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Effects on walking performance and lower body strength by short message service guided training after stroke or transient ischemic attack (The STROKEWALK Study): a randomized controlled trial.
Vahlberg, B, Lundström, E, Eriksson, S, Holmbäck, U, Cederholm, T
Clinical rehabilitation. 2021;(2):276-287
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whetherdaily mobile-phone delivered messages with training instructions during three months increase physical activity and overall mobility in patients soon after stroke or transient ischemic attack. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial with intention-to-treat analyses. SETTING University hospital. Data collection from November 2016 until December2018. SUBJECTS Seventy-nine patients (mean (SD) age 63.9 (10.4) years, 29 were women) were allocated to either intervention (n = 40) or control group (n = 39). Participants had to be independent (modified Ranking Scale ⩽2) and able to perform the six-minute walking test at discharge from the hospital. INTERVENTIONS The intervention group received standard care and daily mobile phone instructional text messages to perform regular outdoor walking and functional leg exercises. The control group received standard care; that is, primary care follow-up. MAIN MEASURES Walking performance by six-minute walking test (m), lower body strength by five times chair-stand test (s), the short physical performance battery (0-12 points) and 10-metres walk test (m/s) were assessed at baseline and after three months. RESULTS The estimated median difference in the six-minute walking test was in favour of the intervention group by 30 metres (95% CI, 55 to 1; effect size 0.64; P = 0.037) and in the chair-stand test by 0.88 seconds (95% CI, 0.02 to 1.72; effect size 0.64; P = 0.034). There were no differences between groups on the short physical performance battery or in 10-metres walking time. CONCLUSIONS Three months of daily mobile phone text messages with guided training instructions improved composite mobility measures; that is, walking performanceand lower body strength. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02902367.
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Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation in Chronic Poststroke Patients with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia: 1-Year Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Arreola, V, Ortega, O, Álvarez-Berdugo, D, Rofes, L, Tomsen, N, Cabib, C, Muriana, D, Palomera, E, Clavé, P
Neurorehabilitation and neural repair. 2021;(9):778-789
Abstract
Background. Chronic poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia (CPSOD) is associated with impaired oropharyngeal sensory/motor function. We aimed to assess effect of sensory (SES) and motor (NMES) transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) on safety of swallow and clinical outcomes in patients with CPSOD in a one-year follow-up randomized controlled trial. Methods. Ninety patients (74.1 ± 11.5 y, modified Rankin score 2.6 ± 1.7) with CPSOD and impaired safety of swallow were randomized to (a) compensatory treatment (CT), (b) CT + SES, and (c) CT + NMES. Patients were treated with up to two cycles (6 months apart) of 15 × 1 hour TES sessions over two weeks and followed up with 4-5 clinical and videofluoroscopic assessments during one year. Key results. Baseline penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) was 4.61 ± 1.75, delayed time to laryngeal vestibule closure (LVC) 396.4 ± 108.7 ms, and impaired efficacy signs 94.25%. Swallowing parameters significantly improved between baseline and 1-year follow-up in SES and NMES groups for prevalence of patients with a safe swallow (P < .001), mean PAS (P < .001), time to LVC (P < .01), and need for thickening agents (P < .001). Patients in the CT presented a less intense improvement of signs of impaired safety of swallow without significant changes in time to LVC. No differences between groups were observed for 1-year mortality (6.1%), respiratory infections (9.6%), nutritional and functional status, QoL, and hospital readmission rates (27.6%). No significant adverse events related to TES were observed. Conclusions and inferences. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation is a safe and effective therapy for older patients with CPSOD. After 1-year follow-up, TES greatly improved the safety of swallow and reduced the need for fluid thickening in these patients.
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Effects of a food preparation program on dietary well-being for stroke patients with dysphagia: A pilot study.
Lin, SC, Lin, KH, Tsai, YC, Chiu, EC
Medicine. 2021;(25):e26479
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BACKGROUND Dysphagia is one of the common issues observed in patients with stroke. Stroke patients with dysphagia have to eat blended food or similar types of food for each meal, resulting in dietary dissatisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a food preparation program on dietary well-being for stroke patients with dysphagia. METHODS This study was a pilot randomized clinical trial. Twenty-two patients were assigned randomly into the food preparation group (n = 11) and control group (n = 11). The food preparation group received oral motor exercises, recognition of food texture and thickener, and hands-on food preparation for 6 weeks. Outcome measures included the Dietary Well-Being Scale, brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of life, Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire, and Mini Nutritional Assessment. RESULTS Patients in the food preparation group showed significant improvements in the Dietary Well-Being Scale, psychological and environmental domains of the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of life (P = .001-.024) with small to large effect sizes (success rate difference = 0.23-0.46). The Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire and Mini Nutritional Assessment displayed non-significant differences (P = .053-.092) and revealed small to moderate effect sizes (success rate difference = 0.23-0.32). CONCLUSIONS The food preparation program showed a positive impact on dietary well-being and a potential improvement in the health-related quality of life, quality of life related to the process of swallowing, and nutritional status for stroke patients with dysphagia. We recommend that stroke patients with dysphagia receive adequate knowledge and hands-on food preparation training to increase their dietary intake and well-being.
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Implicit and Explicit Motor Learning Interventions Have Similar Effects on Walking Speed in People After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Jie, LJ, Kleynen, M, Meijer, K, Beurskens, A, Braun, S
Physical therapy. 2021;(5)
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OBJECTIVE Clinicians may use implicit or explicit motor learning approaches to facilitate motor learning of patients with stroke. Implicit motor learning approaches have shown promising results in healthy populations. The purpose of this study was to assess whether an implicit motor learning walking intervention is more effective compared with an explicit motor learning walking intervention delivered at home regarding walking speed in people after stroke in the chronic phase of recovery. METHODS This randomized, controlled, single-blind trial was conducted in the home environment. The 79 participants, who were in the chronic phase after stroke (age = 66.4 [SD = 11.0] years; time poststroke = 70.1 [SD = 64.3] months; walking speed = 0.7 [SD = 0.3] m/s; Berg Balance Scale score = 44.5 [SD = 9.5]), were randomly assigned to an implicit (n = 38) or explicit (n = 41) group. Analogy learning was used as the implicit motor learning walking intervention, whereas the explicit motor learning walking intervention consisted of detailed verbal instructions. Both groups received 9 training sessions (30 minutes each), for a period of 3 weeks, targeted at improving quality of walking. The primary outcome was walking speed measured by the 10-Meter Walk Test at a comfortable walking pace. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after intervention, and 1 month postintervention. RESULTS No statistically or clinically relevant differences between groups were obtained postintervention (between-group difference was estimated at 0.02 m/s [95% CI = -0.04 to 0.08] and at follow-up (between-group difference estimated at -0.02 m/s [95% CI = -0.09 to 0.05]). CONCLUSION Implicit motor learning was not superior to explicit motor learning to improve walking speed in people after stroke in the chronic phase of recovery. IMPACT To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of implicit compared with explicit motor learning on a functional task in people after stroke. Results indicate that physical therapists can use (tailored) implicit and explicit motor learning strategies to improve walking speed in people after stroke who are in the chronic phase of recovery.
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The effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation with different electrode positions on swallowing in stroke patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia: A randomized trial.
Oh, DH, Park, JS, Kim, HJ, Chang, MY, Hwang, NK
Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 2020;(4):637-644
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on oropharyngeal swallowing function according to 2 types of placement, acting as assistance and as resistance, in stroke patients with dysphagia. METHODS Thirty-eight stroke patients with dysphasia were randomly assigned to the suprahyoid group (SMG), or infrahyoid muscle group (IMG); 26 patients completed the intervention and were included in the analysis. In the SMG, the electrodes were placed on the region between the jaw and the hyoid bone, whereas in the IMG, the electrodes were placed on the region below the hyoid for the targeted infrahyoid muscles. Both groups received NMES for 30 min/d, 5 d/wk, for 4 weeks and conventional dysphagia therapy. Swallowing function was measured using the Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale and Penetration-Aspiration Scale based on videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Oral dietary intake was measured using the Functional Oral Intake Scale. RESULTS Both groups showed significant improvements in oropharyngeal function and level of functional oral intake, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. However, the SMG showed a more reduced penetration-aspiration, compared with the IMG. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these data demonstrate that 2 types of NMES placements have a similar effect on improving swallowing function and oral diet intake in patients with dysphagia.
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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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Effects of protein supplementation on aerobic training-induced gains in cardiopulmonary fitness, muscle mass, and functional performance in chronic stroke: A randomized controlled pilot study.
Cheng, YH, Wei, L, Chan, WP, Hsu, CY, Huang, SW, Wang, H, Lin, YN
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland). 2020;(9):2743-2750
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The beneficial effects of protein supplementation on aerobic exercise-induced gains in patients with stroke are currently unknown. This study evaluated the feasibility and potential value of protein supplementation with aerobic exercise among stroke survivors. METHODS This double-blinded randomized controlled pilot study included 20 ambulatory persons with chronic (>6 months) stroke randomly assigned to either the protein (PRO) or carbohydrate (CHO) group. All participants received three 40-min cycling ergometric training sessions a week for 8 weeks. Training intensity at 60%-80% heart rate reserve was determined using cardiopulmonary exercise pretests. Immediately before and after each session, the PRO group received a 20-g protein-rich supplement, and the CHO group received a 20-g calorie-matched carbohydrate-rich supplement. Outcomes included changes in body composition, cardiopulmonary capacity, and clinical functional performance. RESULTS Those completing the protocol (n = 18) received 18-24 cycling training sessions, achieving target training intensity without major adverse effects. Of the two groups, the PRO group tended to obtain greater aerobic capacity (effect size [ES]>0.5 in every cardiopulmonary index), greater improvements in functional performance (0.25 < ES < 1.00 in various clinical tests), and greater total lean mass versus total fat mass (ES = 0.52). CONCLUSIONS Protein supplementation with aerobic exercise training tends to improve body composition, cardiopulmonary fitness, and function among persons with stroke. This study protocol is feasible, and future trials with larger sample sizes could confirm these results. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03244527.
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An Innovative STRoke Interactive Virtual thErapy (STRIVE) Online Platform for Community-Dwelling Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Johnson, L, Bird, ML, Muthalib, M, Teo, WP
Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 2020;(7):1131-1137
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the STRoke Interactive Virtual thErapy (STRIVE) intervention on upper-extremity clinical outcomes in community-dwelling stroke survivors. DESIGN Assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. SETTING Study screening and testing was conducted in a university clinic. Participants completed the virtual therapy (VT) intervention in a community-based stroke support group setting. PARTICIPANTS Of 124 stroke survivors initially assessed, 60 participants were recruited (time poststroke, 13.4±8.9 y). Participants were allocated to either VT or control group using a block randomization design and were stratified by sex. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomized to receive 8 weeks of VT or usual care. The intervention consisted of approximately 45 minutes of twice weekly VT training on the Jintronix Rehabilitation System. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Between-group differences in the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity scale and Action Research Arm Test score were joint primary outcomes in this study. RESULTS Significant between-group differences for the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity scale were seen at the end of the intervention (F1, 1=5.37, P=.02, d=0.41). No significant differences were observed with the Action Research Arm Test. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in gross upper extremity motor function and use of the affected arm after a VT intervention delivered via a community-based stroke support group setting. This data adds to the contexts in which VT can be used to improve upper limb function. Use of VT in community-based rehabilitation in chronic stroke recovery is supported.
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Unilateral dorsiflexor strengthening with mirror therapy to improve motor function after stroke: A pilot randomized study.
Simpson, D, Ehrensberger, M, Horgan, F, Blake, C, Roberts, D, Broderick, P, Monaghan, K
Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy. 2019;(4):e1792
Abstract
BACKGROUND Independently, cross-education, the performance improvement of the untrained limb following unilateral training, and mirror therapy have shown to improve lower limb functioning poststroke. Mirror therapy has shown to augment the cross-education effect in healthy populations. However, this concept has not yet been explored in a clinical setting. OBJECTIVES This study set out to investigate the feasibility and potential efficacy of applying cross-education combined with mirror therapy compared with cross-education alone for lower limb recovery poststroke. METHODS Thirty-one chronic stroke participants (age 61.7 ± 13.3) completed either a unilateral strength training (ST; n = 15) or unilateral strength training with mirror-therapy (MST; n = 16) intervention. Both groups isometrically strength trained the less-affected ankle dorsiflexors three times per week for 4 weeks. Only the MST group observed the mirror reflection of the training limb. Patient eligibility, compliance, treatment reliability, and outcome measures were assessed for feasibility. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC; peak torque, rate of torque development, and average torque), 10-m walk test, timed up and go (TUG), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and the London Handicap Scale (LHS) were assessed at pretraining and posttraining. RESULTS Treatment and assessments were well tolerated without adverse effects. No between group differences were identified for improvement in MVC, MAS, TUG, or LHS. Only the combined treatment was associated with functional improvements with the MST group showing an increase in walking velocity. CONCLUSION Cross-education plus mirror therapy may have potential for improving motor function after stroke. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the combination treatment and the need for future studies with larger sample sizes to investigate the effectiveness of the treatment.
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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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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.