Fitness and walking outcomes following aerobic and lower extremity strength training in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy: a case series.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a common form of adult muscular dystrophy often resulting also in cardiorespiratory deconditioning and weakness of the lower limbs. Although previous studies examined outcomes of interventions aimed at improving either cardiorespiratory fitness or muscle strength, the potential benefits of a rehabilitation program targeting both remain unexplored. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate changes following participation in a rehabilitation program combining aerobic and strength exercises. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 10 subjects with FSHD who participated in our rehabilitation program during 2018 and 2019. Each of the 20 sessions consisted of aerobic training on a cycloergometer and a moderate lower limb strength exercises on an isokinetic machine in combination with conventional therapy. The primary outcomes were walking speed, aerobic performance and isokinetic strength of the knee extensors and flexors. The secondary outcomes were fatigue, insomnia. VO2max and walking speed increased significantly by 2.125 ml·kg-1·min-1 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75-3.62, P = 0.022] and 0.28 m/s (95% CI: 0.16-0.4, P = 0.002), respectively. The effect size was small for V02max (Hedge's g, 0.44; 95% CI: -0.5 to 1.37) and large for walking speed (Hedge's g, 0.99; 95% CI: 0.06-1.92). The knee flexor strength significantly increased at rehabilitation discharge (repeated measures analysis of variance P = 0.004). Positive changes in fatigue and insomnia were also observed. Our preliminary results provide evidence that a relatively short course of a comprehensive rehabilitation program targeting both cardiorespiratory fitness and knee muscle strength can be beneficial for people with FSHD, which warrants further prospective studies.

Robotic gait training and botulinum toxin injection improve gait in the chronic post-stroke phase: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Improving walking ability is one of the main goals of rehabilitation after stroke. When lower limb spasticity increases walking difficulty, botulinum toxin type A (BTx-A) injections can be combined with non-pharmacologic interventions such as intensive rehabilitation using a robotic approach. To the best of our knowledge, no comparisons have been made between the efficacy of robotic gait training and conventional physical therapy in combination with BTx-A injections. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy on gait of robotic gait training versus conventional physiotherapy after BTx-A injection into the spastic triceps surae in people after stroke. METHOD: Thirty-three participants in the chronic stroke phase with triceps surae spasticity inducing gait impairment were included. After BTx-A injection, participants were randomized into 2 groups. Group A underwent robotic gait training (Lokomat®) for 2 weeks, followed by conventional physiotherapy for 2 weeks (n = 15) and Group B underwent the same treatment in reverse order (n = 18). The efficacy of these methods was tested using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), comparing post-test 1 and post-test 2 with the pre-test. RESULTS: After the first period, the 6MWT increased significantly more in Group A than in Group B: the mean difference between the interventions was 33 m (95%CI 9; 58 p = 0.007; g = 0.95), in favor of Group A; after the second period, the 6MWT increased in both groups, but the 30 m difference between the groups still remained (95%CI 5; 55 p = 0.019; g = 0.73). CONCLUSION: Two weeks of robotic gait training performed 2 weeks after BTx-A injections improved walking performance more than conventional physiotherapy. Large-scale studies are now required on the timing of robotic rehabilitation after BTx-A injection.

Use of his prostheses by a double upper limb amputee 6 years after amputation: From aesthetic to functional considerations, a case report.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been published on the prosthetic management of bilateral upper limb amputees. Of particular interest is to study how a patient's use of his upper limb protheses had evolved over a 6-year period in the aim to decrease their rejection rate. CASE DESCRIPTION AND METHODS: Mr. D had undergone a bilateral upper limb amputation and had been fitted with 7 different prostheses in the past 6 years. Multiple validate instruments and analyses were then used to monitor the patient's fitting and choices. FINDINGS AND OUTCOMES: Initially, the left prosthesis was regarded as the dominant hand and the right one as the assistive power grip hand. However, the observational results showed that wearing only a left Greifer enabled the prosthetic user to perform the same tasks as with 2 prostheses. He has gained greater satisfaction and quality of life without losing his independence. CONCLUSION: The patient seemed to make a functional choice over his worrying about his physical appearance in favor of the efficiency of his prosthesis, which was essential for his everyday life, when he decided to wear only nonanthropomorphic prosthesis.

Riluzole for treating spasticity in patients with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury: Study protocol in the phase ib/iib adaptive multicenter randomized controlled RILUSCI trial.

BACKGROUND: Satisfactory treatment is often lacking for spasticity, a highly prevalent motor disorder in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Low concentrations of riluzole potently reduce the persistent sodium current, the post-SCI increase in which contributes to spasticity. The repurposing of this drug may therefore constitute a useful potential therapeutic option for relieving SCI patients suffering from chronic traumatic spasticity. OBJECTIVE: RILUSCI is a phase 1b-2b trial designed to assess whether riluzole is a safe and biologically effective means of managing spasticity in adult patients with traumatic chronic SCI. METHODS: In this multicenter double-blind trial, adults (aged 18-65 years) suffering from spasticity after SCI (target enrollment: 90 participants) will be randomly assigned to be given either a placebo or a recommended daily oral dose of riluzole for two weeks. The latter dose will be previously determined in phase 1b of the study by performing double-blind dose-finding tests using a Bayesian continuous reassessment method. The primary endpoint of the trial will be an improvement in the Modified Ashworth Score (MAS) or the Numerical Rating Score (NRS) quantifying spasticity. The secondary outcomes will be based on the safety and pharmacokinetics of riluzole as well as its impact on muscle spasms, pain, bladder dysfunction and quality of life. Analyses will be performed before, during and after the treatment and the placebo-controlled period. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this clinical trial will be the first to document the safety and efficacy of riluzole as a means of reducing spasticity in patients with chronic SCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The clinical trial, which is already in progress, was registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov website on August 9, 2016 under the registration number NCT02859792. TRIAL SPONSOR: Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille.

Prosthesis for bilateral equinus foot: A case study.

BACKGROUND: Although surgical treatment for equinus foot has been widely described in the literature, less attention has been paid to orthopedic treatment with prostheses, which constitutes an interesting alternative approach. It has been described in the literature for treating lower-limb inequality, but not for equinus foot. The aim of this article is to report that the use of prosthetics can be a valid means of managing bilateral equinus foot. CASE DESCRIPTION AND METHODS: In the present case report, we describe the management of an irreducible bilateral equinus in a 45-year-old patient with poliomyelitis sequelae, starting with orthoses and orthopedic shoes, followed by prostheses. We measured the evolution of the patient's spatiotemporal gait parameters, his autonomy, and his satisfaction with a QUEST score. FINDINGS AND OUTCOMES: Despite the deterioration of the patient's physical abilities due to the onset of a postpoliomyelitis syndrome, his gait parameters and his autonomy were maintained while using the prostheses. His tolerance of the prostheses improved even more greatly, as shown by his QUEST score, which increased from 2.95 to 4.67 of 5. CONCLUSION: The use of prostheses was at least as effective and even better tolerated than orthoses and orthopedic shoes by this patient. Despite the occurrence of a postpoliomyelitis syndrome, the prostheses helped to maintain his walking performances, while improving his satisfaction.

Poststroke Postural Sway Improved by Botulinum Toxin: A Multicenter Randomized Double-blind Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of injecting botulinum toxin into the lower limb muscles of people with hemiparesis post stroke in terms of their sway areas. DESIGN: A multicenter randomized double-blind trial on the effects of active botulinum toxin treatment vs placebo. SETTING: Clinical examinations and postural sway assessments were performed before botulinum toxin injection and again 4-6 weeks after the injection. PARTICIPANTS: People with hemiparesis with chronic post stroke lower limb spasticity (N=40). INTERVENTIONS: Intramuscular injection of a placebo (physiological serum) was performed on the control group, and botulinum toxin injections were performed on the treatment group. Participants and physical and rehabilitation medicine specialists were given no information as to which of the 2 treatments was applied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The sway area of the center of pressure was recorded for 30 seconds in 3 conditions: eyes open, eyes open in a dual task (a postural control task combined with an arithmetic task), and eyes closed. Spasticity was measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale. RESULTS: Forty people post stroke were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups, one of which was treated with botulinum toxin (n=19) and the other with placebo (n=21). Spasticity decreased significantly in the treatment group (-0.7, P=.049 in the soleus muscles; -0.8, P=.035 in the gastrocnemii muscles). The sway area did not differ significantly between the 2 groups before treatment. The most conspicuous effect was observed in the case of the dual task, where a significant decrease (P=.005) in the sway area occurred in the treatment group (-3.11±6.92) in comparison with the placebo group (+0.27±3.57). CONCLUSION: Treating spasticity by injecting botulinum toxin into people's lower limb muscles post stroke seems to improve their postural sway. The dual task used here to assess sway seems to be a useful, sensitive test for this purpose.