A randomized controlled trial of supervised versus unsupervised exercise programs for ambulatory stroke survivors.

Background And Purpose: Little is known about the relative efficacy of supervised versus unsupervised community exercise programs for stroke survivors. This study compared the effectiveness of a 10-week supervised strengthening and conditioning program (supervised) with a 1-week supervised instruction program followed by a 9-week unsupervised home program (unsupervised) and evaluated retention of changes at 6 months and 1 year after program completion.

Methods: Seventy-two subjects retained at baseline (27 women, 45 men; mean+/-SD age, 64.

Electromyographic and kinematic nondisabled gait differences at extremely slow overground and treadmill walking speeds.

This study compared the kinematic and electromyographic (EMG) gait patterns of able-bodied adults at natural speed in contrast to extremely slow overground and treadmill walking speeds. Kinematic and EMG data were collected at three speeds (self-selected, 0.30 m/s, and 0.

Effect of 4-aminopyridine on gait in ambulatory spinal cord injuries: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Unlabelled: Animal and human research have shown that the drug 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) may improve gait in spinal cord lesions by enhancing nerve transmission to affected muscles.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of 4-AP in improving lower limb muscle strength and biomechanical gait patterns of chronic spinal cord injuries (SCI).

Electromyographic versus rhythmic positional biofeedback in computerized gait retraining with stroke patients.

This research provides a preliminary investigation of the relative efficacy of electromyographic (EMG) versus a novel biofeedback (BFB) approach to improve ankle control and functional gait in stroke patients. A computerized system was designed to provide audiovisual feedback of either muscle activity or ankle position during dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. The novel approach also included rhythmic pacing to emphasize the rapid timing of ankle motion necessary to switch from stance to swing during walking.

Transversalis fascia-Cooper ligament vs. ileopubic tract repair for medial inguinal hernia.

In a prospective randomized study of 171 patients, transversalis fascia-Cooper ligament (McVay) repair of medial inguinal hernia was compared with transversalis fascia-ileopubic tract (Ottsen) repair. After median follow-up of 5 years, the total recurrence rate was 9% (95% confidence interval 4-17) following McVay repair and 15% (9-25) following the Ottsen operation. The difference was not statistically significant, but the analysis showed that, whereas the recurrence rate associated with McVay herniorrhaphy was almost constant after 2 years, recurrences continued to appear after Ottsen repair.