Community-based exercise for upper limb paresis: a controlled trial with telerehabilitation.

Background: Arm paresis remains a major impairment after stroke despite the best conventional rehabilitation. Randomized, controlled trials of intensive exercise programs have demonstrated improvements in arm function for patients with chronic stroke. However, the gains achieved have been relatively modest for the large investments in patient and therapist time.

Estimate of lower trunk angles in pathological gaits using gyroscope data.

Trunk mobility impairment can cause balance, postural and gait challenges during overground level walking in patients with different pathologies. Assessment of the rotations of the trunk during walking with an abnormal gait can provide knowledge required for a better understanding of the nature of the motor control deficit and support decision-making in patient rehabilitation. A method based on the use of a weighted Fourier linear combiner (WFLC) adaptive filter is proposed in this paper for the estimation of lower trunk angles during pathological overground level walking, using angular velocities measured at the lower trunk level with a wearable inertial sensor.

Adaptive physical activity and back pain: a non-randomised community-based intervention trial.

Background: Back pain is a significant problem due to the high healthcare utilization, rising costs of care and low effectiveness of many current treatments.

Aim: Aim of this study was to determine the effects of a community-based Adapted Physical Activity (APA) program focused on chronic, non-specific back pain.

Design: Open-label intervention study.

Community-based adaptive physical activity program for chronic stroke: feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the Empoli model.

Objective: To determine whether Adaptive Physical Activity (APA-stroke), a community-based exercise program for participants with hemiparetic stroke, improves function in the community.

Methods: Nonrandomized controlled study in Tuscany, Italy, of participants with mild to moderate hemiparesis at least 9 months after stroke. Forty-nine participants in a geographic health authority (Empoli) were offered APA-stroke (40 completed the study).

Adaptive physical activity improves mobility function and quality of life in chronic hemiparesis.

This study investigated the effects of an adaptive physical activity (APA) program on mobility function and quality of life (QOL) in chronic stroke patients. Twenty subjects with chronic hemiparesis completed a 2-month, combined group, class-home exercise regimen that emphasized mobility training. APA improved Berg Balance Scale scores (35 +/- 2 vs 45 +/- 2, p = 0.