Constant torque stretching in ankle contractures results in greater changes in range of motion than constant angle or dynamic stretching: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To investigate the acute (directly post-stretching) and long-term (≥1 week of treatment) effects of stretching type, duration, and intensity on joint range of motion (ROM) and stiffness in ankle contractures.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase.com, Clarivate Analytics/Web of Science Core Collection, EBSCO/SPORTDiscus, and EBSCO/CINAHL were searched for studies published in English from inception until September 12, 2023.

The relationship between walking speed, step parameters, and margins of stability in individuals after stroke.

Background: Individuals after stroke walk with different step parameters and consequently with different margins of stability compared to able-bodied peers. These differences might be a side effect of lower preferred walking speeds or primary limitations in regulating step parameters and margins of stability after stroke.

Methods: Twenty-eight individuals after stroke (separated into more impaired and less impaired based on speed) and fourteen able-bodied peers completed five walking trials on an instrumented treadmill at 70 %, 85 %, 100 %, 115 %, and 130 % of their preferred speed.

OPTIMAL Motor Teaching Strategies Employed in Physiotherapy for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: An Observational Study.

Aims: To describe the teaching strategies that physiotherapists currently employ in individual therapy sessions for children with DCD using the OPTIMAL theory for motor learning as a framework, focused on (1) autonomy (supporting autonomy vs. therapist-controlled), (2) expectancies (enhancing vs. lowering expectancies), and (3) attention (promoting an internal vs.

Comparison of rolling resistance, propulsion technique and physiological demands between a rigid, folding and hybrid manual wheelchair frame.

Background: When selecting a manual wheelchair frame, the choice between rigid and folding frames carries significant implications. Traditional folding frames are expected to have more rolling resistance and power dissipation caused by frame deformation, while they are more convenient for transportation, such as in a car. A new hybrid frame, designed to be more rigid, aims to minimize power dissipation while still retaining foldability.

Clinical indications and protocol considerations for selecting initial body weight support levels in gait rehabilitation: a systematic review.

Background: Body weight support (BWS) training devices are frequently used to improve gait in individuals with neurological impairments, but guidance in selecting an appropriate level of BWS is limited. Here, we aim to describe the initial BWS levels used during gait training, the rationale for this selection and the clinical goals aligned with BWS training for different diagnoses.

Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, including terms related to the population (individuals with neurological disorders), intervention (BWS training) and outcome (gait).

Application of ultrasound to monitor in vivo residual bone movement within transtibial prosthetic sockets.

Transtibial prosthetic users do often struggle to achieve an optimal prosthetic fit, leading to residual limb pain and stump-socket instability. Prosthetists face challenges in objectively assessing the impact of prosthetic adjustments on residual limb loading. Understanding the mechanical behaviour of the pseudo-joint formed by the residual bone and prosthesis may facilitate prosthetic adjustments and achieving optimal fit.

Human-in-the-loop optimization of rocker shoes via different cost functions during walking.

Personalised footwear could be used to enhance the function of the foot-ankle complex to a person's maximum. Human-in-the-loop optimization could be used as an effective and efficient way to find a personalised optimal rocker profile (i.e.

Clinimetric Properties of the Steep Ramp Test to Assess Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Its Underlying Physiological Responses, and Its Current Applications: A Scoping Review.

Objective: Providing an overview of the clinimetric properties of the steep ramp test (SRT)-a short-term maximal exercise test-to assess cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), describing its underlying physiological responses, and summarizing its applications in current clinical and research practice.

Data Sources: MEDLINE (through PubMed), CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched for studies published up to July 2023, using keywords for SRT and CRF.

Study Selection: Eligible studies involved the SRT as research subject or measurement instrument and were available as full text articles in English or Dutch.

Cardiorespiratory fitness in persons with lower limb amputation.

The aim of this study is to gain insight in the cardiorespiratory fitness of persons with lower limb amputation (LLA) during rehabilitation, and in potential factors influencing their cardiorespiratory fitness. We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Included participants were adults with LLA.

Biomechanical Load of Neck and Lumbar Joints in Open-Surgery Training.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) like neck and back pain is high among open-surgery surgeons. Prolonged working in the same posture and unfavourable postures are biomechanical risk factors for developing MSS. Ergonomic devices such as exoskeletons are possible solutions that can reduce muscle and joint load.

Force-velocity profiling of elite wheelchair rugby players by manipulating rolling resistance over multiple wheelchair sprints.

This study investigated the effect of increased rolling resistance on wheelchair sprint performance and the concomitant force-velocity characteristics. Thirteen wheelchair rugby (WCR) athletes completed five 15 s wheelchair sprints in their own rugby wheelchair on an instrumented dual-roller wheelchair ergometer. The first sprint was performed against a close to overground resistance and in each of the following sprints, the resistance increased with 80% of that resistance.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Individuals Post-stroke: Reference Values and Determinants.

Objective: To provide reference values of cardiorespiratory fitness for individuals post-stroke in clinical rehabilitation and to gain insight in characteristics related to cardiorespiratory fitness post stroke.

Design: A retrospective cohort study. Reference equations of cardiopulmonary fitness corrected for age and sex for the fifth, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentile were constructed with quantile regression analysis.

Relative Aerobic Load of Daily Activities After Stroke.

Objective: Individuals after stroke are less active, experience more fatigue, and perform activities at a slower pace than peers with no impairments. These problems might be caused by an increased aerobic energy expenditure during daily tasks and a decreased aerobic capacity after stroke. The aim of this study was to quantify relative aerobic load (ie, the ratio between aerobic energy expenditure and aerobic capacity) during daily-life activities after stroke.

Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion Technique in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury With and Without Shoulder Pain: A Cross-sectional Comparison.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare handrim wheelchair propulsion technique between individuals with spinal cord injury with and without shoulder pain.

Design: A cross-sectional study including 38 experienced handrim wheelchair users with spinal cord injury was conducted. Participants were divided into the "shoulder pain" ( n = 15) and "no-shoulder pain" ( n = 23) groups using the Local Musculoskeletal Discomfort scale.

Identification and Quantification of Activities Common to Intensive Care Patients; Development and Validation of a Dual-Accelerometer-Based Algorithm.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate an algorithm that can identify the type, frequency, and duration of activities common to intensive care (IC) patients. Ten healthy participants wore two accelerometers on their chest and leg while performing 14 activities clustered into four protocols (i.e.

Pilot Validation Study of Inertial Measurement Units and Markerless Methods for 3D Neck and Trunk Kinematics during a Simulated Surgery Task.

Surgeons are at high risk for developing musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS), like neck and back pain. Quantitative analysis of 3D neck and trunk movements during surgery can help to develop preventive devices such as exoskeletons. Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) and markerless motion capture methods are allowed in the operating room (OR) and are a good alternative for bulky optoelectronic systems.

Development of a core set of gait features and their potential underlying impairments to assist gait data interpretation in children with cerebral palsy.

Background: The interpretation of clinical gait data in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is time-consuming, requires extensive expertise and often lacks transparency. Here we aimed to develop a set of look-up tables to support this process, linking typical gait features as present in CP to their potential underlying impairments.

Methods: We developed an initial core set of gait features and their potential underlying impairments based on biomechanical reasoning, literature and clinical experience.

Amputation and prosthetics of the lower extremity: The 2020 Dutch evidence-based multidisciplinary guideline.

Background: Lower-limb amputations are rare but debilitating events in the lives of affected persons. Treatment of persons with amputation inherently involves many different health care professions at different stages leading to and after an amputation. There are prevailing clinical questions within the work field related to different facets of care including peri/postoperative aspects, prosthetic components, rehabilitation treatment, and health care processes.

Evaluation of a standardized test protocol to measure wheelchair-specific anaerobic and aerobic exercise capacity in healthy novices on an instrumented roller ergometer.

This study aims to evaluate whether a test protocol with standardized and individualized resistance settings leads to valid wheelchair Wingate tests (WAnT) and graded exercise tests (GXT) in healthy novices. Twenty able-bodied individuals (10M/10F, age 23 ± 2 years, body mass 72 ± 11 kg) performed an isometric strength test, sprint test, WAnT and GXT on a wheelchair ergometer. Using a previously developed set of regression equations, individuals' isometric strength outcome was used to estimate the WAnT result (P30est), from which an effective individual WAnT resistance was derived.

Effectiveness of different extrinsic feedback forms on motor learning in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

Purpose: Motor learning interventions for children with cerebral palsy (CP) that elicit relatively permanent and transferable improvements in motor skill capability are essential. Knowledge is needed about the augmented feedback forms that most effectively promote this. This review aims to collect and analyze the current evidence for the effectiveness of different forms of feedback for motor learning in children with CP to improve motor task performance.

Toward a Standardized and Individualized Laboratory-Based Protocol for Wheelchair-Specific Exercise Capacity Testing in Wheelchair Athletes: A Scoping Review.

Previous studies on handrim wheelchair-specific (an)aerobic exercise capacity in wheelchair athletes have used a diversity of participants, equipment, and protocols. Therefore, test results are difficult to compare among studies. The first aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the populations studied, the equipment and protocols used, and the reported outcomes from all laboratory-based studies on wheelchair-specific exercise capacity in wheelchair athletes.

General estimates of the energy cost of walking in people with different levels and causes of lower-limb amputation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Energy cost of walking (ECw) is an important determinant of walking ability in people with a lower-limb amputation. Large variety in estimates of ECw has been reported, likely because of the heterogeneity of this population in terms of level and cause of amputation and walking speed.

Objectives: To assess (1) differences in ECw between people with and without a lower-limb amputation, and between people with different levels and causes of amputation, and (2) the association between ECw and walking speed.

Mobile App (WHEELS) to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle in Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury or Lower Limb Amputation: Usability and Feasibility Study.

Background: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for wheelchair users' well-being, as it can have a major impact on their daily functioning. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can support a healthy lifestyle; however, these apps are not necessarily suitable for wheelchair users with spinal cord injury or lower limb amputation. Therefore, a new mHealth app (WHEELS) was developed to promote a healthy lifestyle for this population.