Gender-related Factors Associated with Upper Extremity Function in Workers

BACKGROUND: Impaired upper extremity function due to muscle paresis or paralysis has a major impact on independent living and quality of life (QoL). Assistive technology (AT) for upper extremity function (i.e. dynamic arm supports and robotic arms) can increase a client’s independence. Previous studies revealed that clients often use AT not to their full potential, due to suboptimal provision of these devices in usual care. OBJECTIVE: To optimize the process of providing AT for impaired upper extremity function and to evaluate its (cost-) effectiveness compared with care as usual. METHODS: Development of a protocol to guide the AT provision process in an optimized way according to generic Dutch guidelines; a quasi-experimental study with non-randomized, consecutive inclusion of a control group (n= 48) receiving care as usual and of an intervention group (optimized provision process) (n= 48); and a cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analysis from societal perspective will be performed. The primary outcome is clients’ satisfaction with the AT and related services, measured with the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with AT (Dutch version; D-QUEST). Secondary outcomes comprise complaints of the upper extremity, restrictions in activities, QoL, medical consumption and societal cost. Measurements are taken at baseline and at 3, 6 and 9 months follow-up.

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Effects of Mirror Therapy Combined With EMG-triggered Functional Electrical Stimulation to Improve on Upper Extremity Function in Patient with Chronic Stroke

Physikalische Medizin Rehabilitationsmedizin Kurortmedizin ◽

10.1055/a-1210-2930 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joo Yeol Jung ◽

Pong Sub Youn ◽

Dong Hoon Kim

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Functional Electrical Stimulation ◽

Chronic Stroke ◽

Mirror Therapy ◽

Extremity Function ◽

Upper Extremity Function

AbstractThis study was performed to evaluate the effects of Mirror therapy combined with EMG-triggered Functional Electrical Stimulation on upper extremity function in patient with Chronic Stroke. A total of 24 chronic stroke patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I (n=8) was given with traditional physical therapy (TPT), group II (n=7) was given with traditional physical therapy and mirror therapy (MT), and group III (n=9) was given with traditional physical therapy and mirror therapy in conjunction with EMG-triggered Functional Electrical Stimulation (EMGFES-MT). Each group performed one hour a day 5 times a week for 6 weeks.We obtained the following result between before and after treatments about changes of elbow flexion muscle strength (EFMS), elbow extension muscle strength (EEMS), wrist flexion muscle strength (WFMS), wrist extension muscle strength (WEMS), elbow flexion range of motion (EFROM), elbow extension range of motion (EEROM), wrist flexion range of motion (WFROM), wrist extension range of motion (WEROM), grip strength (GS) and upper extremity function.Each group showed a significant difference in EFMS, EEMS, WFMS, WEMS, EFROM, EEROM, WFROM, WEROM, GS and upper extremity function (p<0.05) EMFES-MT group revealed significant differences in EEMS, WEROM, grip strength and upper extremity function as compared to the other groups (p<0.05). No difference was found in the change of spasticity among the 3 groups.Our results showed that EMFES-MT was more effective on elbow, WFMS, WEMS, AROM, grip strength and upper extremity function in patients with chronic stroke. We suggest that this study will be able to be used as an intervention data for recovering upper extremity function in chronic stroke patients

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Effectiveness of self-administered mirror therapy on upper extremity impairments and function of acute stroke patients: study protocol

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-021-05380-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Venkadesan Rajendran ◽

Deepa Jeevanantham ◽

Céline Larivière ◽

Ravinder-Jeet Singh ◽

Lisa Zeman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Stroke ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Outcome Measure ◽

Outcome Evaluation ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Mirror Therapy ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Extremity Function ◽

Upper Extremity Function ◽

Experimental Group

Abstract Background Many therapeutic interventions are performed by physiotherapists to improve upper extremity function and/or activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients. Mirror therapy (MT) is a simple technique that can be self-administered by the patients with intact cognition following patient education by a skilled physiotherapist. However, the effectiveness of self-administered MT in post-stroke patients in upper extremity function remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of MT in improving upper extremity function and recovery in acute stroke patients. Methods This study is a single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, controlled trial with blinded outcome evaluation (PROBE design), in which a total of 36 eligible acute stroke patients will be randomly assigned to control (n=18) and experimental group (n=18). Participants in the control group will receive regular rehabilitation interventions whereas participants in the experimental group will receive MT education in addition to their regular interventions for 4 weeks. Study outcome The primary outcome measure will be upper extremity function that will be measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale and the Wolf Motor Function Test. The secondary outcome measure will be behaviors related to ADL as estimated using the Modified Barthel Index. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and at 4 weeks post-rehabilitation intervention/MT. Results A two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) with time and group effects will be used to analyze between-group differences. The level of significance will be set at P < 0.05. Conclusion The results of the study will provide critical information to include self-administered MT as an adjuvant to regular interventions and may facilitate recovery of the upper extremity function of stroke patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04542772. Registered on 9 September 2020. Protocol version: Final 1.0.

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