The Minimum Number of Strides Required for Reliable Gait Measurements in Older Adult Fallers and Non-Fallers.

While the value of walking gait metrics collected using pressure-sensing walkways has shown promise for fall risk assessment, there is no consensus on the minimum number of strides required to obtain reliable metrics. This study aimed to determine the minimum stride count required for reliable single-task (ST), dual-task (DT), and difference score (DS) measurements of the spatio-temporal parameters of gait in older adult fallers and non-fallers. Forty community-dwelling older adults (74.

Barriers and facilitators encountered by healthcare providers when supporting individuals with SCI to change their bowel care.

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are dissatisfied with their bowel care, but 71% have not changed their care for at least 5 years. Recently, individuals with SCI expressed a need for knowledge about bowel care options. Healthcare providers (HCP) play a crucial role in supporting bowel care changes.

A survey of the experiences of delivering physiotherapy services through telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Physiotherapy services have been typically provided in-person since the profession usually involves a therapist providing hands-on assessment and treatments. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to study physiotherapists' adaptation to telerehabilitation (phone or videoconference).

Objective: This study aimed: (1) to explore how physiotherapists adapted to the transition to delivering telerehabilitation, (2) to assess physiotherapists' perceptions of implementing telerehabilitation, and (3) to identify the challenges and facilitators of delivering telerehabilitation.

An environmental scan of limb loss rehabilitation centers across Canada.

Background: The clinical landscape of limb loss rehabilitation across Canada is poorly delineated, lacks standard rehabilitation guidelines, and is without a shared clinical database.

Objective: To address these gaps, the objective of the present study was to undertake an environmental scan of the rehabilitation centers across Canada that provide inpatient and/or outpatient services to the limb loss community.

Study Design: An environmental scan was conducted to describe the rehabilitation service structure, program services, and outcome measures of sites across Canada.

Role and promise of health policy and systems research in integrating rehabilitation into the health systems.

Despite recognized need and reasonable demand, health systems and rehabilitation communities keep working in silos, independently with minimal recognition to the issues of those who require rehabilitation services. Consolidated effort by health systems and rehabilitation parties, recognizing the value, power and promise of each other, is a need of the hour to address this growing issue of public health importance. In this paper, the importance and the need for integration of rehabilitation into health system is emphasized.

Effects of exercise on autonomic cardiovascular control in individuals with chronic, motor-complete spinal cord injury: an exploratory randomised clinical trial.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of a clinical trial.

Objective: To assess the impact of 6 months of arm cycle ergometry training (ACET), or body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT), on autonomic cardiovascular responses to a laboratory sit-up test (SUT) in individuals with chronic (≥1-year post-injury) spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Tertiary Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, Canada.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Post Established Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been reported to improve neurological function in the chronic phase of stroke in a single trial having significant limitations, including a lack of a sham control.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, parallel-group, randomized trial to determine the effectiveness of HBOT compared with a sham control in adults who were 6 to 36 months post-ischemic stroke. The treatment group received 40 sessions of HBOT at the Vancouver General Hospital Hyperbaric Unit.

Bowel burdens: a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the relationships between bowel dysfunction and quality of life after spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Many individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience autonomic dysfunction, including profound impairments to bowel and cardiovascular function. Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is emerging as a potential determinant of quality of life (QoL) after SCI.

Breastfeeding Following Spinal Cord Injury: Consumer Guide for Mothers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months of age. However, there are few resources available on the effects a spinal cord injury (SCI) can have for breastfeeding mothers. It is difficult to find information to address the unique challenges women with SCI experience when planning or trying to breastfeed.

Lived Experiences of Sexuality and Sexual Functioning in Males with SCI: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in males with spinal cord injury (SCI) and has been recognized to be a key recovery priority.

Objectives: This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study aimed to investigate the major themes linked to sexual functioning in males with chronic (>1 year) SCI.

Methods: Twenty male participants with SCI, aged 25 to 59 years, completed validated questionnaires exploring sexual function/satisfaction and health-related quality of life and a semi-structured interview with an experienced sexual medicine physician.

A qualitative study of clinicians' and individuals' with lower limb loss perspectives on the development of a novel online self-management program.

Purpose: To explore the rehabilitation preferences and experiences of clinicians and patients for education after lower limb loss to facilitate the development of an online self-management program.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Thirty-one clinicians (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and prosthetists), and 26 patients with lower limb loss (transtibial and transfemoral amputation; mean age (SD) of 63.

Web-Based Information on Spinal Cord Stimulation: Qualitative Assessment of Publicly Accessible Online Resources.

Background: Despite the growing accessibility of web-based information related to spinal cord stimulation (SCS), the content and quality of commonly encountered websites remain unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the content and quality of web-based information on SCS.

Methods: This qualitative study was prospectively registered in Open Science Framework.

From Toxin to Treatment: A Narrative Review on the Use of Botulinum Toxin for Autonomic Dysfunction.

Since its regulatory approval over a half-century ago, botulinum toxin has evolved from one of the most potent neurotoxins known to becoming routinely adopted in clinical practice. Botulinum toxin, a highly potent neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, can cause botulism illness, characterized by widespread muscle weakness due to inhibition of acetylcholine transmission at neuromuscular junctions. The observation of botulinum toxin's anticholinergic properties led to the investigation of its potential benefits for conditions with an underlying etiology of cholinergic transmission, including autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

Autonomic dysreflexia in urological practice: pathophysiology, prevention and treatment considerations.

Purpose: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to sensorimotor impairments; however, it can also be complicated by significant autonomic dysfunction, including cardiovascular and lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunctions. Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a dangerous cardiovascular complication of SCI often overlooked by healthcare professionals. AD is characterized by a sudden increase in blood pressure (BP) that can result in severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications.

Adaptive outdoor physical activities for adults with mobility disability: a scoping review.

Introduction: Outdoor physical activity (PA) contributes to the physical and mental health and well-being of individuals with a mobility impairment. However, individuals are commonly excluded from outdoor PA because of accessibility challenges. No reviews summarizing evidence on factors that facilitate/hinder participation and inclusion of individuals with mobility disabilities in adaptive outdoor PA were identified.

Investigating the Telerehabilitation With Aims to Improve Lower Extremity Recovery Poststroke Program: A Feasibility Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a progressive virtual exercise and self-management intervention, the TeleRehabilitation with Aims to Improve Lower extremity recovery poststroke program (TRAIL), in individuals with stroke.

Methods: A single group pre-post study design was used. Thirty-two participants were recruited who were aged 19 years or older, had a stroke within 18 months of the beginning of the study, had hemiparesis of the lower extremity, and were able to tolerate 50 minutes of activity.