Concurrent validity and reliability of an activity monitoring for rehabilitation (AMoR) platform for step counting and sitting/lying time in post-stroke individuals.

Background: Objective and reliable measurements to investigate daily behavior patterns in people with stroke could help therapeutic interventions after a stroke.

Objective: To evaluate whether the Activity Monitoring for Rehabilitation (AMoR) platform has adequate concurrent validity and reliability for step counting and time spent sitting/lying in people post-stroke and to investigate its percentage accuracy for step counting at different walking speeds.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study.

Cryotherapy reduces muscle hypertonia, but does not affect lower limb strength or gait kinematics post-stroke: a randomized controlled crossover study.

Background: Based on the premise that spasticity might affect gait post-stroke, cryotherapy is among the techniques used to temporarily reduce spasticity in neurological patients. This effective technique would enhance muscle performance, and ultimately, functional training, such as walking. However, understanding whether a decrease in spasticity level, if any, would lead to improving muscle performance and gait parameters is not based on evidence and needs to be clarified.

Different Error Size During Locomotor Adaptation Affects Transfer to Overground Walking Poststroke.

Background: Studies in neurologically intact subjects suggest that the gradual presentation of small perturbations (errors) during learning results in better transfer of a newly learned walking pattern to overground walking. Whether the same result would be true after stroke is not known.

Objective: To determine whether introducing gradual perturbations, during locomotor learning using a split-belt treadmill influences learning the novel walking pattern or transfer to overground walking poststroke.

Post-stroke BDNF Concentration Changes Following Physical Exercise: A Systematic Review.

Research over the last two decades has highlighted the critical role of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain neuroplasticity. Studies suggest that physical exercise may have a positive impact on the release of BDNF and therefore, brain plasticity. These results in animal and human studies have potential implications for the recovery from damage to the brain and for interventions that aim to facilitate neuroplasticity and, therefore, the rehabilitation process.

Cryotherapy Reduces Muscle Spasticity But Does Not Affect Proprioception in Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Crossover Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the immediate effects of cryotherapy (using an ice pack) on ankle joint position sense and the degree of spasticity after chronic hemiparetic stroke.

Design: We used a sham-controlled crossover design. Sixteen chronic hemiparetic patients were randomly assigned to two groups: (1) those who received cryotherapy followed by a control intervention 15 days later (cryotherapy group) and (2) those who received the control intervention followed by cryotherapy 15 days later (control intervention group).

Midfemoral Bone Volume of Walking Subjects with Chronic Hemiparesis Post Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Muscle and bone form a functional unit. Residual physical poststroke impairments such as muscle weakness, spasticity, and decrease in function can promote metabolic bone changes. Moreover, muscle strength can influence this process.

A single exercise bout and locomotor learning after stroke: physiological, behavioural, and computational outcomes.

Key Points: Previous work demonstrated an effect of a single high-intensity exercise bout coupled with motor practice on the retention of a newly acquired skilled arm movement, in both neurologically intact and impaired adults. In the present study, using behavioural and computational analyses we demonstrated that a single exercise bout, regardless of its intensity and timing, did not increase the retention of a novel locomotor task after stroke. Considering both present and previous work, we postulate that the benefits of exercise effect may depend on the type of motor learning (e.

Decreased Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Serum Concentrations in Chronic Post-Stroke Subjects.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in sensorimotor recovery after a stroke. However, few studies have assessed the circulating BDNF levels in post-stroke humans to understand its changes. This study was conducted to measure BDNF serum concentrations in subjects with chronic hemiparesis, as well as to correlate serum concentrations with age, post-stroke time, total score of Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL), mobility subscale score, and motor function of SS-QOL.

Muscle atrophy, voluntary activation disturbances, and low serum concentrations of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 are associated with weakness in people with chronic stroke.

Background: The muscle weakness that is exhibited poststroke is due to a multifactorial etiology involving the central nervous system and skeletal muscle changes. Insulinlike growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) have been described as biomarkers of neuromuscular performance in many conditions. However, no information about these biomarkers is available for people with chronic hemiparesis.

Effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on acute neural recovery and inflammation-related gene expression after crush injury in rat sciatic nerve.

Background And Objectives: Peripheral nerve function can be debilitated by different kinds of injury. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used successfully during rehabilitation to stimulate recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of LLLT (660 nm, 60 J/cm(2) , 40 mW/cm(2) ) on acute sciatic nerve injury.

Brazilian version of an assessment tool for the evaluation of work organizational aspects (AOT) by the NIOSH WMSD Research Consortium: translation and application in industrial sectors.

Work organization affects the production of a company as well as the health of employees. It is a challenge to create sustainable production systems with the least harm to the health. An observational assessment tool was developed by the NIOSH--WMSD Research Consortium and adapted by the SHARP study.