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.

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.

Functional ability before and after rehabilitation in elderly patients with shortening and/or rotational deformity of the lower limb after hip fracture.

Background: Shortening and rotational deformity of the lower limb (SRD) is a major complication of hip fracture surgery. It causes not only hip joint dysfunction but also functional impairments due to abnormal gait parameters, decreased gait velocity, and poor balance. Despite a number of previous studies, the effect of SRD on the postsurgical recovery of these patients is still not clear.

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.

Determinants of improvement in functional abilities in peripheral neuropathy patients undergoing rehabilitation: the role of Berg Balance Scale items.

Purpose: This prospective observational cohort study aimed to verify whether single Berg Balance Scale (BBS) items were important determinants of improvement in functional abilities in patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN).

Methods: Data were collected in 75 older patients with PN performing a standard motor rehabilitation program. Backward stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of outcome measures.

Predictive factors of functional abilities in older patients with peripheral neuropathy.

Background And Aims: Little is known about the outcome predictors in peripheral neuropathy (PN). This prospective observational study aimed to identify possible factors predicting the functional abilities in older patients with PN undergoing motor rehabilitation.

Methods: Data were collected in 80 PN patients, aged over 65 years, performing a standard inpatient motor rehabilitation program.

Predictors of balance in older hip fracture patients undergoing standard motor rehabilitation.

Purpose: Little is known about the factors predicting balance in hip fracture patients. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to assess balance before and after inpatient rehabilitation and, secondarily, to identify factors predicting the balance levels in older hip fracture patients after motor rehabilitation.

Methods: Data were collected in 124 hip fracture patients over a 2-year period.

Pain, disability and adherence to home exercises in patients with chronic neck pain: long term effects of phone surveillance. A randomized controlled study.

Background: Effectiveness of phone surveillance and other communication technologies in the management of neck pain patients have been evaluated previously only at the suspension of the service.

Aim: To verify whether a phone surveillance program can improve pain, disability, and adherence to home exercises in neck pain patients, and whether the improvement achieved continues to be maintained also after suspension of the support.

Design: This is a randomized controlled study.

Functional recovery in hip fracture patients: the role of pharmacotherapy.

Background And Aim: The aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to verify the relationship between number of drugs used and functional outcome in hip fracture patients undergoing rehabilitation.

Methods: This study was conducted on 139 patients with hip fracture who underwent a rehabilitation program. Efficiency rate in the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and length of stay (LOS) were the outcome measures.

Conservative treatment of rotator cuff tear in older patients: a role for the cycloergometer? A randomized study.

Background: To date, there are no published data on the use of devices in the management of rotator cuff tear (RCT).

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supervised arm cycloergometer training on pain during activities and shoulder functionality in patients with symptomatic full-thickness RCT.

Design: This is a prospective randomized controlled pilot study.

Determinants of functional outcome in hip fracture: the role of comorbidity.

Background And Aims: Executed studies did not clearly identify which index of comorbidity was an independent outcome determinant. The aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to address this issue.

Methods: We analyzed 200 consecutive patients with hip fracture.

Functional Recovery After Rotator Cuff Repair: The Role of Biceps Surgery.

Context: Surgical cuff repair is recommended in a full-thickness rotator cuff tear when nonoperative treatment fails. Surgical cuff repair can include surgery of the long head of the biceps when concomitant biceps pathology is present. However, the studies executed up till now have not yet clearly defined if additional biceps surgery affects the shoulder functionality in patients who underwent rotator cuff repair.

Home-Based Telemedicine in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain.

Objective: To investigate if a structured physician-directed, nurse-managed, home-based telemedicine (HBT) program, consisting of scheduled/unscheduled phone surveillance, can reduce pain in patients with chronic neck pain.

Design: This is a prospective randomized controlled study conducted on outpatients. Following outpatient rehabilitation, patients (n = 100) were consecutively randomized to a 6-month HBT program (HBT group) or no HBT but only the recommendation to continue exercising at home (control group).

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.

Functional course of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, characterized by aggressive deterioration of white matter pathways throughout the subcortical brain parenchyma. This disease leads the patient to a total dependence in all activities of daily (ADLs) living in few months. The literature on rehabilitation of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is scanty and, at present, it is unknown whether rehabilitation may modify the course of disability in this disease.

Prediction of functional outcomes in stroke patients: the role of motor patterns according to limb synergies.

Background And Aims: To address the relationships among motor patterns evaluated according to the limb synergies and functional outcomes in stroke patients and clarify which motor pattern was the most important predictor of functional outcomes.

Methods: The study was conducted on 208 patients with primary diagnosis of stroke admitted for in-hospital rehabilitation. At entry, the Fugl-Meyer Scale was administered to assess motor function according to limb synergies.

Determinants of outcome in hip fracture: role of daily living activities.

Background: Very few studies have investigated activities of daily living (ADLs) post hip-surgery as a possible determinant of functional outcome after hip fracture.

Aim: This prospective, observational study aimed to correlate hip-fracture patients' ADLs on admission to in-hospital rehabilitation with their functional outcome post-rehabilitation.

Methods: Of 216 consecutive hip-fracture patients admitted to our Rehabilitation Unit, 204 patients were eligible for the final analyses.

Determinants of functional outcome in hip fracture patients: the role of specific neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Background: The correlation between single neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional outcome in hip fracture patients is little investigated in the literature, and it is not yet established which neuropsychiatric symptoms are the most important determinants of functional outcome.

Aim: To determine which neuropsychiatric symptoms are the most important determinants of functional outcome.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out in 204 consecutive patients with primary diagnosis of hip fracture admitted to our Rehabilitation Unit for a course of rehabilitation.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and rehabilitation outcomes in patients with hip fracture.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between functional recovery and neuropsychiatric symptoms in hip fracture patients undergoing in-hospital rehabilitation. Very few studies have extensively evaluated neuropsychiatric symptoms in hip fracture patients, and the relationship between these symptoms and rehabilitation outcome is not yet clearly defined.

Design: This study was conducted on 200 patients with hip fracture who underwent a rehabilitation program.

Low back pain radiating to the leg: an atypical cause.

This study reports the case of a 47-year old female with low back pain radiating to groin and anterior regions of the left thigh and leg. At symptoms onset, electromyography showed left L3-L4 radiculopathy, and nuclear magnetic resonance revealed disc protrusion at the same level with impingement of the spinal nerve root. The clinical symptoms were ascribed to lumbar disco-radicular conflict.

Corticosteroids injection in rotator cuff tears in elderly patient: pain outcome prediction.

Aim: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of corticosteroids intra-articular injections on pain in patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT), and to identify predictors for pain outcomes.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with RCT were enrolled. All patients underwent rehabilitation; 20 patients received a single intra-articular injection of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide and 20 patients had a repeat injection at a 21-day interval.

Determinants in predicting duration of treatment in an out-patient rehabilitation orthopedic-traumatologic service.

Background: Duration of rehabilitation is an important rehabilitation clinical outcome both from a clinical and administrative point of view. Very few studies have looked at predictors oftreatment duration in out-patient rehabilitation setting especially in patients with orthopedic-traumatologic conditions.

Aim: We undertook a prospective study to assess treatment duration and identify variables predicting this outcome measure (primary outcome) and efficiency in range of motion and activities of daily living (secondary outcome).

[Rehabilitative and economic effectiveness of an outpatient rehabilition practice].

Unlabelled: Up to date studies have assessed costs and outcomes of rehabilitation in outpatients. Aim of the current prospective study was to evaluate the rehabilitative and economical effectiveness of an outpatient rehabilitative practice.

Methods: The study was performed in 349 patients admitted for rehabilitation due to sequelae of orthopaedic surgery (repair of rotator cuff tear, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction), limbs fracture (should, wrist, foot), whiplash neck pain, and chronic spinal pain (low back pain and neck pain).

A case of very rapid progressive ataxia in rehabilitation setting.

Aim: To describe the unusual course of a patient with cerebellar ataxia who underwent rehabilitation.

Method: At admission, the patient underwent motor rehabilitation and assessment by Tinetti Assessment, Klockgether Score, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Trunk Control Test, Fugl-Meyer Scale, Barthel Index, and Mini Mental State Examination.

Results: The patient showed very rapid and severe decline of motor and functional tests during the first month of hospitalization and complete dependence in <2 months, despite rehabilitation.

Predicting outcome after stroke: the role of basic activities of daily living predicting outcome after stroke.

Background: Very few studies have investigated the influence of single activities of daily living (ADL) at admission as possible predictors of functional outcome after rehabilitation.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to investigate admission functional status and performance of basic ADLs as assessed by Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale as possible predictors of motor and functional outcome after stroke during inpatient rehabilitation.

Design: This is a prospective and observational study.