Conceptualising Centres of Clinical Excellence: A Scoping Review.

Objectives: Centres of clinical excellence (CoCE) are healthcare facilities that provide excellent healthcare. However, despite their increasing prevalence, it is unclear how CoCE are identified and monitored. This paper explores how CoCE has been described in the literature, including its defining characteristics and selection and monitoring processes.

A pilot exploration of staff and service-user perceptions of a novel digital health technology (Virtual Engagement Rehabilitation Assistant) in complex inpatient rehabilitation.

Purpose: Digital health technologies have the potential to advance rehabilitation. The Virtual Engagement Rehabilitation Assistant (VERA) is a digital technology, co-designed to increase service-user engagement and promote self-management. This qualitative study explored staff and service-user perceptions of implementing VERA on a UK complex inpatient rehabilitation ward.

Understanding the Barriers and Facilitators of Digital Health Technology (DHT) Implementation in Neurological Rehabilitation: An Integrative Systematic Review.

Background: Digital Health technologies (DHT) have potential to deliver intensive, novel and engaging rehabilitation for people with neurological conditions, yet health services lack a strong track record in embedding DHT into practice. The aim of this review was to synthesise factors that have been shown to influence implementation of DHT into neurological rehabilitation.

Method: An integrative review was undertaken.

Behavior Change Approaches in Digital Technology-Based Physical Rehabilitation Interventions Following Stroke: Scoping Review.

Background: Digital health technologies (DHTs) are increasingly used in physical stroke rehabilitation to support individuals in successfully engaging with the frequent, intensive, and lengthy activities required to optimize recovery. Despite this, little is known about behavior change within these interventions.

Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify if and how behavior change approaches (ie, theories, models, frameworks, and techniques to influence behavior) are incorporated within physical stroke rehabilitation interventions that include a DHT.

Criteria and Indicators for Centers of Clinical Excellence in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation: A Global Consensus Facilitated by ISRRA.

Background: The aim of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance is to create a world where worldwide collaboration brings major breakthroughs for the millions of people living with stroke. A key pillar of this work is to define globally relevant criteria for centers that aspire to deliver excellent clinical rehabilitation and generate exceptional outcomes for patients.

Objectives: This paper presents consensus work conducted with an international group of expert stroke recovery and rehabilitation researchers, clinicians, and people living with stroke to identify and define criteria and measurable indicators for Centers of Clinical Excellence (CoCE) in stroke recovery and rehabilitation.

Online advice for the symptomatic management of post-stroke fatigue: A scoping review.

Background: Limited medical evidence for managing post-stroke fatigue leads stroke survivors to seek information through other sources. This scoping review aimed to identify and assess the range and quality of web-based recommendations for managing post-stroke fatigue.

Methods: Publicly accessible websites providing advice for post-stroke fatigue management were considered for review using the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology.

A focus group study of therapists' views on using a novel neuroanimation virtual reality game to deliver intensive upper-limb rehabilitation early after stroke.

Background: Intensive training can significantly reduce upper-limb impairments after stroke but delivering interventions of sufficiently high intensity is extremely difficult in routine practice. The MindPod Dolphin® system is a novel neuroanimation experience which provides motivating and intensive virtual reality based training for the upper-limb. However several studies report that health professionals have reservations about using technology in rehabilitation.

Comparing a Novel Neuroanimation Experience to Conventional Therapy for High-Dose Intensive Upper-Limb Training in Subacute Stroke: The SMARTS2 Randomized Trial.

Background: Evidence from animal studies suggests that greater reductions in poststroke motor impairment can be attained with significantly higher doses and intensities of therapy focused on movement quality. These studies also indicate a dose-timing interaction, with more pronounced effects if high-intensity therapy is delivered in the acute/subacute, rather than chronic, poststroke period.

Objective: To compare 2 approaches of delivering high-intensity, high-dose upper-limb therapy in patients with subacute stroke: a novel exploratory neuroanimation therapy (NAT) and modified conventional occupational therapy (COT).

To stimulate or not to stimulate? A rapid systematic review of repetitive sensory stimulation for the upper-limb following stroke.

Background: Repetitive sensory stimulation (RSS) is a therapeutic approach which involves repeated electrical stimulation of the skin's surface to improve function. This rapid systematic review aimed to describe the current evidence for repetitive sensory stimulation (RSS) in rehabilitation of the upper-limb for people who have had a stroke.

Main Text: Methods: Relevant studies were identified in a systematic search of electronic databases and hand-searching in February 2020.

12-Month changes of muscle strength, body composition and physical activity in adults with dystrophinopathies.

Purpose: Muscular dystrophy (MD) is an umbrella term for muscle wasting conditions, for which longitudinal changes in function and body composition are well established in children with Duchenne (DMD), however, changes in adults with DMD and Beckers (BMD), respectively, remain poorly reported. This study aims to assess 12-month changes in lower-limb strength, muscle size, body composition and physical activity in adults with Muscular Dystrophy (MD).

Methods: Adult males with Duchenne MD (DMD;  = 15) and Beckers MD (BMD;  = 12) were assessed at baseline and 12-months for body composition (Body fat and lean body mass (LBM)), Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (Knee-Extension (KEMVC) and Plantar-Flexion (PFMVC)) and physical activity (tri-axial accelerometry).

A scoping review of determinants of performance in dressage.

As a first step in achieving an evidence-based classification system for the sport of Para Dressage, there is a clear need to define elite dressage performance. Previous studies have attempted to quantify performance with able-bodied riders using scientific methods; however, definitive measures have yet to be established for the horse and/or the rider. This may be, in part, due to the variety of movements and gaits that are found within a dressage test and also due to the complexity of the horse-rider partnership.

Current therapy for the upper limb after stroke: a cross-sectional survey of UK therapists.

Objectives: To survey the reported content, frequency and duration of upper limb treatment provided by occupational and physiotherapists for people after stroke in the UK.

Design: A cross-sectional online survey was used. Description and analysis of the data were based on items from the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (Who, Where, What and How much).

Quality of life in adults with muscular dystrophy.

Background: Muscle weakness is a defining characteristic of Muscular Dystrophy (MD); however, yet while speculated, objective measures of muscle weakness has not been reported in relation to quality of life in adults with MD.

Objectives: 1) compare the self-reported QoL of adults with Duchenne MD (DMD), Beckers MD (BMD), Limb-Girdle MD (LGMD) and Fascioscapulohumeral MD (FSHD, and a non-MD (CTRL) group; 2) present and compare between groups measures of Impairment (Muscle Strength and Activities of Daily Living) and Perception (Fatigue, Pain and Self-Efficacy); and 3) identify associations between QoL domains and measures of Impairment and Perception (See above).

Methods: Seventy-Five males, including MD classifications DMD, BMD, LGMD, FSHD and CTRL, completed measures for QoL, Knee-Extension Maximal Voluntary Contraction (KEMVC), Fatigue, Pain, Self-Efficacy and Activities of Daily Living (ADL).

PULSE-I - Is rePetitive Upper Limb SEnsory stimulation early after stroke feasible and acceptable? A stratified single-blinded randomised controlled feasibility study.

Background: Reduction in sensorimotor function of the upper limb is a common and persistent impairment after stroke, and less than half of stroke survivors recover even basic function of the upper limb after a year. Previous work in stroke has shown that repetitive sensory stimulation (RSS) of the upper limb may benefit motor function. As yet, there have been no investigations of RSS in the early-acute period despite this being the time window during which the neuroplastic processes underpinning sensorimotor recovery are likely to occur.

Frequency of reported pain in adult males with muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to present and compare pain between adult males with Duchenne (DMD), Becker's (BMD), Limb-Girdle (LGMD) Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD) forms of Muscular Dystrophy (MD), and healthy controls (CTRL), using three different methods of assessment.

Methods: Pain was assessed using 1) a whole body visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, 2) a generalised body map and 3) a localised body map.

Results: All types of MD reported more VAS pain than CTRL, with 97% of all MD participants reporting pain; however, no differences were reported between types of MD.

A Mixed Methods Small Pilot Study to Describe the Effects of Upper Limb Training Using a Virtual Reality Gaming System in People with Chronic Stroke.

. This small pilot study aimed to examine the feasibility of an upper limb rehabilitation system (the YouGrabber) in a community rehabilitation centre, qualitatively explore participant experiences, and describe changes after using it. .

To sit or stand? A preliminary, cross sectional study to investigate if there is a difference in glenohumeral subluxation in sitting or standing in people following stroke.

Background: Glenohumeral subluxation (GHS) is a common symptom following stroke. Many therapists postulate that GHS may be reduced if the base of support (BOS) is reduced and the centre of mass (COM) is raised as this requires greater postural muscle activity. However, there is little empirical evidence to support this practice.

Acupuncture for joint symptoms related to aromatase inhibitor therapy in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer: a narrative review.

Background: Aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS) leads to discontinuation of aromatase inhibitor therapy in a significant proportion of patients with breast cancer. Acupuncture is popular among cancer patients and has previously been shown to improve symptoms in a range of musculoskeletal complaints.

Aim: To determine the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the management of AIMSS in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.

Interventions for fatigue in peripheral neuropathy.

Background: Persistent feelings of fatigue (or subjective fatigue), which may be experienced in the absence of physiological factors, affect many people with peripheral neuropathy. A variety of interventions for subjective fatigue are available, but little is known about their efficacy or the likelihood of any adverse effects for people with peripheral neuropathy.

Objectives: To assess the effects of drugs and physical, psychological or behavioural interventions for fatigue in adults or children with peripheral neuropathy.

It's more than just physical therapy: reported utilization of physiotherapy services for adults with neuromuscular disorders attending a specialist centre.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate service users' perceptions of their utilization of the physiotherapy service at a specialist Neuromuscular Centre and to identify their reasons for and barriers to attending.

Method: A prospective survey design, consisting of a 13-item questionnaire was completed by 104 registered users of a physiotherapy service at a Neuromuscular Centre in northwest England. Descriptive statistics was employed to analyse data from Likert style questions and thematic analysis conducted on responses to open-ended questions.