8%). In 60.7% of the studies, SRH was assessed by variations on direct questions (i.e., general and comparative SRH). Analog visual scales and quality of life instruments were also used to evaluate SRH, but there is no consensus regarding whether they are appropriate for this purpose. The results of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies revealed significant associations between poor SRH and stroke as well as between SRH, function, and disability. The power of SRH to predict stroke mortality is still uncertain. Two interventions (a home-based psychoeducational program concerning stroke health care and family involvement in functional rehabilitation) effectively improved SRH. CONCLUSIONS: Direct questions are the most common method of evaluating SRH after stroke. Studies reported significant associations between the SRH of individuals with stroke and several relevant health outcomes. However, few experimental studies have evaluated SRH after stroke. Interventions involving health education and family involvement had a significant impact on SRH.

Overview of FES-Assisted Cycling Approaches and Their Benefits on Functional Rehabilitation and Muscle Atrophy.

Central nervous system diseases include brain or spinal cord impairments and may result in movement disorders almost always manifested by paralyzed muscles with preserved innervations and therefore susceptible to be activated by electrical stimulation. Functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted cycling is an approach mainly used for rehabilitation purposes contributing, among other effects, to restore muscle trophism. FES-assisted cycling has also been adapted for mobile devices adding a leisure and recreational benefit to the physical training. In October 2016, our teams (Freewheels and EMA-trike) took part in FES-bike discipline at the Cybathlon competition, presenting technologies that allow pilots with spinal cord injury to use their paralyzed lower limb muscles to propel a tricycle. Among the many benefits observed and reported in our study cases for the pilots during preparation period, we achieved a muscle remodeling in response to FES-assisted cycling that is discussed in this chapter. Then, we have organized some sections to explore how FES-assisted cycling could contribute to functional rehabilitation by means of changes in the skeletal muscle disuse atrophy.

Estudo da confiabilidade de um instrumento de medida de flexibilidade em adultos e idosos / Reliability of a flexibility instrument in mature adults and elderly individuals

Os istrumentos de medidas devem ser analisados quanto a sua utilidade clínica e respaldo científico em diferentespopulações. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a confiabilidade inter-examinadores do flexímetro (Fleximeter R)em um grupo de 12 sujeitos adultos maduros e idosos assintomáticos de ambos os sexos, através do...