Earticle

This study aimed to identify the effects of environmental conditions on the results of the 10-m walk test (10MWT) and 6-min walk test (6MWT) in people with chronic stroke. Thirty subjects were recruited for this study, and were assigned to one of three groups depending on walking velocity: (1) group 1 (G1: <0.4 m/s), (2) group 2 (G2: 0.4-0.8 m/s), and (3) group 3 (G3: >0.8 m/s). Subjects of all groups randomly performed The 10MWT and 6MWT in indoor and outdoor environments. Significant differences were not found for subjects of the G1 and G3 in comparison of indoor and outdoor environmental conditions (p<0.05); however, subjects of the G2 showed statistically significant difference in values of the 10MWT and 6MWT between the environmental conditions (p<0.05). In addition, there was found significant interaction effect between measurement condition (10MWT and 6MWT) and environmental condition (indoor and outdoor) (p<0.05). These findings suggest that the measurement value of walking velocity can be different in environmental conditions, that is, indoor and outdoor conditions. Also, keep in mind that value of walking velocity can be different depending on the use of short-term distance measure (10MWT) or long-term distance measure (6MWT). Further studies need to warrant the findings of this study.

This study aimed to compare the effects of treadmill gait training plus arm swing and treadmill gait training in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. We used an alternating study design with multiple baselines across subjects. Three patients with chronic stroke participated in this study. During treadmill training, arm swing and no arm swing conditions were alternately applied. Outcome measure included timed up and go test (TUG) and oxygen cost. In the intervention phase, all subjects showed significantly greater improvements in the timed up and go test and oxygen cost for arm swing condition compared to no arm swing(p<0.05). For subjects 1, 2, and 3, the respective average time of the TUG decreased by 5.34, 3.87 and 3.76 after treadmill gait training plus arm swing. Oxygen cost decreased by 0.05, 0.03 and 0.03 ml/kg/m, respectively. These finding suggest that arm swing might be a more beneficial option to enhance the effects of the treadmill gait training.

This study aimed to describe specifically designed walking traning with rhythmic auditory stimulation on walking function in a person with chronic stroke, and report its outcomes. A subjects (age: 40 years-old and gender: female) underwent a structured walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation of a total of 8 sessions for a 3-week period, which consisted of 8 types of exercisse (the awareness of postural alignment, selective muscle strengthening, pelvic tilting exercise, stimulation of ankle joint, arm rreaching to affected side, overhead arm motion, weight bearing training, and walking training). And Metronome was used to establish a rhythmic auditory stimulation during the training. . Outcome measures included walking analysis scores (foot pressure, cycle time, and alking velocity), 10-m wlk test (10MWT), timed up-and-go (TUG) test, modified Barthel index, and Berg balance scale. After the intervention, remarkable improvements were found for all parameters (total weight: 5.53%, hind foot weight: 17.91%, walking velocity: 7.64%, modified Barthel index: 26.92%, 10MWT: 13.23%, TUG test: 13.61%, and Berg balance scale: 7.14%). These findings suggest that the structured walking training with rhythmic auditory stimulation is probably helpful to enhance walking function of patients with chronic stroke. Further studies need to evidence the effects of our program definitely.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a neuromuscular stabilization exercise on activation of muscle, kinematics, and pitching velocity. Eight males (age: 25.12±3.64 yrs) spontaneously participated in this study for 8 weeks. This study measured the muscle activation in shoulder and elbow joints, angular velocity, angular momentum, and pitching velocity of a ball, Main intervention was a neuromuscular stabilization exercise, which consisted of 10 exercises for upper limb. After the training, the muscles activation in shoulder and elbow joint were significantly increased except upper trapezius and biceps brachii (p<.05). The angular velocities in wrist and elbow joints were significantly increased after training except shoulder joint. although the displacements of wrist joints was significantly decreased after training (p<.05), In addition, pitching velocity was significantly improved after training (p<.05). Conclusively, the results of this study suggested that neuromuscular stabilization exercise may be beneficial to enhance the upper extremity muscles, throwing movements, and pitching velocity for health young males.

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationship of function classification systems and activities of daily living in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). 79 subjects were participated in this study. Gross motor classification system (GMFCS), manual function classification system (MACS), communication function classification system (CFCS), and functional independence measure for children (WeeFIM) were measured by trained physical or occupational therapists. There were significant moderate correlation of each function classification system and WeeFIM (rs=-.53 to -.69, p<.01). MACS and CFCS were both strongly associated with daily activities (explained variance 75%). It is necessary for assessment and intervention of manual ability to improve activities of daily living skills in spastic CP.

Several types of disuse atrophy have been observed in humans. First, skeletal muscle atrophy is commonly observed in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Paralysis occurs secondary to a lesion on the upper motor neuron pathway below the level of the lesion. This disruption occurs after SCI and leads to severe muscle atrophy. Second, decreased muscle use after bone fracture increases protein degradation. Lastly, astronauts in space who are away from gravity also experience loss of muscle mass and bone mineral content in space after even a few days of weightlessness. Preventing disuse atrophy of skeletal muscle is key to facilitating recovery and reducing hospitalization. Currently, various disuse models such as immobilization, cordotomy, and hindlimb unloading have been developed to mimic human conditions in clinics. A better understanding of muscle adaptation in animal models can help the development of an effective therapeutic strategy in clinics.

In people with spinal cord injury (SCI), the paralysis of respiratory muscles directly results in the weakness of respiratory function and increased level in diaphragmatic fatigue, demonstrating the features of restrictive diseases. If there are no appropriate therapeutic strategies for its management, respiratory failure can be exacerbated over time, and complications are much likely to worsen physical function, being frequently regarded as life-threatening condition. Therefore, pulmonary rehabilitation should be considered as important health issues to facilitate functional recovery of people with SCI, especially in cervical injury. Following SCI, the function of paralyzed chest wall musculature is compensated by abdominal movements, and thereby respiratory efficiency is remarkably reduced by this abnormal mechanism. This is indicative of intensive respiratory training to improve breathing pattern, gas exchange, and oxygen consumption. In particular, given that people with cervical cord injury are so susceptible for respiratory failure with higher risk of respiratory complications, pulmonary rehabilitation must be a critical step in the pathway to ameliorate their symptoms and facilitate functional recovery. Respiratory muscle training is inevitable for enhancing physical function of people with SCI as well as increasing breathing capacity, and particularly in cervical cord injury, and it also may be helpful to prevent respiratory complications. This study was designed to describe comprehensive knowledge about the management of respiratory problems in people with SCI. This study provides useful information for clinicians and researchers that explore the best therapeutic way to manage respiratory symptoms of people with SCI. Further studies need to evidence the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches to treat their respiratory problems.