Archive for August, 2015
[ARTICLE] Home-based Neurologic Music Therapy for Upper Limb Rehabilitation with Stroke Patients at Community Rehabilitation Stage – a Feasibility Study Protocol.
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Music/Music therapy, Paretic Hand, Tele/Home Rehabilitation on August 30, 2015
Background: Impairment of upper limb function following stroke is more common than lower limb impairment and is also more resistant to treatment. Several lab-based studies with stroke patients have produced statistically significant gains in upper limb function when using musical instrument playing and techniques where rhythm acts as an external time-keeper for the priming and timing of upper limb movements.
Methods: For this feasibility study a small sample size of 14 participants (3 – 60 months post stroke) has been determined through clinical discussion between the researcher and study host in order to test for management, feasibility and effects, before planning a larger trial determined through power analysis. A cross-over design with five repeated measures will be used, whereby participants will be randomized into either a treatment (n=7) or wait list control (n=7) group. Intervention will take place twice weekly over 6 weeks. The ARAT and 9HPT will be used to measure for quantitative gains in arm function and finger dexterity, pre/post treatment interviews will serve to investigate treatment compliance and tolerance. A lab based EEG case comparison study will be undertaken to explore audio-motor coupling, brain connectivity and neural reorganization with this intervention, as evidenced in similar studies.
Discussion: Before evaluating the effectiveness of a home-based intervention in a larger scale study, it is important to assess whether implementation of the trial methodology is feasible. This study investigates the feasibility, efficacy and patient experience of a music therapy treatment protocol comprising a chart of 12 different instrumental exercises and variations, which aims at promoting measurable changes in upper limb function in hemiparetic stroke patients. The study proposes to examine several new aspects including home-based treatment and dosage, and will provide data on recruitment, adherence and variability of outcomes.
[ARTICLE] Experiments and kinematics analysis of a hand rehabilitation exoskeleton with circuitous joints – OPEN ACCESS
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Paretic Hand, Rehabilitation robotics on August 30, 2015
Abstract
Aiming at the hand rehabilitation of stroke patients, a wearable hand exoskeleton with circuitous joint is proposed. The circuitous joint adopts the symmetric pinion and rack mechanism (SPRM) with the parallel mechanism. The exoskeleton finger is a serial mechanism composed of three closed-chain SPRM joints in series. The kinematic equations of the open chain of the finger and the closed chains of the SPRM joints were built to analyze the kinematics of the hand rehabilitation exoskeleton.
The experimental setup of the hand rehabilitation exoskeleton was built and the continuous passive motion (CPM) rehabilitation experiment and the test of human-robot interaction force measurement were conducted. Experiment results show that the mechanical design of the hand rehabilitation robot is reasonable and that the kinematic analysis is correct, thus the exoskeleton can be used for the hand rehabilitation of stroke patients.
[WEB SITE] 10 Ways You Can Help a Loved One Cope With Their Traumatic Brain Injury
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Caregivers on August 29, 2015
In a recent conversation with my fellow TBI survivors, we were discussing ways that people can reach out and help us. The first few months after a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) are critical. I know for myself personally, when I look back at the first six months I can see how completely dazed and confused I was.
However, the recovery from a TBI can last months to years. Every single brain injury is unique, and will not only take different recovery times, but will also present different symptoms depending on where the brain was injured. There is no “magic formula” and I know of those with severe TBI who fully recovered in a few years, while others with a mild TBI are still recovering many years later.
A TBI is much like a fingerprint or snowflake, no two are alike.
In addition, many “outsiders” have no idea what kind of hell we are going through. They hear the word “concussion” and think it’s not big deal. Or they hear the term “traumatic brain injury” and can only imagine the most severe (think coma, bed ridden, not able to speak or walk) and figure if we’re walking and talking then we must be doing “OK.” Neither of these scenarios are correct, and I beg of you to try to understand what we’re going through. At the very least, I offer you some suggestions on how to help us cope with this stressful and frustrating time of our life.
- Don’t ask them what they need. We may not actually know “what” we need. Or we may feel embarrassed and don’t want to be a burden or seem needy. Don’t ask us if we’d like you to come over. We’ll likely say no, but really mean yes. Just show up at our door with open arms.
Continue —> 10 Ways You Can Help a Loved One Cope With Their Traumatic Brain Injury | Amy Zellmer
[WEB SITE] Could High-Powered Infrared Light Help Reverse TBI Damage?
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Depression on August 29, 2015
A possible treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) could be the use of a specific high-powered, near-infrared light (NIR), a new study suggests.The study was published recently in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, according to a media release from the Neuro-Laser Foundation.
Study co-authors Theodore Henderson, MD, PhD from the Neuro-Laser Foundation and Dr Larry Morries and Paolo Cassano of Massachusetts General suggest that a specific high-powered, near infrared light (NIR) can possibly re-energize damaged brain cells after penetrating the skin and skull, per the release.
In their study, which occurred from 2011 to 2013, the research team administered 10 transcranial applications of high-power NIR over the course of 2 months to 10 study participants who were diagnosed with chronic mild-to-moderate TBI. Using a Class IV laser and pulsed light, each treatment took less than 60 minutes, the release explains.
Continue —> Could High-Powered Infrared Light Help Reverse TBI Damage? – Physical Therapy Products
[WEB SITE] How magnets “reset” depressed brains
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Depression, tDCS/rTMS on August 29, 2015
Magnetic pulses from a device applied to the head appear to “reset” the brains of depressed patients, according to a new study from the United Kingdom. The circuitry in a part of the right prefrontal cortex is known to be too active in depressed patients, causing excessive rumination and self absorption and impaired attention. When the TMS was applied to healthy subjects in this study, the activity in that region slowed. “We found that one session of TMS modifies the connectivity of large-scale brain networks, particularly the right anterior insula, which is a key area in depression,” lead scientist Sarina Iwabuchi, told the European College of Neuropsychology at a conference in Amsterdam this week. This was the first time an MRI was used to guide the TMS impulses and, at the same, time measure subtle changes in brain circuit activity. In addition, the researchers used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to analyze subjects’ brain chemistry.
Continue —> How magnets “reset” depressed brains – The Washington Post
[BOOK] Braddom’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – Google Books
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Books, REHABILITATION on August 27, 2015
Braddom’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
The most-trusted resource for physiatry knowledge and techniques, Braddom’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation remains an essential guide for the entire rehabilitation team. With proven science and comprehensive guidance, this medical reference book addresses a range of topics to offer every patient maximum pain relief and optimal return to function.
- In-depth coverage of the indications for and limitations of axial and peripheral joints through therapies enables mastery of these techniques.
- Optimize the use of ultrasound in diagnosis and treatment.
- A chapter covering PM&R in the international community serves to broaden your perspective in the field.
- Detailed illustrations allow you to gain a clear visual understanding of important concepts.
- New lead editor – Dr. David Cifu – was selected by Dr. Randall Braddom to retain a consistent and readable format. Additional new authors and editors provide a fresh perspective to this edition.
- Features comprehensive coverage of the treatment of concussions and military amputees.
- Includes brand-new information on rehabilitating wounded military personnel, the latest injection techniques, speech/swallowing disorders, head injury rehabilitation, and the rehabilitation of chronic diseases.
- New chapters on pelvic floor disorders and sensory impairments keep you at the forefront of the field.
- Reader-friendly design features an updated table of contents and improved chapter approach for an enhanced user experience.
Συχνά εμφανιζόμενοι όροι και φράσεις
[WEB SITE] Study: Physical Therapy Should be Considered ‘Front Line’ Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Paretic Hand, Uncategorized on August 27, 2015
When it comes to choosing surgery or physical therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), studies have found most people would rather pursue a conservative approach. Now new research from Spain is providing more support for that preference, concluding that in terms of pain and function, physical therapy is equal to surgery at 6 and 12 months after baseline, and actually produces greater improvements earlier on.
In a study e-published ahead of print in the Journal of Pain (abstract only available for free) researchers compared pain and function reports from 111 women who underwent either surgery (56 participants) or physical therapy (55 participants) for CTS. Using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), and the Global Rating of Change assessment, they analyzed reports at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery or therapy.
The study found that when it came to self-reported current level of pain and worst pain over the preceding week, the physical therapy participants reported higher decreases on the 11-point pain scale at 1 month (an average 2-point difference from the surgery group) and at 3 months (an average 1.3-point difference). By 6 months, those differences had lessened and were practically nonexistent after 1 year.A similar pattern was uncovered when researchers analyzed BCTQ data, with the physical therapy participants registering significant improvements compared with the surgery group in the first month, decreased but notable differences in month 3, and minimal differences at 6 and 12 months.
Physical therapy used in the study was composed of manual therapies that included desensitization maneuvers of the central nervous system—primarily soft tissue mobilization and nerve/tendon exercises “including manual techniques directed at anatomical sites of potential entrapment of the median nerve,” according to authors. Participants received 3 30-minute treatment sessions provided once a week, and a final educational session on doing the exercises as homework.The surgery group underwent open or endoscopic decompression and release of the carpal tunnel, with the approach based on the preferences of the patient and surgeon. Patients in this group also received the same educational session on the tendon and nerve gliding exercises provided to the physical therapy group.
Authors of the study point out that their study differs from previous research that found surgery to produce greater improvement at 6 and 12 months—a difference they attribute to the kind of physical therapy used for the intervention.”Our results on the physiotherapy arm could have been better than those of prior reports because we have applied manual therapies including desensitization maneuvers of the central nervous system,” they write. ”
Approaches including integrative manual therapies may be more effective than therapeutic interventions targeting only the hand/wrist area, but testing this hypothesis requires further randomized clinical trials.”The real point, according to authors, is that their study supports not only the public’s preference for conservative approaches to CTS, but guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).”It seems conservative management may be considered as a front-line treatment in mild to moderate, and sometimes severe, cases of CTS before subsequently considering surgery,” authors write.
Source: Study: Physical Therapy Should be Considered ‘Front Line’ Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
[ARTICLE] Things to Note in Stroke Rehabilitation – OPEN ACCESS
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Neuroplasticity on August 27, 2015
Abstract
Stroke results in impairment of motor, cognitive and sensory/perceptual functions. As such, activities of daily living (ADL) after stroke can be affected. These affectations can persist for a long time depending on the extent of the affectation in the brain and rehabilitation. In fact, stroke has lately been recognized as a long term condition. Thus, stroke rehabilitation requires intensive time.
When stroke occurred, the brain capitalizes heavily on learning to recover function; and the best way to induce such learning is known to be through task specific training. Effective stroke rehabilitation requires knowledge of the current available evidence base. However, to embrace the current available evidence, skills in information retrieval and critical appraisal of the literature are needed.
Unfortunately, the skills of a say, entry level physiotherapists may not be adequate for them to be abreast of the evidence-based practice. Thus, there is a need to summarize the literature for such therapists to help them note some important issues in stroke rehabilitation.
[ARTICLE] Improved walking ability with wearable robot-assisted training in patients suffering chronic stroke – OPEN ACCESS
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Gait Rehabilitation - Foot Drop, Rehabilitation robotics on August 27, 2015
Abstract
Wearable robotic devices provide safe and intensive rehabilitation, enabling repeated motions for motor function recovery in stroke patients.
The aim of this small case series was to demonstrate the training effects of a three-week robotic leg orthosis, and to investigate possible mechanisms of the sensory-motor alterations and improvements by using gait analysis and EMG.
Three survivors of chronic strokes participated in robot-assisted gait therapy for three weeks. EMG signals from the rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), biceps femoris (BF), and medial gastrocnemius (MG), as well as kinetics and kinematics data of the lower limb, were recorded before and after the training. The normalized root mean squared (RMS) values of the muscles, the joint moments, joint angles, and the results of two clinical scales (Berg Balance scale, BBS, and the lower extremity subscale of Fugl-Meyer assessment, LE-FMA) were used for analysis. All participants experienced improved balance and functional performances and increased BBS and LE-FMA scores.
The EMG results showed there was an increase of the normalized RMS values of the MG and BF on the affected side. Additionally, EMG activities of the agonist and antagonist pair (i.e. RF and BF) appeared to return to similar levels after training. The peak moment of hip flexor, knee extensor, and plantar flexor, which all contributed to push-off power, were found to have increased after training.
In summary, the three-week training period using the wearable RLO improved the three participants’ gait performance by regaining push-off power and improved muscle activation and walking speed.
[ARTICLE] A Framework to Automate Assessment of Upper-Limb Motor Function Impairment: A Feasibility Study – Full Text
Posted by Kostas Pantremenos in Paretic Hand on August 27, 2015
Abstract
Standard upper-limb motor function impairment assessments, such as the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), are a critical aspect of rehabilitation after neurological disorders. These assessments typically take a long time (about 30 min for the FMA) for a clinician to perform on a patient, which is a severe burden in a clinical environment.
In this paper, we propose a framework for automating upper-limb motor assessments that uses low-cost sensors to collect movement data. The sensor data is then processed through a machine learning algorithm to determine a score for a patient’s upper-limb functionality. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, we implemented a system based on the proposed framework that can automate most of the FMA.
Our experiment shows that the system provides similar FMA scores to clinician scores, and reduces the time spent evaluating each patient by 82%. Moreover, the proposed framework can be used to implement customized tests or tests specified in other existing standard assessment methods.
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TBI Rehabilitation 