Hand rehabilitation based on the RobHand exoskeleton in stroke patients: A case series study.

Introduction: The RobHand (Robot for Hand Rehabilitation) is a robotic neuromotor rehabilitation exoskeleton that assists in performing flexion and extension movements of the fingers. The present case study assesses changes in manual function and hand muscle strength of four selected stroke patients after completion of an established training program. In addition, safety and user satisfaction are also evaluated. Methods: The training program consisted of 16 sessions; two 60-minute training sessions per week for eight consecutive weeks. During each session, patients moved through six consecutive rehabilitation stages using the RobHand. Manual function assessments were applied before and after the training program and safety tests were carried out after each session. A user evaluation questionnaire was filled out after each patient completed the program. Results: The safety test showed the absence of significant adverse events, such as skin lesions or fatigue. An average score of 4 out of 5 was obtained on the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology 2.0 Scale. Users were very satisfied with the weight, comfort, and quality of professional services. A Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that there were not statistically significant changes in the manual function tests between the beginning and the end of the training program. Discussion: It can be concluded that the RobHand is a safe rehabilitation technology and users were satisfied with the system. No statistically significant differences in manual function were found. This could be due to the high influence of the stroke stage on motor recovery since the study was performed with chronic patients. Hence, future studies should evaluate the rehabilitation effectiveness of the repetitive use of the RobHand exoskeleton on subacute patients. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05598892?id=NCT05598892&draw=2&rank=1, identifier NCT05598892.

Competencias culturales en salud percibidas por estudiantes de enfermería / Cultural competences in health as perceived by nursing students

Introducción: El escenario sanita rio chileno se caracteriza por la diversi dad cultural de los pacientes, lo que im plica contar con profesionales cultural mente competentes, cuya formación co mienza en el pregrado. Objetivo: Analizar las competencias culturales en salud percibidas por estudiantes de Enferme ría. Método: Investigación cualitativa, con diseño fenomenológico y alcance des criptivo; la muestra fue de 10 estudiantes de Enfermería de una universidad priva da del sur de Chile; la técnica de gene ración de información fue la entrevista semiestructurada y el análisis fue de da tos cualitativos de Milles y Huberman. Conclusión: Los estudiantes perciben que la sensibilidad cultural es la compe tencia más desarrollada, el conocimiento cultural es el menos desarrollado y las habilidades culturales ocupan un lugar intermedio (AU)

The Chilean healthcare scenario is characterized by the cultural diversity of patients, which implies having cultura lly competent professionals, whose trai ning begins in undergraduate. Objective: To analyze the cultural competencies in health perceived by Nursing students. Method: Qualitative research, with phe nomenological design and descriptive scope; the sample consisted of 10 Nur sing students from a private university in southern Chile; the technique used to generate information was the semi-struc tured interview and the analysis was of Milles and Huberman's qualitative data. Conclusion: Students perceive that cultu ral sensitivity is the most developed competence, cultural knowledge is the least developed and cultural skills occupy an intermediate place (AU)

Efectos del ejercicio aeróbico en agua sobre el dolor percibido y la variabilidad cardiaca en mujeres con fibromialgia / Effects of water aerobic exercise on perceived pain and cardiac variability in women with fibromyalgia

La fibromialgia es una enfermedad caracterizada por presentar un dolor cónico asociada a una desregulación autonómica de quien la padece, sin muchas alternativas de tratamiento. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo, conocer la relación existente entre el ejercicio físico en medio acuático, la percepción del dolor y el control autonómico cardiovascular en mujeres adultas que padecen fibromialgia. La muestra se compuso por 15 mujeres diagnosticadas con fibromialgia quienes participaron en 24 sesiones de ejercicio en medio acuático de 40 minutos. Se evaluaron medidas antropométricas, variabilidad de frecuencia cardiaca (VFC) y percepción de dolor (PCS) en cuatro tiempos experimentales (t1, basal; t2, sesión 8; t3, sesión 16; t4, sesión 24). Además, se evaluó la percepción al dolor en cada sesión a través de EVA. Los resultados muestran, que la percepción del dolor a través de EVA disminuyó al comparar todas las medias evaluadas antes y después de cada sesión (p < 0.05). En la aplicación de PCS, un menor Dolor Total y Rumiación se obtuvo al comparar t1 con t4. Los valores de VFC mostraron que SDNN y RMSSD fueron mayores después de la sesión, cuando se comparó t4 con t1 (p < 0.05). La frecuencia cardiaca media disminuyó al finalizar las sesiones, mostrando una mejor adaptación al ejercicio. La relación entre dolor y medidas cardiacas, estuvo dada por una correlación positiva en los dominios de dolor registrados antes de las sesiones y los valores de RMSSD y SDNN. En conclusión, la práctica de ejercicio físico en medio acuático, indicaría una menor percepción de dolor y una mejor respuesta autonómica cardiaca en mujeres con fibromialgia

Fibromyalgia is a disease characterized by conical pain associated with autonomic dysregulation of the sufferer, without many treatment alternatives. The objective of this study was to find out the relationship between physical exercise in an aquatic environment, pain perception and cardiovascular autonomic control in adult women suffering from fibromyalgia. The sample consisted of 15 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia who participated in 24 40-minute exercise sessions in a water environment. Anthropometric measures, heart rate variability (HRV ) and pain perception (PCS) were evaluated in four experimental times (t1, baseline; t2, session 8; t3, session 16; t4, session 24). In addition, the perception of pain was evaluated in each session through VAS. The results show that the perception of pain through VAS decreased when comparing all the means evaluated before and after each session (p < 0.05). In the PCS application, a lower Total Pain and Rumination was obtained when comparing t1 with t4. HRV values showed that SDNN and RMSSD were higher after the session, when t4 was compared with t1 (p < 0.05). The mean heart rate decreased at the end of the sessions, showing a better adaptation to exercise. The relationship between pain and cardiac measurements was given by a positive correlation in the pain domains recorded before the sessions and the RMSSD and SDNN values. In conclusion, the practice of physical exercise in an aquatic environment would indicate a lower perception of pain and a better cardiac autonomic response in women with fibromyalgia