Shear wave elastography in the assessment of gastrocnemius spastic muscle elasticity: influences of ankle position and muscle contraction.

Background: Following upper motor neuron syndromes (UMNS), intrinsic viscoelastic muscle properties such as elastic stiffness may be altered, which leads to muscle hyper-resistance to passive mobilization. So far, no gold standard assessment of hyper-resistance, whether clinical or instrumental, is available. Shear wave elastography (SWE) has been increasingly used for non-invasive evaluation of elastic stiffness of skeletal muscles in people with hyper-resistance.

Neurological conditions and community-based physical activity: physical therapists' belief and actions.

Introduction: Physical therapists (PTs) are key actors in physical activity (PA) promotion. However, it remains unclear whether PTs in community settings promote community-based PA such as adapted physical activity (APA) and adaptive sports (AS) to their patients with neurological conditions (NCs). The main purposes were to evaluate the beliefs PTs have of APA and AS, and to explore actions they undertake to promote it to their patients with NCs.

Noninvasive analysis of overactive muscle structure and elasticity after botulinum toxin type A injection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Injections of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) are the first-line treatment for spastic muscle overactivity (MO). Some authors observed that BoNT-A injections lead to changes in muscle structure and muscle elasticity that are probably not completely reversible. This possible effect is critical, as it could lead to negative impacts on the effectiveness of BoNT-A interventions.

Comparison of the effects of rhythmic vibrotactile stimulations and rhythmic auditory stimulations on Parkinson's disease patients' gait variability: a pilot study.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease patients' gait is characterized by shorter step length, reduced gait velocity and deterioration of temporal organization of stride duration variability (modified Long Range Autocorrelations). The objective of this study was to compare effects of rhythmic auditory stimulations (RAS) and Rhythmic Vibrotactile Stimulations (RVS) on Parkinson's disease patients' gait.

Methods: Ten Parkinson's disease patients performed three walking conditions lasting 5-7 min each: control condition (CC), RAS condition and RVS condition.

Validation of the French version of the Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy And Sexuality Questionnaire-19: A preliminary study.

Introduction: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from various symptoms, including sexual dysfunction. The Multiple Sclerosis Intimacy and Sexuality Questionnaire-19 (MSISQ-19) is a scale that explores the impact of MS on sexual activity and satisfaction.

Aim: This observational cohort study aimed to provide a validated, cross-cultural, French version of the MSISQ-19 in patients with MS.

Effects of prolonged-release fampridine on multiple sclerosis-related gait impairments. A crossover, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

Background: People with multiple sclerosis have reduced walking speed and impaired gait pattern. Prolonged release-fampridine is a potassium channel blocker that improves nerve conduction in patients with multiple sclerosis, leading to walking benefits. Whether fampridine alters gait pattern is unknown.

Influence of Autocorrelated Rhythmic Auditory Stimulations on Parkinson's Disease Gait Variability: Comparison With Other Auditory Rhythm Variabilities and Perspectives.

Parkinson's Disease patients suffer from gait impairments such as reduced gait speed, shortened step length, and deterioration of the temporal organization of stride duration variability (i.e., breakdown in Long-Range Autocorrelations).

Immersive Virtual Reality to Restore Natural Long-Range Autocorrelations in Parkinson's Disease Patients' Gait During Treadmill Walking.

Effects of treadmill walking on Parkinson's disease (PD) patients' spatiotemporal gait parameters and stride duration variability, in terms of magnitude [coefficient of variation (CV)] and temporal organization [long range autocorrelations (LRA)], are known. Conversely, effects on PD gait of adding an optic flow during treadmill walking using a virtual reality headset, to get closer to an ecological walk, is unknown. This pilot study aimed to compare PD gait during three conditions: Overground Walking (OW), Treadmill Walking (TW), and immersive Virtual Reality on Treadmill Walking (iVRTW).

Effectiveness of a self-rehabilitation program to improve upper-extremity function after stroke in developing countries: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: About two-thirds of stroke patients present long-term upper-limb impairment and limitations of activity, which constitutes a challenge in rehabilitation. This situation is particularly true in developing countries, where there is a need for inexpensive rehabilitation solutions.

Objective: This study assessed the effectiveness of a self-rehabilitation program including uni- or bi-manual functional exercises for improving upper-limb function after stroke with respect to the context in Benin, West Africa.

Simplified indices of exercise tolerance in patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy subjects: A case-control study.

Among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), the impairment of exercise tolerance is closely related to disability. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO ) is the gold standard to assess exercise tolerance in healthy subjects (HS). Among patients with MS, the accuracy of VO measurement is often impaired because the patients are unable to reach the maximal exercise intensity due to interdependent factors linked to the disease (such as pathological fatigue, pain, lack of exercise habit, and lack of mobility).

Telecommunication and rehabilitation for patients with multiple sclerosis: access and willingness to use. A cross-sectional study.

Background: Telerehabilitation is a promising approach for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but uncertainties regarding patients' access and preferences remain.

Aim: To investigate the access to telecommunication technologies and rehabilitation services of patients with MS, and their willingness to use these technologies for rehabilitation.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Gait rehabilitation after stroke: review of the evidence of predictors, clinical outcomes and timing for interventions.

The recovery of walking capacity is one of the main aims in stroke rehabilitation. Being able to predict if and when a patient is going to walk after stroke is of major interest in terms of management of the patients and their family's expectations and in terms of discharge destination and timing previsions. This article reviews the recent literature regarding the predictive factors for gait recovery and the best recommendations in terms of gait rehabilitation in stroke patients.

Efficacy and Safety of AbobotulinumtoxinA for the Treatment of Hemiparesis in Adults with Lower Limb Spasticity Previously Treated With Other Botulinum Toxins: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To examine the safety and efficacy of abobotulinumtoxinA in patients previously treated with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) products other than abobotulinumtoxinA.

Design: Secondary analysis from a phase 3, double-blind, single-cycle, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: Fifty-two centers (11 countries).

The Effect of Adaptive Sports on Individuals with Acquired Neurological Disabilities and Its Role in Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.

The aims of this systematic review were to report on the feasibility of adaptive sports for individuals with acquired central neurological lesion; to analyze the effects of this approach according to the domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Health and Disability (ICF); and to emit guiding points for future research. Two authors searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Pedro, and SPORTdiscus for eligible trials. Data concerning demographics, outcome measures, results, and conclusions were extracted, and a qualitative synthesis was performed.

Effects of Fampridine in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Prolonged-release (PR) fampridine is a potassium channel blocker used as a symptomatic treatment for walking disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Its clinical effects in such patients have not been systematically reviewed, and may be more wide-ranging than expected.

Objectives: To summarize the evidence on the effects of PR fampridine in patients with MS.

Validation of a robot serious game assessment protocol for upper limb motor impairment in children with cerebral palsy.

Background: The ROBiGAME project aims to implement serious games on robots to rehabilitate upper limb (UL) motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Serious game characteristics (target position, level of assistance/resistance, level of force) are typically adapted based on the child's assessment before and continuously during the game (measuring UL working area, kinematics and muscle strength).

Objective: This study developed an UL robotic motor assessment protocol to configure the serious game.

Effectiveness of upper-limb robotic-assisted therapy in the early rehabilitation phase after stroke: A single-blind, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Upper-limb robotic-assisted therapy (RAT) is promising for stroke rehabilitation, particularly in the early phase. When RAT is provided as partial substitution of conventional therapy, it is expected to be at least as effective or might be more effective than conventional therapy. Assessments have usually been restricted to the first 2 domains of the International classification of functioning, disability and health (ICF).

Development of a robotic upper limb assessment to configure a serious game.

BACKGROUNDROBiGAME project aims to implement serious games on robots to rehabilitate upper limb (UL) in stroke patients. The serious game characteristics (target position, level of assistance/resistance, level of force) are adapted based on the patient's assessment before and continuously during the game (measuring UL working area, kinematics and muscle strength).OBJECTIVETo develop an UL robotic motor assessment protocol to configure the serious game.

Rhythmic robotic training enhances motor skills of both rhythmic and discrete upper-limb movements after stroke: a longitudinal pilot study.

Discrete and rhythmic movements are two fundamental motor primitives being, at least partially, controlled by separate neural circuitries. After a stroke, both primitives may be impaired in the upper limb. Currently, intensive functional movement therapy is recommended after stroke, but it is mainly composed of discrete movements.

Timed Up-and-Go and 2-Minute Walk Test in patients with multiple sclerosis with mild disability: reliability, responsiveness and link with perceived fatigue.

Background: Mobility limitations are frequent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and could already be present in patients with so-called mild neurological disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale≤4). Assessing mobility in these patients is therefore of paramount importance. Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG) and 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT) are two clinically feasible tests which reliability and responsiveness are unknown among these patients.

Evaluation of manual ability in stroke patients in Benin: cultural adaptation and Rasch validation of the ABILHAND-Stroke questionnaire.

Background: ABILHAND is a self-reported questionnaire assessing manual ability. It was validated and calibrated using the Rasch analysis for European stroke patients. After a stroke, performing upper limb activities of daily living is influenced by personal and environmental contextual factors.