Quantifying neural and non-neural components of wrist hyper-resistance after stroke: Comparing two instrumented assessment methods.

Patients with poor upper limb motor recovery after stroke are likely to develop increased resistance to passive wrist extension, i.e., wrist hyper-resistance.

To What Extent is Walking Ability Associated with Participation in People after Stroke?

Objectives: This study aims to 1) identify the relation between walking ability and participation after stroke and 2) explore whether change in walking ability is associated with change in participation over time in community living-people after stroke.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two people after stroke were assessed at baseline and after a 6-week gait training intervention. People were included between two weeks and six months after stroke.

The effect of botulinum toxin-A on neural and non-neural components of wrist hyper-resistance in adults with stroke or cerebral palsy.

Background: Botulinum toxin-A (BoNT) is widely used to manage focal upper limb spasticity and is effective in reducing resistance to passive movement, as measured with the modified Ashworth scale. Discrimination and quantification of the underlying neural and non-neural components of hyper-resistance may further improve understanding of the effect of BoNT.

Objective: To explore the effects of BoNT on neural (NC), non-neural elastic (EC), and viscous (VC) components of resistance to passive wrist extension in adults with stroke or cerebral palsy and the association between the effects on wrist hyper-resistance components and clinical spasticity, pain and motor function scales.

Effect of Virtual Reality Gait Training on Participation in Survivors of Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: After stroke, people experience difficulties with walking that lead to restrictions in participation in daily life. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of virtual reality gait training (VRT) compared to non-virtual reality gait training (non-VRT) on participation in community-living people after stroke.

Methods: In this assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 2 parallel groups, people were included between 2 weeks and 6 months after stroke and randomly assigned to the VRT group or non-VRT group.

Time Course of Wrist Hyper-Resistance in Relation to Upper Limb Motor Recovery Early Post Stroke.

. Patients with an upper limb motor impairment are likely to develop wrist hyper-resistance during the first months post stroke. The time course of wrist hyper-resistance in terms of neural and biomechanical components, and their interaction with motor recovery, is poorly understood.

Activities and Participation in the First 6 Months After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the natural course of activities and participation of children up to 6 months after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Methods: A prospective longitudinal cohort study with complete data sets of 231 children diagnosed with mTBI and their caregivers.

Main Measures: Activities and participation assessed with the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP) and the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) measured at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-mTBI.

Effectiveness of the Brains Ahead! Intervention: 6 Months Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial in School-Aged Children With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of Brains Ahead!, a psychoeducational intervention aimed to prevent long-term problems with activities and participation in children after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Participants: In total, 124 children, aged 6 to 18 years, diagnosed with mTBI and their caregivers.

Method: After randomization, participants in the intervention group received a face-to-face psychoeducational session with written take-home information and follow-up telephone call(s).

Process evaluation of 'Brains Ahead!': an intervention for children and adolescents with mild traumatic brain injury within a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate whether the 'Brains Ahead! Intervention for children and adolescents with mild traumatic brain injury' was implemented as intended. In addition, involvement in and satisfaction with the intervention among patients, caregivers and professionals delivering the intervention were studied.

Design: Mixed methods, prospective study.

Does upper limb strength play a prominent role in health-related quality of life in stroke patients discharged from inpatient rehabilitation?

: Impairments in arm function are a common problem in stroke survivors and have a large impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Little is known about the longitudinal relationship between recovery of upper limb strength and changes in HRQoL. : This study aimed to determine to what extent changes in HRQoL are related to changes in upper limb strength after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

Predictors of activities and participation six months after mild traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents.

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictors of long-term consequences for activities and participation in children and adolescents with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Methods: A multicentre prospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted. The primary outcome measure was activities and participation measured with the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation - CASP and completed by children (N = 156) and caregivers (N = 231) six months post-mTBI.

Perceived barriers and facilitators for gait-related participation in people after stroke: From a patients' perspective.

: An important focus of post-stroke physical therapy is to improve walking and walking capacity. However, many people after stroke experience difficulties with gait-related participation, which includes more than walking capacity alone. Gait-related participation involves walking with a participation goal and requires to deal with changes in the environment during walking and perform dual tasks, for example.

Effect of Virtual Reality Therapy on Balance and Walking in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review.

: To investigate the effect of Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) on balance and walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). : A systematic search in Pubmed and Embase was performed until the 9th of July 2019. Articles were included if the population consisted of children with CP data on balance and/or walking were reported.

Measurement Properties of the NeuroFlexor Device for Quantifying Neural and Non-neural Components of Wrist Hyper-Resistance in Chronic Stroke.

Differentiating between the components of wrist hyper-resistance post stroke, i.e., pathological neuromuscular activation ("spasticity") and non-neural biomechanical changes, is important for treatment decisions.

Prospectively Classifying Community Walkers After Stroke: Who Are They?

Objective: To classify patients with stroke into subgroups based on their characteristics at the moment of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation in order to predict community ambulation outcome 6 months later.

Design: Prospective cohort study with a baseline measurement at discharge from inpatient care and final outcome determined after 6 months.

Setting: Community.

Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin Treatment for Upper Limb Spasticity Poststroke Over Different ICF Domains: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive overview of reported effects and scientific robustness of botulinum toxin (BoNT) treatment regarding the main clinical goals related to poststroke upper limb spasticity, using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

Data Sources: Embase, PubMed, Wiley/Cochrane Library, and Ebsco/CINAHL were searched from inception up to May 16, 2018.

Study Selection: We included randomized controlled trials comparing upper limb BoNT injections with a control intervention in patients with a history of stroke.

Virtual reality gait training versus non-virtual reality gait training for improving participation in subacute stroke survivors: study protocol of the ViRTAS randomized controlled trial.

Background: A stroke often results in gait impairments, activity limitations and restricted participation in daily life. Virtual reality (VR) has shown to be beneficial for improving gait ability after stroke. Previous studies regarding VR focused mainly on improvements in functional outcomes.

Does a Perturbation-Based Gait Intervention Enhance Gait Stability in Fall-Prone Stroke Survivors? A Pilot Study.

A recent review indicated that perturbation-based training (PBT) interventions are effective in reducing falls in older adults and patients with Parkinson's disease. It is unknown whether this type of intervention is effective in stroke survivors. We determined whether PBT can enhance gait stability in stroke survivors.

Walking activity and its determinants in free-living ambulatory people in a chronic phase after stroke: a cross-sectional study.

Free-living walking activity and its contributing factors in ambulatory people with stroke is poorly investigated. Evaluating free-living walking activity and identifying factors associated with free-living walking activity. In this cross-sectional study, participants wore an accelerometer to measure their level of walking activity.

Investigating post-stroke fatigue: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Objective: The prevalence of post-stroke fatigue differs widely across studies, and reasons for such divergence are unclear. We aimed to collate individual data on post-stroke fatigue from multiple studies to facilitate high-powered meta-analysis, thus increasing our understanding of this complex phenomenon.

Methods: We conducted an Individual Participant Data (IPD) meta-analysis on post-stroke fatigue and its associated factors.

The Brains Ahead! intervention for children and adolescents with mild traumatic brain injury and their caregivers: rationale and description of the treatment protocol.

Purpose:: Approximately 20% of the children and adolescents after mild traumatic brain injury will not fully recover. They suffer long-term postconcussive symptoms and may experience limitations in activities and participation. Research suggests that early psychoeducational interventions may prevent long-term postconcussive symptoms.

The role of postural control in the association between aerobic capacity and walking capacity in chronic stroke: a cross-sectional analysis.

Background: Reports on the association between aerobic capacity and walking capacity in people after stroke show disparate results.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine: 1) if the predictive validity of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) for walking capacity post stroke is different from that of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and 2) if postural control, hemiplegic lower extremity muscle strength, age and gender distort the association between aerobic capacity and walking capacity.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Cognitive function and participation in children and youth with mild traumatic brain injury two years after injury.

Background: 10-20% of children and youth with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) suffer from long-term cognitive impairments with, supposedly, a negative impact on most domains of functioning.

Objectives: To describe cognitive functioning and participation in children and youth two-years post-mTBI and to determine associated risk factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional study among 73 patients (aged 6-22 years), hospital diagnosed with mTBI.

Virtual obstacle crossing: Reliability and differences in stroke survivors who prospectively experienced falls or no falls.

Introduction: Stroke survivors often fall during walking. To reduce fall risk, gait testing and training with avoidance of virtual obstacles is gaining popularity. However, it is unknown whether and how virtual obstacle crossing is associated with fall risk.

Measurement properties of maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests protocols in persons after stroke: A systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review and critically appraise the literature on measurement properties of cardiopulmonary exercise test protocols for measuring aerobic capacity, VO2max, in persons after stroke.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase and Cinahl were searched from inception up to 15 June 2016. A total of 9 studies were identified reporting on 9 different cardiopulmonary exercise test protocols.

Falls Are Associated With Lower Self-Reported Functional Status in Patients After Stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the association between falls and functional status after stroke.

Design: Secondary analysis of data from the randomized controlled FIT-Stroke trial. Outcomes were measured at the time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation (t0) and after 12 weeks (t1).