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Fatigue and activity after stroke. Secondary results from the Life After Stroke study.
Braaten, RS, Askim, T, Gunnes, M, Indredavik, B
Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy. 2020;(4):e1851
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe how the prevalence of fatigue changed from the subacute phase to the chronic phase after stroke, and to investigate how activity was associated with fatigue among participants included in the randomized controlled multicentre-study Life After STroke (LAST). METHODS The present study represents secondary analysis based on data from the LAST study. One-hundred-and-forty-five patients with mild and moderate stroke (mean (SD) age: 71.5 (10.5) years, 57.2% males) recruited from St. Olav's University Hospital were included. Fatigue was assessed by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS-7) at inclusion, 3 months after stroke, and at follow-up 18 months later. activPAL was used to measure activity at follow-up. RESULTS A total of 46 (31.7%) participants reported fatigue at inclusion and 43 (29.7%) at follow-up (p = .736). In the univariable regression analysis, sedentary behaviour, walking and sedentary bouts were significantly associated with fatigue (p ≤ .015), whereas only time spent walking was significantly associated with fatigue in the multivariable regression analysis (p = .017). CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that fatigue is a common symptom after stroke and that the prevalence of fatigue remained unchanged from the subacute to the chronic phase. The study also showed that increased time spent walking was strongly related to lower fatigue, while no such associations were found between the other activity categories and fatigue.
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Metabolomics of Aerobic Exercise in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Study.
Serra, MC, Accardi, CJ, Ma, C, Park, Y, Tran, V, Jones, DP, Hafer-Macko, CE, Ryan, AS
Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association. 2019;(12):104453
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the metabolic response to exercise may aid in optimizing stroke management. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate plasma metabolomic profiles in chronic stroke survivors following aerobic exercise training. METHODS Participants (age: 62 ± 1 years, body mass index: 31 ± 1 kg/m2, mean ± standard error of the mean) were randomized to 6 months of treadmill exercise (N = 17) or whole-body stretching (N = 8) with preintervention and postintervention measurement of aerobic capacity (VO2peak). Linear models for microarray data expression analysis was performed to determine metabolic changes over time, and Mummichog was used for pathway enrichment analysis following analysis of plasma samples by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry. RESULTS VO2peak change was greater following exercise than stretching (18.9% versus -.2%; P < .01). Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed metabolites results showed significant enrichment in 4 pathways following treadmill exercise, 3 of which (heparan-, chondroitin-, keratan-sulfate degradation) involved connective tissue metabolism and the fourth involve lipid signaling (linoleate metabolism). More pathways were altered in pre and post comparisons of stretching, including branched-chain amino acid, tryptophan, tyrosine, and urea cycle, which could indicate loss of lean body mass. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary data show different metabolic changes due to treadmill training and stretching in chronic stroke survivors and suggest that in addition to improved aerobic capacity, weight-bearing activity, like walking, could protect against loss of lean body mass. Future studies are needed to examine the relationship between changes in metabolomic profiles to reductions in cardiometabolic risk after treadmill rehabilitation.
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The immediate influence of implicit motor learning strategies on spatiotemporal gait parameters in stroke patients: a randomized within-subjects design.
Kleynen, M, Jie, LJ, Theunissen, K, Rasquin, SM, Masters, RS, Meijer, K, Beurskens, AJ, Braun, SM
Clinical rehabilitation. 2019;(4):619-630
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate immediate changes in walking performance associated with three implicit motor learning strategies and to explore patient experiences of each strategy. DESIGN Participants were randomly allocated to one of three implicit motor learning strategies. Within-group comparisons of spatiotemporal parameters at baseline and post strategy were performed. SETTING Laboratory setting. SUBJECTS A total of 56 community-dwelling post-stroke individuals. INTERVENTIONS Implicit learning strategies were analogy instructions, environmental constraints and action observation. Different analogy instructions and environmental constraints were used to facilitate specific gait parameters. Within action observation, only videotaped gait was shown. MAIN MEASURES Spatiotemporal measures (speed, step length, step width, step height) were recorded using Vicon 3D motion analysis. Patient experiences were assessed by questionnaire. RESULTS At a group level, three of the four analogy instructions ( n = 19) led to small but significant changes in speed ( d = 0.088 m/s), step height (affected side d = 0.006 m) and step width ( d = -0.019 m), and one environmental constraint ( n = 17) led to significant changes in step width ( d = -0.040 m). At an individual level, results showed wide variation in the magnitude of changes. Within action observation ( n = 20), no significant changes were found. Overall, participants found it easy to use the different strategies and experienced some changes in their walking performance. CONCLUSION Analogy instructions and environmental constraints can lead to specific, immediate changes in the walking performance and were in general experienced as feasible by the participants. However, the response of an individual patient may vary quite considerably.
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Innovative STRoke Interactive Virtual thErapy (STRIVE) online platform for community-dwelling stroke survivors: a randomised controlled trial protocol.
Johnson, L, Bird, ML, Muthalib, M, Teo, WP
BMJ open. 2018;(1):e018388
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The STRoke Interactive Virtual thErapy (STRIVE) intervention provides community-dwelling stroke survivors access to individualised, remotely supervised progressive exercise training via an online platform. This trial aims to determine the clinical efficacy of the STRIVE intervention and its effect on brain activity in community-dwelling stroke survivors. METHODS AND ANALYSIS In a multisite, assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial, 60 stroke survivors >3 months poststroke with mild-to-moderate upper extremity impairment will be recruited and equally randomised by location (Melbourne, Victoria or Launceston, Tasmania) to receive 8 weeks of virtual therapy (VT) at a local exercise training facility or usual care. Participants allocated to VT will perform 3-5 upper limb exercises individualised to their impairment severity and preference, while participants allocated to usual care will be asked to maintain their usual daily activities. The primary outcome measures will be upper limb motor function and impairment, which will be assessed using the Action Research Arm Test and Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer, respectively. Secondary outcome measures include upper extremity function and spasticity, as measured by the box and block test and Modified AshworthScale, respectively, and task-related changes in bilateral sensorimotor cortex haemodynamics during hand reaching and wrist extension movements as measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Quality of life will be measured using the Euro-Quality of Life-5 Dimension-5 Level Scale, and the Motor Activity Log-28 will be used to measure use of the hemiparetic arm. All measures will be assessed at baseline and immediately postintervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study was approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee in May 2017 (No. 2017-087). The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presented at major international stroke meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ACTRN12617000745347; Pre-results.
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Does a Water Protocol Improve the Hydration and Health Status of Individuals with Thin Liquid Aspiration Following Stroke? A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Murray, J, Doeltgen, S, Miller, M, Scholten, I
Dysphagia. 2016;(3):424-33
Abstract
The benefit of water protocols for individuals with thin liquid aspiration remains controversial, with mixed findings from a small number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This study aimed to contribute to the evidence of the effectiveness of water protocols with a particular emphasis on health outcomes, especially hydration. An RCT was conducted with patients with known thin liquid aspiration post stroke randomized to receiving thickened liquids only or a water protocol. For the 14 participants in rehabilitation facilities whose data proceeded to analysis, there was no difference in the total amount of beverages consumed between the water protocol group (mean = 1103 ml per day, SD = 215 ml) and the thickened liquids only group (mean = 1103 ml, SD = 247 ml). Participants in the water protocol group drank on average 299 ml (SD 274) of water but offset this by drinking less of the thickened liquids. Their hydration improved over time compared with participants in the thickened liquids only group, but differences between groups were not significant. Twenty-one percent of the total sample was diagnosed with dehydration, and no participants in either group were diagnosed with pneumonia. There were significantly more diagnoses of urinary tract infection in the thickened liquids only group compared to the water protocol group (χ (2) = 5.091, p = 0.024), but no differences between groups with regard to diagnoses of dehydration (χ (2) = 0.884, p = 0.347) or constipation (χ (2) = 0.117, p = 0.733). The findings reinforce evidence about the relative safety of water protocols for patients in rehabilitation post stroke and provide impetus for future research into the potential benefits for hydration status and minimizing adverse health outcomes.