The regional development and implementation of home-based stroke rehabilitation using participatory action research.

Purpose: This study aims to overcome the challenges experienced in the regional development and implementation of home-based stroke rehabilitation (HBSR) and to understand the change process needed.

Materials And Methods: Using participatory action research (PAR), participants and researchers collaboratively produced knowledge and took action to improve the offered HBSR. Different methods for data generation and analysis were used, depending on the aim of the PAR phase and the participants' stages of change.

Technology-based interprofessional collaboration in primary care for home rehabilitation of the older adults: A dutch exploratory study.

Primary healthcare professionals face an increasing number of geriatrics patients, and patient care often involves different disciplines. eHealth offers opportunities to support interprofessional collaboration (IPC). This exploratory study aimed to gain insight in 1) IPC in community-based rehabilitation, 2) facilitators and barriers for technology-based IPC and 3) technological IPC solutions envisioned by the primary healthcare professionals An focus group with six primary healthcare professionals and a design thinking session with four participants were conducted.

Using storytelling methodology to identify barriers and facilitators of sustained physical activity in patients with a chronic disease: a qualitative study.

Objectives: To identify implicit and more profound barriers and facilitators and involving context elements to accomplish sustained physical activity (PA) in patients with a chronic disease. Understanding these barriers and facilitators may help develop future strategies to be used by healthcare professionals in primary care to support patients with a chronic disease to reach sustained PA.

Design And Methods: The qualitative, narrative research method storytelling was applied.

Factors influencing the implementation of Home-Based Stroke Rehabilitation: Professionals' perspective.

Background: Stroke has a major impact on survivors and their social environment. Care delivery is advocated to become more client-centered and home-based because of their positive impact on client outcomes. The objective of this study was to explore professionals' perspectives on the provision of Home-Based Stroke Rehabilitation (HBSR) in the Netherlands and on the barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of HBSR in daily practice.

A Simple Target Interception Task as Test for Activities of Daily Life Performance in Older Adults.

Previous research showed that a simple target interception task reveals differences between younger adults (YA) and older adults (OA) on a large screen under laboratory conditions. Participants intercept downward moving objects while a horizontally moving background creates an illusion of the object moving in the opposite direction of the background. OA are more influenced by this illusory motion than YA.

The effectiveness of functional task exercise and physical therapy as prevention of functional decline in community dwelling older people with complex health problems.

Background: A physically active lifestyle in older people contributes to the preservation of good health. We assessed the influence of physiotherapy on daily functioning among community dwelling older people (75+) with complex health problems identified with screening, versus usual care. We also compared functional task exercise (FTE), with problems prioritized by older people, trained in the home environment, versus usual preventive physical therapy (PPT).

Evaluation of the wear-and-tear scale for therapeutic footwear, results of a generalizability study.

Objective: Therapeutic footwear is often prescribed at considerable cost. Foot-care specialists normally assess the wear-and-tear of therapeutic footwear in order to monitor the adequacy of the prescribed footwear and to gain an indicator of its use. We developed a simple, rapid, easily applicable indicator of wear-and-tear of therapeutic footwear: the wear-and-tear scale.

Advantages of virtual reality in the rehabilitation of balance and gait: Systematic review.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a therapeutic tool facilitating motor learning for balance and gait rehabilitation. The evidence, however, has not yet resulted in standardized guidelines. The aim of this study was to systematically review the application of VR-based rehabilitation of balance and gait in 6 neurologic cohorts, describing methodologic quality, intervention programs, and reported efficacy.

Aging and Sensitivity to Illusory Target Motion With or Without Secondary Tasks.

Older individuals seem to find it more difficult to ignore inaccurate sensory cues than younger individuals. We examined whether this could be quantified using an interception task. Twenty healthy young adults (age 18-34) and twenty-four healthy older adults (age 60-82) were asked to tap on discs that were moving downwards on a screen with their finger.

Effects of Aging in Multisensory Integration: A Systematic Review.

Multisensory integration (MSI) is the integration by the brain of environmental information acquired through more than one sense. Accurate MSI has been shown to be a key component of successful aging and to be crucial for processes underlying activities of daily living (ADLs). Problems in MSI could prevent older adults (OA) to age in place and live independently.

Therapeutic validity and effectiveness of supervised physical exercise training on exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of supervised physical exercise training on exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease taken into consideration indices such as therapeutic validity of interventions, methodological quality of studies, and exercise volume.

Data Resources: MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PEDro databases were searched from inception until 17 July 2015 for randomized controlled trials comparing the effect of supervised exercise training vs. usual care in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Validity and usability of low-cost accelerometers for internet-based self-monitoring of physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The importance of regular physical activity for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is well-established. However, many patients do not meet the recommended daily amount. Accelerometers might provide patients with the information needed to increase physical activity in daily life.

Use and effects of custom-made therapeutic footwear on lower-extremity-related pain and activity limitations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective observational study of a cohort.

Objectives: An estimated 55-90% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have foot problems. Therapeutic footwear is frequently prescribed as part of usual care, but data on its use and effect is incomplete. This study aimed to investigate the use and effects of therapeutic footwear.

Determinants influencing the implementation of home-based stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review.

Purpose: Home-based rehabilitation is a promising alternative to regular center-based stroke rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to identify what is currently known about determinants that influence the implementation of home-based stroke rehabilitation (HBSR) in clinical practice.

Methods: A systematic review of determinants of HBSR was conducted, using a framework for innovation (including determinants related to the innovation, the user, the organization, and the socio-political context).

Cognitive treatment of illness perceptions in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Illness perceptions have been shown to predict patient activities. Therefore, studies of the effectiveness of a targeted illness-perception intervention on chronic nonspecific low back pain (CLBP) are needed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of treatment of illness perceptions against a waiting list for patients with CLBP.

The implementation of the functional task exercise programme for elderly people living at home.

Background: The Functional Task Exercise programme is an evidence-based exercise programme for elderly people living at home. It enhances physical capacity with sustainable effects. FTE is provided by physiotherapists and remedial therapists.

Therapeutic validity and effectiveness of preoperative exercise on functional recovery after joint replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Our aim was to develop a rating scale to assess the therapeutic validity of therapeutic exercise programmes. By use of this rating scale we investigated the therapeutic validity of therapeutic exercise in patients awaiting primary total joint replacement (TJR). Finally, we studied the association between therapeutic validity of preoperative therapeutic exercise and its effectiveness in terms of postoperative functional recovery.

Overlap of cognitive concepts in chronic widespread pain: an exploratory study.

Background: A wide variety of cognitive concepts have been shown to play an important role in chronic widespread pain (CWP). Although these concepts are generally considered to be distinct entities, some might in fact be highly overlapping. The objectives of this study were to (i) to establish inter-relationships between self-efficacy, cognitive coping styles, fear-avoidance cognitions and illness beliefs in patients with CWP and (ii) to explore the possibility of a reduction of these cognitions into a more limited number of domains.

Best candidates for cognitive treatment of illness perceptions in chronic low back pain: results of a theory-driven predictor study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify treatment-specific predictors of the effectiveness of a method of evidence-based treatment: cognitive treatment of illness perceptions. This study focuses on what treatment works for whom, whereas most prognostic studies focusing on chronic non-specific low back pain rehabilitation aim to reduce the heterogeneity of the population of patients who are suitable for rehabilitation treatment in general.

Design: Three treatment-specific predictors were studied in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain receiving cognitive treatment of illness perceptions: a rational approach to problem-solving, discussion skills and verbal skills.

Benefits of treatment theory in the design of explanatory trials: cognitive treatment of illness perception in chronic low back pain rehabilitation as an illustrative example.

Background: Evidence-based treatment is not effective for all patients. Research must therefore be carried out to help clinicians to decide for whom and under what circumstances certain treatment is effective. Treatment theory can assist in designing research that will provide results on which clinical decision-making can be based.

The benefits of theory for clinical practice: cognitive treatment for chronic low back pain patients as an illustrative example.

Purpose: To demonstrate, with the help of an example of cognitive treatment for patients with chronic low back pain, how a systematic description of the content and theoretical underpinnings of treatment can help to improve clinical practice.

Methods: A conceptual analysis, two types of theories, and a programme-theory framework were instrumental in systematically specifying the content of the treatment and the underlying assumptions.

Results: A detailed description of the cognitive treatment, including: (i) The intended outcomes; (ii) the related treatment components; (iii) the therapeutic process that is expected to mediate between outcomes and components, (iv) the conditions for optimal application; and (v) the guiding principles.

Reproducibility of plantar pressure measurements in patients with chronic arthritis: a comparison of one-step, two-step, and three-step protocols and an estimate of the number of measurements required.

Background: Plantar pressure measurement may be a helpful evaluation tool in patients with foot complaints. Determination of dynamic pressure distribution under the foot may give information regarding gait, progress of disorders, and the effect of treatment. However, for these measurements to have clinical application, reproducibility, consistency, and accuracy must be ascertained.