Long-term Health-related Quality of Life and Physical Function of COVID-19 Survivors with ICU-acquired Weakness.

Objectives: This study examined the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical function of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) survivors diagnosed with intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW). The correlation between muscle weakness at ICU discharge and HRQOL was assessed. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU at Hyogo Medical University Hospital between January 2021 and November 2021. The HRQOL was evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire, and physical function, including muscle strength assessed by the Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC-SS), grip strength, and the 6-min walk distance (6MWD), were assessed 18 months after the onset. ICU-AW was diagnosed in patients with an MRC-SS of less than 48 at ICU discharge. We investigated the correlations between the MRC-SS at ICU discharge and the long-term clinical outcomes. Results: We included 26 patients, with 13 having ICU-AW. In the long-term follow-up, the ICU-AW group had significantly lower scores than the no ICU-AW group in the SF-36 subscales such as Physical Functioning (PF), Role Limitation-Physical (RP), Bodily Pain (BP), Vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF), and Role Limitation-Emotional (RE), as well as in the Physical Component Summary Score (PCS). The muscle strength was also decreased in the ICU-AW group. The MRC-SS at ICU discharge was positively correlated with PF, RP, BP, SF, RE, and PCS in SF-36 at the 18-month follow-up. Conclusions: COVID-19 survivors with ICU-AW experienced a long-term decline in HRQOL, and muscle weakness at ICU discharge was correlated with the long-term HRQOL.

Effect of Optimizing Medical Rehabilitation System for Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method.

Objectives: Coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) is an indication for rehabilitation medicine, especially in severe cases. However, there has been no system analysis of safe and continuous provision of medical rehabilitation for COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to confirm the effectiveness of rehabilitation for severe COVID-19 and to analyze the optimization of the medical rehabilitation system using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM). Methods: The subject of the analysis was the medical rehabilitation system itself, which had been implemented by the Rehabilitation Center of our hospital in response to the increased number of COVID-19 patients. In the FRAM analysis, Functions were identified, and their relationships were examined. Functions were established using a hierarchical cross-check by the authors. Patient outcomes resulting from optimization of the rehabilitation system were length of hospital stay, patient independence in daily living, and rehabilitation-related medical costs, and these were statistically validated. Results: In repeated optimizations of the rehabilitation system, the main issues were "handling of infected patients and isolation of usual clinical practice," "staff rotation," and "remote consultation". The modification of the medical rehabilitation system was associated with shorter hospital stays, shorter periods of time without prescription, faster improvement in independence of daily living, and lower rehabilitation-related medical costs. Conclusions: Optimization at each stage of medical rehabilitation resulted in positive effects on patient outcomes. FRAM is useful for identifying and the optimization of key functions.

ICU-Acquired Weakness Complicated With Bilateral Foot Drop After Severe COVID-19: Successful Rehabilitation Approach and Long-Term Follow-Up.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with muscle and nerve injuries as a consequence of prolonged critical illness. We report here a case of intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) with bilateral peroneal nerve palsy after COVID-19. A 54-year-old male with COVID-19 was transferred to our hospital. He was treated by mechanical ventilation and veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO), from which he was successfully weaned. However, by day 32 of ICU admission, he had developed generalized muscle weakness with bilateral foot drop and was diagnosed with intensive care unit-acquired weakness complicated with bilateral peroneal nerve palsy. Electrophysiological examination showed a denervation pattern in the tibialis anterior muscles, indicating that the foot drop was unlikely to recover immediately. Gait training with customized ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) and muscle-strengthening exercises were started as part of a regimen that included a stay in a convalescent rehabilitation facility and outpatient rehabilitation. Seven months after onset, he returned to work, and 18 months after onset, he had improved to the same level of activities of daily living (ADLs) as before onset. Outcome prediction by electrophysiological examination, appropriate prescription of orthoses, and continuous rehabilitative treatment that focused on locomotion contributed to the successful outcome in this case.

Impact of skeletal muscle mass on functional prognosis in acute stroke: A cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in skeletal muscle mass affect physical performance in chronic stroke survivors. The skeletal muscle mass index is thus an important assessment factor in stroke; however, its value in the acute phase is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between skeletal muscle mass and acute stroke outcome. DESIGN: This was a single-center cohort study design. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 189 consecutively hospitalized patients with acute stroke were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome of the study was a good modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at hospital discharge. We divided the participants into good (mRS score 0-2) and poor (mRS score 3-6) function groups. Logistic regression was performed to identify the factors associated with functional prognosis. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR], 14.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.45-91.39; P = 0.003), pre-mRS (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.05-4.68; P = 0.036), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 01.12-1.56; P = 0.001), skeletal muscle mass index (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11-0.87; P = 0.027), and Lower Extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.56-0.82; P = 0.000) were all independently associated with the functional prognosis of the patients included in the study. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that skeletal muscle mass is a strong prognostic factor in acute stroke. Thus, prestroke skeletal muscle mass, along with stroke severity and lower limb paralysis, needs to be assessed to more accurately determine the prognosis of patients with stroke.

Rehabilitation Management for a Patient with Bilateral Pneumothorax after Surgery for Esophageal Cancer.

Background: Esophageal cancer is increasing in incidence in Japan and is usually treated by radical surgery. However, pulmonary complications are a major cause of perioperative mortality. Here we report a case in which bilateral pneumothorax after thoracoscopic esophagectomy was managed successfully by a combination of chest physiotherapy, mobilization, and delayed oral intake. Case: The patient was a 72-year-old man with a diagnosis of lower thoracic esophageal cancer and a medical history that included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He underwent thoracoscopic and laparoscopic subtotal esophagectomy and two-field lymphadenectomy. On postoperative day (POD) 1, he was diagnosed as having bilateral pneumothorax. An additional drainage tube was inserted in the right chest. Chest physiotherapy was started using a combination of methods, including diaphragmatic breathing, respiratory muscle stretching, and postural drainage. Mobilization was started on POD 2 but was limited to sitting upright and standing. On POD 5, gentle walking training (Borg Scale score, 9-11) was started when air leakage from the drain was observed only during expiration. Oral food intake was resumed on POD 9, by which time the pneumothorax had resolved completely. The patient was discharged on POD 27 with near-complete independence in activities of daily living. Discussion: We successfully managed the rehabilitation of a patient diagnosed with bilateral pneumothorax after esophagectomy. In a tailored strategy, we took the following measures to avoid worsening the pneumothorax and other surgery-related pulmonary complications: chest physiotherapy, avoiding procedures that increase intrathoracic pressure; delayed mobilization and reduced intensity of exercise; and delayed oral intake.

Effects of the internal syringe shape on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative flow test.

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) proposed the flow test (FT) as a simple method for measuring the viscosity of thickened liquids. However, the FT specifies the use of a particular syringe type (BD-Slip), which is unfortunately not easily available in Japan. Therefore, the current study primarily aimed to investigate the effects of the internal syringe shape on IDDSI FT and identify the most suitable syringe available in Japan for xanthan gum-based thickened liquids. Accordingly, four syringes, namely, Luer slip tip, Luer-Lok tip, TERUMO, and NIPRO syringes, were used to examine FT value with water and nine different water viscosity levels. The correlation and systematic errors on residual FT values between the BD-Slip syringe and the other three syringes were analyzed. The two-dimensional internal shapes of the four syringes were measured using industrial computed tomography (CT) scanning. Based on the results of our FT, TERUMO had the smallest error range among the three syringes, without systematic errors. On a CT scan, three of five tip-shape parameters showed the smallest difference between BD-Slip and TERUMO syringe. Therefore, TERUMO had the smallest FT error range compared with that in BD-Slip tip syringe, indicating that TERUMO could be used as a substitute for BD-Slip when performing IDDSI FT with xanthan gum-based thickened water in Japan.

COVID-19 Patient Returned to Work after Long Hospitalization and Follow-up: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes severe respiratory dysfunction and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which can significantly affect the return to work after discharge from the hospital. This report describes the first case of a patient with severe COVID-19 at our institution during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (February to June 2020) who returned to work following rehabilitation management. CASE: A 48-year-old female nurse was admitted with COVID-19 and underwent mechanical ventilation (MV). Respiratory and anti-gravity training was conducted as physical therapy; however, the patient developed PICS, muscle weakness, delirium, and psychological problems. After the withdrawal of MV, muscle strengthening activities, activities of daily living (ADL) training, family visits, and occupational and speech therapy were started. On day 60 post-admission, the patient was able to perform ADL independently and was discharged; however, she continued to experience shortness of breath during exertion. Post-discharge, follow-up assessments for symptoms, respiratory function, and exercise capacity were continued. On day 130, she returned to work as a nurse. DISCUSSION: The PICS noted during hospitalization in this patient improved, but at discharge, the patient had difficulty completing the practical tasks involved in a nurse's workload. Follow-up assessments of symptoms, respiratory function, and exercise capacity after discharge helped to determine whether the patient could return to work.

Regaining Gait Using an Early Postoperative Hip Prosthesis: A Case Report of an Elderly Woman.

BACKGROUND: Hip prostheses are generally avoided in elderly patients because of cognitive decline and/or reduced muscle strength. The present report describes the case of an elderly woman who regained gait using a prosthesis prescribed during the early postoperative phase following hip disarticulation. CASE: A 78-year-old woman suffered from a pathological fracture caused by liposarcoma of the left thigh. Before hospitalization, the patient was fully independent in her activities of daily living, including gait. The right and left handgrip strengths were 12.9 and 14.2 kg, respectively, and the patient had no signs of cognitive decline. Radical treatment involving hip disarticulation was scheduled. Before surgery, the possibility of fitting a hip prothesis that would allow the patient to walk was discussed, to which she consented. On postoperative day 23, the patient was fitted with a hip prosthesis and began gait training. On day 31, she was able to walk using a fixed walker and, eventually, using a crutch. DISCUSSION: The present case demonstrated the successful reacquisition of gait using a hip prothesis prescribed during the early postoperative phase after amputation, suggesting that the applicability of hip prostheses may be widely considered even for elderly patients.

Identification of the Exercise Load When Using a Balance Exercise Assist Robot.

OBJECTIVES: The Balance Exercise Assist Robot (BEAR) is a boarding-type robot developed to improve users' balance performance. However, the exercise load experienced by users of the BEAR remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the exercise load of BEAR users. METHODS: Recruited healthy participants were fitted with an expiratory gas analyzer, and instructed to control the avatar displayed on the computer monitor by shifting their weight on the BEAR. Three types of activity (tennis, skiing, and rodeo) were prepared for the BEAR, and the difficulty of each activity had 40 levels. Each balance exercise for each level lasted for 90 s. The BEAR was administered at levels 1, 5, 10, and then up to 40 in steps of 5 for each activity. The major parameters that were evaluated were oxygen consumption (grossVO2, netVO2), metabolic equivalents (METs), and heart rate (HR). Two-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test was applied to each level of each activity. RESULTS: Fourteen healthy participants were recruited. For the rodeo activity, netVO2 and MET values were significantly higher than those for tennis and skiing at level 20 (tennis vs. skiing vs. rodeo: netVO2 114.0±59.7 vs. 160.6±71.1 vs. 205.6±82.9, METs 1.47±0.22 vs. 1.72±0.37 vs. 1.90±0.29) and higher. Furthermore, comparisons within activity types showed that at level 40, netVO2 and MET were significantly higher than for level 1. The exercise intensity was found to increase along with the exercise level for all three activity types, with rodeo being the highest at 2.74 METs. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings show that the BEAR can be used for balance practice without generating excessive cardiopulmonary stress.

Association Among Age-Related Tongue Muscle Abnormality, Tongue Pressure, and Presbyphagia: A 3D MRI Study.

Muscle aging such as sarcopenia adversely affects motor activities. However, few studies have elucidated the aging physiological mechanism of tongue concerted with the changes muscle composition. The present study aimed to examine the tongue composition changes to detect the effect of tongue fat mass on tongue pressure and swallowing function with aging. Twenty community-dwelling elderly without head and neck cancer, stroke, or neuromuscular disease and 20 healthy young were included. Tongue volume, tongue fat mass, tongue lean muscle mass, and tongue fat percentage were evaluated with 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Dixon MRI. Tongue pressure was also measured. Swallowing function among elderly individuals was assessed via videofluorography, which was evaluated using the penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) and normalized residue ratio scale (NRRS). Tongue fat mass and tongue fat percentage significantly increased with aging. The tongue fat percentage of elderly participants was 20%, which was two times greater than that of young participants. No significant difference was observed in tongue volume and tongue lean muscle mass. A significantly negative correlation was observed between tongue fat mass and tongue fat percentage as well as tongue pressure. Conversely, tongue volume was not significantly correlated with tongue pressure. Tongue muscle composition exhibited no effect in the PAS and NRRS. Increase of fat mass is a major change in tongue composition with aging, which is associated with low tongue pressure. Thus, attention must be paid not only to tongue quantity but also to the quality of tongue muscles.

Relationship Between Muscle Oxygen Saturation and Exercise Load in Patients with Malignant Hematopoietic Disease.

Our previous research confirmed that patients with malignant hematopoietic disease already had a low hemoglobin level before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, no study has determined whether a correlation exists between exercise load, hemoglobin level, and muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2), during exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived SmO2 is associated with exercise load, as determined by a dynamometer, before allo-HSCT. This study included 19 male patients who received allo-HSCT in Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital (Japan) between November 2009 and October 2012. Patients performed isometric repeated dorsiflexion at 50% maximum voluntary contraction for 180 s to determine exercise load, and SmO2 was evaluated during exercise at the same time using NIRS (BOM-L1TRW, Omega Wave, Inc., Japan). The hemoglobin level was also evaluated before allo-HSCT. Patients with hematopoietic disease before allo-HSCT already had a low hemoglobin level. There was a significant correlation between exercise load and ∆SmO2; however, the hemoglobin level was not correlated with exercise load. In these patients, exercise load might be affected by muscle oxygen consumption rather than by the hemoglobin level. This finding shows that NIRS can used to assess fatigue in patients with malignant hematopoietic disease.

Hemoglobin Dynamics in the Skeletal Muscle of Patients with Malignant Hematopoietic Disease.

Impaired oxygen utilization in skeletal muscle potentially contributes to muscle weakness in patients with malignant hematopoietic disease and may explain altered hemodynamic responses to exercise in these patients. We investigated whether changes in hemoglobin parameters in the tibialis anterior muscle in patients with malignant hematopoietic diseases were different from those in age-matched healthy controls and whether these results were associated with a decline in muscle strength. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used during and after a repeated isometric contraction task at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction in 16 patients and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. In the healthy control group, there was a correlation between muscle strength and hemoglobin dynamics, (ΔtHbmean: r = 0.42, p < 0.05; ΔtHbmax: r = 0.575, p < 0.01, respectively) but not in patients with malignant hematopoietic disease. The results of this study may suggest that haemoglobin dynamics during and following exercise were different between patients with malignant hematopoietic disease and healthy controls.

Botulinum Toxin Type A Treatment Combined with Intensive Rehabilitation for Gait Poststroke: A Preliminary Study.

GOAL: To examine the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) treatment combined with intensive rehabilitation for gait compared with intensive rehabilitation alone in patients with chronic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative case series design was used. Subjects were 19 patients with chronic stroke and spastic hemiplegia. In 9 patients (group I), BoNT-A was injected into spastic muscles of the affected lower limbs, followed by a 4-week inpatient intensive rehabilitation program. In the other 10 patients (group II), a 4-week inpatient intensive rehabilitation program alone was first provided (control period) followed by the same treatment protocol in group I. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scores, range of motion (ROM), gait speed in the 10-Meter Walking Test, 6-Minute Walking Distance Test (6MD) scores, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) scores, and Berg Balance Scale scores were evaluated every 4 weeks following baseline assessments. RESULTS: All results except for the MAS score of knee flexor and the ROM of knee flexion improved in group I and the gait speed, 6MD, and TUG scores improved in group II. Intergroup comparisons at week 4 showed significantly greater improvements in the MAS score of ankle plantar flexor, ROM of ankle dorsiflexion, and 6MD in group I than in group II (P = .016, .011, and .009, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: BoNT-A treatment for lower-limb spasticity, combined with intensive rehabilitation, was effective in improving spasticity and the 6MD compared with intensive rehabilitation alone in patients with chronic stroke.

Impaired skeletal muscle oxygenation following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with exercise capacity.

INTRODUCTION: Impaired skeletal muscle oxygenation potentially contributes to reduced exercise capacity in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) patients during early recovery and may explain altered hemoglobin responses to exercise following allo-HSCT. We investigated whether skeletal muscle oxygenation parameters and hemoglobin parameters in the tibialis anterior decreased following allo-HSCT, and whether these results were associated with declines in exercise capacity. METHODS: We used near-infrared spectroscopy during and following a repeated isometric contraction task at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction in 18 patients before and after allo-HSCT. RESULTS: The rate of decrease in the muscle oxy-hemoglobin saturation (SmO2; an index of skeletal muscle oxygenation) was significantly lower after allo-HSCT (P < 0.01). In contrast, total hemoglobin (an index of hemoglobin) was not different after allo-HSCT. Furthermore, SmO2 during and following exercise was associated with exercise capacity (r = 0.648; P = 0.004 vs. r = 0.632; P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal that although the peripheral hemoglobin response was not altered by allo-HSCT, skeletal muscle oxygenation was decreased following allo-HSCT. Furthermore, the decrease in skeletal muscle oxygenation was associated with a reduction in exercise capacity.

Examination of the Relationship between Straight Leg Raising Repetition Count and both Knee Extension Strength and Walking Independence in Patients with Collagen Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between the straight leg raising (SLR) repetition count and both the knee extension strength (KES) and walking independence. METHODS: We enrolled 106 inpatients aged ≥20 years with collagen disease in a cross-sectional study. We measured the SLR repetition count, KES, and walking independence of each participant. The correlations between the SLR repetition count and KES/walking independence were then examined. Furthermore, patients were divided into three groups depending on their SLR repetition count (low, medium, or high), and the differences among the groups were analyzed. RESULTS: A moderately significant correlation was found between the SLR repetition count and KES (right: r=0.46, P<0.01; left: r=0.55, P<0.01). Moreover, there was a strong correlation between the maximum SLR repetition count and walking independence (r=0.74, P<0.01). Differences in KES and walking independence were observed among the SLR repetition groups (P<0.01). KES and walking independence in the group with a low repetition count were 0.08±0.04 kgf/kg and 1 (1-4) point, whereas the values in the group with a medium repetition count were 0.25±0.08 kgf/kg and 5 (1-7) points and those in the group with a high repetition count were 0.40±0.13 kgf/kg and 7 (4-7) points. CONCLUSION: The SLR repetition count is related to KES and walking independence. SLR repetition counts can be used in the clinical setting for the assessment of lower limb strength and walking independence.

Physical function and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing surgical treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer that affects the thin cell wall lining of internal organs and structures. Studies have shown that patients with lung cancer have decreased pulmonary function and exercise capacity after pneumonectomy. However, to date, physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in surgically treated MPM patients have not been evaluated in detail. The aim of this study was to assess physical function and HRQOL of MPM patients following pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). METHODS: The subjects were 22 MPM patients (20 men and 2 women) who completed P/D between December 2013 and March 2015. Physical function was assessed using handgrip strength and knee extensor strength tests, the 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and pulmonary function tests, including forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). HRQOL was assessed using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: The handgrip strength (P < 0.05), 6MWD, FVC, and FEV1 values following P/D decreased significantly compared to baseline (P < 0.001 for each comparison). Additionally, scores of three of the eight SF-36 domains were significantly lower following P/D: physical functioning (P < 0.001), body pain (P = 0.002), and vitality (P = 0.005). 6MWD correlated role physical (P < 0.05) and vitality (P < 0.01). Significant correlations were also observed between FEV1 and physical functioning (P < 0.05) and social functioning (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with MPM who completed P/D have decreased physical function and HRQOL. Following surgery, exercise capacity and pulmonary function decreased more than limb muscle strength. Physicians, nurses, and rehabilitation staff should note these findings, which may provide insight into the development of customized rehabilitation strategies for patients with MPM who completed P/D.

Examination of Simple Outcome Measures and Cut-off Values Related to Walking Independence of Inpatients with Medical Diseases in Acute Care Hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study was to identify simple outcome measures to predict walking independence in inpatients with medical diseases in acute care hospitals and to identify the cut-off values of the relevant measures. METHODS: Two hundred inpatients aged 20 years or above who had a medical disease were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The subjects' walking independence, physical characteristics, cognitive status, and blood test data were examined. Logistic regression analysis was performed, and cut-off values were calculated. RESULTS: The identified outcome measures and their respective cut-off values were as follows: the straight leg raising (SLR) repetition count, 27; the one-leg standing time (OLST), 3.6 s; and the orientation score of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), 9/10. CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings suggest that the SLR repetition count, OLST, and the MMSE orientation score are simple outcome measures related to walking independence in inpatients with medical diseases in acute care hospitals.

Early-phase differences in health-related quality of life, psychological status, and physical function between human leucocyte antigen-haploidentical and other allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the differences between allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) patients receiving HSC from human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical donors (HID) and other donors that included HLA-matched sibling, matched unrelated, and unrelated umbilical cord blood donors in the 6 weeks after HSCT with respect to quality of life (QOL), psychological status, and physical function. METHODS: The study included 126 patients (HID group, n = 100; other donor group, n = 26) who underwent allo-HSCT between July 2007 and December 2012. Patients were evaluated for health-related QOL using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Psychological status was measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Physical function was assessed using tests for handgrip strength, knee extensor strength, and the 6-min walk test. RESULTS: After HSCT, the HID group showed significantly greater improvements in the general health subscale and Mental Component Summary (MCS) of QOL than the other donor group (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis confirmed that complete remission and age were associated with changes in the general health subscale before and after HSCT (P < 0.05). With regard to physical function, the HID group showed significantly more decline than the other donor group with respect to handgrip strength and knee extensor muscle strength after HSCT (P < 0.05). Total corticosteroid dose was associated with decreased handgrip strength before and after HSCT (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The donor type affects QOL, psychological status, and physical function in allo-HSCT recipients; these findings may provide insights for customised rehabilitation strategies for HSCT recipients.

A one-year follow-up after modified constraint-induced movement therapy for chronic stroke patients with paretic arm: a prospective case series study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the confirmed short-term effects of constraint-induced movement therapy, the long-term effects have not been sufficiently verified in terms of functional improvement of the affected arm. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term effects and relationship between arm use in activities of daily living and arm improvement with modified constraint-induced movement therapy in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: At 1 year after completing modified constraint-induced movement therapy, arm function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment) and amount of daily arm use (motor activity log) were assessed. RESULTS: Fourteen post-stroke patients with mild to moderate impairment of arm function were analyzed. One year after completing modified constraint-induced movement therapy, participants consistently showed improvements in arm function and amount of daily arm use (analysis of variance: Fugl-Meyer Assessment, P < 0.001; Motor Activity Log, P < 0.001). For the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, post-hoc tests detected significant improvements (pre versus post, P = 0.009; pre versus 1 year, P < 0.0001; post versus 1 year, P < 0.036). For the Motor Activity Log, post-hoc tests also detected significant improvements (pre versus post, P = 0.0001; pre versus 1 year, P < 0.0001; post versus 1 year, P = 0.0014). The magnitude of the change in Fugl-Meyer Assessment score correlated significantly with the change in Motor Activity Log score (R = 0.778, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among post-stroke patients with mild to moderate impairments of arm function, modified constraint-induced movement therapy without any other rehabilitation after intervention may improve arm function and increase arm use for 1 year. In addition, increasing arm use may represent an important factor in improving arm function, and vice versa.

A five-year follow-up of a patient with fulminant myocarditis who underwent a stepwise and goal-oriented individualized comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program.

A 39-year-old man developed fulminant myocarditis and was transferred on mechanical ventilation and a ventricular-assist device to our hospital. On Hospital Day 10, he was weaned from all medical engineering devices, and bedside rehabilitation was initiated. Although a multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation team had intervened since Hospital Day 3, he could not be encouraged to begin ambulation because of hypotension and tachycardia. Moreover, he complained of loss of self-confidence and anxiety regarding physical strength, and expansion of activities was difficult. Exercises reflecting his immediate desires and daily activities were used as activity goals, and we developed an individualized exercise program with stepwise increase in load to motivate him to perform rehabilitation. At the time of discharge, his cardiac function recovered to nearly normal levels; however, muscle strength and respiratory function had not recovered. While the intervention was continued at the cardiac rehabilitation outpatient unit, improvement was observed in physical health and mental health-related scale scores. The patient returned to work 4 months after onset of his myocarditis. Moreover, the cardiac rehabilitation team provided support to him for his long-term overseas assignment in the fifth year after myocarditis onset. Long-term comprehensive support by the cardiac rehabilitation team was feasible and useful. .