A good beginning: study protocol for a group-randomized trial to investigate the effects of sit-to-stand desks on academic performance and sedentary time in primary education.

Background: Sedentary behavior is associated with health risks and academic under-achievement in children. Still, children spend a large part of their waking hours sitting at a desk at school. Recent short-term studies demonstrated the potential of sit-to-stand desks to reduce sitting time in primary education.

Being Active, Engaged, and Healthy: Older Persons' Plans and Wishes to Age Successfully.

Objectives: This study took an emic multidimensional approach on successful aging and examined what older people consider important to age successfully by asking them about their plans and wishes (PWs). Associations between participants' demographics, health status, working life, social contacts, life satisfaction, and their PWs were investigated.

Method: An online questionnaire was completed by 649 older individuals (55-90 years).

Unilateral and bilateral upper-limb training interventions after stroke have similar effects on bimanual coupling strength.

Background: Bilateral training in poststroke upper-limb rehabilitation is based on the premise that simultaneous movements of the nonparetic upper limb facilitate performance and recovery of paretic upper-limb function through neural coupling effects.

Objective: To determine whether the degree of coupling between both hands is higher after bilateral than after unilateral training and control treatment.

Methods: In a single-blinded randomized controlled trial, we investigated rhythmic interlimb coordination after unilateral (mCIMT) and bilateral (mBATRAC) upper-limb training and a dose-matched control treatment (DMCT) in 60 patients suffering from stroke.

Unilateral versus bilateral upper limb training after stroke: the Upper Limb Training After Stroke clinical trial.

Background And Purpose: Unilateral and bilateral training protocols for upper limb rehabilitation after stroke represent conceptually contrasting approaches with the same ultimate goal. In a randomized controlled trial, we compared the merits of modified constraint-induced movement therapy, modified bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing, and a dose-matched conventional treatment. Modified constraint-induced movement therapy and modified bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing targeted wrist and finger extensors, given their importance for functional recovery.

Match and mismatch between objective and subjective improvements in upper limb function after stroke.

Purpose: To identify stroke patients showing a match between an objectively meaningful improvement in upper-limb motor capacity and subjectively meaningful improvement in upper-limb performance after stroke, as well as determinants of matching and non-matching.

Methods: Changes in upper-limb capacity in 39 stroke patients were measured over 17 weeks using the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Subjective change was measured with the Stroke Impact Scale Hand domain (SIS-Hand) and the Motor Activity Log (MAL).

A systematic review of bilateral upper limb training devices for poststroke rehabilitation.

Introduction. In stroke rehabilitation, bilateral upper limb training is gaining ground. As a result, a growing number of mechanical and robotic bilateral upper limb training devices have been proposed.

Unilateral versus bilateral upper limb exercise therapy after stroke: a systematic review.

Objective: To compare the effects of unilateral and bilateral training on upper limb function after stroke with regard to two key factors: severity of upper limb paresis and time of intervention post-stroke.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Methods: Two authors independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed the methodological quality and extracted data.

Comparing unilateral and bilateral upper limb training: the ULTRA-stroke program design.

Background: About 80% of all stroke survivors have an upper limb paresis immediately after stroke, only about a third of whom (30 to 40%) regain some dexterity within six months following conventional treatment programs. Of late, however, two recently developed interventions--constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing (BATRAC)--have shown promising results in the treatment of upper limb paresis in chronic stroke patients. The ULTRA-stroke (acronym for Upper Limb TRaining After stroke) program was conceived to assess the effectiveness of these interventions in subacute stroke patients and to examine how the observed changes in sensori-motor functioning relate to changes in stroke recovery mechanisms associated with peripheral stiffness, interlimb interactions, and cortical inter- and intrahemispheric networks.

["Ear camp" for children in Namibia. A field report].

Background: Ear surgery is urgently needed in northern Namibia as many children cannot even be provided with hearing aids due to chronically discharging ears, not to forget possible complications of untreated cholesteatoma.

Methods: During the two "ear camps" in 2003 and 2004, 61 children (median age 12 years) and one adult were operated, mainly for (sub)total defects of the tympanic membrane (81 tympanoplasties).

Patients And Results: We performed tympanoplasty type I in 33 cases and type III in 48 cases, mostly using autogenous ossicles and titanium prostheses.

Management of an "Ear Camp" for children in Namibia.

Objective: In this publication, we present our experiences with managing an "Ear Camp" in northern Namibia, where the population is predominantly black. Medical coverage for ear problems is poor in this part of the country.

Methods: Within 10 days, 38 children (median age 12 years) were operated mainly for (sub) total defects of the tympanic membrane.