Increasing the Passive Range of Joint Motion in Stroke Patients Using Botulinum Toxin: The Role of Pain Relief.

By blocking the release of neurotransmitters, botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) is an effective treatment for muscle over-activity and pain in stroke patients. BoNT-A has also been reported to increase passive range of motion (p-ROM), the decrease of which is mainly due to muscle shortening (i.e.

Development and Rasch Validation of an Observational Assessment Tool of Upper Limb Functional Impairment in Stroke Survivors: Functional Assessment Test for Upper Limb.

Objective: To develop and validate a quick observational clinical tool, the Functional ASsessment Test for Upper Limb (FAST-UL), for the evaluation of upper limb impairment in goal-directed functional-oriented motor tasks after stroke.

Design: Observational, cross-sectional, psychometric study.

Setting: Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation clinic.

Cardiorespiratory comorbidity: a new challenge for physical and rehabilitation medicine specialist.

Background: The cardiorespiratory comorbidity can reduce the participation in the rehabilitation project of patients with motor disorders.

Aim: The first aim of the study was to assess the frequency of cardiopulmonary comorbidity in inpatient rehabilitation units in Italy. The second aim was to evaluate the influence of cardiorespiratory comorbidity on some process and outcome indicators.