Effect of Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is a biomarker of neuroplasticity linked with better functional outcomes after stroke. Early evidence suggests that increased concentrations after exercise may be possible for people with stroke, however it is unclear how exercise parameters influence BDNF concentration.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis searched 7 electronic databases.

Additional saturday occupational therapy for adults receiving inpatient physiotherapy rehabilitation: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The first aim of this study was to investigate the impact of providing an additional four hours of Saturday occupational therapy to patients receiving Saturday physiotherapy in an inpatient setting on length of stay, functional independence, gait and balance. The second aim was to conduct an economic evaluation to determine if the introduction of a Saturday occupational therapy service in addition to physiotherapy resulted in a net cost savings for the rehabilitation facility.

Methods: A prospective cohort study with a historical control was conducted in an Australian private mixed rehabilitation unit from 2015-2017.

IMproving Physical ACtivity after stroke via Treadmill training () and self-management: A randomized trial.

Aim: To determine if treadmill training embedded in self-management education commencing during stroke inpatient rehabilitation results in more physical activity than usual gait training.

Method: A prospective, parallel-group, randomized trial with concealed allocation, blinded measurement, and intention-to-treat analysis involving 119 stroke survivors undergoing rehabilitation who were able to walk independently was undertaken. The experimental group undertook treadmill training (40-60% heart rate reserve) and self-management education for 30 min, three times a week for 8 weeks, and the control group undertook the same amount of usual gait training.

The acute effects of aerobic exercise on sensorimotor adaptation in chronic stroke.

Background: Sensorimotor adaptation, or the capacity to adapt movement to changes in the moving body or environment, is a form of motor learning that is important for functional independence (e.g., regaining stability after slips or trips).

An Exploration of Sedentary Behavior Patterns in Community-Dwelling People With Stroke: A Cluster-Based Analysis.

Background And Purpose: Long periods of daily sedentary time, particularly accumulated in long uninterrupted bouts, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. People with stroke are at high risk of recurrent events and prolonged sedentary time may increase this risk. We aimed to explore how people with stroke distribute their periods of sedentary behavior, which factors influence this distribution, and whether sedentary behavior clusters can be distinguished?

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of original accelerometry data from adults with stroke living in the community.

Identifying factors associated with sedentary time after stroke. Secondary analysis of pooled data from nine primary studies.

: High levels of sedentary time increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, including recurrent stroke. : This study aimed to identify factors associated with high sedentary time in community-dwelling people with stroke. : For this data pooling study, authors of published and ongoing trials that collected sedentary time data, using the activPAL monitor, in community-dwelling people with stroke were invited to contribute their raw data.

Which impairments, activity limitations and personal factors at hospital discharge predict walking activity across the first 6 months poststroke?

: To determine which impairments, activity limitations and personal factors at hospital discharge poststroke predict volume, frequency, and intensity of walking activity 1, 3, and 6 months later. Prospective longitudinal observational study. Thirty-six people with stroke (71 SD 14 years, 69% male) were recruited at hospital discharge and predictors including fatigue, mood, executive function, walking speed, walking endurance, age, prestroke activity, self-efficacy, and perceived stroke recovery and health were collected.

Motivators and barriers for participation in aquatic and land-based exercise training programs for people with stable heart failure: A mixed methods approach.

Background: Aquatic exercise training may be suitable for people with stable heart failure (HF) to engage in physical activity.

Objectives: Acceptability, experiences and preferences regarding aquatic and traditional land-based exercise training, were explored in people with HF.

Methods: As part of a comparative intervention study, participants completed a questionnaire assessing acceptability, benefits and challenges of aquatic compared to land-based programs.

Gait speed as an indicator of prosthetic walking potential following lower limb amputation.

Background:: The relationship between gait speed and prosthetic potential (K-level classifications) and function has not been explored among people transitioning from hospital rehabilitation to the community.

Objectives:: To examine gait speed at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation among people prescribed a prosthetic leg after unilateral lower limb amputation, and associations between gait speed, prosthetic potential and functional ability.

Study Design:: Cohort.

Activity monitors for increasing physical activity in adult stroke survivors.

Background: Stroke is the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Physical activity is important for secondary stroke prevention and for promoting functional recovery. However, people with stroke are more inactive than healthy age-matched controls.

Steps, duration and intensity of usual walking practice during subacute rehabilitation after stroke: an observational study.

Background: Duration of therapy time is an inadequate indicator of stroke rehabilitation. Steps, duration, and intensity of active therapy time may provide a better indicator of practice.

Objective: This study quantified usual walking practice in terms of steps, duration and intensity of active therapy time, and distance walked during physical therapy sessions in people with sub-acute stroke undertaking inpatient rehabilitation and to examine whether usual walking practice differed depending on walking ability.

Allied health weekend service provision in Australian rehabilitation units.

Objectives: To determine current Australian allied health rehabilitation weekend service provision and to identify perceived barriers to and facilitators of weekend service provision.

Methods: Senior physiotherapists from Australian rehabilitation units completed an online cross-sectional survey exploring current service provision, staffing, perceived outcomes, and barriers and facilitators to weekend service provision.

Results: A total of 179 (83%) eligible units responded, with 94 facilities (53%) providing weekend therapy.

Improving physical activity after stroke via treadmill training and self management (IMPACT): a protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The level of physical activity undertaken by stroke survivors living in the community is generally low. The main objectives of the IMPACT trial are to determine, in individuals undergoing rehabilitation after stroke, if 8 weeks of high-intensity treadmill training embedded in self-management education (i) results in more physical activity than usual physiotherapy gait training and (ii) is more effective at increasing walking ability, cardiorespiratory fitness, self-efficacy, perception of physical activity, participation, and health-related quality of life as well as decreasing cardiovascular risk, and depression, at 8 and 26 weeks.

Methods: A prospective, two-arm, parallel-group, randomised trial with concealed allocation, blinded measurement and intention-to-treat analysis, will be conducted.

Foot Complications in a Representative Australian Inpatient Population.

We investigated the prevalence and factors independently associated with foot complications in a representative inpatient population (adults admitted for any reason with and without diabetes). We analysed data from the , a sample of 733 representative inpatients. Previous amputation, previous foot ulceration, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), peripheral neuropathy (PN), and foot deformity were the foot complications assessed.

Implementing a 6-day physiotherapy service in rehabilitation: exploring staff perceptions.

Objective Australian weekend rehabilitation therapy provision is increasing. Staff engagement optimises service delivery. The present mixed-methods process evaluation explored staff perceptions regarding implementation of a 6-day physiotherapy service in a private rehabilitation unit.

Inter- and intra-tester reliability of the acute brain injury physiotherapy assessment (ABIPA) in patients with acquired brain injury.

Background: The Acute Brain Injury Physiotherapy Assessment (ABIPA) is a new outcome measure with face validity and sensitivity to change in the early stages of neuromotor recovery after acquired brain injury (ABI). Reliability of physiotherapists using the tool has not been established.

Objective: Determine inter- and intra-tester reliability of physiotherapists using the ABIPA.

The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in People with Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To determine the effect of aerobic exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in people with neurological disorders.

Data Sources: Six electronic databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane, PsycINFO, SportDiscus, and Web of Science) were searched until the end of December 2016.

Study Selection: Experimental or observational studies of people with neurological disorders who undertook an exercise intervention with BDNF as an outcome measure.

Gait outcomes of older adults receiving subacute hospital rehabilitation following orthopaedic trauma: a longitudinal cohort study.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe gait speed at admission and discharge from inpatient hospital rehabilitation among older adults recovering from orthopaedic trauma and factors associated with gait speed performance and discharge destination.

Design: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted.

Setting: Australian tertiary hospital subacute rehabilitation wards.

Evidence of Improved Efficiency in Functional Gains During Subacute Inpatient Rehabilitation.

This comparative study investigated differences in functional capacity and functional gains of patients admitted for hospital rehabilitation between 2005 and 2011. Patients were grouped according to broad diagnostic categories: neurological, orthopedic, and deconditioned. Functional capacity (Functional Independence Measure (FIM), gait speed) and functional gains were compared between two 1-year patient cohorts (2005 and 2011) for diagnostic groups.

The silent overall burden of foot disease in a representative hospitalised population.

The aims of this study were to investigate the point prevalence, and associated independent factors, for foot disease (ulcers, infections and ischaemia) in a representative hospitalised population. We included 733 (83%) of 883 eligible adult inpatients across five representative Australian hospitals on one day. We collected an extensive range of self-reported characteristics from participants.

A pragmatic implementation of a 6-day physiotherapy service in a mixed inpatient rehabilitation unit.

Purpose: This study determined the impact of a pragmatic 6-day physiotherapy service on length of stay, functional independence, gait and balance in people undergoing inpatient rehabilitation, compared to a 5-day service.

Method: A prospective cohort study with historical comparison was undertaken in a mixed inpatient rehabilitation unit. Intervention period participants (2011) meeting inclusion criteria were eligible for a 6-day physiotherapy service.

Recovery of ambulation activity across the first six months post-stroke.

Stroke survivors commonly adopt sedentary activity behaviours by the chronic phase of recovery. However, the change in activity behaviours from the subacute to chronic phase of stroke is variable. This study explored the recovery of ambulation activity (volume and bouts) at one, three and six months after hospital discharge post-stroke.

Direct inpatient burden caused by foot-related conditions: a multisite point-prevalence study.

Objective: The aims of this point-prevalence study were to investigate a representative inpatient population to determine the prevalence of people admitted to hospital for the reason of a foot-related condition, and identify associated independent factors.

Methods: Participants were adult inpatients in 5 different representative hospitals, admitted for any reason on the day of data collection. Maternity, mental health and cognitively impaired inpatients were excluded.

Accelerometer and Global Positioning System Measurement of Recovery of Community Ambulation Across the First 6 Months After Stroke: An Exploratory Prospective Study.

Objective: To characterize community ambulation and determine if it changes across the first 6 months after discharge from hospital after stroke.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Setting: Community setting.