Manual Linear Movements to Assess Spasticity in a Clinical Setting.

Manual Linear Movements to Assess Spasticity in a Clinical Setting.

Filed under: Rehab Centers

PLoS One. 2013; 8(1): e53627
Marinelli L, Trompetto C, Mori L, Vigo G, Traverso E, Colombano F, Abbruzzese G

In a clinical setting, where motor-driven systems are not readily available, the major difficulty in the assessment of the stretch reflex lies in the control of passive limb displacement velocity. A potential approach to this problem arises from the use of manual sinusoidal movements (made by continuous alternating flexions and extensions) paced by an external stimulus. Unfortunately, there are conditions in which sinusoidal movements induce interfering phenomena such as the shortening reaction or postactivation depression. In the present paper, a novel manual method to control the velocity of passive linear movements is described and the results obtained from both healthy subjects and spastic patients are reported. This method is based on the synchronisation of movements with tones played by a metronome at different speeds. In a first set of experiments performed in healthy subjects, we demonstrated consistent control of velocity during passive limb movements using this method. Four joints usually examined during muscle tone assessment were tested: wrist, elbow, knee and ankle joints. Following this, we conducted a longitudinal assessment of the stretch reflex amplitude in wrist flexor muscles in patients with spasticity treated with botulinum toxin type A. The evaluators were not only able to vary the movement velocity based on the metronome speed, but also could reproduce the respective speeds two weeks later, despite the changing degree of hypertonia. This method is easy to perform in a clinical setting and hardware requirements are minimal, making it an attractive and robust procedure for the widespread clinical assessment of reflex hypertonia.
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Freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease: disturbances in automaticity and control.

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Front Hum Neurosci. 2012; 6: 356
Vandenbossche J, Deroost N, Soetens E, Coomans D, Spildooren J, Vercruysse S, Nieuwboer A, Kerckhofs E

Recent studies emphasize a key role of controlled operations, such as set-shifting and inhibition, in the occurrence of freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, FOG can also be characterized as a de-automatization disorder, showing impairments in both the execution and acquisition of automaticity. The observed deficits in automaticity and executive functioning indicate that both processes are malfunctioning in freezers. Therefore, to explain FOG from a cognitive-based perspective, we present a model describing the pathways involved in automatic and controlled processes prior to a FOG episode. Crucially, we focus on disturbances in automaticity and control, regulated by the frontostriatal circuitry. In complex situations, non-freezing PD patients may compensate for deficits in automaticity by switching to increased cognitive control. However, as both automatic and controlled processes are more severely impaired in freezers, this hampers cognitive compensation in FOG, resulting in a potential breakdown. Future directions for cognitive rehabilitation are proposed, based on the cognitive model we put forward.
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Psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Patient Generated Index in patients with rheumatic diseases participating in rehabilitation or self-management programmes.

Filed under: Rehab Centers

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2013 Jan 18;
Klokkerud M, Grotle M, Løchting I, Kjeken I, Hagen KB, Garratt AM

Objective. In rehabilitation, treatment is individually tailored to each patient’s goals. Individualized instruments allow patients to choose domains that they consider important, which may make them particularly appropriate as evaluative tools in this setting. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Patient Generated Index (PGI) in patients with rheumatic diseases participating in inpatient rehabilitation or self-management programmes.Methods. Patients completed the PGI together with other outcome measures at arrival and 5 and 52 weeks after arrival. The PGI was assessed for data quality by completion rates, reliability by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), agreement by standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable change (SDC). Construct validity was assessed by testing a priori hypotheses regarding correlation between PGI scores and other outcome measures. Responsiveness was assessed by an a priori hypothesis regarding the correlation of different change scores and standardized response means (SRMs).Results. A total of 145 patients participated and 118 (81%) completed the PGI correctly. The ICC was 0.87, SEM 7.25 and SDC 20.10. Ninety-three per cent of the hypotheses of correlation were confirmed in tests for construct validity. Responsiveness was confirmed in 53% and 71% of hypotheses tested at 5 and 52 weeks. SRMs were 0.2 and 0.4, respectively.Conclusion. The results support the validity, reliability and responsiveness of the Norwegian version of the PGI in patients with rheumatic diseases and its application as an outcome measure in rehabilitation or self-management programmes. Further research is needed to improve completion rates for the PGI.
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Quadriceps muscle mass and function in patients with the hypermobility type of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

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Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2013 Jan 17;
Rombaut L

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