Low Cost, User-Controlled Peroneal Stimulator for Foot Drop in Patients With Stroke

Foot drop is a common disabling condition following stroke. It has been conventionally managed using an ankle foot orthosis (AFO). An alternate rehabilitation option is the functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems that has undergone numerous improvisations over past few decades to make it more efficient and user friendly. This chapter aims to evaluate a prototype low-cost FES device in an Indian rehabilitation set-up to match the patients' cultural and socio-economic needs. It illustrates a pilot study designed to test the orthotic and clinical efficacy of the device in terms of dynamic ankle angle change during ambulation and comparing the walking speed and endurance with the AFO. A significant change with nearly two-thirds of normal ankle angle change during swing phase of the gait cycle was observed with nearly equivalent orthotic effects in terms of walking endurance and speed. In terms of receptivity, the device received a mixed response from the patients regarding its effectiveness as an orthosis.

Association of Hearing Impairment With Higher Level Physical Functioning and Walking Endurance

The longitudinal associations between hearing impairment and higher-level functional measures and the potential confounding role of vestibular function have not been assessed. We investigated these associations in 831 participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (2012–2019). Hearing was measured using pure-tone audiometry and categorized using WHO standards. Physical function was assessed with the Health Aging and Body Composition Physical Performance Battery (HABCPPB, higher=better) and walking endurance with time to walk 400 meters. Multivariable regression models tested the hypotheses that participants with hearing impairment have poorer physical outomes. In a subset, we further adjusted for vestibular function. Hearing impairment was associated with decrements in higher-level physical performance and walking endurance, and faster decline over time, regardless of vestibular function. Among participants with any hearing impairment, hearing aid users were faster in the 400-m walk. Early screening for higher-level functional loss among older adults with hearing loss is warranted.

Association of Shoulder Dysfunction with Mobility Limitation in Older Adults of the BLSA

Mobility limitation affects one-third of older adults; yet, the impact of shoulder dysfunction which effects roughly 20%, is inadequately documented. As arm swing is a fundamental component of ambulation, we investigated the cross-sectional association between shoulder range of motion (ROM) and walking endurance using time to walk 400m as quickly as possible and lower extremity performance using the expanded Short Physical Performance Battery (e-SPPB). Data are from 614 men (50.5%) and women aged ≥ 60 years (mean 71.8 ±8 years) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) who performed bilateral shoulder elevation and/or bilateral shoulder external rotation (ER) during nurse-administered physical examination. We examined odds of poor 400m-walk and e-SPPB performance defined as the worst quartile associated with abnormal shoulder elevation (≤9%) relative to bilateral normal shoulder elevation and abnormal shoulder external rotation (≤5%) relative to bilateral normal shoulder external rotation (ER) in separate analyses. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, weight and height. Adjusted odds (95% confidence interval) of poor 400m-walk performance associated with abnormal shoulder elevation (N=254) were 4.7 (1.1-19.5;p=0.035) and with abnormal shoulder ER (n=401) were 4.8 (1.4-16.7;p=0.010). Adjusted odds of poor e-SPPB performance associated with abnormal shoulder elevation (N=462) were 3.5 (1.6-7.7;p=0.002) and with abnormal shoulder ER (n=457) were 2.9 (1.1-7.4;p=0.030). Results suggest abnormal shoulder ROM is associated with poorer walking endurance capacity and lower-extremity functional performance in the relatively healthy older adults. Future research is warranted to develop novel screening paradigms that mitigate mobility limitation and functional decline in older adults with shoulder dysfunction.

Automatic oxygen titration versus constant oxygen flow rates during walking in COPD: a randomised controlled, double-blind, crossover trial

RationaleIn patients with COPD, oxygen (O2)-supplementation via a constant flow oxygen system (CFOS) can result in insufficient oxygen saturation (SpO2 <90%) during exercise. An automatically titrating O2-system (ATOS) has been shown to be beneficial compared with an untitrated CFOS, however, it is unknown if ATOS is superior to CFOS, titrated during exercise as stipulated by guidelines. The aim was to investigate the effects of ATOS compared with titrated CFOS on walking capacity in people with hypoxaemic COPD.MethodsFifty participants completed this prospective randomised controlled, double-blind, crossover trial. Participants performed two endurance shuttle walk tests (ESWTs) with: (1) exercise titrated CFOS (ESWTCFOS) and (2) ATOS targeting an SpO2 of 92% (ESWTATOS). Primary outcome measure was walking time. Secondary measures were SpO2, transcutaneous-PCO2 (TcPCO2), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR) at isotime (end of shortest ESWT) with blood gases and dyspnoea at rest and end exercise.ResultsParticipants (median (IQR): age 66 (59, 70) years, FEV1 28.8 (24.8, 35.1) % predicted, PO2 54.7 (51.0, 57.7) mm Hg, PCO2 44.2 (38.2, 47.8) mm Hg) walked significantly longer with ESWTATOS in comparison to ESWTCFOS (median effect (95% CI) +144.5 (54 to 241.5) s, p<0.001). At isotime, SpO2 was significantly higher (+3 (95% CI 1 to 4) %, p<0.001) with ATOS while TcPCO2, RR and HR were comparable. End exercise, PO2 (+8.85 (95% CI 6.35 to 11.9) mm Hg) and dyspnoea (−0.5 (95% CI −1.0 to −0.5) points) differed significantly in favour of ATOS (each p<0.001) while PCO2 was comparable.ConclusionIn patients with hypoxaemia with severe COPD the use of ATOS leads to significant, clinically relevant improvements in walking endurance time, SpO2, PO2 and dyspnoea with no impact on PCO2.Trial registration numberNCT03803384.

Gait Speed Trajectory During the Six-Minute Walk Test in Multiple Sclerosis: A Measure of Walking Endurance

Background: The six-minute walk (6MW) test is a validated assessment method in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) research. While the total distance covered during six minutes (6MWTD) is often used as the standard measurement of gait capacity (i.e., the maximum distance one can achieve), we hypothesize that endurance (i.e., ability to maintain speed over a prolonged time) can be inferred by the gait speed trajectory (GST) during the 6MW test (6MWGST).Objective: To characterize group differences in 6MWGST between MS patients and healthy controls (HCs), and to assess information added by 6MWGST for discerning between MS patients and HCs.Methods: We performed a secondary data analysis on a cross-sectional cohort of 40 MS and 20 HC subjects with three repeated 6MW tests. We modeled 6MWGST using a linear mixed-effects model with time in minutes and replicated walks nested within individuals. We compared the discernibility of 6MWGST with that of conventional metrics using likelihood ratio tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis on logistic regression models.Results: MS subjects showed a concave, quadratic GST during 6MW tests, slowing down more than the HC subjects, especially at the beginning of 6MW tests. Despite accelerating at the end of the 6MW, MS subjects were unable to attain or surpass their initial 6MW gait speeds. 6MWGST added useful information (p = 0.002) to the conventional metrics (e.g., 6MWTD) for discerning between MS and HC subjects, and increased the area under the ROC curve from 0.83 to 0.93 (p = 0.037).Conclusions: The distinctive 6MWGST pattern of MS patients provided increased discernibility compared with currently used gait metrics. Both gait capacity measured by the 6MWTD, and gait endurance measured by parameters of 6MWGST, are significant functional indicators for the MS population.

Association of hearing impairment with higher level physical functioning and walking endurance: Results from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA)

Background Although hearing impairment (HI) is linked to poorer physical functioning, the longitudinal associations between HI and higher-level functional measures are unclear. Methods Data is from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (2012–2019). Using pure-tone audiometry, we categorized hearing into normal, mild, and moderate or greater HI. Physical function was assessed with the expanded Short Physical Performance Battery (eSPPB) and walking endurance with time to walk 400m. Multivariable and mixed-effects linear models tested the hypotheses that participants with HI, at baseline, have poorer physical performance and walking endurance, and faster decline over time (up to six measurements). In a subset (n=526), we further adjusted for vestibular function. Among participants with HI, we evaluated the differences in eSPPB scores and walking endurance between hearing aid users and nonusers. Results Of 831 participants 26% had mild, and 17% moderate or greater HI. Adjusting for demographics and medical history, moderate or greater impairment vs. normal hearing, was associated with poorer function (0.17 [95% CI: 0.09, 0.26] lower eSPPB score, and 13.3 [95% CI: 3.31, 23.4] seconds slower 400m time) and faster decline in these parameters over 6 years. Adjustment for vestibular function did not attenuate these associations. Hearing aid users walked 400m 24 seconds faster than nonusers (p=0.001). Conclusion Moderate or greater HI is associated with poorer initial and greater decline in higher-level physical performance. The observation that hearing aid users had better walking endurance suggests that screening for and treatment of HI may delay or slow progression of hearing-related functional decline.

Effects of normobaric hypoxic endurance training on fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized prospective pilot study

Background Fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), causing a major impact on quality-of-life. Non-pharmacological intervention strategies involve physical activity, which has been shown to reduce fatigue. Training under normobaric hypoxic conditions is thought to improve the response to endurance training and may, therefore, have an additional benefit over normoxic training conditions in MS patients. Objective To compare the effects of endurance training under hypoxic and normoxic conditions on fatigue, mobility and spasticity in patients with MS during inpatient rehabilitation. Methods Thirty-nine patients with MS were assigned within a randomized prospective longitudinal pilot study to (1) a routine clinical rehabilitation program, (2) a routine clinical rehabilitation program + normoxic endurance training and (3) a routine clinical rehabilitation program + hypoxic endurance training for 14 days. Fatigue (WEIMuS and MFIS), spasticity (MSSS-88) and walking endurance (6MinWT) were assessed at days 0, 7 and 14. Results Fatigue scores improved significantly in all groups, but these improvements were reached faster in the groups which additionally received endurance training (normoxic p = 0.004; hypoxic p = 0.002). Spasticity scores were significantly lower in endurance training groups at the end of the study compared to baseline (normoxic p = 0.048, hypoxic p = 0.012), while only the hypoxic group increased significantly in 6MinWT (p = 0.001). Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that endurance training provides substantial benefit to neurological rehabilitation programs. Endurance training under hypoxic conditions could positively influence walking endurance within a 2-week training intervention and warrants further investigations.

Feasibility of a rhythmic auditory stimulation gait training in community-dwelling adults after TBI: A case report

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury has multiple impacts on gait including decreased speed and increased gait variability. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) gait training uses the rhythm and timing structure of music to train and ultimately improve slow and variable walking patterns. OBJECTIVE: To describe the feasibility of RAS gait training in community-dwelling adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A secondary objective is to report changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters and clinical measures of balance and walking endurance. METHODS: Two individuals with a TBI participated in nine sessions of gait training with RAS over a 3-week period. At baseline, post-training and 3-week follow-up, spatiotemporal parameters of walking were analyzed at preferred pace, maximum pace and dual-task walking conditions. Secondary outcomes included the Community Balance and Mobility Scale and the 6-Minute Walk Test. Feasibility was assessed using reports of physical fatigue, adverse event reporting, and perceived satisfaction. RESULTS: Both participants completed all 9 planned intervention sessions. The sessions were well tolerated with no adverse events. Participant 1 and 2 exhibited different responses to the intervention in line with the therapeutic goals set with the therapist. Participant 1 exhibited improved speed and decreased gait variability. Participant 2 exhibited reduced gait speed but less fatigue during the 6MWT. CONCLUSIONS: RAS was found to be a safe and feasible gait intervention with the potential to improve some aspects of gait impairments related to gait speed, gait variability, dynamic balance and walking endurance. Further investigation including a pilot randomized controlled trial is warranted.