Empowering a Universal Design Course for the Built Environment: Exploring Learning Experiences Through an Interdisciplinary, Multicultural and Civic Approach.

Promoting inclusion and diversity is essential for creating an inclusive built environment. Next to building knowledge and understanding on the topic, it is also crucial to foster inclusive attitudes and awareness for both personal and professional growth. In developing a new architectural course 'Designing with People', our goal was to elevate knowledge and understanding of an inclusive built environment as well as to create more awareness on inclusion and diversity, guided by the Universal Design paradigm.

Feasibility of a 10-week community-based mobile health rehabilitation program using the WalkWithMe application in late sub-acute and chronic stroke survivors in a low resource setting: A pilot study.

 Physical functioning can be increased in people with stroke by using a mobile health application. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a 10-week community-based program using the WalkWithMe (WWM) application in people with late sub-acute and chronic stroke in Benin. An interventional pilot study with mixed methods research design was used examining the application of an unsupervised individualized mobile Health (mHealth) instructed training program.

Bilateral versus unilateral upper limb training in (sub)acute stroke: A systematic and meta-analysis.

Background: Integrating high dosage bilateral movements to improve upper limb (UL) recovery after stroke is a rehabilitation strategy that could potentially improve bimanual activities.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the effects of bilateral with unilateral UL training on upper limb impairments and functional independence in (sub)acute stroke.

Method: Five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, ScienceDirect, Web of Science) were systematically searched from inception to June 2023.

Promoting physical activity and a healthy active lifestyle in community-dwelling older adults: a design thinking approach for the development of a mobile health application.

Background: Physical activity (PA) has wide-ranging, and well documented benefits for older adults, encompassing physical, cognitive, and mental well-being. The World Health Organization advocates for a minimum of 150-300 min of moderate intensity PA per week, supplemented by muscle-strengthening exercises. However, the rates of PA among older adults remain a concern.

Essential training variables of arm-hand training in people with cervical spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

Objective: To identify and evaluate 3 training variables of motor training programmes involving people with a cervical spinal cord injury: i.e. motor training strategies, therapy dosage, and persons' motivation for arm-hand functioning in subacute and chronic phases.

Early and Intensive Motor Training for people with spinal cord injuries (the SCI-MT Trial): protocol of the process evaluation.

Introduction: People with spinal cord injury receive physical rehabilitation to promote neurological recovery. Physical rehabilitation commences as soon as possible when a person is medically stable. One key component of physical rehabilitation is motor training.

MS@Work in Flanders: The Development of a MS Toolkit for a Stable Employment.

Persons with MS have the highest unemployment rates compared to other chronic diseases. We want to develop a MS Toolkit with several aids for persons with MS to help them gain a sustainable employment with sufficient and permanent attention and guidance for the daily obstacles in the workplace. Therefore, the opportunities and bottlenecks were mapped through a survey with persons with MS and employers, a diary and expert interviews.

Early and intensive motor training to enhance neurological recovery in people with spinal cord injury: trial protocol.

Study Design: Protocol for a multi-centre randomised controlled trial (the SCI-MT trial).

Objectives: To determine whether 10 weeks of intensive motor training enhances neurological recovery in people with recent spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Fifteen spinal injury units in Australia, Scotland, England, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium.

Mobile health solutions: An opportunity for rehabilitation in low- and middle income countries?

Mobile health (mHealth) development has advanced rapidly, indicating promise as an effective patient intervention. mHealth has many potential benefits that could help the treatment of patients, and the development of rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). mHealth is a low-cost option that does not need rapid access to healthcare clinics or employees.

Autism-friendly public bus transport: A personal experience-based perspective.

Transportation plays an essential role in daily life, allowing people to participate in the community and form social relationships. Many autistic people rely on public transportation to meet their mobility needs. However, research shows that it is not always easy for them to use it.

Practice-Based Evidence to Support Return to Work in Cancer Patients.

Background: International research emphasizes the importance of providing early, hospital-based support in return to work (RTW) for cancer patients. Even though oncology health professionals are aware of the scientific evidence, it remains unclear whether they implement this knowledge in current practice. This paper presents the knowledge and viewpoints of health care professionals (HCPs) on their potential role in their patients' RTW process.

Efficacy of a technology-based client-centred training system in neurological rehabilitation: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: A client-centred task-oriented approach has advantages towards motivation and adherence to therapy in neurorehabilitation, but it is costly to integrate in practice. An intelligent Activity-based Client-centred Training (i-ACT), a low-cost Kinect-based system, was developed which integrates a client-centred and task-oriented approach. The objectives were (1) to investigate the effect of additional i-ACT training on functioning.

Motivation, Usability, and Credibility of an Intelligent Activity-Based Client-Centred Training System to Improve Functional Performance in Neurological Rehabilitation: An Exploratory Cohort Study.

(1) Background: technology-based training systems are increasingly integrated in neurorehabilitation but are rarely combined with a client-centred task-oriented approach. To provide a low-cost client-centred task-oriented system, the intelligent activity-based client-centred task-oriented training (i-ACT) was developed. The objective was to evaluate the usability, credibility and treatment expectancy of i-ACT, and the motivation towards i-ACT use in rehabilitation over time.

Use of a technology-based system to motivate older adults in performing physical activity: a feasibility study.

Background: Maintaining or initiating regular physical activity (PA) is important for successful aging. Technology-based systems may support and stimulate older adults to initiate and persevere in performing PA. The aim of the current study was to assess to which extent a customised Kinect system is 1) a credible tool to increase PA in older adults, 2) motivating to perform PA by older adults, and 3) easy to be used in older adults.

A tool for measuring burden in activities and participation of clients with acquired brain injury: the FINAH-instrument.

Primary Objective: The objective of this study was to design an instrument to screen for burden in the daily life of both the client with acquired brain injury (ABI) and their nonprofessional caregiver.

Research Design: Exploratory research Methods and Procedures: Based on a survey amongst stakeholder organizations, the FINAH-instrument is designed as a digital self-assessment questionnaire, based on ICF-framework. A test survey of the FINAH instrument is conducted on both clients, nonprofessional caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Developing an intelligent activity-based client-centred training system with a user-centred approach.

Background: In neurorehabilitation, clinicians and managers are searching for new client-centred task-oriented applications which can be administered without extra costs and effort of therapists, and increase the client's motivation.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a prototype of an intelligent activity-based client-centred training (i-ACT) system based on Microsoft Kinect®.

Methods: Within an iterative user centred process, the i-ACT prototype was developed and necessary features were established for use in neurological settings.

Quality of life, burden and satisfaction with care in caregivers of patients with a spinal cord injury during and after rehabilitation.

Study Design: Longitudinal, prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To examine the course that burden, quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with care taken in Dutch caregivers of patients with a SCI.

Setting: Adelante Rehabilitation Centre and Dutch community, the Netherlands METHODS: Caregiver Strain index (CSI), Short Form36 (SF-36) and Caregivers' Satisfaction with (Stroke) Care Questionnaire (C-SASC) were administered to caregivers (n = 37) of patients with a recently acquired SCI at the start of rehabilitation (T1), discharge from rehabilitation (T2) and at 8 weeks (T3), 6 months (T4) and 18 months after discharge (T5).

Motion detection supported exercise therapy in musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a burden on the healthcare system. Exercise therapy is an important part of MSD rehabilitation. Motion detection systems are developed to support exercise therapy settings.

Obstacle: A Tool to Assess the Home Environment Designed for All.

Introduction: Elderly prefer to live as long as possible independent in their own home. The occupational therapist can play an important role in this, for instance by giving advice regarding home adaptations or the use of assistive technology in order for the person to function more independently. There is need for a tool that allow to screen the home easily and thorough.

Markerless motion capture systems as training device in neurological rehabilitation: a systematic review of their use, application, target population and efficacy.

Background: Client-centred task-oriented training is important in neurological rehabilitation but is time consuming and costly in clinical practice. The use of technology, especially motion capture systems (MCS) which are low cost and easy to apply in clinical practice, may be used to support this kind of training, but knowledge and evidence of their use for training is scarce. The present review aims to investigate 1) which motion capture systems are used as training devices in neurological rehabilitation, 2) how they are applied, 3) in which target population, 4) what the content of the training and 5) efficacy of training with MCS is.

Motivation, expectations, and usability of a driven gait orthosis in stroke patients and their therapists.

Background: In the development of efficacious driven gait orthoses (DGO), it is an added value to consider patients' and therapists' perspectives concerning robot-assisted gait training (RAGT). A better understanding of these issues may improve the process of care and outcome.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine stroke patients' motivation and expectations of RAGT, and therapists' expectations and perspectives on the usability of RAGT.

Exercise self-efficacy and the relation with physical behavior and physical capacity in wheelchair-dependent persons with subacute spinal cord injury.

Background: Since physical activity and exercise levels are known to be generally low in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), there seems to be a need for intervention. Exercise self-efficacy (ESE), the confidence persons have in their ability to be physically active and exercise, is an important and modifiable predictor of physical behavior. The goal of this study was to 1) describe ESE in persons with subacute SCI, 2) to assess ESE in subgroups based on demographic and lesion characteristics, and 3) to explore the relation between ESE and physical behavior and physical capacity.

A Functional Analysis Of An Assistive Device Information Database in Flanders: A Qualitative Study.

Since 1989-1990, Vlibank is the Flemish AT information database managed by the Flemish government and aims to have a complete overview of AT devices in Flanders. The growing AT market increases the need for unbiased information on AT. However, maintaining and keeping a database up-to-date is a very challenging task.