Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin on Pain in Stroke Patients Suffering from Upper Limb Spastic Dystonia

This observational study aimed at investigating pain in stroke patients with upper limb spastic dystonia. Forty-one consecutive patients were enrolled. A 0–10 numeric rating scale was used to evaluate pain at rest and during muscle tone assessment. Patients were asked to indicate the most painful joint at passive mobilization (shoulder, elbow, wrist-fingers). The DN4 questionnaire was administered to disclose neuropathic pain. All patients were assessed just before and 1 month after incobotulinumtoxin-A treatment. Pain was present in 22 patients, worsened or triggered by passive muscle stretching. DN4 scored < 4 in 20 patients. The most painful joints were wrist–fingers in 12 patients, elbow in 5 patients and shoulder in the remaining 5 patients. Both elbow and wrist–fingers pain correlated with muscle tone. BoNT-A treatment reduced pain in all the joints, including the shoulder. We discussed that nociceptive pain is present in a vast proportion of patients with upper limb spastic dystonia. BoNT-A treatment reduced both spastic dystonia and pain in all the joints but the shoulder, where the effect on pain could be mediated by the reduction of pathological postures involving the other joints.

The effect of passive mobilization associated with blood flow restriction and combined with electrical stimulation on cardiorespiratory safety, neuromuscular adaptations, physical function, and quality of life in comatose patients in an ICU: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Background Intensive care unit-acquired atrophy and weakness are associated with high mortality, a reduction in physical function, and quality of life. Passive mobilization (PM) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation were applied in comatose patients; however, evidence is inconclusive regarding atrophy and weakness prevention. Blood flow restriction (BFR) associated with PM (BFRp) or with electrical stimulation (BFRpE) was able to reduce atrophy and increase muscle mass in spinal cord-injured patients, respectively. Bulky venous return occurs after releasing BFR, which can cause unknown repercussions on the cardiovascular system. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of BFRp and BFRpE on cardiovascular safety and applicability, neuromuscular adaptations, physical function, and quality of life in comatose patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods Thirty-nine patients will be assessed at baseline (T0–18 h of coma) and randomly assigned to the PM (control group), BFRp, or BFRpE groups. The training protocol will be applied in both legs alternately, twice a day with a 4-h interval until coma awake, death, or ICU discharge. Cardiovascular safety and applicability will be evaluated at the first training session (T1). At T0 and 12 h after the last session (T2), muscle thickness and quality will be assessed. Global muscle strength and physical function will be assessed 12 h after T2 and ICU and hospital discharge for those who wake up from coma. Six and 12 months after hospital discharge, physical function and quality of life will be re-assessed. Discussion In view of applicability, the data will be used to inform the design and sample size of a prospective trial to clarify the effect of BFRpE on preventing muscle atrophy and weakness and to exert the greatest beneficial effects on physical function and quality of life compared to BFRp in comatose patients in the ICU. Trial registration Universal Trial Number (UTN) Registry UTN U1111-1241-4344. Retrospectively registered on 2 October 2019. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBec) RBR-2qpyxf. Retrospectively registered on 21 January 2020, http://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-2qpyxf/

The Absence of Rehabilitation During the ICU Stay of Elderly Patients is Associated with a Decreased Long-Term Autonomy.

Background: The intensive care unit (ICU) stay is associated with a loss of autonomy, especially for elderly patients. We therefore conducted a study to estimate the impact of the rehabilitation performed during the ICU stay on the loss of autonomy at 6 months. Methods: We conducted an ancillary study of the multicenter FRAGIREA study, including patients between April 2018 and January 2019 aged over 70 years, admitted in ICU for an expected length of stay of more than 48 hours. We excluded the patients who died before day 180, who were lost to follow-up, and for whom the baseline autonomy (ADL) score was not available. We collected the baseline characteristics of patients, the ICU stay characteristics, and the 6-month follow-up. Were also collected the detailed rehabilitation therapy carried out during the ICU stay (passive mobilization, upright sitting, transfer to chair, standing, walking, and cycle ergometers.). Patients were classified into the rehabilitation (out of bed) or non-rehabilitation group, and the impact of rehabilitation on the decreased 6-month autonomy (loss of ADL score >1 point) was estimated after the selection of 17 potential confounders. Results: Among the 548 patients of the FRAGIREA cohort, 276 were included in the present study. Among them, 226 were rehabilitated and 50 were not. 220/276 (80%) patients benefited from the transfer to chair as rehabilitation therapy, passive mobilization and transfer to upright sitting were also frequently performed. A decrease in the 6-month autonomy was observed for 63 (23%) patients. After the elimination of potential confounders, non-rehabilitated patients had a greater risk of 6-month decreased autonomy (adjusted Odds Ratio 2.43, 95% confidence interval [1.18; 4.98]). Conclusions: Rehabilitation during the ICU stay of elderly ICU patient survivors was associated with a lower decreased autonomy at 6 months. Tweet: The absence of rehabilitation during the ICU stay of elderly patients is associated with 2.4 higher risk of a decreased 6 month autonomy

Lumbar spondylolisthesis: STATE of the art on assessment and conservative treatment

Introduction There is weak relationship between the presence of lumbar spondylolisthesis [SPL] and low back pain that is not always associated with instability, either at the involved lumbar segment or at different spinal levels. Therefore patients with lumbar symptomatic SPL can be divided into stable and unstable, based on the level of mobility during flexion and extension movements as general classifications for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Different opinions persist about best treatment (conservative vs. surgical) and among conservative treatments, on the type, dosage, and progression of physical therapy procedures. Purpose and importance to practice The aim of this Masterclass is to provide clinicians evidence-based indications for assessment and conservative treatment of SPL, taking into consideration some subgroups related to specific clinical presentations. Clinical implications This Masterclass addresses the different phases of the assessment of a patient with SPL, including history, imaging, physical exam, and questionnaires on disability and cognitive-behavioral components. Regarding conservative treatment, self- management approaches and graded supervised training, including therapeutic relationships, information and education, are explained. Primary therapeutic procedures for pain control, recovery of the function and the mobility through therapeutic exercise, passive mobilization and antalgic techniques are suggested. Moreover, some guidance is provided on conservative treatment in specific clinical presentations (lumbar SPL with radiating pain and/or lumbar stenosis, SPL complicated by other factors, and SPL in adolescents) and the number/duration of sessions. Future research priorities Some steps to improve the diagnostic-therapeutic approach in SPL are to identify the best cluster of clinical tests, define different lumbar SPL subgroups, and investigate the effects of treatments based on that classification, similarly to the approach already proposed for non-specific LBP.

Repeated passive mobilization to stimulate vascular function in individuals of advanced age who are chronically bedridden. A randomized controlled trial

Background Vascular dysfunction and associated disorders are major side effects of chronic bed rest, yet passive mobilization as a potential treatment has only been theorized so far. This study investigated the effects of passive mobilization treatment on vascular function in older, chronically bedridden people. Methods The study sample was 45 chronically bedridden people of advanced age (mean age 87 years; 56% female; mean bed rest 4 years) randomly assigned to a treatment (n=23) or a control group (CTRL, n=22). The treatment group received passive mobilization twice daily (30 min, 5 times/week) for 4 weeks. A kinesiologist performed passive mobilization by passive knee flexion/extension at 1 Hz in one leg (treated leg, T-leg vs ctrl-leg). The CTRL group received routine treatment. The primary outcome was changes in peak blood flow (∆Peak) as measured with the single passive leg movement test (sPLM) at the common femoral artery. Results ∆Peak was increased in both legs in the Treatment group (+90.9 ml/min, p&lt;0.001, in T-leg and +25.7 ml/min, p=0.039 in ctrl-leg). No difference in peak blood flow after routine treatment was found in the CTRL group. Conclusion Improvement in vascular function after 4 weeks of passive mobilization was recorded in the treatment group. Passive mobilization may be advantageously included in standard clinical practice as an effective strategy to treat vascular dysfunction in persons with severely limited mobility.

Mechanical Design of a Bioinspired Compliant Robotic Wrist Rehabilitation Equipment

Early social reintegration of patients with disabilities of the wrist is possible with the help of dedicated rehabilitation equipment. Using such equipment reduces the duration of recovery and reduces significantly rehabilitation costs. Based on these considerations the paper puts forward a novel constructive solution of rehabilitation equipment that ensures the simultaneous passive mobilization of the radiocarpal, metacarpophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints. The novelty of this equipment consists in the bioinspired concept of the hand support based on the Fin-Ray effect and in driving it by means of a pneumatic muscle, an inherently compliant actuator. The paper places an emphasis on the compliant character of the rehabilitation equipment that is responsible for its adaptability to the concrete conditions of patient pain tolerability.

QUISTE ÓSEO SIMPLE EN EL CALCÁNEO: REPORTE DE UN CASO.

Bone tumors are pathologies resulting from modifications in the bone structure and its content, they can present as benign or malignant, primitive or metastatic tumor lesions, depending on various factors: age of presentation, location, growth rate, periosteal reaction and infiltration to neighboring structures. The publications show that small, asymptomatic and small bone cysts do not require treatment, up to 25% are spontaneous resolution after a pathological fracture; while larger cysts with thin bark require some type of intervention.The case of a 17-year-old female patient is presented, who presents for presenting moderate intensity pain in the left heel that intensifies on ambulation, with a time of 2 months of evolution, after a blunt trauma in this region. On physical examination, pain from the pressure digit and active-passive mobilization maneuvers were evidenced on the external lateral aspect at the calcaneus level of the left foot. A simple lateral radiograph of the left calcaneus was performed, showing a 3 by 3 cm circular lytic lesion involving the anteroinferior region of the calcaneus.In conclusion, simple or solitary bone cyst is a benign pathology that, although it does not endanger the person’s life, can seriously affect the functionality of the foot. Currently, there is no standardized treatment for the management of this pathology, current surgical techniques, especially curettage and bone autograft are very promising.

Comparative Analysis of Neural Mobilization and Rhythmic Stabilization in Range of Motion and Hip Pain

Background: The hip is a structure of the human body in which occurs the junction of bone, articular, muscular and ligament structures. It is in the coxofemoral joint and has the function of supporting the whole-body weight, being one of the main joints responsible for ambulation. Objectives: To analyze the comparison of neural mobilization and rhythmic stabilization techniques in range of motion (ROM) and hip pain. Methods: The sample was composed by 20 patients, with mean age of 54±6 years, were divided into two groups of 10 patients: the patients who received the neural mobilization technique (G1) and the patients who received the rhythmic stabilization technique (G2). Results: The mean age of each group was 56±6 years (G1) and 52±6 years (G2). Among the evaluated, 12 (60%) were female, 14 (70%) were married, predominating the profession of housewife (35%). The great majority of the participants (95%) presented pain to the active movement, mainly to the movements of hip flexion and abduction. Regarding passive mobilization, 70% referred pains, predominating to the movements of hip external rotation and abduction. Conclusion: It was concluded that the neural mobilization and rhythmic stabilization techniques had satisfactory results in relation to ROM and pain in the hip region, but rhythmic stabilization had a greater gain of ROM and decrease of pain.