Publications by authors named "I M Velstra"

(1) Improving upper limb function is essential for people with tetraplegia. Although promising, technology-assisted upper limb training is understudied in this population. This article describes its implementation in a Swiss spinal cord injury rehabilitation centre and reports on the observed changes.

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Article Synopsis
  • - This study explored the impact of a structured strength-training program on people with paraplegia undergoing primary rehabilitation after an acute spinal cord injury, assessing its feasibility and effectiveness.
  • - Participants engaged in a 10-12 week supervised training regimen, showing significant increases in maximal strength for specific exercises, with completion rates at 71% and high training compliance at 95%.
  • - Despite positive outcomes, the study also noted potential barriers to implementation in clinical settings, including medical complications like surgery and respiratory issues that led to participant exclusion.
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The Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility, and Prehension Version 1 (GRASSP v1) is a validated measure of upper extremity impairment shown to be sensitive and responsive for traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) in both North American (NA) and European (EU) cohorts. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is the quantitative change in an assessment scale that patients perceive as being beneficial. Our aim was to establish the MCID of all subtests of the GRASSP v1 for cervical SCI.

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Background: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) involves spinal cord compression, which causes neurological decline. Neurological impairment in DCM is variable and can involve complex upper limb dysfunction including loss of manual dexterity, hyperreflexia, focal weakness, and sensory impairment. The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score relies on the patients' subjective perceptions, whereas existing objective measures such as strength and sensory testing do not capture subtle changes in dexterity and function.

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