Uncontrolled manifold hypothesis: Organization of leg joint variance in humans while walking in a wide range of speeds.

This study aimed at investigating the organization of joint angle variability during walking by using the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) theory. We tested two hypotheses: i. the coordinative mechanism underlying joint angle variance during the stance phase is compatible with a kinematic synergy that stabilizes the centre of mass (CoM) position; ii.

Spatio-temporal parameters and intralimb coordination patterns describing hemiparetic locomotion at controlled speed.

Background: Comparison between healthy and hemiparetic gait is usually carried out while subjects walk overground at preferred speed. This generates bias due to the lack of uniformity across selected speeds because they reflect the great variability of the functional level of post-stroke patients. This study aimed at examining coordinative adaptations during walking in response to unilateral brain damage, while homologous participants walked at two fixed speeds.

Reported quality of randomized controlled trials in neglect rehabilitation.

The aim of this study is to assess the reported quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of neglect rehabilitation using a standardized scale. A search of seven electronic databases was carried out. Selected articles were scored using the PEDro scale and classified as high or low quality study both with the original cut off of 6 and a modified cut off of 5.

Types of article published in physiotherapy journals: a quantitative analysis.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify and assess the types of research and review articles published in physiotherapy professional journals with international circulations.

Method: Selected articles from nine physiotherapy journals in a period of five years were classified according to their study design.

Results: A total number of 1627 articles were included in this study of which 205 (12.

During walking elders increase efforts at proximal joints and keep low kinetics at the ankle.

Background: Both ageing and speed definitely affect gait patterns. Since most of the comparisons between young and elderly people while walking have been carried out at different "self-selected" speeds, results might be biased by a lack of control of the effects of both the concomitant issues. Therefore, further investigations aimed at separating the influence of both the sources of variability are required.

Scale for contraversive pushing: cutoff scores for diagnosing "pusher behavior" and construct validity.

Background And Purpose: Considerable disagreement exists among researchers with regard to the prevalence, pathophysiology, and treatment of "pusher behavior" (PB), partly because of different testing procedures. This study was primarily aimed at establishing cutoff scores for and the construct validity of the Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP). The prevalence of PB in people with right- and left-brain lesions also was investigated.

Pusher behaviour: a critical review of controversial issues.

Despite an increasing interest by researchers and clinicians, the pusher behaviour (PB) is still a poorly understood disorder, exhibited by some stroke patients, who push with their non-affected limbs towards the contralesional side and resist attempts at correction of their tilted posture. This review is aimed at critically summarizing findings on controversial issues regarding PB, namely correlation with neglect, neural correlates and underlying mechanisms. There is a growing agreement that PB reflects some misrepresentation of verticality.

Subtle neurological abnormalities as risk factors for cognitive and functional decline, cerebrovascular events, and mortality in older community-dwelling adults.

Background: Subtle, but clinically detectable, neurological abnormalities (SNAs) are associated with impaired physical performance in elderly persons without overt neurological diseases. We investigated whether SNAs were prospectively associated with cognitive and functional status, death, and cerebrovascular events (CVEs) in older community-dwelling individuals.

Methods: In participants without history of stroke, parkinsonism and dementia, or cognitive impairment, a score (N(SNA)) was obtained by summing SNAs detected with a simple neurological examination.

Recovery from stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background And Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is recognized as an important risk factor for stroke and might theoretically influence post-stroke level of disability, increasing the extension of the cerebral injured area. However, results of the few researches aimed at studying this influence are contradictory; moreover, the effect of DM on motor recovery has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of DM on both functional and motor recovery.

Cognitive and functional impairment in hypertensive brain microangiopathy.

Brain microangiopathy, whose neuroimaging expression is represented by age-related white matter changes (ARWMC), is largely due to hypertension and it is, in turn, responsible for geriatric syndromes, including decline in cognitive, functional and motor/gait abilities. This review analyzes the link between hypertension and ARWMC, as well as the complex relationships between ARWMC and cognitive impairment, executive dysfunction, and movement/gait abnormalities. The available evidence supports the hypothesis that these functional consequences of ARWMC are responsible for substantial disability in the elderly.

The scale for contraversive pushing: A reliability and validity study.

Objective: Pushing toward the hemiplegic side can interfere with mobility training after stroke. This study estimated the internal consistency, interrater reliability, and validity of the Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP).

Methods: Twenty-six patients with recent stroke were diagnosed with pusher behavior (PB).

Effectiveness of fingertip light contact in reducing postural sway in older people.

Background And Objective: haptic cues from fingertip light touch (LT) with a stationary surface reduce postural sway even at non-mechanically supportive force levels. Aim of this study was to determine the effects of LT on postural sway in older compared with younger persons.

Subjects: twenty young (age 20-29, mean 23.

[Cardiac rehabilitation in the elderly].

Cardiac rehabilitation is an integral component of secondary prevention, and is indicated for patients with a wide variety of cardiac conditions, ranging from coronary artery disease to chronic heart failure. Best results are obtained with integrated, multicomponent cardiac rehabilitation programs, which include exercise training together with counseling and psychosocial measures that may help patients maintain sustained changes toward a more healthy lifestyle. Evidence from randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses supports the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation on clinically relevant outcomes such as reduced long-term morbidity and mortality, enhanced functional profile and improved control of cardiovascular risk factors.

Glenohumeral subluxation in hemiplegia: An overview.

This review summarizes the recent advances in glenohumeral subluxation (GHS) in hemiplegic patients and analyzes the reliability and validity of clinical evaluation and the effectiveness of different treatment approaches. GHS, a common complication of stroke, can be considered an important risk factor for shoulder pain and other problems. GHS is a complex phenomenon, and its pathomechanics are not yet fully understood.