Plantar sensory stimulation and its impact on gait and lower limb motor function in individuals with stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Stroke frequently leads to motor impairments, with almost half of the affected individuals experiencing diminished sensation, impacting their overall quality of life and autonomy. Rehabilitation efforts, however, often overlook somatosensory functions of the lower limbs. While plantar sensory stimulation activates receptors in the foot sole, its precise impact on the motor functions and gait of individuals with stroke is yet to be ascertained.

Accuracy to identify young adults with chronic ankle instability using a virtual reality - Balance error scoring system: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) assesses the ability to control postural stability by performing 3 different stances on two-type surfaces during closed eyes. Virtual reality technology combined with the BESS test (VR-BESS) may be used to disrupt visual inputs instead of closing the eyes, which may improve the sensitivity of diagnosing patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy to identify individuals with CAI of the VR-BESS test comparing with the original BESS test.

Effect of foot orthoses on balance among individuals with flatfoot: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Individuals with flatfoot have impaired proprioception owing to ligament laxity and impaired tendons, which can result in poor balance. Foot orthoses (FOs) have been reported to stimulate plantar mechanical receptors and are used to manage foot overpronation in individuals with flatfoot. However, the results of the use of FOs to improve balance are inconsistent.

Accuracy of the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale and a modified FAB model for predicting falls in older adults: A prospective study.

Background: This study aimed to determine the accuracy of the FAB scale and the accuracy of combining certain FAB scale items into a model for predicting falls in older adults.

Methods: Eighty older adults were evaluated at baseline using all FAB scale items. A 6-month follow-up period was used to determine fall incidence.

Testing the validity and reliability of a new android application-based accelerometer balance assessment tool for community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Postural instability is a risk factor for falls in older adults. It is possible to detect postural stability using an integrated accelerometer (ACC) sensor in a smartphone. Therefore, a novel ACC-based smartphone application running on the Android operating system called BalanceLab was created and tested.

Home-based exercise using balance disc and smartphone inclinometer application improves balance and activity of daily living in individuals with stroke: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Sitting ability is critical for daily activities in individuals who have experienced a stroke. A combination of seated balance training on an unstable surface and real-time visual feedback via a simple mobile inclinometer application may improve trunk control in stroke survivors.

Objective: This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the effects of home-based exercise utilizing a balance disc with input from a smartphone inclinometer application on sitting balance and activities of daily living in stroke survivors.

The alteration of static and dynamic postural stability among women with breast cancer during taxane-based chemotherapy: a descriptive study.

Introduction: Women with breast cancer who underwent taxane-based chemotherapy demonstrate diminished postural stability. However, the data concerning dynamic postural stability among women with breast cancer during taxane-based chemotherapy remains insufficient.

Purpose: To investigate postural stability among women with breast cancer during taxane-based chemotherapy.

Incidence density and factors associated with peripheral neuropathy among women with breast cancer during taxane-based chemotherapy.

This work aimed to determine the incidence density of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) and its risk factors among women with breast cancer. One hundred and forty-one women with breast cancer participated in this cohort study. TIPN symptoms were evaluated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer CIPN specific self-report questionnaire (EORTC QOL-CIPN20) at five-time points throughout chemotherapy treatment.

Incidence and risk factors associated with falls among women with breast cancer during taxane-based chemotherapy.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the falling incidence density and examine the potential risk factors associated with falling among women with breast cancer during taxane-based chemotherapy.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-three women with breast cancer participated in this study. The fall incidence density, taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) symptoms, and physical performance tests were evaluated at five time points throughout chemotherapy treatment.

Reliability and Validity of the EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20-Item Scale) among Thai Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Taxane-Based Chemotherapy.

Objective: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20-item scale (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20) is the common method for determining taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) symptoms. However, there have been no studies on the psychometric properties of the Thai Version of EORTC QLQ-CIPN20. The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and contrasting group validity of the Thai Version of EORTC QLQ-CIPN20 among women with breast cancer who received taxane-based chemotherapy.

Effect of optokinetic virtual reality scenes on a sitting-to-stand movement.

Background: Visual perception plays a role in balance control while performing a sit-to-stand movement (STS). The dynamic virtual environment could reduce effective neuromuscular regulation and instability. Nevertheless, virtual reality (VR) on the STS movement was not explored in any research.

Accuracy of the figure of 8 walk test with and without dual-task to predict falls in older adults.

Background: The figure of eight walk test (F8W) is a measurement tool that examines the ability to walk on a curved path. Adding secondary tasks to the F8W test may increase its ability to predict falls in older adults.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of the F8W test and the F8W test with a dual-tasking in predicting future falls in older adults.

Effects of foam pad balance exercises on cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized control trial.

Background: This study sought to investigate the effects of foam pad balance exercises on balance, physical performance, peripheral neuropathy symptoms, and quality of life in cancer patients undergoing taxane-based chemotherapy.

Methods: Thirty cancer patients receiving chemotherapy were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 15/group): control group (CG) and balance exercise group (BG). The BG were asked to perform foam pad balance exercises 60 min/day, twice/week for 6 weeks, along with conventional therapy.

Calf stretching and plantar fascia-specific stretching for plantar fasciitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is the most common cause of heel pain. A calf stretching (CS) and a plantar fascia-specific stretching (PFSS) are two stretching techniques commonly administered by health care providers.

Objective: To evaluate the literature on the application of these two stretching techniques in the treatment of PF and investigate their effectiveness and efficacy.

Effects of training with a custom-made visual feedback device on balance and functional lower-extremity strength in older adults: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Training with a slow and sustained mechanical load, such as standing on one leg, is an effective method for improving balance and increasing lower-extremity strength. Also, visual feedback during motor learning is important in facilitating efficient postural responses and balance skills. In this study, a custom-made visual feedback device was invented to provide the training modality and program based on single-leg standing combined with augmented visual feedback training.

Accuracy of modified 30-s chair-stand test for predicting falls in older adults.

Background: Postural stability during sit-to-stand (STS) movements depends on visual and somatosensory information. A modification of the 30-sec chair-stand test (30s-CST) with visual and somatosensory alteration (m30CST) may improve the ability to identify fall status.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of the m30CST in predicting falls in older adults.

Effects of Qigong practice in office workers with chronic non-specific low back pain: A randomized control trial.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Qigong practice, Guan Yin Zi Zai Gong level 1, compared with a waiting list control group among office workers with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at offices in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Seventy-two office workers with CNLBP were screened for inclusion/exclusion criteria (age 20-40 years; sitting period more than 4 h per day) and were allocated randomly into two groups: the Qigong and waiting list groups (n = 36 each).

Training using a new multidirectional reach tool improves balance in individuals with stroke.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies suggested that limits of stability (LOS) training with visual feedback using commercial equipment could be used to improve balance ability in individuals with stroke. However, this system is expensive. In this study, we created a new tool from inexpensive elements based on LOS training using visual feedback.

Four Square Step Test With Foam Is More Accurate Than Those Without Foam for Discriminating Between Older Adults With and Without Fall History.

Objective: The aim was to compare the use of the four square step test (FSST) and the FSST with foam surface (FSST + foam) scores for discriminating between adults, faller older adults, and nonfaller older adults.

Methods: Fifty-four participants (18 for each group) were assessed using the FSST and FSST + foam. The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated and used to compare the accuracy of the tests.

Comparisons of the effects of a foam pad, mung bean bag, and plastic bead bag on postural stability disturbance in healthy young adults.

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of unstable support surfaces, i.e. foam pad, mung bean bag, and plastic bead bag, on postural stability disturbance.

The effects of vision on sit-to-stand movement.

[Purpose] It is well known that vision is an important factor contributing to postural control. However, there has been little discussion about the effect of vision on sit-to-stand movement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of constrained vision on sit-to-stand movement.

Wii balance board exercise improves balance and lower limb muscle strength of overweight young adults.

[Purpose] The potential health benefits of the Nintendo Wii balance board exercise have been widely investigated. However, no study has been conducted to examine the benefits of Wii exercise for overweight young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise performed on a Nintendo Wii balance board on the balance and lower limb muscle strength in overweight young adults.

Effect of interferential current stimulation in management of hemiplegic shoulder pain.

Objective: To study the immediate effects of interferential current stimulation (IFC) on shoulder pain and pain-free passive range of motion (PROM) of the shoulder in people with hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP).

Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Setting: Institutional physical therapy clinic, neurologic rehabilitation center.

Postinjury administration of 17β-estradiol induces protection in the gray and white matter with associated functional recovery after cervical spinal cord injury in male rats.

The majority of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in the clinic occur at the lower cervical levels, resulting in both white and gray matter disruption. In contrast, most experimental models of SCI in rodents induce damage in the thoracic cord, resulting primarily in white matter disruption. To address this disparity, experimental cervical SCI models have been developed.

Characterization of a graded cervical hemicontusion spinal cord injury model in adult male rats.

Most experimental models of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rodents induce damage in the thoracic cord and subsequently examine hindlimb function as an indicator of recovery. In these models, functional recovery is most attributable to white-matter preservation and is less influenced by grey-matter sparing. In contrast, most clinical cases of SCI occur at the lower cervical levels, a region in which both grey-matter and white-matter sparing contribute to functional motor recovery.