Exploring Perceptions of Physical Activity in Individuals Newly Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Physical activity is essential in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is limited evidence regarding the unique barriers individuals newly diagnosed with MS face. The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand the perspectives of persons newly diagnosed with MS about physical activity.

Reliability and variability of self-reported physical activity and exercise self-efficacy measures among people with Parkinson disease.

Purpose: To explore reliability and inherent variability of physical activity (PA) and exercise self-efficacy (ESE) questionnaires and association of PA with ESE in people with Parkinson disease (PwP).

Material And Methods: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire (BLPAQ), and ESE data were collected from 30 PwP (NCT049222190). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) were calculated to determine test-retest reliability and inherent variability.

An interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease: case series.

Interdisciplinary care is increasingly promoted to enhance satisfaction and outcomes for individuals with complex medical conditions, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). However, there is little research on the feasibility or efficacy of interdisciplinary care in clinical settings. And, while the use of an integrated team of allied health professionals has the potential to provide significant health benefits to individuals with PD, there are educational and logistical barriers to the use of interdisciplinary care in clinical settings.

A Wearable Vibratory Device (The Emma Watch) to Address Action Tremor in Parkinson Disease: Pilot Feasibility Study.

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that has a wide range of motor symptoms, such as tremor. Tremors are involuntary movements that occur in rhythmic oscillations and are typically categorized into rest tremor or action tremor. Action tremor occurs during voluntary movements and is a debilitating symptom of PD.

Measuring Physical Activity in Children Who Do Not Walk and With Cerebral Palsy: An Exploratory Case Series.

Aim: The purpose of this case series was to describe physical activity (PA) amount and intensity in the home and school environment. Accelerometers and heart rate (HR) monitors are reliable and valid measures of PA in children with cerebral palsy (CP) who can walk. There is limited research on PA measures in children with CP who cannot walk.

Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Care for Historically Marginalized Communities Affected by Parkinson Disease: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Members of the Black Diaspora (MBD) and Hispanic/Latinx people are less likely to receive a timely diagnosis following the onset of symptoms and more likely to experience greater disease severity due to late diagnosis. Historically marginalized populations (i.

A Preliminary Study of Voluntary Cough Motor Performance and Learning With Skill Training and Biofeedback.

Purpose: Sensorimotor cough skill training (CST) has been shown to improve cough strength, as well as facilitate changes during training (i.e., motor performance) and generalization to untrained tasks (i.

An Individualized Yoga Intervention for People with Functional Neurological Disorder: Case Series.

Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a heterogeneous condition of neurological symptoms that cannot be linked to a specific neurological cause. Yoga combines movement, breathing, and meditation and has established mind-body effects for people who are managing both psychological and neurological conditions. This case series describes key components of a yoga program for people with FND, evaluating feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy via self-report surveys, clinical assessments, and postintervention interview.

Characterizing Heart Rate Variability Response to Maximal Exercise Testing in People with Huntington's Disease.

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disease that involves dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Heart rate variability (HRV) is a valid and noninvasive measure for ANS dysfunction, yet no study has characterized HRV response to exercise in people with HD.

Objective: Characterize HRV response to exercise in individuals with HD and explore its implications for exercise prescription and cardiac dysautonomia mechanisms.

Development of a Physical Therapy Telehealth Examination Battery for People with Parkinson Disease.

Scope: The rapid transition to telehealth following the COVID-19 pandemic raised challenges for remote delivery of physical therapy. One challenge was identifying outcome measures for people with Parkinson Disease (PwP) that could safely be conducted via telehealth. This paper evaluates the feasibility of a telehealth physical therapy examination battery for PwP in early to middle stage of disease progression.

Using Smartphone Sensors for Ataxia Trials: Consensus Guidance by the Ataxia Global Initiative Working Group on Digital-Motor Biomarkers.

Smartphone sensors are used increasingly in the assessment of ataxias. To date, there is no specific consensus guidance regarding a priority set of smartphone sensor measurements, or standard assessment criteria that are appropriate for clinical trials. As part of the Ataxia Global Initiative Digital-Motor Biomarkers Working Group (AGI WG4), aimed at evaluating key ataxia clinical domains (gait/posture, upper limb, speech and oculomotor assessments), we provide consensus guidance for use of internal smartphone sensors to assess key domains.

Validity and reliability of inertial measurement units for gait assessment within a post stroke population.

Background: The ability to objectively measure spatiotemporal metrics within individuals post-stroke is integral to plan appropriate intervention, track recovery, and ultimately improve efficacy of rehabilitation programs. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) provide a means to systematically collect gait-specific metrics that could not otherwise be obtained from clinical outcomes. However, the use of IMUs to measure spatiotemporal parameters in stroke survivors has yet to be validated.

Safety and efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation for the upper extremities in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review.

Aim: To evaluate available evidence examining safety and efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) on upper extremity outcomes in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: We electronically searched 12 sources up to May 2023 using JBI and Cochrane guidelines. Two reviewers selected articles with predetermined eligibility criteria, conducted data extraction, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias criteria.

Physical Activity and Fitness Levels of Individuals With Ataxia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: To investigate physical activity levels of individuals with ataxia and correlate fitness to ataxia severity.

Design: An observational study SETTING: An outpatient ataxia clinic in a large, tertiary, urban hospital in the US.

Participants: Individuals with cerebellar ataxia (N=42).

Wearable activity monitors to support physical activity interventions in neurodegenerative disease: a feasibility study.

To evaluate the feasibility of using activity monitors in a physical activity (PA) intervention in people with Parkinson's (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). People with early-stage PD (n = 13) and HD (n = 14) enrolled in a 4-month coaching program, wore a Fitbit, and were guided through a behavioral intervention to facilitate PA uptake. Wear time, wear habits and activity metrics (e.

Coordination of Care Among Physical Therapists and Neurologists in Huntington Disease.

This study presents a framework for physical therapy through the course of Huntington disease (HD) which includes coordinated care plans with neurologists. HD is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder that leads to impaired strength and coordination and ultimately progressive loss of function. Interdisciplinary HD care teams provide patient-centered, comprehensive evaluations and make recommendations for pharmacologic, healthcare, and lifestyle interventions based on best available evidence.

Physical Activity Coaching via Telehealth for People With Parkinson Disease: A Cohort Study.

Background And Purpose: Physical activity (PA) has many known benefits for people with Parkinson disease (PD); however, many people do not meet recommended levels of frequency or intensity. We designed Engage-PD, a PA coaching program delivered via telehealth and grounded in self-determination theory to promote PA uptake and facilitate exercise self-efficacy in people with Parkinson disease. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of Engage-PD, and to explore whether baseline characteristics were associated with outcomes.

Clinical Decision Trees to Guide Physical Therapy Management of Persons with Huntington's Disease.

Background: In 2020, our group published physical therapy clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for people with Huntington's disease (HD). The guideline recommendations were categorized according to six primary movement impairment classifications.

Objective: To facilitate implementation of this CPG, we have developed guideline-based algorithms for physical therapy assessments and interventions and recommendations for therapists to overcome barriers to CPG implementation for people with HD.

Dance interventions for individuals post-stroke - a scoping review.

Background: There is a growing body of literature assessing the potential benefits of dance for individuals post-stroke.

Objectives: We conducted a scoping review mapping the state of the literature on feasibility, intervention procedures, and efficacy of dance to improve health-related outcomes for individuals post-stroke.

Eligibility Criteria: Included studies were original research that described the use of a dance intervention for individuals post-stroke, included any health-related outcome, and were written in English.