The evidence of effectiveness of isometric resistance training on the management of hypertension in adults: an umbrella review.

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease yet also one of the most readily preventable causes of death. Isometric resistance training (IRT) has gained increasing popularity in recent times as a viable nonpharmacological management option for hypertension. Whilst there have been several reviews on this topic, with varying findings, this umbrella review aimed to summarize the current evidence underpinning the effectiveness of IRT for hypertension.

The Oxford Cognitive Screen for use with Australian people after stroke (OCS-AU): The adaptation process and determining cut scores for cognitive impairment using a cross-sectional normative study.

Introduction: Two parallel versions (A and B) of the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS) were developed in the United Kingdom (UK) as a stroke-specific screen of five key cognitive domains commonly affected post-stroke. We aimed to develop the Australian versions A and B (OCS-AU), including Australian cut-scores indicative of impairment. We hypothesised there to be no difference in performance between the UK and Australian normative data cohorts.

Improvement in postural alignment is associated with recovery of mobility after complex acquired brain injury: An observational study.

Purpose: Determine how mobility changes over 6 months in people unable to walk at 8-weeks post-Acquired Brain Injury (ABI); if there is an association over time between postural alignment and mobility post-ABI; and if alignment after ABI becomes closer to healthy alignment over time.

Methods: Fourteen adults with ABI, evaluated over 6 months, and a reference sample of 30 healthy adults were studied. The primary measure for changes in mobility was the Clinical Outcome Variables Scale (COVS).

Improving physical mobility is critical for wellbeing in people with severe impairment after an acquired brain injury: a qualitative study.

Objectives: 1) Understand the experience, and personal significance, of mobility skills for people with severe mobility impairment after brain injury 2) Determine how these evolve over time.

Design: Longitudinal qualitative study.

Participants: Ten adults, unable to walk at 8 weeks post-injury.

Coproducing Knowledge of the Implementation of Complex Digital Health Interventions for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury and their Communication Partners: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The Social Brain Toolkit, conceived and developed in partnership with stakeholders, is a novel suite of web-based communication interventions for people with brain injury and their communication partners. To support effective implementation, the developers of the Social Brain Toolkit have collaborated with people with brain injury, communication partners, clinicians, and individuals with digital health implementation experience to coproduce new implementation knowledge. In recognition of the equal value of experiential and academic knowledge, both types of knowledge are included in this study protocol, with input from stakeholder coauthors.

Biodegradable and biocompatible graphene-based scaffolds for functional neural tissue engineering: A strategy approach using dental pulp stem cells and biomaterials.

Neural tissue engineering aims to restore the function of nervous system tissues using biocompatible cell-seeded scaffolds. Graphene-based scaffolds combined with stem cells deserve special attention to enhance tissue regeneration in a controlled manner. However, it is believed that minor changes in scaffold biomaterial composition, internal porous structure, and physicochemical properties can impact cellular growth and adhesion.

A pulse survey: assessment and management of bone loss in spinal cord injury.

Study Design: An online survey OBJECTIVES: To describe current clinical practices regarding osteoporosis assessment and management in people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and compare them to recommended diagnostic tests and interventions.

Setting: An international collaboration surveying professionals working in SCI Medicine.

Methods: Online cross-sectional survey regarding clinical practice trends in the assessment and treatment of osteoporosis in people with SCI.

Nutrition and hydration management among stroke patients in inpatient rehabilitation: a best practice implementation project.

Introduction: In 2012 in Australia, stroke was the cause of 11 791 deaths and affected the lives of over 420 000 survivors. Survivors experience significant physical and cognitive deficits; and accumulate a 43% risk of subsequent stroke. Effective evidence-based management of stroke is essential.

Relationships between the Bone Expression of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Genes, Bone Remodelling Genes and Cortical Bone Structure in Neck of Femur Fracture.

Neck of femur (NOF) fracture is a prevalent fracture type amongst the ageing and osteoporotic populations, commonly requiring total hip replacement (THR) surgery. Increased fracture risk has also been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the aged. Here, we sought to identify possible relationships between the pathologies of osteoporosis and dementia by analysing bone expression of neurotropic or dementia-related genes in patients undergoing THR surgery for NOF fracture.

Factors influencing thigh muscle volume change with cycling exercises in acute spinal cord injury - a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

To conduct a per-protocol analysis on thigh muscle volume outcomes from the Spinal Cord Injury and Physical Activity (SCIPA) Switch-On Trial. Secondary analysis from an assessor-blind randomized, controlled trial. Four acute/sub-acute hospitals in Australia and New Zealand.

Parkinsonism in the psychiatric setting: an update on clinical differentiation and management.

Parkinsonism is seen frequently in patients with psychiatric conditions. Drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP) is the second most common cause of parkinsonism in the general population after Parkinson's disease (PD) but a range of rarer aetiologies, some of them reversible, should also be considered in patients of all ages. DIP is more common in older patients, as are neurodegenerative diseases that may produce parkinsonism and it is relatively more likely that drug exposure could be unmasking an underlying process in this population.

Work and SCI: a pilot randomized controlled study of an online resource for job-seekers with spinal cord dysfunction.

Study Design: A prospective, parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Objectives: To test the preliminary effects of an online resource targeted to job-seekers with spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D), and to determine the feasibility of proceeding to a full-scale RCT.

Setting: A community cohort in Australia.

Telehealth for people with spinal cord injury: a narrative review.

Study Design: Narrative review.

Objectives: To find and discuss what has been published about the use of telehealth, on people with spinal cord injury (teleSCI).

Setting: International.

Nature of the Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Literature: A Systematic Review.

Non-traumatic SCI (NTSCI) etiologies represent a markedly heterogeneous cluster of conditions defined within the consensus NTSCI taxonomy. This meta-analysis assembles evidence about the occurrence of NTSCI and its clinical outcomes with respect to 6 research domains. To investigate the quality and quantity of clinical NTSCI evidence published in the peer reviewed literature with reference to prognosis, diagnosis, intervention, process of care, methodology, and qualitative approaches.

Important Clinical Rehabilitation Principles Unique to People with Non-traumatic Spinal Cord Dysfunction.

Non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction (SCDys) is caused by a large range of heterogeneous etiologies. Although most aspects of rehabilitation for traumatic spinal cord injury and SCDys are the same, people with SCDys have some unique rehabilitation issues. This article presents an overview of important clinical rehabilitation principles unique to SCDys.

Traumatic subaxial cervical facet subluxation and dislocation: epidemiology, radiographic analyses, and risk factors for spinal cord injury.

Background Context: Distractive flexion injuries (DFIs) of the subaxial cervical spine are major contributors to spinal cord injury (SCI). Prompt assessment and early intervention of DFIs associated with SCI are crucial to optimize patient outcome; however, neurologic examination of patients with subaxial cervical injury is often difficult, as patients commonly present with reduced levels of consciousness. Therefore, it is important to establish potential associations between injury epidemiology and radiographic features, and neurologic involvement.

SCIPA Switch-On: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Efficacy and Safety of Functional Electrical Stimulation-Assisted Cycling and Passive Cycling Initiated Early After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

Substantial skeletal muscle atrophy after spinal cord injury (SCI) carries significant repercussions for functional recovery and longer-term health. To compare the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling (FESC) and passive cycling (PC) to attenuate muscle atrophy after acute SCI. This multicenter, assessor-blinded phase I/II trial randomized participants at 4 weeks post-SCI to FESC or PC (4 sessions per week, 1 hour maximum per session, over 12 weeks).

Is there a relationship between postural alignment and mobility for adults after acquired brain injury? A systematic review.

Primary Objective: To examine the relationship between postural alignment and mobility skills for adults after acquired brain injury (ABI).

Methods: Systematic review of the literature. Seven electronic databases, grey literature and reference lists of the shortlisted publications were searched.

Rehabilitation of people with spinal cord damage due to tumor: literature review, international survey and practical recommendations for optimizing their rehabilitation.

Background/objectives: People with spinal cord dysfunction (SCDys) due to tumor (benign and malignant) pose enormous rehabilitation challenges. Objectives were: conduct literature search regarding epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes for SCDys due to tumor following rehabilitation, the ideal setting for rehabilitation and practical considerations for rehabilitation; and propose framework and practical considerations for managing people with SCDys due to tumor in spinal rehabilitation units (SRUs).

Design: Survey of rehabilitation health care professionals, consensus opinion from experts and literature search.

Look Before You Leap: What Are the Obstacles to Risk Calculation in the Equestrian Sport of Eventing?

All horse-riding is risky. In competitive horse sports, eventing is considered the riskiest, and is often characterised as very dangerous. But based on what data? There has been considerable research on the risks and unwanted outcomes of horse-riding in general, and on particular subsets of horse-riding such as eventing.

A Descriptive Study of the Fluid Intake, Hydration, and Health Status of Rehabilitation Inpatients without Dysphagia Following Stroke.

Adequate hydration is important for all people, particularly when hospitalized with illness. Individuals with dysphagia following stroke are considered to be at risk of inadequate fluid intake and, therefore, dehydration, but there is little information about the fluid intake or hydration of individuals without dysphagia poststroke. This cohort study measured the average beverage intake, calculated the urea/creatinine ratio as a measure of hydration, and documented specific health outcomes of 86 people without dysphagia poststroke who were inpatients in rehabilitation centers.

Acute rehospitalisation during the first 3 months of in-patient rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Unplanned re-admission to acute care hospitals during in-patient rehabilitation causes disruption to the rehabilitation program and increases the cost of health care. The aims of the present study were to identify the frequency, reasons and duration of disruption to rehabilitation because of acute re-admissions during the first 3 months of in-patient rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to investigate the correlation between the duration of acute rehospitalisation and the discharge functional independence measure (FIM) score.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients admitted for in-patient rehabilitation following TBI to a rehabilitation hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, between January 2009 and August 2013.

Quality-of-life for individuals with a vestibular impairment following an acquired brain injury (ABI); the clients' perspective.

Primary Objective: To investigate how a vestibular deficit following an acquired brain injury (ABI) affects an individuals' quality-of-life.

Research Design: A qualitative exploratory design.

Participants: Nine community dwelling individuals who experienced significant symptoms and limitations as a result of their vestibular deficits.