Unravelling age-related gait decline in cerebral palsy: insights into physiological changes and functional implications through an observational study-a French study protocol in a laboratory setting.

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) presents a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a spectrum of motor impairments stemming from early brain injury. Whereas CP is traditionally viewed as a non-progressive condition, emerging evidence suggests a progressive decline in mobility and function, particularly in adulthood. Despite the prevalence of self-reported age-related gait decline in adults with CP, objective evidence supporting this phenomenon remains limited.

Efficacy of a new video observational training method (intensive visual simulation) for motor recovery in the upper limb in subacute stroke: a feasibility and proof-of-concept study.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy  of a new video-observation training method (intensive visual simulation) to improve upper limb function.

Design: Small sample, randomized, evaluator-blind, monocentric study.

Patients: Seventeen early subacute ischaemic stroke patients with complete hemiplegia were  randomly assigned to the therapeutic group (n = 8) or control group (CG, n = 9).

Walking Economy and Preferred Speed in Old and Very Old Men.

Purpose: With aging, the decline in preferred walking speed (PWS), influenced by the increased energy cost of walking (CoW), is a key predictor of morbidity. However, the determinants associated with PWS and CoW remain poorly understood, especially after 80 years old. The aim of the study was to characterize the amplitude and mechanisms of age-related decline in CoW and PWS in old (OM) and very old (VOM) men.

Distinct and additive effects of visual and vibratory feedback for motor rehabilitation: an EEG study in healthy subjects.

Introduction: The use of visual and proprioceptive feedback is a key property of motor rehabilitation techniques. This feedback can be used alone, for example, for vision in mirror or video therapy, for proprioception in focal tendon vibration therapy, or in combination, for example, in robot-assisted training. This Electroencephalographic (EEG) study in healthy subjects explored the distinct neurophysiological impact of adding visual (video therapy), proprioceptive (focal tendinous vibration), or combined feedback (video therapy and focal tendinous vibration) to a motor imagery task.

Effects of carbon versus plastic ankle foot orthoses on gait outcomes and energy cost in patients with chronic stroke.

Objective: To compare the walking performances of hemiplegic subjects with chronic stroke under 3 conditions: with a new standard carbon fibre ankle foot orthosis (C-AFO), with a personal custom-made plastic AFO (P-AFO), and without any orthosis (No-AFO).

Design: Randomized, controlled crossover design.

Patients: Fifteen chronic patients with stroke (3 women  and 12 men, 59 [10] years, 13 [15] years since injury).

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Neuromuscular Function of Mechanically Ventilated ICU COVID-19 Patients.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to investigate the level of cardiorespiratory fitness and neuromuscular function of ICU survivors after COVID-19 and to examine whether these outcomes are related to ICU stay/mechanical ventilation duration.

Design: Prospective nonrandomized study.

Setting: Patients hospitalized in ICU for COVID-19 infection.

Fatigue, physical activity, and quality of life in people self-reporting symptoms of chronic venous disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify fatigue and quality of life (QoL) in people self-reporting chronic venous disease (CVD) symptoms or at risk of CVD within a large cohort representative of the French population. The relationship between self-reported physical activity and both fatigue and QoL was also investigated. We hypothesized that a greater fatigue and impaired QoL would exist in participants self-reporting CVD symptoms, with the impairments being attenuated in those with greater level of physical activity.

Performance Determinants in Trail-Running Races of Different Distances.

Purpose: While the physiological determinants of road running have been widely studied, there is a lack of research in trail-running racing performance. The aim of our study was to determine the physiological predictors of trail-running performance in races of different distances in similar terrain and weather conditions.

Methods: Seventy-five trail runners participating in one of the races of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc were recruited.

Effect of race distance on performance fatigability in male trail and ultra-trail runners.

The etiology of changes in lower-limb neuromuscular function, especially to the central nervous system, may be affected by exercise duration. Direct evidence is lacking as few studies have directly compared different race distances. This study aimed to investigate the etiology of deficits in neuromuscular function following short versus long trail-running races.

Sex Differences in Neuromuscular Fatigue and Changes in Cost of Running after Mountain Trail Races of Various Distances.

Introduction: Women have been shown to experience less neuromuscular fatigue than men in knee extensors (KE) and less peripheral fatigue in plantar flexors (PF) after ultratrail running, but it is unknown if these differences exist for shorter trail running races and whether this may impact running economy. The purpose of this study was to characterize sex differences in fatigability over a range of running distances and to examine possible differences in the postrace alteration of the cost of running (Cr).

Methods: Eighteen pairs of men and women were matched by performance after completing different races ranging from 40 to 171 km, divided into SHORT versus LONG races (<60 and >100 km, respectively).

French Translation and Validation of the Rating-of-Fatigue Scale.

Background: The Rating of Fatigue (ROF) scale can measure changes in perceived fatigue in a variety of contexts.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to translate and subsequently validate the ROF scale in the French language.

Methods: The study was composed of three phases.

The Effects of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on the Walking Performance of Chronic Hemiplegic Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a single session of tDCS over the primary motor cortex of the lower limb (M1-LL) vs. placebo on the walking performance in chronic hemiplegic patients.

Patients And Methods: Randomized, cross-over, double-blinded study.

Effects of compression stockings on sympathetic activity and heart rate variability in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To investigate whether wearing graduated compression stockings (GCS) could affect the sympatho-adrenergic and heart rate variability (HRV) responses at rest and after a strenuous wheelchair exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Crossover trial.

Setting: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Saint Etienne, France.

Effects of compression stockings during exercise and recovery on blood lactate kinetics.

This study aimed to investigate if wearing compression stockings (CS) during exercise and recovery could affect lactate profile in sportsmen. Eight young healthy trained male subjects performed two maximal exercise tests on a cycle ergometer on two different occasions performed randomly: CS during both exercise and recovery, and no CS. Blood lactate concentration was taken during exercise and at 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 min post-exercise.

Evaluation of the effects of compression stockings using venous plethysmography in persons with spinal cord injury.

Background/objective: To examine the effect of graduated compression stockings (GCS) on the properties of the venous vascular system, as characterized by venous capacitance (VC) and venous outflow (VO), in the lower extremities of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), according to injury level.

Methods: Nine male subjects with SCI (5 with low paraplegia [LP], 4 with high paraplegia [HP]) performed 2 plethysmography tests: with and without graduated compression knee-length stockings (pressure of 21 mm/Hg). The VC, VO, and cardiovascular parameters (heart rate and blood pressure) were evaluated with and without GCS.

Effects of graduated compression stockings on cardiovascular and metabolic responses to exercise and exercise recovery in persons with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To investigate whether reporting blood redistribution by means of graduated elastic stockings affects exercise and postexercise responses in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Crossover trial.

Setting: Physical medicine and rehabilitation department in France.

Relationship between maximal exercise capacity and walking capacity in adult hemiplegic stroke patients.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between maximal exercise capacity and walking capacity in hemiplegic stroke patients.

Design: An uncontrolled observational study was conducted in the physical medicine and rehabilitation unit in an academic hospital. Participants were 21 hemiplegic stroke patients (18 men, 3 women; age, 18-70 yrs) whose stroke occurred >3 mos before the study and who could walk independently with or without walking aids.