Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy最新文献

Background and purpose: Trans-spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) is a noninvasive stimulation technique that applies direct current stimulation over spinal levels. However, the effectiveness and feasibility of this stimulation are still unclear. This systematic review summarizes the effectiveness of tsDCS in clinical and neurophysiological outcomes in neurological patients, as well as its feasibility and safety.

Methods: The search was conducted using the following databases: PEDro, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed. The inclusion criteria were: Participants : people with central nervous system diseases; Interventions : tsDCS alone or in combination with locomotion training; Comparators : sham tsDCS, transcranial direct current stimulation, or locomotion training; Outcomes : clinical and neurophysiological measures; and Studies : randomized clinical trials.

Results: Eight studies with a total of 143 subjects were included. Anodal tsDCS led to a reduction in hypertonia, neuropathic pain intensity, and balance deficits in people with hereditary spastic paraplegia, multiple sclerosis, and primary orthostatic tremor, respectively. In contrast, cathodal tsDCS only had positive effects on balance and tremor in people with primary orthostatic tremor. No severe adverse effects were reported during and after anodal or cathodal tsDCS.

Discussion and conclusions: Although certain studies have found an effect of anodal tsDCS on specific clinical outcomes in people with central nervous system diseases, its effectiveness cannot be established since these findings have not been replicated and the results were heterogeneous. This stimulation was feasible and safe to apply. Further studies are needed to replicate the obtained results of tsDCS when applied in populations with neurological diseases.

Background and purpose: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, people with Parkinson disease (PwPD) reported deterioration in health and physical activity. The aim of this study was to describe 1-year changes in physical activity and perceived health in PwPD during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify predictors of sustained physical activity.

Methods: This study compared perceived health and sensor-derived physical activity (Actigraph GT3x) in PwPD between the first (June to July 2020) and third waves (June to July 2021) of the pandemic. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to predict sustained physical activity across the study period using personal factors, disease severity, and functioning as independent variables.

Results: Sixty-three PwPD (mean age 71.0 years, 41% females) completed both baseline and 1-year follow-up (26 lost to follow-up). PwPD showed a decrease in average number of steps per day (Δ415 steps, P = 0.048), moderate-to-vigorous-physical activity (Δ7 minutes, P = 0.007) and increase in sedentary time (Δ36 minutes, P <.001) between baseline and 1-year follow-up. While self-perceived walking impairments and depressive symptoms increased significantly, balance confidence decreased between baseline and 1-year follow-up, no significant changes occurred for self-rated health, quality of life, or anxiety. Significant predictors of sustained physical activity levels were 15 years or more of education (odds ratio [OR] = 7.38, P = 0.013) and higher perceived walking ability (OR = 0.18, P = 0.041).

Discussion and conclusion: Among PwPD with mild to moderate disease severity living in Sweden, factors associated with reduced physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic included older age, lower education levels, and greater perceived walking difficulties.

The Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy is pleased to publish the 4 most outstanding abstracts presented at the 7th Brazilian Congress of Neurofunctional Physical Therapy held in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil, September 6 to 9, 2023.

Background/purpose: Gait impairments in Parkinson disease (PD) contribute to decreased quality of life. This randomized controlled trial examined immediate- and longer-term effects of a single joint robotic exoskeleton device (EXOD), the Honda Walking Assist device, on gait.

Methods: Participants (n = 45) with PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-3) were randomized to a robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) group (n = 23) or control (CON) group (n = 22). The RAGT group was tested with and without the EXOD at baseline and then received supervised in-home and community training with the EXOD twice weekly for 8 weeks. The CON group received no interventions. Outcome measures included gait speed (primary), gait endurance (6-minute walk test), perceived ease of walking, and questionnaires and logs assessing performance of daily activities, freezing of gait, and daily activity levels.

Results: Forty participants completed the study. No significant immediate impact of EXOD usage on participants' gait measures was found. Differences in gait speed and secondary outcome measures postintervention were not significantly different between the RAGT and CON groups. Participants with greater disease severity (worse baseline motor scores) had greater improvements in stride length during unassisted walking after the intervention than those with lower severity (mean difference: 3.22, 95% confidence interval: 0.05-6.40; P = 0.04).

Discussion and conclusions: All RAGT participants could use the EXOD safely. The RAGT treatment used in this mostly low impairment population of people with PD may be ineffective and/or was insufficiently dosed to see a positive treatment effect. Our findings suggest that RAGT interventions in PD may be more effective in individuals with greater motor impairments.