Are Extracorporeal Shock Waves Just a Therapeutic Tool?

Background: Focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been successfully used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, but ESWT stimulates nociceptors, causing pain deep in the tissue during treatment. The occurrence of pain during ESWT is a side effect, but it can help identify painful sites and assess minimum (MiTI) and maximum (MaTI) pain thresholds to ESWT pressure stimuli. This topic has received limited attention in literature.

Snapshot of Fall Prevention in Patients Referred to a Neurorehabilitation Unit: A Feasibility Study on the Use of an Airbag Device.

Active wearable devices such as protective smart belts have been proposed to reduce hip impact in the event of a fall. This study primarily evaluated the feasibility and acceptance of a specific protective belt among selected patients identified as being at risk of falling who were admitted to an ICS Maugeri Neurorehabilitation Unit from September 2022 to April 2023. According to previous institutional observations, the device was worn between the 6th and 21st days of recovery.

Effects of Motor Rehabilitation on Balance and Functional Activities in Elderly Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy and Recurrent Falls.

To date, little is known about the effects of motor rehabilitation in peripheral neuropathy (PN) patients with a history of recurrent falls (RFH). This study aimed to assess balance and the activities of daily living (ADLs) in elderly lower limb PN patients with and without RFH and to verify the effects of motor rehabilitation on balance and ADLs in these patients. We collected data from 64 lower limb PN patients, who underwent a conventional motor rehabilitation program: 35 patients had a history of recurrent falls, and 29 did not.

Walking function determinants in parkinson patients undergoing rehabilitation.

Background: To date little is known about factors affecting walking rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.

Objective: This prospective observational cohort study evaluated the walking distance covered in 6 minutes (6 MWD) before and after conventional rehabilitation and verified which among PD motor disorders was the most important determinant of walking distance in PD patients undergoing rehabilitation.

Methods: Data were collected from 55 PD patients, performing a conventional outpatient motor rehabilitation program.

A decision making algorithm for rehabilitation after stroke: A guide to choose an appropriate and safe treadmill training.

Background: Walking independently after a stroke can be difficult or impossible, and walking reeducation is vital. But the approach used is often arbitrary, relying on the devices available and subjective evaluations by the doctor/physiotherapist. Objective decision making tools could be useful.

Home-based hand rehabilitation with a robotic glove in hemiplegic patients after stroke: a pilot feasibility study.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of home rehabilitation of the hand using a robotic glove, and, in addition, its effectiveness, in hemiplegic patients after stroke.

Methods: In this non-randomized pilot study, 21 hemiplegic stroke patients (Ashworth spasticity index ≤ 3) were prescribed, after in-hospital rehabilitation, a 2-month home-program of intensive hand training using the Gloreha Lite glove that provides computer-controlled passive mobilization of the fingers. Feasibility was measured by: number of patients who completed the home-program, minutes of exercise and number of sessions/patient performed.

Feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a multidisciplinary home-telehealth intervention programme to reduce falls among elderly discharged from hospital: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Fall incidents are the third cause of chronic disablement in elderly according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Recent meta-analyses shows that a multifactorial falls risk assessment and management programmes are effective in all older population studied. However, the application of these programmes may not be the same in all National health care setting and, consequently, needs to be evaluated by cost-effectiveness studies before to plan this intervention in regular care.

Aphasia and activities of daily living in stroke patients.

Background: Few studies have investigated the relationships between aphasia and activities of daily living (ADLs) in stroke patients.

Aim: This study was aimed firstly to determine which task within the ADLs has poorer functional recovery in stroke patients with aphasia after rehabilitation, second to identify which specific task is related to aphasia.

Design: This is a prospective and observational study.

Home-based telesurveillance and rehabilitation after stroke: a real-life study.

Background: After discharge from in-hospital rehabilitation, post-stroke patients should have the opportunity to continue the rehabilitation through structured programs to maintain the benefits acquired during intensive rehabilitation treatment.

Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an home-based telesurveillance and rehabilitation (HBTR) program to optimize the patient's recovery by reducing dependency degree.

Method: Post-stroke patients were consecutively screened.

Feasibility and efficacy of a robotic device for hand rehabilitation in hemiplegic stroke patients: a randomized pilot controlled study.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of robot-assisted hand rehabilitation in improving arm function abilities in sub-acute hemiplegic patients.

Design: Randomized controlled pilot study.

Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation centers.

Does 6-Month Home Caregiver-Supervised Physiotherapy Improve Post-Critical Care Outcomes?: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study aims to determine whether a 6-month home physiotherapy program can improve outcomes in critical care survivors.

Design: Forty-eight consecutive patients were randomized. The treatment group underwent 2 sessions/day of breathing retraining and bronchial hygiene, physical activity (mobilization, sit-to-stand gait, limb strengthening), and exercise re-conditioning whereas controls underwent standard care.

Effects of a multidisciplinary care program on disability, autonomy, and nursing needs in subjects recovering from acute respiratory failure in a chronic ventilator facility.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a multidisciplinary program carried out in a chronic ventilator facility on disability, autonomy, and nursing needs of patients after a prolonged ICU stay. Secondary outcome measures were survival, weaning rate, chronic ventilator facility stay, and discharge destination.

Methods: Multidisciplinary assessment, clinical stabilization, weaning attempts, and a new Disabled Patients Autonomy Planning tool to assess daily care needs were investigated in 240 subjects in a chronic ventilator facility (52 subjects after cardiovascular surgery, 60 subjects with acute respiratory failure, 71 subjects with COPD, and 57 subjects with neurological disease).