Relationship between skeletal muscle mass change and swallowing function improvement among stroke patients with dysphagia during rehabilitation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between changes in skeletal muscle mass and improvements in swallowing function in stroke patients with dysphagia during rehabilitation.

Methods: The study included 145 patients with a stroke or dysphagia. The two groups were divided into two groups: those with improved skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) at discharge and those without.

Combined Exercise and Nutritional Therapy Improves Physical Functions and Activities of Daily Living in Patients With Multimorbidity Undergoing Convalescent Rehabilitation: A Case Report.

Currently, there is inadequate evidence on the effects of combined rehabilitation and nutritional therapy for patients with multimorbidity. Therefore, in this report, we describe a case of combined rehabilitation and nutritional therapies with favorable outcomes in a patient with duplicated musculoskeletal and cerebrovascular diseases. An 80-year-old female patient was admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward after undergoing left total knee arthroplasty.

Association between improved dysphagia and increased trunk muscle mass in older patients with stroke undergoing convalescent rehabilitation.

Objective: The association between dysphagia and activities of daily living in patients with stroke has been reported, but the effect of improved dysphagia on the increase in trunk muscle mass is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between improved dysphagia and increased trunk muscle mass in older patients with stroke.

Research Methods & Procedures: This retrospective, case-control study enrolled patients with stroke aged ≥65 years.

Improved trunk muscle quality in patients with stroke increases improvements in activities of daily living.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether an increased trunk muscle quality index (TMQI) is associated with activities of daily living (ADL) in patients ≥ 65 years of age with cerebral infarction in a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted for post-stroke rehabilitation in Okinawa, Japan, between May 2018 and December 2022. The TMQI was calculated at admission and discharge using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Malnutrition suppresses improvements in depression symptoms in older adult patients with stroke undergoing convalescent rehabilitation.

Background & Aims: Depression symptoms are both prevalent and associated with poor prognosis in patients with convalescent stroke. Therefore, the improvement of depression symptoms is important for patients with convalescent stroke. This study aimed to examine whether malnutrition diagnosed using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria and its components are associated with improvements in depression symptoms in patients with stroke undergoing rehabilitation.

Factors associated with an improvement in extracellular water-to-total body water ratio in older adults with hip fractures: A decision tree analysis.

Background & Aims: The extracellular water-to-total body water ratio (ECW/TBW) increases with age and after fractures. A high ECW/TBW may hinder improvements in physical function and skeletal muscle mass. However, the effects of ECW/TBW improvement have not been properly investigated.

Association of Sarcopenia and Its Components with Depression Symptoms in Older Patients with Stroke.

Background: Recent studies have reported an association between sarcopenia and depression symptoms. To date, no reports have investigated the association between sarcopenia and depression symptoms evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Screening Scale (GDS)-15 in patients with stroke. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between sarcopenia and its components and the improvement of depression symptoms in patients with stroke admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

Reduced trunk muscle mass in patients with stroke is associated with reduced balance function recovery.

Background & Aims: Skeletal muscles are essential for postural retention and balance function. However, the relationship between trunk muscle mass (TMM) and balance function has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to examine the impact of TMM on the change in balance function in patients with stroke from admission to a rehabilitation hospital to discharge.

Low muscle mass in patients with stroke on admission reduces walking ability at discharge.

Background & Aims: Reduced skeletal muscle mass may negatively influence postural retention and walking function. This study aimed to examine the influence of the skeletal muscle mass index on walking function in patients with stroke.

Methods: This study included patients with cerebral infarction aged ≥65 years.

Evidence and Recommendations for Acute Stroke Rehabilitation from the Japan Stroke Society: Abridged Secondary Publication of the Japanese-language Version.

Objectives: In Japan, acute stroke rehabilitation has been expanding more steadily than previously with the nationwide establishment of primary stroke centers. However, Japan previously had no established guidelines for the rehabilitation. Consequently, rehabilitation programs and the provision systems for acute stroke varied among the facilities.

Prospective observational study of nutritional status and oral supplement utilization in users of an elderly daycare service, employing a web-based Mini Nutritional Assessment Form (MNA plus).

Introduction: Seniors are vulnerable to frailty, a condition linked to falls, fractures, hospitalizations, and sarcopenia. Even with regular meals, senior daycare users are at risk for malnutrition.

Methods: This study assessed malnutrition risk in daycare users, using the web-based Mini Nutritional Assessment Form (MNA®-SF).

Impact of increased trunk muscle mass on trunk function and activities of daily living in older individuals with cerebral infarction.

Background & Aims: The association between trunk muscle mass or trunk function or trunk muscle strength and activities of daily living (ADLs) has been reported, but no studies have examined the impact of increased trunk muscle mass on trunk function or ADL. This study aimed to determine whether increased trunk muscle mass is associated with trunk function and ADL in older individuals with cerebral infarction during rehabilitation.

Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled 158 patients with cerebral infarction aged ≥65 years who were admitted for post-stroke rehabilitation.

Relationship between Trunk Muscle Mass Index at Admission and Walking Independence in Patients with Hip Fracture.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between trunk muscle mass index (TMI), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), and walking independence in patients aged 65 years and older undergoing rehabilitation for hip fracture.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study was conducted in a convalescent rehabilitation ward and included 314 patients (aged ≥65 years) with hip fracture. The patients were classified into the independence group [functional independence measure (FIM)-walk score ≥6] or the non-independence group (FIM-walk score ≤5) according to the mobility item score among the motor FIM items at the time of discharge.

Correlation between trunk function improvement and recovery of activities of daily living after stroke in older adult patients.

Objectives: To examine the impact of improved trunk function on activities of daily living in stroke patients using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM).

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥ 65 years who had cerebral infarction. Patients were divided into a group with improved trunk function and a group without trunk function improvement based on the difference between the calculated Functional Assessment for Control of Trunk (FACT) gain at discharge and admission.

Can Nutrition Contribute to a Reduction in Sarcopenia, Frailty, and Comorbidities in a Super-Aged Society?

Many countries are facing the advent of super-aging societies, where sarcopenia and frailty will become pertinent problems. The prevalence of comorbidities is a major problem in countries with aged populations as elderly people suffer from various diseases, such as diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease and dementia. All of these diseases are associated with sarcopenia and frailty, and they frequently cause falls, fractures, and a decline in activities of daily living.

Determination of a Low Skeletal Muscle Mass Index Using the Mass of the Gluteus Medius in Older Patients With Hip Fractures.

This study evaluated the relationship between the muscle mass of the gluteus medius (GM) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured in patients with hip fractures. In this study, 141 patients with hip fractures were divided into those with high or low SMI. The GM index (GMI) was calculated by dividing the GM by the square of the height in meters.

Reduced Cross-Sectional Area of the Gluteus Medius Muscle is Associated With Decreased Activities of Daily Living in Older Adult Patients With Hip Fractures.

We investigated the association between the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the gluteus medius muscle (GMM) and activities of daily living in patients with hip fractures. This retrospective cohort study comprised 111 patients aged ≥65 years who underwent hip fracture rehabilitation. The CSA of the GMM was measured using computed tomography scans in the early stages of hospitalization.

Relationship between the change in infrapatellar fat pad thickness assessed using ultrasonography and anterior knee pain on squatting after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Purpose: Anterior knee pain (AKP) may occur after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The present study investigated the relationship between the change in infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) thickness assessed using ultrasonography (US) and AKP on squatting in patients after ACL reconstruction.

Methods: Patients were enrolled 3 months after ACL reconstruction using the bone-tendon-bone (BTB) technique.

Effect of 3-week preoperative rehabilitation on pain and daily physical activities in patients with severe osteoarthritis undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Background: We hypothesized that 3 weeks of preoperative rehabilitation could improve postoperative pain in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 3 weeks of preoperative rehabilitation on postoperative pain after TKA.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 29 subjects (41 knees) divided into two groups: the preoperative rehabilitation group included 14 subjects (20 knees) and the control group included 15 subjects (21 knees).

Serum concentrations of ketones increase after hand-ergometer exercise in persons with cervical spinal cord injuries: a preliminary prospective study.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Objectives: To compare lipid profiles during moderate-intensity exercise between persons with cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI) and able-bodied controls (AB).

Setting: Wakayama Medical University, Japan.

Differences in Muscle Fatigability of Vastus Medialis between Sexes Using Surface Electromyographic Power Spectral Analysis in Healthy Adults.

Objectives: With a relatively high percentage of type I fibers in the vastus medialis (VM), its fatigability may be more sensitive to the effects of muscle activity in the quadriceps. However, sex-related differences in the muscle fatigability of the VM remain unknown. The purpose of the present study was to assess the differences in fatigability of the VM between healthy adult men and women.

Factors in the acquisition of independent walking in patients with cerebral infarction using decision tree analysis.

Objectives: Independent walking is considered a rehabilitation factor for patients with stroke. There are no reports examining the predictors of independent walking at approximately one month after stroke onset. We aimed to examine factors related to the degree of independent walking, using a decision tree analysis, in patients with stroke.