Feasibility of an Application-Based Outpatient Rehabilitation Program for Stroke Survivors: Acceptability and Preliminary Results for Patient-Reported Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The majority of stroke survivors experience long-term impairments. Regular physical activity and other lifestyle modifications play an important role in rehabilitation. Outpatient rehabilitation using telemedicine might be suitable to improve functional ability and long-term secondary prevention. The Strokecoach Intervention Program (SIP, Strokecoach GmbH, Cologne, Germany) comprises training, coaching and monitoring with the aim of improving or at least maintaining functional independence and preventing further stroke through more targeted physical activity. The SIP is provided as blended care, which refers to the integrated and coordinated delivery of healthcare services that combines traditional in-person interactions with technology-mediated interventions, optimizing the use of both face-to-face and virtual modalities to enhance patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptance of the SIP by the participants and its practical application, as well as to obtain initial indications of effects of the SIP on the basis of patient-related outcome measures, blood pressure measurements and recording of physical activity in parallel with the intervention. METHODS: Data from individuals with stroke participating in the SIP were analyzed retrospectively. Within the SIP, participants received an application-based training program, were instructed to measure their blood pressure daily and to wear an activity tracker (pedometer). During the intervention period of either 6 or 12 weeks, the participants were supported and motivated by a personal coach via a messenger application. The primary outcomes of the analysis were recruitment, acceptance of and satisfaction with the SIP. Secondary outcomes included functional measures, mobility and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 122 individuals with stroke could be recruited for the SIP. A total of 96 out of 122 were able to start the program (54% female, mean age 54.8 (SD = 13.1), 6.1 (SD = 6.6) years after stroke onset) and 88 completed the SIP. Participants wore the activity tracker on 66% and tracked their blood pressure on 72% of their intervention days. A further analyzed subgroup of 38 participants showed small improvements in patient-reported outcomes such as health-related quality of life (SF-36) with an increase of 12 points in the subdomain mental health, vitality (12.6) and physical functioning (9.1). However, no statistically significant improvements were found in other performance-based measures (Timed Up and Go test, gait speed). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a blended therapy approach for stroke survivors with mild to moderate impairments in the chronic phase is feasible and was highly accepted by participants, who benefitted from the additional coaching.

Feasibility and cost description of highly intensive rehabilitation involving new technologies in patients with post-acute stroke-a trial of the Swiss RehabTech Initiative.

BACKGROUND: There is a need to provide highly repetitive and intensive therapy programs for patients after stroke to improve sensorimotor impairment. The employment of technology-assisted training may facilitate access to individualized rehabilitation of high intensity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and acceptance of a high-intensity technology-assisted training for patients after stroke in the subacute or chronic phase and to establish its feasibility for a subsequent randomized controlled trial. METHODS: A longitudinal, multi-center, single-group study was conducted in four rehabilitation clinics. Patients participated in a high-intensity 4-week technology-assisted trainings consisting of 3 to 5 training days per week and at least 5 training sessions per day with a duration of 45 min each. Feasibility was evaluated by examining recruitment, intervention-related outcomes (adherence, subjectively perceived effort and effectiveness, adverse events), patient-related outcomes, and efficiency gains. Secondary outcomes focused on all three domains of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health. Data were analyzed and presented in a descriptive manner. RESULTS: In total, 14 patients after stroke were included. Participants exercised between 12 and 21 days and received between 28 and 82 (mean 46 ± 15) technology-assisted trainings during the study period, which corresponded to 2 to 7 daily interventions. Treatment was safe. No serious adverse events were reported. Minor adverse events were related to tiredness and exertion. From baseline to the end of the intervention, patients improved in several functional performance assessments of the upper and lower extremities. The efficiency gains of the trainings amounted to 10% to 58%, in particular for training of the whole body and for walking training in severely impaired patients. CONCLUSIONS: Highly intensive technology-assisted training appears to be feasible for in- and outpatients in the subacute or chronic phase after stroke. Further clinical trials are warranted in order to define the most comprehensive approach to highly intensive technology-assisted training and to investigate its efficacy in patients with neurological disorders. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03641651 at August 31st 2018.

Effect of Motor Imagery Training on Motor Learning in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: There is an urgent need to systematically analyze the growing body of literature on the effect of motor imagery (MI) training in children and adolescents. Methods: Seven databases and clinicaltrials.gov were searched. Two reviewers independently screened references and full texts, and extracted data (studies' methodology, MI elements, temporal parameters). Two studies were meta-analyzed providing the standard mean difference (SDM). Selected studies were evaluated with the risk of bias (RoB) and GRADE tools. Results: A total of 7238 references were retrieved. The sample size of the 22 included studies, published between 1995 and 2021, ranged from 18 to 136 participants, totaling 934 (nine to 18 years). Studies included healthy pupils, mentally retarded adolescents, children with motor coordination difficulties or with mild mental disabilities. The motor learning tasks focused on upper, lower and whole body movements. SMDs for the primary outcome of pooled studies varied between 0.83 to 1.87 (95% CI, I2, T2 varied 0.33-3.10; p = 0.001; 0-74%; 0-0.59). RoB varied between some concerns and high risk. GRADE rating was low. Conclusions: MI combined with physical practice (PP) might have a high potential for healthy and impaired children and adolescents. However, important reporting recommendations (PETTLEP, TIDieR, CONSORT) should be followed. The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42021237361.

Frailty Phenotype Prevalence in Community-Dwelling Older Adults According to Physical Activity Assessment Method.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have described varying prevalences of frailty as determined by Fried's frailty phenotype. Comparability may be limited due to frailty phenotype modifications, especially the low physical activity criterion. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the variability of frailty phenotype prevalence according to the physical activity assessment method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional analysis, frailty phenotype prevalence was assessed in community-dwelling older adults. The low physical activity criterion of the frailty phenotype was determined by using five different questionnaires and an accelerometer, and three different cut-point models. RESULTS: In 47 participants, frailty phenotype prevalence varied between 14.9% and 31.9%, depending on the model used to assess physical activity. CONCLUSION: The method of physical activity assessment and the choice of cut-points for low physical activity considerably impact frailty phenotype prevalence. More efforts to standardize and adhere to the low physical activity criterion seem warranted. The calculation of correction factors between commonly used sets of low physical activity criteria might allow better comparisons of published prevalence rates.

Prevalence of frailty in older adults in outpatient physiotherapy in an urban region in the western part of Germany: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of frailty in older people in outpatient physiotherapy services in an urban region in the western part of Germany. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient physiotherapy clinics were recruited in the municipal area of the city of Bochum, Germany, and selected randomly. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults aged 65 years and older seeking outpatient physiotherapy. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of frailty was assessed based on the frailty phenotype model of physical frailty and the accumulation of deficit model, expressed as a Frailty Index. Prevalence was calculated for the whole sample and according to age-related, sex-related and diagnosis-related subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 258 participants (74±6 years, 62% female) from 11 out of 130 (8%) different physiotherapy clinics were included. Participants' main indication for physiotherapy was an orthopaedic or surgical condition (75%). According to the model of a physical frailty phenotype, 17.8% (95% CI 13.2 to 22.5) participants were frail and 43.4% (95% CI 37.4 to 49.5) were prefrail. The Frailty Index identified 31.0% (95% CI 25.4 to 36.7) of individuals as frail. In both models, prevalence increased with age and was higher in women than in men. Slow gait speed (34%), reduced muscle strength (34%) and exhaustion (28%) were the most prevalent indicators of physical frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty is comparatively common in older patients attending physiotherapy care in Germany, with one out of three individuals being frail and every second individual being physically frail or prefrail. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS00009384; Results.