Load Auditory Feedback Boosts Crutch Usage in Subjects With Central Nervous System Lesions: A Pilot Study.

Crutches are the most common walking aids prescribed to improve mobility in subjects with central nervous system (CNS) lesions. To increase adherence to the appropriate level of crutch usage, providing load-related auditory feedback (aFB) may be a useful approach. We sensorized forearm crutches and developed a custom software to provide aFB information to both user and physical therapist (PhT).

Efficacy of dietary supplement with nutraceutical composed combined with extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields in carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of a nutraceutical composed (Xinepa) combined with extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields in the carpal tunnel syndrome. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-one patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were randomized into group 1-A (N=16) (nutraceutical + extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields) and group 2-C (n=15) (placebo + extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields). The dietary supplement with nutraceutical was twice daily for one month in the 1-A group and both groups received extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields at the level of the carpal tunnel 3 times per week for 12 sessions.

Narrative Medicine in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and a Rehabilitation Project Based on International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

Objective: The aim of the study was to systematize the disability condition related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and narrative medicine approach as a common tool to identify a patient's functional problems. Once identified, this can be used as the basis for an individual rehabilitation project.

Design: This is an observational study on patients residing in a central region of Italy with a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Romberg ratio coefficient in quiet stance and postural control in Parkinson's disease.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to determine the function of visual afference in postural control in Parkinson patients. We enrolled 29 patients and 30 healthy controls. The stabilometry test was performed for posture and balance and Romberg ratio coefficients were calculated.

Corrigendum to "A New Neurocognitive Interpretation of Shoulder Position Sense during Reaching: Unexpected Competence in the Measurement of Extracorporeal Space".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2016/9065495.].

Impact of Mézières Rehabilitative Method in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Mézières method in improving trunk flexibility of the back muscles and balance in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). . Thirty-six patients were randomized into 2 groups: the Mézières treatment group and the control group (home exercise group).

New approach to evaluate late arm impairment and effects of dragon boat activity in breast cancer survivors.

To verify the applicability of a new approach based on the strength curves (SCs) methodology in late arm impairment in breast cancer (BC) survivors and to evaluate the effects of dragon boat (DB) activity on the late regaining of the muscle strength, upper limb impairment, and quality of life in patients undergoing surgery for BC.Retrospective observational study on 64 subjects (54.5 ± 9.

Efficacy of extremely low-frequency magnetic field in fibromyalgia pain: A pilot study.

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the efficacy of an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) in decreasing chronic pain in fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Thirty-seven females were recruited and randomized into two groups: one group was first exposed to systemic ELF-MF therapy (100 microtesla, 1 to 80 Hz) and then to sham therapy, and the other group received the opposite sequence of intervention. Pain, FM-related symptoms, and the ability to perform daily tasks were measured using the Visual Analog Scale, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Fibromyalgia Assessment Scale (FAS), and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) at baseline, end of first treatment cycle, beginning of second treatment cycle (after 1 mo washout), end of second treatment cycle, and end of 1 mo follow-up.

A New Neurocognitive Interpretation of Shoulder Position Sense during Reaching: Unexpected Competence in the Measurement of Extracorporeal Space.

. The position sense of the shoulder joint is important during reaching. .

Defocused Shock Wave Therapy for Chronic Soft Tissue Wounds in the Lower Limbs: A Pilot Study.

Chronic soft tissue wounds of the lower limbs are debilitating, painful and often unresponsive to advanced dressing treatments. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) could represent an alternative treatment. Ten patients with chronic soft tissue wounds of the legs, unresponsive to advanced dressing treatments for more than 3 mo, underwent three defocused ESWT sessions at 72-h intervals.

The importance of trunk perception during brace treatment in moderate juvenile idiopathic scoliosis: What is the impact on self-image?

Background: The perception of body image and the deformity of the trunk in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) are a silver lining that has yet to be discussed in the relevant literature during brace rehabilitation treatment.

Objective: To determine whether and how the use of the brace changes perception of the trunk in patients with AIS by the drawing test.

Methods: We observed 32 subjects with AIS from our Rehabilitation outpatient clinic and divided them into the brace treatment (BG-16 subjects) and the non-brace treatment (CG-16 subjects).

Improved interoceptive awareness in chronic low back pain: a comparison of Back school versus Feldenkrais method.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of the Feldenkrais method for relieving pain in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and the improvement of interoceptive awareness.

Method: This study was designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Fifty-three patients with a diagnosis of CLBP for at least 3 months were randomly allocated to the Feldenkrais (mean age 61.

Perceptive rehabilitation and trunk posture alignment in patients with Parkinson disease: a single blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Recent studies aimed to evaluate the potential effects of perceptive rehabilitation in Parkinson Disease reporting promising preliminary results for postural balance and pain symptoms. To date, no randomized controlled trial was carried out to compare the effects of perceptive rehabilitation and conventional treatment in patients with Parkinson Disease.

Aim: To evaluate whether a perceptive rehabilitation treatment could be more effective than a conventional physical therapy program in improving postural control and gait pattern in patients with Parkinson Disease.

Wii Fit is effective in women with bone loss condition associated with balance disorders: a randomized controlled trial.

The use of exergame for balance competencies was recently explored in women affected by balance ability reduction with non-conclusive results. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a supervised exergame performed with the Wii Fit compared to conventional exercises on balance function, quality of life, fear of fall and well-being in women with bone loss. Thirty-eight female participants aged over 65 years, with a bone loss condition, were enrolled and random allocated in the Wii group or control group.

Management of chronic pain in osteoporosis: challenges and solutions.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a pathological condition that manifests clinically as pain, fractures, and physical disability, resulting in the loss of independence and the need for long-term care. Chronic pain is a multidimensional experience with sensory, affective, and cognitive aspects. Age can affect each of these dimensions and the pain that is experienced.

The dynamic motor imagery of locomotion is task-dependent in patients with stroke.

Purpose: Recently, Motor Imagery (MI) has been associated with the execution of movements miming in part the mentally represented action (dynamic MI, dMI). Preliminary studies have reported as dMI may improve trainings in sport, with imagery timing close to the physical execution one. This study was aimed to investigate time and spatial parameters of dMI with actual locomotion in people with stroke.

A New Rehabilitation Tool in Fibromyalgia: The Effects of Perceptive Rehabilitation on Pain and Function in a Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction/Objective. Fibromyalgia might benefit from a specific tactile and proprioceptive rehabilitation approach. The aim of this study was to perform a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of perceptual surfaces (PS) and physical exercises with regard to chronic pain and physical function in fibromyalgia compared with a control group.

Tactile and proprioceptive sensory stimulation modifies estimation of walking distance but not upright gait stability: a pilot study.

[Purpose] Recently, there has been growing interest in the somatosensory system, but little data exist on the interaction between dynamic postural control and the somatosensory system. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a training program, based on tactile and proprioceptive sensory stimulation of the trunk with the use of perceptual surfaces, improved the estimation of walking distance by healthy subjects, the ability to walk toward a memorized distance without vision, and whether it increases upright gait stability. [Subjects and Methods] Ten healthy subjects with a mean age of 31.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy vs cryoultrasound therapy in the treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis. One year follow up study.

Background: the purpose of this study is to compare the therapeutic effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to those of cryoultrasound (Cryo-US) therapy in chronic lateral epicondylitis during a 12-month period.

Methods: single-blinded, randomized, controlled study of 80 participants treated for chronic LE with 3 ESWT sessions at 48/72-hours intervals (n=40) or 12 Cryo-US therapy sessions (4 sessions per week) (n=40). VAS and satisfactory results, considered as the sum of excellent and good scores in the Roles and Maudsley score, were used as outcome measures at baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment.

Comparison in Joint-Position Sense and Muscle Coactivation Between Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient and Healthy Individuals.

Context: Tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) may disrupt the ability to recognize the knee position in space during limb-repositioning tasks, which is referred to as joint-position sense (JPS). Impairments in JPS have been shown to be lower during active than passive repositioning tasks, thus suggesting that coactivation patterns of the muscles surrounding the knee might compensate for the disrupted JPS and ensure accurate limb repositioning in ACL-deficient individuals.

Objective: To investigate muscle coactivation patterns during JPS repositioning tasks in ACL-deficient and healthy individuals.

Neurocognitive rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease with motor imagery: a rehabilitative experience in a case report.

A 50-year-old female with Parkinson's disease underwent a neurocognitive rehabilitation program consisting of one-hour-lasting sessions attended twice a week for three months. The balance and the risk of falls were determined using the Tinetti Balance and Gait Evaluation Scale. The pain was determined using the Visual Analog Scale and the course of the disease was examined using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).

Effects of a multidisciplinary educational rehabilitative intervention in breast cancer survivors: the role of body image on quality of life outcomes.

In breast cancer survivors, own body image may change due to physical and psychological reasons, worsening women's living. The aim of the study was to investigate whether body image may affect the functional and quality of life outcomes after a multidisciplinary and educational rehabilitative intervention in sixty women with primary nonmetastatic breast cancer who have undergone conservative surgery. To assess the quality of life was administered The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Study Group on Quality of Life core questionnaire, while to investigate the psychological features and self-image were administered the following scales: the Body Image Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.