Translation and validation of the Taiwanese SarQoL, a quality of life questionnaire specific to sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: The Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL) questionnaire has been translated into various languages. This study validated the Taiwanese version of the SarQoL (SarQoL-TW) questionnaire. METHODS: Forward-backward translation was conducted, along with a test of the prefinal version of the translated questionnaire. To validate the psychometric properties of the questionnaire, 50 older adults with sarcopenia and 50 older adults without sarcopenia completed the SarQoL-TW, the Short Form12 Health Survey (SF-12), and the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire. Participants with sarcopenia were asked to complete the SarQoL-TW questionnaire once more after 2 weeks. Validating the psychometric properties of the SarQoL-TW questionnaire involved assessing its discriminative power, internal consistency, construct validity, test-retest reliability, and potential floor and ceiling effects. RESULTS: The SarQoL-TW questionnaire was translated without major difficulties. The psychometric analysis revealed that older adults with sarcopenia scored significantly lower on the SarQoL-TW, both overall and in some of the domains. The Cronbach's alpha of 0.846 indicated high internal consistency. The SarQoL-TW questionnaire correlated well with similar constructs on the SF-12 and EQ-5D-3L for convergent validity and correlated weakly with distinct domains for divergent validity, confirming its favorable construct validity. The test-retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.970). Neither floor nor ceiling effects were observed. CONCLUSION: The SarQoL-TW questionnaire is a reliable and valid questionnaire, useful for assessing quality of life in older adults with sarcopenia in clinical practice and research.

Relationship between the head deviation angle and hemineglect in patients with right hemisphere stroke.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hemineglect have been reported to have abnormal head posture. We attempted to determine the extent to which the angles are correlated with the severity of hemineglect. METHODS: In a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional study on 40 patients with single right hemisphere stroke, we evaluated left hemineglect severity using the line bisection and line cancellation tests. Head deviation angles were measured at admission and discharge using a head device containing 3 graduated discs that determined the angles of head deviation in the sagittal, coronal and transverse planes. RESULTS: Head angles in the transverse and coronal planes differed significantly between the left hemineglect and non-hemineglect groups. Scores obtained from the line bisection and line cancellation tests correlated with these angles. Furthermore, improvement in left hemineglect after rehabilitation training corresponded to a reduction in the angles. CONCLUSION: Stroke patients with hemineglect exhibited significant head deviations in the transverse and coronal planes. Deviation angles correlated with hemineglect test scores.

Differences in walking-to-turning characteristics between older adult fallers and nonfallers: a prospective and observational study using wearable inertial sensors.

Wearable inertial sensors have gradually been used as an objective technology for biomechanical assessments of both healthy and pathological movement patterns. This paper used foot-worn sensors for characterizing the spatiotemporal characteristics of walking and turning between older fallers and nonfallers. Thirty community-dwelling older fallers and 30 older nonfallers performed 10-m straight walking, turned 180° around a cone, and then walked 10-m back to the starting point. Specific algorithms were used to measure spatiotemporal gait (double support phase of the gait cycle, swing width, and minimal toe clearance) and turning parameters (turn duration and turn steps) using two foot-worn Physiolog inertial sensor system. The researchers directly exported data as reported by the system. Our findings indicated that older fallers showed 26.58% longer time (P = 0.036) and 13.21% more steps (P = 0.038) compared to nonfallers during turning. However, both groups decreased their walking velocity (both P < 0.001), increased double support (both P = 0.001), and increased the swing width (both P = 0.001) during the transition from walking to turning. The older nonfallers additionally increased toe clearance (P = 0.001). Compared with the fallers, the older nonfallers showed a larger change in the swing width (P = 0.025) and toe clearance (P = 0.025) in walking to turning. Older fallers may adopt a cautionary strategy while turning to reduce the risk of falls. Wearable sensors can provide the temporospatial characteristics of turning and reveal significant differences by fall status, indicating the potential of turning measures as possible markers for identifying those at fall risk.

Association Between Turning Mobility and Cognitive Function in Chronic Poststroke.

Turning difficulties are common in patients with stroke. The detrimental effects of dual tasks on turning indicate a correlation between turning and cognition. Cognitive impairment is prevalent after stroke, and stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment had a poorer turning performance than did stroke patients with intact cognitive abilities. Therefore, we investigated the association between turning mobility and cognitive function in patients with chronic poststroke. Ninety patients with chronic stroke (>6 months post-stroke) were recruited. Angular velocity was assessed using wearable sensors during 180° walking turns and 360° turning on the spot from both sides. Global cognition and distinct cognitive domains were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination. In patients with stroke, turning mobility was significantly associated with global cognitive function and distinct cognitive domains, such as visuospatial ability and language. The balance function and lower limbs strength were mediators of the association between cognition and turning. The association highlights the complexity of the turning movement and dynamic motor and cognitive coordination necessary to safely complete a turn. However, our findings should be regarded as preliminary, and a thorough neuropsychological assessment to provide a valid description of distinct cognitive domains is required.

Turning duration and steps predict future falls in poststroke hemiplegic individuals: A preliminary cohort study.

Introduction: Turning was reported as one of the activities that most frequently leads to falling among stroke patients. This study investigated whether the duration and steps of a 180° turn while walking can distinguish retrospective fallers from non-fallers and predict future falls in a 1-year period in patients with poststroke hemiplegia. Methods: Thirty stroke patients were recruited. They were instructed to get up from a chair, walk straight 3 m, turn around, and return to seated position to assess the 180° walking-turn task. Turning performance was measured by two inertial sensor units of Physilog. Turn duration and steps were recorded for analysis. The numbers of retrospective and prospective falls were also obtained. Results: No significant difference was observed between retrospective stroke fallers and non-fallers in turn duration and steps. Turn duration and steps were significantly greater in prospective stroke fallers than in non-fallers. The cutoff turn duration of 4 s (area under the curve 0.75, 95% CI: 0.56-0.93, sensitivity 67%, specificity 80%, p =.04) and turn step of 7 steps (area under the curve 0.73, 95% CI: 0.51-0.94, sensitivity 56%, specificity 85%, p =.05) were found to most accurately predict prospective stroke fallers from non-fallers. Conclusions: Turn duration and steps were unable to discriminate between retrospective fallers and non-fallers but could predict prospective falls in patients with stroke. More than 4 s or 7 steps to complete a 180° turn while walking can be a predictor for patients with stroke at an increased risk of falling.

Turning difficulties after stroke and its relationship with trunk function.

BACKGROUND: Turning difficulties has been reported in stroke patients, but most studies have indicated no differences in turning direction regarding turn time or steps. Recent evidence shows that turning difficulty may correlate with trunk control. Trunk flexibility and strength are considered essential to trunk control, but their association with turning performance has not been elucidated. AIM: The study investigated the differences in turning direction in terms of turn duration and angular velocity and the relationship between turning performance and trunk function in patients with chronic stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient clinic at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. POPULATION: Chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty-eight stroke patients were evaluated for turning performance and trunk function. Turn duration and angular velocity were assessed using three wearable sensors during 360° turning in place towards both sides. Trunk function, such as flexibility, strength, and control was measured using a tape measure, a microFET3 dynamometer, and the Trunk Impairment Scale. RESULTS: Stroke patients showed significantly longer turn durations (4.62±2.08 vs. 3.59±1.93 s, P=0.036) and lower angular velocity (118.67±35.78 vs. 135.26±42.41°/s, P=0.009) during turning toward the paretic side than towards the nonparetic side. The turning parameters towards the paretic side associated with trunk flexion (r=-0.550, P=0.003) and rotation (r=0.409, P=0.034), trunk flexor strength (r=-0.387, P=0.046), dynamic sitting balance (r=-0.383, P=0.049) and coordination of trunk movement (r=-0.494, P=0.009). However, no relationship was observed between trunk function and turning towards the nonparetic side. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke participants experienced greater difficulty turning towards the paretic side. Trunk flexibility, strength, and control may affect turning performance, especially when turning towards the paretic side, which could explain the occurrence of falls after a turn towards the paretic side. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Stroke patients experience turning difficulties, particularly during turning towards the paretic side. Stroke patients with limited trunk function are more likely to experience turning dysfunction. Clinical therapists should develop effective strategies for enhancing turning ability through improvement of trunk flexibility, strength, and control for clinical rehabilitation practice.

The effects of the Otago Exercise Programme on actual and perceived balance in older adults: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Falls are serious issues in older populations. Balance problems are a major cause of falls and may lead to fear of falling and decreased balance confidence. The Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) is an effective fall prevention program that benefits balance function and fear of falling. The primary aim of the meta-analysis was to investigate the effectiveness of the OEP intervention on actual balance performance (i.e., static, dynamic, proactive or reactive balance) and perceived balance ability (i.e., balance confidence or fear of falling) for older adults; the secondary aim was to examine which OEP protocol most improves balance in older adults. METHODS: A systematic electronic review search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of the OEP on actual balance performance and perceived balance ability in healthy older adults, and examining which OEP training protocol and intervention format most improves balance. RESULTS: A total of 12 RCTs were included in the analyses. The OEP exerted significant effects on static balance (Hedges's g = 0.388; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.131 to 0.645), dynamic balance (g = -0.228; 95% CI = -0.352 to -0.1.4), proactive balance (g = 0.239; 95% CI = 0.061 to 0.416) and perceived balance (g = -0.184; 95% CI = -0.320 to -0.048) in older adults. Subgroup analysis indicated that the group format for the OEP was more effective for improving static (p = 0.008), dynamic (p = 0.004) and perceived balance (p = 0.004) than was the individual format. Sessions of >30 minutes were more effective in improving static (p = 0.007) and perceived balance (p = 0.014) than were sessions of ≤30 minutes. However, the effects of the OEP on balance were unrelated to the types of control group, training frequency and training period. DISCUSSION: The OEP is helpful for improving actual balance including static, dynamic, and proactive balance; enhancing confidence in balance control; and reducing fear of falling in older adults. In particular, administrating the OEP in a group setting in >30-minute sessions may be the most appropriate and effective exercise protocol for improving balance.

Trunk Muscle Activation Patterns During Standing Turns in Patients With Stroke: An Electromyographic Analysis.

Recent evidence indicates that turning difficulty may correlate with trunk control; however, surface electromyography has not been used to explore trunk muscle activity during turning after stroke. This study investigated trunk muscle activation patterns during standing turns in healthy controls (HCs) and patients with stroke with turning difficulty (TD) and no TD (NTD). The participants with stroke were divided into two groups according to the 180° turning duration and number of steps to determine the presence of TD. The activation patterns of the bilateral external oblique and erector spinae muscles of all the participants were recorded during 90° standing turns. A total of 14 HCs, 14 patients with TD, and 14 patients with NTD were recruited. The duration and number of steps in the turning of the TD group were greater than those of the HCs, independent of the turning direction. However, the NTD group had a significantly longer turning duration than did the HC group only toward the paretic side. Their performance was similar when turning toward the non-paretic side; this result is consistent with electromyographic findings. Both TD and NTD groups demonstrated increased amplitudes of trunk muscles compared with the HC groups. Their trunk muscles failed to maintain consistent amplitudes during the entire movement of standing turns in the direction that they required more time or steps to turn toward (i.e., turning in either direction for the TD group and turning toward the paretic side for the NTD group). Patients with stroke had augmented activation of trunk muscles during turning. When patients with TD turned toward either direction and when patients with NTD turned toward the paretic side, the flexible adaptations and selective actions of trunk muscles observed in the HCs were absent. Such distinct activation patterns during turning may contribute to poor turning performance and elevate the risk of falling. Our findings provide insights into the contribution and importance of trunk muscles during turning and the association with TD after stroke. These findings may help guide the development of more effective rehabilitation therapies that target specific muscles for those with TD.

Physical findings and sonography of hemiplegic shoulder in patients after acute stroke during rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: Physical and sonographic evaluation of hemiplegic shoulder in patients after acute stroke and correlation between the physical/sonographic findings and early-onset hemiplegic shoulder pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Fifty-seven patients after stroke with hemiplegic shoulder. METHODS: Subjects were assigned to poor motor function and good motor function groups according to the Brunnström motor recovery stages of hemiplegic shoulder. Physical findings and sonography of hemiplegic shoulder at admission and before discharge were compared, and the relationship between the physical/sonographic findings of hemiplegic shoulder and hemiplegic shoulder pain was analysed. RESULTS: The 2 groups differed significantly in proprioception, spasticity, subluxation, and shoulder rotation (p<0.05) than in the good motor function group. Brunnström motor recovery stages, shoulder motion, subluxation, and abnormal sonographic findings of hemiplegic shoulder were moderately correlated with visual analogue scale scores of hemiplegic shoulder pain (gamma=0.34-0.65; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The frequency of shoulder soft tissue injuries (85%) and hemiplegic shoulder pain (67%) was higher in patients with hemiplegic shoulder with impaired sensation, spasticity, subluxation, and restricted rotation. Brunnström motor recovery stages, limited rotation, subluxation, and abnormal sonographic findings of hemiplegic shoulder were associated with hemiplegic shoulder pain severity in patients after acute stroke.