Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Upper Extremity Motor Function in Patients With Stroke.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the treatment effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the motor function of upper extremity in persons with stroke.

Design: This study was a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial. Twenty-six patients due to stroke onset of more than 6 mos were randomly allocated to three groups: transcranial direct current stimulation combined with neuromuscular electrical stimulation group, transcranial direct current stimulation group, or control group.

Mechanism of Fatigue Induced by Different Cycling Paradigms With Equivalent Dosage.

Leg cycling is one of the most common modes of exercise used in athletics and rehabilitation. This study used a novel cycling setting to elucidate the mechanisms, central vs. peripheral fatigue induced by different resistance with equivalent works (wattmin).

Immediate effects of noxious and innocuous thermal stimulation on brain activation in patients with stroke.

Case-control studies have shown that noxious thermal stimulation (TS) can improve arm function in patients with stroke. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this improvement are largely unknown. We explored functional neural activation due to noxious and innocuous TS intervention applied to the paretic arm of patients with stroke.

Influence of Alternate Hot and Cold Thermal Stimulation in Cortical Excitability in Healthy Adults: An MRI Study.

Stroke rehabilitation using alternate hot and cold thermal stimulation (TS) has been reported to improve motor function in hemiplegia; however, the influence of brain excitability induced by TS remains unclear. This study examined cortical activation induced by TS in healthy adults, focusing on motor-related areas. This involved a repeated crossover experimental design with two temperature settings (innocuous TS with alternate heat-pain and cold-pain thermal and noxious TS with alternate heat and cold thermal) testing both arms (left side and right side).

Effects of the hybrid of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and noxious thermal stimulation on upper extremity motor recovery in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and noxious thermal stimulation (NTS) have been developed and incorporated in stroke rehabilitation.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of NMES, NTS, and the hybrid of NMES and NTS ("Hybrid") on motor recovery of upper extremity (UE) for patients with stroke.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation.

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation With Sensory Modulation on Stroke Motor Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To test whether a multistrategy intervention enhanced recovery immediately and longitudinally in patients with severe to moderate upper extremity (UE) paresis.

Design: Double-blind, randomized controlled trial with placebo control.

Setting: Outpatient department of a local medical center.

No Difference Between Noxious and Innocuous Thermal Stimulation on Motor Recovery of Upper Extremity in Patients With Acute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial With 6-Month Follow-up.

Background: Thermal stimulation (TS) has been developed and incorporated into stroke rehabilitation. However, whether noxious and innocuous TS induce the same effects on motor function recovery after stroke is still unknown. A comparative study of different temperature combination regimens is needed.

Effect of thermal stimulation on corticomotor excitability in patients with stroke.

Objective: This study examined the immediate effects of noxious and innocuous thermal stimulation intervention on corticomotor excitability for the paretic arm in patients with stroke.

Design: Sixteen patients with stroke for more than 3 mos were randomly assigned into the experimental and control groups. All participants received the thermal stimulation protocol on the affected arm for 30 mins.

Comparison of the test-retest reliability of the balance computerized adaptive test and a computerized posturography instrument in patients with stroke.

Objective: To compare the test-retest reliabilities of the scores of the Balance Computerized Adaptive Test (CAT) and the Biodex Balance System in patients with stroke.

Design: A repeated-measures design (at a 1-wk interval) was used to examine the test-retest reliabilities of the scores of the Balance CAT and the Biodex Balance System.

Setting: One rehabilitation unit in a local hospital.

Effect of biofeedback cycling training on functional recovery and walking ability of lower extremity in patients with stroke.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of biofeedback cycling training on lower limb functional recovery, walking endurance, and walking speed for patients with chronic stroke. Thirty-one patients with stroke (stroke onset >3 months) were randomly assigned into two groups using a crossover design. One group (N = 16; mean: 53.

Effects of noxious versus innocuous thermal stimulation on lower extremity motor recovery 3 months after stroke.

Objective: To examine the effects of thermal stimulation (TS) on the lower extremity (LE) movement and function in patients with stroke.

Design: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Setting: A university hospital.

Test-retest reproducibility of two short-form balance measures used in individuals with stroke.

The aim of this study is to determine the test-retest reproducibility of the seven-item Short-Form Berg Balance Scale (SFBBS) and the five-item Short-Form Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (SFPASS) in individuals with chronic stroke. Fifty-two chronic stroke patients from two rehabilitation departments were included in the study. Both balance measures were administered twice 7 days apart.

Development of a computerized adaptive testing system of the Fugl-Meyer motor scale in stroke patients.

Objective: To develop a computerized adaptive testing system of the Fugl-Meyer motor scale (CAT-FM) to efficiently and reliably assess motor function in patients with stroke.

Design: First, a simulation study was used to develop and examine the psychometric properties of the CAT-FM. Second, a field study was employed to determine the administration efficiency of the CAT-FM.

Development of a set of functional hierarchical balance short forms for patients with stroke.

Objective: To develop a set of 3 hierarchical balance short forms (HBSF; containing sitting, standing, and stepping forms) to measure balance function in patients with stroke.

Design: First, we developed the HBSF, based on a previous data set, with each short form containing 6 items. Second, we examined the psychometric properties and efficiency of the HBSF.

Optimal scoring methods of hand-strength tests in patients with stroke.

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal scoring methods for measuring strength of the more-affected hand in patients with stroke by examining the effect of reducing measurement errors. Three hand-strength tests of grip, palmar pinch, and lateral pinch were administered at two sessions in 56 patients with stroke. Five scoring methods were used to present the strength scores.

Examining changes in self-perceived quality of life in children and adolescents with physical disability using a longitudinal design.

Purpose:  The study aimed to investigate the changes in self-perceived quality of life (QOL) of children and adolescents with physical disability (PD).

Method:  Two hundred students aged 10-18 with PD were recruited from primary and high schools in Taiwan to participate in this longitudinal study. The Student Version of the Comprehensive Quality of Life Scale (COMQOL-S) was used to measure self-perceived QOL, which was recorded at baseline, and 6, 12 and 18 months post-baseline.

The relative and absolute reliability of leg muscle strength testing by a handheld dynamometer.

To examine the relative and absolute interrater reliability of handheld dynamometers (HHD) for assessing the lower extremity muscle strength, maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of 16 young adults for bilateral hip and knee muscles were tested using the break method. Three MVCs of each muscle group were required for obtaining the muscle strength. Participants' muscle strengths were tested by 2 raters.

Effect of thermal stimulation on upper extremity motor recovery 3 months after stroke.

Background And Purpose: To examine the effect of thermal stimulation (TS) on upper extremity (UE) motor recovery in patients at least 3 months after stroke.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. In addition to regular rehabilitation programs, the experimental group received an UE-TS protocol for 30 minutes per day (3 days/week for 8 weeks); the control group received the same TS protocol on lower extremity.

Psychometric comparisons of 3 functional ambulation measures for patients with stroke.

Background And Purpose: We compared the test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Dynamic Gait Index, the 4-item Dynamic Gait Index, and the Functional Gait Assessment for assessment of walking in patients with stroke.

Methods: Forty-five outpatients participating in the validity and responsiveness study were tested using the 3 walking measures as well as the 10-m walk test, Barthel Index, and Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients. We tested them during the first week, then again after 2 months and 5 months of therapy.

Psychometric comparisons of 4 measures for assessing upper-extremity function in people with stroke.

Background: Functional limitation of the upper extremities is common in patients with stroke. An upper-extremity measure with sound psychometric properties is indispensable for clinical and research use.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the psychometric properties of 4 clinical measures for assessing upper-extremity motor function in people with stroke: the upper-extremity subscale of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Test (UE-FM), the upper-extremity subscale of the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement, the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and the Wolf Motor Function Test.

Influence of testing position on the reliability of hip extensor strength measured by a handheld dynamometer.

Hip extensors belong to an important muscle group that controls standing, walking and other functional activities. The prone position (PP) is commonly used to measure the strength of the hip extensors; however, the reliability of such measurements is poor. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different testing positions, that is, the PP and the prone standing position (PSP), on the reliability of measurements of hip extensor strength.

Psychometric comparisons of 2 versions of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale and 2 versions of the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement.

Objective: To provide empirical justification for selecting motor scales for stroke patients, the authors compared the psychometric properties (validity, responsiveness, test-retest reliability, and smallest real difference [SRD]) of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale (FM), the simplified FM (S-FM), the Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement instrument (STREAM), and the simplified STREAM (S-STREAM).

Methods: For the validity and responsiveness study, 50 inpatients were assessed with the FM and the STREAM at admission and discharge to a rehabilitation department. The scores of the S-FM and the S-STREAM were retrieved from their corresponding scales.

Do physical disabilities affect self-perceived quality of life in adolescents?

Purpose: We examined to what extent physical disabilities (PD) affect self-perceived quality of life (QOL) among adolescents.

Method: A survey was conducted on 157 adolescents (aged 15.6 +/- 1.

The relative and absolute reliability of two balance performance measures in chronic stroke patients.

Purpose: To examine the relative reliability and absolute reliability of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS) in chronic stroke patients.

Method: A total of 52 mild to moderate stroke patients, who had a stroke more than 6 months previously, participated in the study. Both balance measures were administered twice, seven days apart, to the patients.

Discriminative, predictive and evaluative properties of the simplified stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement instrument in patients with stroke.

Objective: To justify the utility of the Simplified Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement Instrument (S-STREAM), we examined the discriminative, predictive and evaluative properties of the 3 subscales of the S-STREAM (i.e. upper-limb movements, lower-limb movements and mobility) in patients after stroke.