Corticospinal and Clinical Effects of Muscle Tendon Vibration in Neurologically Impaired Individuals. A Scoping Review.

This review verified the extent, variety, quality and main findings of studies that have tested the neurophysiological and clinical effects of muscle tendon vibration (VIB) in individuals with sensorimotor impairments. The search was conducted on PubMed, CINAHL, and SportDiscuss up to April 2024. Studies were selected if they included humans with neurological impairments, applied VIB and used at least one measure of corticospinal excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Effectiveness of pharmacological therapies for fibromyalgia syndrome in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews.

Objectives: To summarise and evaluate Cochrane reviews of pharmacological therapies for adults with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) pain.

Methods: Systematic search of Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to May 2024. Generic quality assessment used AMSTAR-2 criteria, validity checks of potentially critical factors in evaluation of analgesic efficacy, and assessment of susceptibility of results to publication bias.

Rewiring the disordered connectome with circuit-based paired stimulation after stroke-a randomized, double-blind and controlled Phase II trial.

The cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation, a combined stimulation based on two brain regions, may be an effective strategy for stroke rehabilitation. Our aim was to confirm that the cortico-cortical paired associative stimulation strengthens the connection between brain regions in the motor circuit and promotes improvements in motor function. This was a randomized double-blind, controlled Phase II trial.

Exploring the impact of professional development about family-centred service for health professionals working in paediatric disability: a scoping review.

Purpose: To explore the impact of family-centred service education on the knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and practice of service providers working in paediatric disability.

Materials And Methods: The review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. The search strategy was completed in seven electronic databases.

Vulnerability: An Interpretive Descriptive Study of Personal Support Workers' Experiences of Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada.

Background/objectives: Personal support workers (PSWs) are important healthcare workers providing essential services to thousands of Canadians. PSWs face many challenges that were exacerbated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study we explore experiences of PSWs working through the pandemic in Ontario long-term care (LTC) homes by focusing on the vulnerability of such workers.

Investigating autonomic dysfunction in post-COVID-19 syndrome from skin to brain: A case-control study using EMG-SSR and fNIRS.

Background: Autonomic dysfunction is a well-recognized complication associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS). ANS maladaptation could underlie a potential pathogenetic mechanism of PCS, contributing to PCS symptoms. However, there remains an ongoing debate regarding whether autonomic and neuropathic symptoms observed in PCS patients are indicative of central or peripheral ANS pathology.

What are the Perceptions and Lived Experiences of Canadian Injured Workers about the Provision of Physiotherapy Services using Telerehabilitation?

Purpose: Despite evidence of efficacy, the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in real-world clinical settings is still largely unknown. Telerehabilitation requires a substantial transformation of the organization and delivery of traditional services. Considering that a virtual setting can create unique challenges for providing physiotherapy services and given the physical and potential hands-on nature of evidence-based assessments and interventions, it is important to investigate what injured workers think of receiving physiotherapy care via telerehabilitation and to examine if rehabilitation needs are adequately met.

The Effects of Whole-Body Exercise on Swallowing Function in Older Adults With Parkinson's Disease: A Proof-of-Principle Study.

Purpose: Rodent models suggest that when respiratory demands increase during an exercise program, tongue and thyroarytenoid muscles engage to maintain a patent airway, leading to increased muscle strength. This suggests that nonspecific exercises that increase respiratory rate may improve swallowing. As such, the purpose of this proof-of-principle study was to determine the potential for whole-body exercise to improve tongue strength, cough strength, and self-reported swallowing function in older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Effects of hypothetical low versus moderate-to-high intensity weight management regimens on knee replacements.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a hypothetical biennial weight management regimen in reducing the necessity for knee replacement (KR) surgery among middle-aged and older adults with or at a higher risk for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort in the US, comprising community-dwelling adults aged 45-79 years at high risk for or with symptomatic knee OA who underwent baseline assessments from September 2008 to December 2010 were used. Subsequent evaluations were conducted at 12, 24, and 96 months.

Understanding Needs for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Management in a Northern Dene and Métis Community: A Community Based Needs Assessment.

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain disproportionately affects Indigenous Peoples, and rural/remote communities face significant barriers in accessing care. La Loche, a Dene/Métis community in northern Saskatchewan, has limited access to specialized chronic pain management services and specialized health providers.

Aims: The aim of this needs assessment was to gain insight into the community's priorities, strengths, and concerns regarding chronic MSK pain management.

Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention in Multiple Sclerosis.

The role of exercise as a therapeutic intervention in multiple sclerosis (MS) has shifted over time. Early views surrounding exercise in MS advocated for caution against participation. With increasing evidence, perspectives shifted to promote exercise as a therapeutic approach for symptom management.

Do People With Stroke Meet Aerobic and Muscle-Strengthening Activity Guidelines? Data From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Background And Purpose: It is unclear to what extent Canadians with stroke engage in moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and muscle-strengthening activities (MSA). The purpose of this study was to describe overall physical activity, aerobic MVPA, and MSA participation in Canadians with stroke; determine the functioning, disability, and health classes that best characterize this population; and examine the relationship between-class membership and physical activity participation.

Methods: Activity levels were quantified using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly in 2094 adults with stroke or transient ischemic attack (mean age 67.

Asthma research in mice: An overview of current models and their methodological variability.

Studies in murine experimental models have made significant contributions to the understanding of asthma pathophysiology and the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches. Nonetheless, there is a plethora of options available for selecting mouse strains, sensitization methods, challenge routes and doses, as well as approaches to evaluating host response in murine asthma model protocols. Due to the diversity of models employed, comparing results across different studies proves exceedingly challenging.

Which Sex- and Gender-Based Explanatory Variables Are Associated With Memory Function Poststroke? A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Objective: To identify sex- and gender-based variables associated with immediate and delayed recall in individuals with stroke.

Design: This was a secondary analysis of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) using general linear models with a standard stepwise approach.

Setting: Community.

Novel biomimetic sandwich-structured electrospun cardiac patches with moderate adhesiveness and excellent electrical conductivity.

Clinical cardiac patches exhibit unsatisfied biocompatibility, low adhesion, and inadequate compliance and suboptimal mechanical properties for cardiac disorders repair. To address these challenges, herein we have innovatively proposed a biomimetic nanofiber electrospun membrane with a sandwich structure strategy. The composite patch comprises a stretchable polyurethane (PU) as basic material, then infiltrated with biocompatible silk fibroin methacryloyl (Silk-MA) as the middle layer via electrospinning and finally covered with Bio-ILs (chemically modified biocompatible ionic liquids) to impart electrical conductivity.

Virtual Assessment Protocols for Timed-Up-and-Go, 5-Repetition Chair Rise, and 1-Minute Sit-to-Stand Tests in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Investigating Feasibility, Reliability, and Validity.

Objective: To develop and evaluate virtual assessment protocols for the Timed-Up-and-Go usual and fast pace, Chair Rise-5 repetition, and the 1-minute Sit-to-Stand tests and examine their feasibility, reliability, and validity.

Design: This was a prospective cohort study, where participants engaged in up to 2 virtual assessments and data were collected prospectively for 1 year.

Setting: Assessments took place in participants' homes in the community.

Being and Doing Together in a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community: Pandemic Experiences of Older Adults.

Developing effective, sustainable strategies that promote social inclusion, reduce isolation, and support older adults' wellbeing continues to be important to aging communities in Canada. One strategy that targets community-living older adults involves identifying naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) and supporting them through supportive service programs (NORC-SSPs). This qualitative descriptive study utilized semi-structured interviews to explore how older adults living in a NORC supported by an SSP, sought to build, and maintain, a sense of community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interventions for the management of long covid (post-covid condition): living systematic review.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of interventions for the management of long covid (post-covid condition).

Design: Living systematic review.

Data Sources: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to December 2023.

Evaluation of the Staff Educational Components of the PROMOTE Program to Improve Resident Hydration.

Background/objectives: Inadequate fluid intake is prevalent among older adults living in care settings and can lead to dehydration-related events such as falls and hospitalization. Staff knowledge and confidence using diverse strategies is needed to provide adequate hydration to residents. PROMOTE is a multicomponent intervention designed to support staff to increase resident fluid intake between meals.

Massage for neck pain contrasted against standard (non-surgical) treatment: A systematic review update.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review update was to determine the average effect of massage for adults with neck pain (NP) contrasted against another standard treatment.

Methods: Randomised controlled trials comparing massage to standard treatments were included; placebo/no treatment comparisons were excluded. Databases were searched (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ICL, trial registries) from inception to Oct-1-2023.