The test-retest reliability of non-navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures of corticospinal pathway excitability early after stroke.

Purpose: Motor evoked potential (MEP) characteristics are potential biomarkers of whether rehabilitation interventions drive motor recovery after stroke. The test-retest reliability of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) measurements in sub-acute stroke remains unclear. This study aims to determine the test-retest reliability of upper limb MEP measures elicited by non-neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation in sub-acute-stroke.

Maximum tolerable daily dose of mirror movement therapy ankle exercises after stroke: an early phase dose screening study.

Background: Mirror movement therapy may reduce lower limb motor impairment after stroke. The dose is unknown.

Objective: identify the maximum tolerable dose a day (MTD) of lower limb mirror movement therapy DESIGN: 3 + 3 cohort rule-based, dose escalation/de-escalation study.

Aging effects on extrapersonal (far-space) attention: cancellation and line bisection performance from 179 healthy adults.

Assessment of cognitive impairments is a vital part of clinical practice. Cancellation (visual search) and line bisection are commonly used tasks to assess visuospatial attention. Despite the fact visuospatial attention is engaged in both near (within reach) and far-space (out of reach), most studies have been conducted in near-space alone.

Comparison of the Journey II bicruciate stabilised (JII-BCS) and GENESIS II total knee arthroplasty for functional ability and motor impairment: the CAPAbility, blinded, randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine if a newer design of total knee replacement (TKR) (Journey II BCS) produces superior patient-reported outcomes scores and biomechanical outcomes than the older, more established design (Genesis II).

Setting: Patients were recruited from an NHS University Hospital between July 2018 and October 2019 with surgery at two sites. Biomechanical and functional capacity measurements were at a University Movement and Exercise Laboratory.

Standardizing Cranioplasty Outcomes Following Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury: Protocol for the Development of a Core Outcome Set.

Background: Core outcome sets (COSs) are important and necessary as they help standardize reporting in research studies. Cranioplasty following traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke is becoming increasingly common, leading to an ever-growing clinical and research interest, especially regarding the optimal material, cost-effectiveness, and timing of cranioplasty concerning neurological recovery and complications. Consequently, heterogeneous reporting of outcomes from such diverse studies has led to limited meta-analysis ability and an ongoing risk of outcome reporting bias.

Neurophysiological changes accompanying reduction in upper limb motor impairments in response to exercise-based virtual rehabilitation after stroke: systematic review.

Background: Virtual reality-augmented therapist-delivered exercise-based training has promise for enhancing upper limb motor recovery after stroke. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms are unclear.

Objective: To find if neurophysiological changes are correlated with or accompany a reduction in motor impairment in response to virtual reality-aided exercise-based training.

User perspectives on the design and setup of lower limb mirror therapy equipment after stroke: a technical report.

Objectives: To co-design lower limb mirror therapy (MT) equipment and setup by working directly with stroke survivors and physiotherapists.

Design: Co-design approach through focus groups.

Participants: Twenty-six participants.

Sensory Stimulation of the Foot and Ankle Early Post-stroke: A Pilot and Feasibility Study.

Somatosensory stimulation of the lower extremity could improve motor recovery and walking post-stroke. This pilot study investigated the feasibility of a subsequent randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine whether task-specific gait training is more effective following either (a) intensive hands-on somatosensory stimulation or (b) wearing textured insoles. Determine recruitment and attrition rates, adherence to intervention, acceptability and viability of interventions and outcome measures, and estimate variance of outcome data to inform sample size for a subsequent RCT.

Investigating the Relationships Between Three Important Functional Tasks Early After Stroke: Movement Characteristics of Sit-To-Stand, Sit-To-Walk, and Walking.

Walking, sit-to-stand (STS) and sit-to-walk (STW) are all considered important functional tasks in achieving independence after stroke. Despite knowledge that sensitive measurement of movement patterns is crucial to understanding neuromuscular restitution, there is surprisingly little information available about the detailed biomechanical characteristics of, and relationships between, walking, sit-to-stand and sit-to-walk, particularly in the important time window early after stroke. Hence, here, the study aimed to: Identify the biomechanical characteristics of and determine any differences in both movement fluidity (hesitation, coordination and smoothness) and duration of movement phases, between sit-to-stand (STS) and sit-to-walk (STW) in people early after stroke.

Neurostructural and Neurophysiological Correlates of Multiple Sclerosis Physical Fatigue: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies.

Fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). By consolidating a diverse and conflicting evidence-base, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to gain new insights into the neurobiology of MS fatigue. MEDLINE, ProQuest, CINAHL, Web of Science databases and grey literature were searched using Medical Subject Headings.

Clinical and biomechanical factors associated with falls and rheumatoid arthritis: baseline cohort with longitudinal nested case-control study.

Objective: To identify the clinical and biomechanical characteristics associated with falls in people with RA.

Methods: A total of 436 people ≥60 years of age with RA completed a 1 year prospective survey of falls in the UK. At baseline, questionnaires recorded data including personal and medical history, pain and fatigue scores, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical activity and medication history.

Exploring perspectives from stroke survivors, carers and clinicians on virtual reality as a precursor to using telerehabilitation for spatial neglect post-stroke.

Spatial neglect is a common and severe cognitive consequence of stroke, yet there is currently no effective rehabilitation tool. Virtual Reality (VR) telerehabilitation tools have the potential to provide multisensory and enjoyable therapies and remotely monitor adherence without the presence of a therapist at all times. Researchers and industry need to better understand end-user perspectives about these technologies to ensure these are acceptable and, ultimately, optimize adherence and efficacy.

CAPAbility: comparison of the JOURNEY II Bi-Cruciate Stabilised and GENESIS II total knee arthroplasty in performance and functional ability: protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common condition that is expected to rise in the next two decades leading to an associated increase in total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. Although there is little debate regarding the safety and efficacy of modern TKR, up to 20% of patients report poor functional outcomes following surgery. This study will investigate the functional outcome of two TKRs; the JOURNEY II Bi-Cruciate Stabilised knee arthroplasty, a newer knee prosthesis designed to provide guided motion and improve knee kinematics by more closely approximating a normal knee, and the GENESIS II, a proven existing design.

Stroke survivors' recommendations for the visual representation of movement analysis measures: a technical report.

Background: Stroke survivors do not have routine access to objective feedback on their movement performance.

Objective: To devise visual representation of objective measures of movement performance that are understandable by and meaningful to stroke survivors.

Design: Co-production through interviews and generative discussion.

Action observation training for rehabilitation in brain injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To systematically review and analyse the effects of Action Observation Training on adults and children with brain damage.

Methods: Seven electronic databases (Cochrane, EBSCO, Embase, Eric, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched up to 16 September 2018 to select Randomized Controlled Trials focused on adults and children with brain damage that included AOT training on upper and/or lower limb carried out for at least 1 week. Identification of studies and data extraction was conducted with two reviewers working independently.

Identification of neuromuscular targets for restoration of walking ability after stroke: Precursor to precision rehabilitation.

Objectives: Restoration of walking is a priority for stroke survivors and key target for physical therapies. Upright pedalling (UP) can provide functional walking-like activity using a variety of muscle synergies; it is unclear which synergies might be most useful for recovery of walking. Objectives here were as follows: to examine whether neuromuscular measures derived during UP might identify targets for walking rehabilitation after stroke and to determine test-retest repeatability and concurrent validity of the measures.

Evidence-based practice 'on-the-go': using ViaTherapy as a tool to enhance clinical decision making in upper limb rehabilitation after stroke, a quality improvement initiative.

Recovery of upper limb function after stroke is currently sub-optimal, despite good quality evidence showing that interventions enabling repetitive practice of task-specific activity are effective in improving function. Therapists need to access and engage with such evidence to optimise outcomes with people with stroke, but this is challenging in fast-paced stroke rehabilitation services. This quality improvement project aimed to investigate acceptability and service impact of a new, international tool for accessing evidence on upper limb rehabilitation after stroke-'ViaTherapy'-in a team of community rehabilitation therapists.

Neuromechanical Differences Between Successful and Failed Sit-to-Stand Movements and Response to Rehabilitation Early After Stroke.

Background: Recovery of the sit-to-stand (StS) movement early after stroke could be improved by targeting physical therapy at the underlying movement deficits in those people likely to respond.

Aim: To compare the movement characteristics of successful and failed StS movements in people early after stroke and identify which characteristics change in people recovering their ability to perform this movement independently following rehabilitation.

Methods: Muscle activity and kinematic (including center of mass, CoM) data were recorded from 91 participants (mean 35 days after stroke) performing the StS movement before (baseline), immediately after (outcome), and 3 months after (follow-up) rehabilitation.

Predictors of upper limb spasticity after stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the predictive markers for the occurrence of upper limb spasticity in the first 12 months after stroke.

Data Sources: A systematic review was undertaken of the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PEDRO to 31st December 2017.

Study Selection: Non-experimental or experimental studies that included a control group with spasticity who did not receive an experimental intervention which investigated at least one variable (explanatory variable) measured at baseline against the development (or not) of spasticity at a future time point within 12 months post stroke were selected independently by two reviewers.

Kinematic Components of the Reach-to-Target Movement After Stroke for Focused Rehabilitation Interventions: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Better upper limb recovery after stroke could be achieved through tailoring rehabilitation interventions directly at movement deficits. To synthesiz findings of differences in kinematics and muscle activity between stroke survivors and healthy adults performing reach-to-target tasks. A systematic review with identification of studies, data extraction, and potential risk of bias was completed independently by two reviewers.

Functional Strength Training and Movement Performance Therapy for Upper Limb Recovery Early Poststroke-Efficacy, Neural Correlates, Predictive Markers, and Cost-Effectiveness: FAST-INdiCATE Trial.

Background: Variation in physiological deficits underlying upper limb paresis after stroke could influence how people recover and to which physical therapy they best respond.

Objectives: To determine whether functional strength training (FST) improves upper limb recovery more than movement performance therapy (MPT). To identify: (a) neural correlates of response and (b) whether pre-intervention neural characteristics predict response.

Getting a kinematic handle on reach-to-grasp: a meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Reach-to-grasp is an essential everyday activity that is often impaired after stroke. The objectives of this review are: (1) identify differences in the kinematic characteristics of reach-to-grasp between individuals with and without stroke, and (2) determine the influence of object location on kinematics.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, AMED, and Embase databases.