The net contribution of rehabilitation to improvement in performance in patients with spinal cord lesions in five countries.

CONTEXT: Change in ability realization reflects the main contribution of rehabilitation to improvement in the performance of daily activities in patients with spinal cord lesions (SCL). OBJECTIVE: To assess the net effect of rehabilitation of patients with SCL and compare it between countries. METHODS: We calculated the Spinal Cord Ability Realization Measurement Index (SCI-ARMI) and its change from admission to rehabilitation to discharge, for inpatients admitted to SCL units in five countries, between 2016 and 2019. We used chi-square tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), McNemar's test, Pearson's correlations, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare countries and patient groups and assess the relationships of various factors with SCI-ARMI gain during rehabilitation. RESULTS: The study included 218 inpatients (67% males, age 52 ± 17). In Brazil, Israel, Italy, Portugal, and Turkiye, respectively, SCI-ARMI gain was 2 (SD = 15), 19 (SD = 17), 31 (SD = 23), 13 (SD = 15), and 16 (SD = 12). Yet, after controlling for admission SCI-ARMI and the time from SCL onset to the examination, the effect of the country on ability realization gain was found non-significant (P = 0.086). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that rehabilitation makes a net contribution to improvement in performance in patients with SCL, beyond the contribution of neurological recovery. After controlling for affecting factors, this contribution was quite similar in the participating units from different countries.

A multi-center international study on the spinal cord independence measure, version IV: Rasch psychometric validation.

CONTEXT: The Spinal Cord Independence Measure is a comprehensive functional rating scale for individuals with spinal cord lesion (SCL). OBJECTIVE: To validate the scores of the three subscales of SCIM IV, the fourth version of SCIM, using advanced statistical methods. STUDY DESIGN: Multi-center cohort study. SETTING: Nineteen SCL units in 11 countries. METHODS: SCIM developers created SCIM IV following comments by experts, included more accurate definitions of scoring criteria in the SCIM IV form, and adjusted it to assess specific conditions or situations that the third version, SCIM III, does not address. Professional staff members assessed 648 SCL inpatients, using SCIM IV and SCIM III, at admission to rehabilitation, and at discharge. The authors examined the validity and reliability of SCIM IV subscale scores using Rasch analysis. RESULTS: The study included inpatients aged 16-87 years old. SCIM IV subscale scores fit the Rasch model. All item infit and most item outfit mean-square indices were below 1.4; statistically distinct strata of abilities were 2.6-6; most categories were properly ordered; item hierarchy was stable across most clinical subgroups and countries. In a few items, however, we found misfit or category threshold disordering. We found SCIM III and SCIM IV Rasch properties to be comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Rasch analysis suggests that the scores of each SCIM IV subscale are reliable and valid. This reinforces the justification for using SCIM IV in clinical practice and research.

Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection: A recent reality in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Transverse myelitis can be a complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We report the case of a transverse myelitis related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Beyond the disease itself, neurological involvement affects functionality. In this situation, physical and rehabilitation medicine plays a crucial role in managing patient rehabilitation.

Reliability Validity and Responsiveness of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure 4th Version in a Multicultural Setup.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the fourth version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure for reliability and validity. DESIGN: Partly blinded comparison with the criterion standard Spinal Cord Independence Measure III, and between examiners and examinations. SETTING: A multicultural cohort from 19 spinal cord injury units in 11 countries. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 648 patients with spinal cord injury. INTERVENTION: Assessment with Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM IV) and Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III) on admission to inpatient rehabilitation and before discharge. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SCIM IV interrater reliability, internal consistency, correlation with and difference from SCIM III, and responsiveness. RESULTS: Total agreement between examiners was above 80% on most SCIM IV tasks. All Kappa coefficients were above 0.70 and statistically significant (P<.001). Pearson's coefficients of the correlation between the examiners were above 0.90, and intraclass correlation coefficients were above 0.90. Cronbach's alpha was above 0.96 for the entire SCIM IV, above 0.66 for the subscales, and usually decreased when an item was eliminated. Reliability values were lower for the subscale of respiration and sphincter management, and on admission than at discharge. SCIM IV and SCIM III mean values were very close, and the coefficients of Pearson correlation between them were 0.91-0.96 (P<.001). The responsiveness of SCIM IV was not significantly different from that of SCIM III in most of the comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: The validity, reliability, and responsiveness of SCIM IV, which was adjusted to assess specific patient conditions or situations that SCIM III does not address, and which includes more accurate definitions of certain scoring criteria, are very good and quite similar to those of SCIM III. SCIM IV can be used for clinical and research trials, including international multi-center studies, and its group scores can be compared with those of SCIM III.

An Exploratory Study on the use of Virtual Reality in Balance Rehabilitation.

Studies have shown the potential of Virtual Reality and motion tracking devices in physical rehabilitation. This paper addresses the topic of using non-immersive Virtual Reality therapeutic games with motion tracking in physical rehabilitation and describes an exploratory study performed in collaboration with a national public Rehabilitation Center about their use to motivate patients to perform exercises relevant for balance rehabilitation. The work involved developing and adapting mini-games to track patients posture; tests with patients recovering from Spinal Cord Injury suggest that this type of games can be helpful in the recovery process namely in patients' motivation for performing the therapeutic gestures.

Assessment of neurogenic bowel dysfunction impact after spinal cord injury using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

BACKGROUND: Bowel function is frequently compromised after spinal cord injury (SCI). Regardless of this crucial importance in patients' lives, there is still scarce literature on the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction (NBD) deleterious impact on SCI patient's lives and only few studies correlating NBD severity with quality of life (QoL). To our knowledge there are no studies assessing the impact of NBD on the context of ICF domains. AIM: To assess NBD after SCI using ICF domains and to assess its impact in QoL. DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis and cross-sectional phone survey. SETTING: Outpatient spinal cord injury setting. POPULATION: Portuguese adult spinal cord injury patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of demographic data, lesion characteristics and bowel management methods at last inpatient discharge. Cross-sectional phone survey assessing current bowel management methods, the Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score and a Likert Scale questionnaire about the impact on ICF domains and QoL. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients answered the questionnaire. The majority was male (65.6%), mean age 56.6±15.6 years, AIS A lesion (39.1%), with a traumatic cause (71.9%). The main bowel management methods were contact laxatives, suppositories and osmotic laxatives. 50.1% of patients scored moderate or severe NBD. Considering ICF domains, the greatest impact was in personal and environmental factors, with 39.1% reporting impact in financial costs, 45.3% in need of assistance, 45.3% in emotional health and 46.9% in loss of privacy. There was a significant association between severity of NBD and negative impact on QoL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the major impact of NBD on personal and environmental factors of ICF and on the quality of life of SCI population. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: These findings confirm that it is relevant to identify the main ICF domains affected by NBD after SCI in order to address targeted interventions, working toward changes in health policies and psychosocial aspects.

Creatine or vitamin D supplementation in individuals with a spinal cord injury undergoing resistance training: A double-blinded, randomized pilot trial.

PURPOSE: Determine whether creatine or vitamin D supplementation improves muscle strength in individuals with spinal cord injury undergoing resistance training. METHODS: Thirteen male and one female with spinal cord injury, from two Portuguese rehabilitation centers, were randomized to creatine (3g daily), vitamin D (25000 IU each two weeks) or placebo group in a double-blind design. All participants performed progressive resistance training during eight weeks. The outcome measures, obtained at baseline and after intervention, included: Sum of four skinfolds; Corrected arm muscle area; Seated medicine ball throw; Handgrip strength with dynamometer; Manual wheelchair slalom test and one repetition maximum for Chest press, Triceps, Pec deck and Lat pulldown. Vitamin D levels were obtained in all participants before and after intervention. RESULTS: 71.4% of participants had deficit values of vitamin D. The corrected arm muscle area improved significantly (p<0.05) in creatine group relatively to the control group. There was a significant correlation (p<0.05) between the one repetition maximum Pec deck and levels of vitamin D. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with creatine may improve muscle strength parameters in individuals with spinal cord injury. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in this population. It is recommended an initial screening of vitamin D levels at the beginning of the physical rehabilitation process.

The influence of chronic prostatitis in spinal cord injured patients and seminal plasma characteristics: doubts and proven truths

Introduction: Functional ejaculation depends on the preservation of thoracolumbar segments T11-L2, sacral segments S2-S4, and their afferences and efferences. In spinal cord injury (SCI), ejaculatory dysfunction is most likely the cause of deterioration in sperm quality. There are several factors that can change the quality of semen, seminal plasma being the major contributor to the alterations seen in this group of patients. Prostate and seminal vesicles are the main producers of seminal fluid, its secretory function being altered in SCI. Objectives: The literature was reviewed to determine the influence of chronic prostatitis in SCI in the characteristics of seminal plasma. Material and methods: A search was made in the PubMed literature using the MeSH terms "spinal cord injury," "prostatitis" and "semen analysis," looking for articles in English, Spanish and Portuguese, without publication date limits with the subsequent addition of "related citations". Results: Several studies have shown that men with chronic prostatitis have significant alterations of sperm quality. Leukocytospermia in SCI is not due to acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland. Discussion: The cause of abnormal sperm function in patients with SCI remains unclear, but it is thought to be multifactorial. More research is needed to establish the causal relationship between prostatitis and decreased sperm quality in patients with SCI (AU)

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