Relationship Between Cancer-Related Fatigue and Physical Activity in Inpatient Cancer Rehabilitation.

Relationship between Cancer-related Fatigue and Physical Activity in Inpatient Cancer Rehabilitation.

Anticancer Res. 2013 Aug; 33(8): 3415-22
Kummer F, Catuogno S, Perseus JM, Bloch W, Baumann FT

Fatigue is a serious problem for the majority of patients with cancer. In this context, several studies have shown benefits of physical activity during and following treatment. However, uncertainties remain regarding the optimal type and duration of physical activity. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between cancer-related fatigue and physical activity in the course of inpatient rehabilitation.Fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory) and physical activity (Freiburg Questionnaire of Physical Activity) were assessed in a consecutive series of 35 patients with cancer attending oncological inpatient rehabilitation during a six-month study period. The three-week rehabilitation program included daily exercise therapy consisting of aerobic endurance training, moderate resistance training, coordination exercises, relaxation training and individual physiotherapy.At discharge, a significant improvement in each dimension of cancer-related fatigue (p=0.001-0.003) and a significant increase of physical activity levels (p=0.001) were observed. A small, but significant negative correlation was found between cancer-related fatigue and the level of physical activity (R=-0.438, p=0.004). The largest effects were associated with a weekly energy expenditure of 3000 kcal through physical activity.The results support a non-linear dose-response relationship between cancer-related fatigue and physical activity. Since this is the first study providing specific exercise recommendations for an effective treatment of cancer-related fatigue in the context of inpatient rehabilitation, further research is required to validate the observed trends. HubMed – rehab

Subluxation of the shoulder joint in stroke patients and the influence of selected factors on the incidence of instability.

Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 2013 Jun 28; 15(3): 259-67
Pop T

Summary The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of shoulder subluxation in stroke patients and the impact of rehabilitation and presence/absence of fluid in the subhumeral and subdeltoidbursaeon the occurrence of instability. Materials and methods The study group was composed of 182 patients after stroke, with 108 men and 74 women. 156 of the patients had suffered an ischemic stroke whereas 26 had experienced a hemorrhagic stroke; 90 patients had right-sided paresis and 92 left-sided paresis. The study variables were evaluated by performing, on two occasions, an ultrasound examination of the shoulder and an assessment of upper limb functional capacity using the Brunnström scale. 182 patients of the study group participated in an exercise programme according tothe PNF concept. Results There was no subluxation of the shoulder on the healthy side, while on the paretic side, subluxation occurred in 25.3% of the patients. Bursal fluid was seen more frequently on the paretic side (12.6%). A statistically significant reduction of the subluxation and bursal fluid was achieved after the rehabilitation. Subluxation occurred more frequently in patients with a known presence of fluid in the bursae and in those with poorer functional capacity of the upper limb. Conclusions: 1. The clinical symptoms of stroke are the cause of subluxation in the shoulder joint. 2. Subluxation occurs more frequently in patients with a known presence of fluid in the subhumeral and subdeltoidbursae and in patients with reduced functional capacity. 3. The reduction of subluxation and bursal fluid was influenced by the exercise program and improved functional capacity. HubMed – rehab

Radiological evaluation of treatment with SpineCor brace in children with idiopathic spinal scoliosis.

Ortop Traumatol Rehabil. 2013 Jun 28; 15(3): 227-34
Plewka B, Sibi?ski M, Synder M, Wito?ski D, Ko?odziejczyk-Klimek K, Plewka M

Introduction. This paper reports on a radiological evaluation of the outcomes of treatment with the SpineCor brace in children with idiopathic spinal scoliosis vs. a control group who had only received 24 months of rehabilitation. The compliance of the SpineCor-treated patients with medical instructions was also assessed. Material and methods. A prospective evaluation encompassed a group of forty (40) children, treated with a SpineCor brace for idiopathic scoliosis. A control group included forty (40) children who were followed up. The mean age of the children was 12.0 years and sixty-six (66) of the patients were girls. The study group and the control group were comparable in terms of demographic data and radiological parameters of scoliosis. The mean scoliosis angle was 25.3? and 26.1? in the thoracic and lumbar spine, respectively. Results. In the (SpineCor-treated) study group, stabilisation or improvement of the scoliosis was obtained in 31 (78%) patients, while progression was noted in 9 (22%). In the control group, stabilisation was found in 21 (53%) patients and progression in 19 (47%), while none of the children met improvement criteria. In the brace-treated group, a smaller change in the thoracic curvature angle was observed (R=0.34, p=0.0001) than in the control group, while no such difference was identified at the lumbar spine level (R=0.15, p=0.18). Out of the 40 treated children, 38 used the brace regularly. Four of the children were active in sports above recreation level. Conclusions. The treatment of idiopathic spinal scoliosis in children by means of the SpineCor dynamic brace solution significantly more frequently led to stabilisation or correction of scoliosis as measured by Cobb’s angle. A high compliance of the children and their parents was also observed. HubMed – rehab

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