Why we need a representative organization of academic PRM in Europe, and why we need it now.

The growing relevance of rehabilitation in healthcare to address increasing patient needs necessitates robust Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) integration into medical education and practice. Academic PRM, rooted in medical faculties, is vital for developing the medical speciality as an academic discipline across Europe, where it faces challenges, including limited representation in medical schools and competition for resources with established disciplines. This commentary advocates establishing a representative organization for academic PRM in Europe.

Cardiac rehabilitation for patients with obesity: lessons learned from the OPTICARE XL trial.

Obesity is a known and commonly encountered risk factor for the development of cardiac diseases. Patients with cardiac diseases who also have obesity do not benefit optimally from standard cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs. Exercises performed during CR are not the best fit for patients with obesity and counselling sessions often do not address their specific needs.

End-of-life decisions and involvement of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Physicians in Europe.

Objective: As Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine physicians are experts in functional prognoses of disabling health conditions, the aim of this study was to gain insight into their involvement in end-of-life decisions in patients with neurological or terminal diseases in European countries.

Design: Exploratory cross-sectional survey.

Subjects: Delegates of the Union of European Medical Specialists, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Section.

Effects of a Dedicated Cardiac Rehabilitation Program for Patients With Obesity on Body Weight, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Physical Fitness: The OPTICARE XL Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Previously published results of the OPTICARE XL open label randomized controlled trial showed no added value of OPTICARE XL CR, a dedicated cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program for patients with obesity, with respect to health-related quality of life (primary outcome). This clinical trial studied the effects of OPTICARE XL CR on several secondary outcomes, which included body weight, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and physical fitness.

Methods: Patients with coronary artery disease or atrial fibrillation and body mass index ≥ 30 were randomized to OPTICARE XL CR (n = 102) or standard CR (n = 99).

Cardiac rehabilitation designed for patients with obesity: OPTICARE XL RCT results on health-related quality of life and psychosocial well-being.

We studied the effectiveness of a new cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program developed for patients with obesity compared with standard CR on HRQOL and psychosocial well-being. OPTICARE XL was a multicentre RCT in patients with cardiac disease and obesity (Netherlands Trial Register: NL5589). Patients were randomized to OPTICARE XL CR ( = 102) or standard CR ( = 99).

Pain, fatigue, depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance in young adults with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Investigate pain, fatigue, depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance in young adults with cerebral palsy compared to references.

Materials And Methods: Young adults with cerebral palsy ( = 97, aged 21-34 years) and age-matched references from the general population ( = 190) rated pain using a numeric rating scale and fatigue, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance and global health using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® short forms. Scores were compared between cerebral palsy subgroups and the reference population.

Blood pressure in adults with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to determine the overall mean blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension among a representative sample of adults living with cerebral palsy by combining individual participant data. Additional objectives included estimating variations between subgroups and investigating potential risk factors for hypertension.

Methods: Potential datasets were identified by literature searches for studies published between January 2000 and November 2017 and by experts in the field.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Cardiac Rehabilitation: Does Body Mass Index Matter?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) class and physical activity and sedentary behavior in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the OPTICARE trial. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured in participants with ACS (n = 359) using actigraphy at baseline, directly after completion of a multidisciplinary 12-week exercise-based CR program and 9 months thereafter.

Health-related quality of life and cardiac rehabilitation: Does body mass index matter?

Objective: To investigate the relation between body mass index class and changes in health-related quality of life in patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Patients: A total of 503 patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Developing an ICF Core Set for adults with cerebral palsy: A Global expert survey of relevant functions and contextual factors.

Objective: To identify areas of functioning in adults with cerebral palsy that are considered relevant by experts, in order to develop an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for adults with cerebral palsy.

Participants: Experts from various professional backgrounds worldwide who had experience working with adults with cerebral palsy for ≥2 years and were able to complete the survey in the English language.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using an international internet-based survey.

The role of botulinum toxin in multimodal treatment of spasticity in ambulatory children with spastic Cerebral Palsy: extensive evaluation of a cost-effectiveness trial.

Background: A cost-effectiveness trial (the Space Bop study) on the added value of botulinum toxin injections (BoNT-A) in the leg muscles, as part of a multimodal intervention for ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy in the context of a single distinct cycle of care was performed recently by our group. For a broad set of effect outcomes, we found that BoNT-A had no added value if children received comprehensive rehabilitation. However, this counterintuitive finding was met with scepticism.

Covid-19 and Post Intensive Care Syndrome: A Call for Action.

Although we are currently overwhelmed by the astonishing speed of infection of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the daily onslaught of new, and ever-worsening predictions, it is vital that we begin to prepare for the aftershocks of the pandemic. Prominent among this will be the cohort of post-intensive case survivors who have been mechanically ventilated and will like experience short- and medium-term consequences. The notion that patients surviving intensive care and mechanical ventilation for several weeks can be discharged home without further medical attention is a dangerous illusion.

Epidemiology of Cerebral Palsy in Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Most Frequently Studied Outcomes.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of health status, impairments, activities and participation in adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Data Sources: Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched for 3 themes ("cerebral palsy," "adult," and "outcome assessment") in literature published between January 2000 and December 2018.

Study Selection: Full-article peer-reviewed English journal articles on descriptive, observational, or experimental studies describing the most studied outcomes in adults with CP (n≥25, age≥18y) were included.

Entering the labor market: increased employment rates of young adults with chronic physical conditions after a vocational rehabilitation program.

Purpose: Employment of young adults with chronic physical conditions entering the labor market after finishing post-secondary education remains behind compared to typically developing peers. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in their paid employment levels after following a vocational rehabilitation intervention ('At Work').

Materials And Methods: Participants aged between 16 and 27 years ( = 90) were recruited via rehabilitation physicians and a jobcoach agency and participated in a vocational rehabilitation program.

Energy Conservation Management for People With Multiple Sclerosis-Related Fatigue: Who Benefits?

Objective: We investigated whether demographic, disease-related, or personal baseline determinants can predict a positive response to energy conservation management (ECM).

Method: We conducted a secondary analysis of a single-blind, two-parallel-arms randomized controlled trial that included ambulatory adults with severe MS-related fatigue. Therapy responders and nonresponders were categorized by Checklist Individual Strength fatigue change scores between baseline and end of treatment.

Outcomes in adults with cerebral palsy: systematic review using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

Aim: In the context of the development of an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for adults with cerebral palsy (CP), this systematic review sought to identify the outcome measures used in studies on adults with CP, to examine their content using the ICF as a reference, and to demonstrate the most studied areas in this population.

Method: Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched for studies on adults with CP published between 2000 and 2017. Meaningful concepts of commonly used outcome measures were linked to the ICF, and frequencies of resultant ICF categories were explored.

A secondary analysis of data from the OPTICARE randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of extended cardiac rehabilitation on functional capacity, fatigue, and participation in society.

Objective: In this secondary analysis of data from the OPTICARE trial, we compared the effects of two behavioral interventions integrated into cardiac rehabilitation to standard rehabilitation with regard to functional capacity, fatigue, and participation in society.

Design: This is a randomized controlled trial.

Setting: This study was conducted in a cardiac rehabilitation setting.

Effect of different operationalizations of sedentary behavior in people with chronic stroke.

Sedentary behavior is common in people with stroke and has devastating impact on their health. Quantifying it is important to provide people with stroke with adequate physical behavior recommendations. Sedentary behavior can be quantified in terms of posture (sitting) or intensity (low energy expenditure).

Physical behaviour is weakly associated with physical fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis-related fatigue.

Background: Fatigue affects 80% of persons with multiple sclerosis and is associated with daily physical functioning. Both fatigue and physical behaviour are multidimensional concepts.

Objective: To study the association between the dimensions of physical behaviour and multiple sclerosis-related fatigue.

Intramuscular botulinum toxin prior to comprehensive rehabilitation has no added value for improving motor impairments, gait kinematics and goal attainment in walking children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Objective: Botulinum toxin (BoNT-A) is widely used in combined treatment for spastic cerebral palsy, but its added value preceding comprehensive rehabilitation for motor impairments, gait, and goal attainment has not been studied.

Design: A comparative multi-centre trial, in which two groups underwent comprehensive rehabilitation (i.e.

The Accuracy of the Detection of Body Postures and Movements Using a Physical Activity Monitor in People after a Stroke.

Background: In stroke rehabilitation not only are the levels of physical activity important, but body postures and movements performed during one’s daily-life are also important. This information is provided by a new one-sensor accelerometer that is commercially available, low-cost, and user-friendly. The present study examines the accuracy of this activity monitor (Activ8) in detecting several classes of body postures and movements in people after a stroke.

Development and validation of a clinically applicable arm use monitor for people after stroke.

Objective: To develop and validate a clinically applicable and easy-to-use accelerometry-based device to measure arm use in people after stroke; the Activ8 arm use monitor (Activ8-AUM).

Design: Development and validation study.

Patients: A total of 25 people at different stages of rehabilitation after stroke were included in this study.

Oxygen delivery is not a limiting factor during post-exercise recovery in healthy young adults.

Purpose: It is still equivocal whether oxygen uptake recovery kinetics are limited by oxygen delivery and can be improved by supplementary oxygen. The present study aimed to investigate whether measurements of muscle and pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics can be used to assess oxygen delivery limitations in healthy subjects.

Methods: Sixteen healthy young adults performed three sub-maximal exercise tests (6 min at 40% W) under hypoxic (14%O), normoxic (21%O) and hyperoxic (35%O) conditions on separate days in randomized order.