NeuroRehabilitation - Volume 44, issue 2

Authors: Ahn, Si-Nae

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Occupations define activities that people perform to occupy themselves and that people have meaning and value to them. The use of occupation-based intervention addresses activity daily of living performance. OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the effects of occupation-based interventions on performance’s quality for hemiparetic stroke in community-dwelling. METHODS: Forty-three participants were enrolled in this study with a full understanding of the purpose and method of the research and had a diagnosis with hemiparetic stroke. Participants were randomized to one of two treatment groups: Experimental group (n  = 23) or control groups (n  = 20). The experimental …group applied occupation-based intervention and control group applied action focusing intervention. All participants underwent ten treatment sessions during the study period and conducted pre- and post-assessment. Several instruments were used to measure quality of performance. RESULTS: After the intervention training, the qualities of occupational performance were significantly higher in the experimental group applied occupation-based intervention than the control group applied action focusing intervention (p  < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, occupation-based intervention has positive effects on quality of performing daily activities and occupational activities independently in persons with hemiparetic stroke. Show more

Keywords: Occupation, performance, stroke

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-182429

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 275-282, 2019

Authors: Sallam, Somayeh A. | Al-Khamis, Fahd A. | Muaidi, Qassim I. | Abdulla, Fuad A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is a need to validate one of the specific stroke quality of life (QOL) scales into Arabic. OBJECTIVE: To translate and validate the stroke specific quality of life (SSQOL) into Arabic. METHODS: The SSQOL was translated into Arabic (SSQOL-A) according to a forward/backward translation protocol. 147 first time stroke survivors and 60 healthy subjects were recruited. Cronbach’s α was used to measure internal consistency, test-retest reliability was measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Acceptability was established by studying floor and ceiling effects. A linear correlation between SSQOL-A and the Short Form 36, the …Beck Depression Inventory II, the Barthel Index and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was done to assess construct validity. Discriminant and convergent validity were evaluated by correlating item to scale of each of the domains using Pearson correlation (rp ). RESULTS: The SSQOL-A has shown good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α  = 0.78–0.94) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.77–0.94). It has also shown acceptable construct validity (r2  = 0.06–0.55). Item to scale correlation showed acceptable convergent (0.76–0.98) and discriminant (0.12–0.53) validity. Mann-Whitney U test showed the ability of the SSQOL-A to differentiate between stroke survivors and healthy participants QOL. CONCLUSIONS: SSQOL-A has good validity and reliability for patients with mild to moderate stroke. Show more

Keywords: Stroke specific quality of life, Arabic translation, validity, reliability

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-182552

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 283-293, 2019

Authors: Mate, K.K.V. | Abou-Sharkh, A. | Morais, J.A. | Mayo, N.E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Aging and neurological conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) make people vulnerable for gait impairments, limit function, and restrict sustained walking needed for health promotion. Walking to meet physical activity guidelines requires adequate cadence which is difficult to achieve for gait vulnerable populations. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to estimate, for seniors and people with MS or PD, the extent to which cadence is associated with heel-to-toe stepping pattern (good steps), angular velocity of ankle at heel-strike and its variability. METHODS: A cross-sectional regression analysis was performed on data collected …during walking tests using the Heel2Toe sensor. RESULTS: Health condition (MS = 57, PD = 27, seniors = 56) had an association with cadence, independent of age and sex. Only angular velocity showed a significant relationship with cadence such that every – 50° difference in angular velocity (more negative is better) was associated with a difference of ≈3.5 steps per minute. CONCLUSION: Adequate angular velocity occurs with an optimal heel-to-toe movement. This heel-to-toe gait can easily be targeted during therapy but technology would be an asset to sustain the relearned movement during everyday activities, Technology that provides real-time feedback for steps with adequate angular velocity at heel strike could be a valuable therapeutic adjunct. Show more

Keywords: Cadence, angular velocity, coefficient of variation, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, seniors

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-182595

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 295-301, 2019

Authors: Connors, Karol | Mahony, Lisa | Morgan, Prue

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Assistive devices enhance independence and quality of life for people living with motor neuron disease (MND), but prescription can be challenging. OBJECTIVE: Improved prescription of assistive devices, through improved understanding of the relationship between clinical phenotypes, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale – Revised (ALSFRS-R) functional domain sub-scores and assistive technology required by people living with MND. METHODS: Prospective, observational c onsecutive-sample study of 269 patients with MND diagnosis. Main outcome measures: MND phenotype, ALSFRS-R scores and assistive technology devices in use. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in total concurrent assistive technology item …use was found between phenotypes (p  = 0.001), with those with ALS Bulbar onset using the least. There was also a statistically significant difference in assistive technology usage in five of seven assistive technology categories across the clinical phenotypes, namely orthoses (p  < 0.000), mobility devices (p  < 0.000), transfer devices (p  < 0.000), communication devices (p  < 0.000), and activities of daily living devices (p  = 0.016). Correlations between ALSFRS-R sub-score items and assistive technology count confirmed the utility of this outcome measure for equipment prescription. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians need to consider MND phenotype and/or ALSFRS-R domain sub-score in clinical decision-making regarding assistive technology, as this will determine the pattern of disease and its progression, and hence assistive technology required. Show more

Keywords: Assistive technology, motor neuron disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, MND, ALS, ALSFRS-R

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-182511

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 303-313, 2019

Authors: Puljak, Livia

Article Type: Other

Keywords: Acupuncture, neuropathic pain, Cochrane, systematic review

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-189004

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 315-317, 2019

Article Type: Correction

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-189005

Citation: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 319-319, 2019