RESUMEN
Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are prescribed to children with cerebral palsy (CP) in hopes of improving their gait and gross motor activities. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine if clinically significant changes in gross motor function occur with the use of AFOs in children and adolescents diagnosed with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I and II). Data from 124 clinical assessments were analyzed. Based on minimum clinically important difference (MCID), 77% of subjects demonstrated an increase in stride length, 45% of subjects demonstrated an increase in walking velocity, and 30% demonstrated a decrease in cadence. Additionally, 27% of the subjects demonstrated increase in gait deviation index (GDI). Deterioration in gait was evident by decreases in walking speed (5% of subjects), increases in cadence (11% of subjects), and 15% of subjects demonstrated decreases in gait deviation index. Twenty-two percent of subjects demonstrated no change in stride lengths and one participant demonstrated a decrease in stride length. However, AFOs improved Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) scores for a minority (10%) of children with mild CP (GMFCS level I and II), with 82-85% of subjects demonstrating no change in GMFM scores and 5-7% demonstrating decrease in GMFM scores.
Asunto(s)
Parálisis Cerebral , Niño , Adolescente , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Marcha , Caminata , Aparatos OrtopédicosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Best practice recommendations indicate that aerobic exercise (AEX) should be incorporated into stroke rehabilitation. However, this may be challenging in clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to assess physical therapist (PT) AEX prescription for patients with stroke, including AEX utilization, barriers to AEX prescription, dosing parameters, and safety considerations. METHODS: A cross-sectional Web-based survey study was conducted. Physical therapists with valid e-mail addresses on file with the state boards of Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Wyoming were eligible to participate. Survey invitations were e-mailed to all licensed PT in these states. Analysis focused on respondents who were currently involved with clinical stroke rehabilitation in common practice settings. RESULTS: Results from 568 respondents were analyzed. Most respondents (88%) agreed that AEX should be incorporated into stroke rehabilitation, but 84% perceived at least one barrier. Median prescribed AEX volume varied between practice settings from 20- to 30-minute AEX sessions, 3 to 5 days per week for 2 to 8 weeks. Prescribed intensity was most commonly light or moderate; intensity was determined by the general response to AEX and patient feedback. Only 2% of respondents reported that the majority of their patients with stroke had stress tests. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Most US PTs appear to recognize the importance of AEX for persons poststroke, but clinical implementation can be challenging. Future studies and consensus are needed to clarify best practices and to develop implementation interventions to optimize AEX utilization in stroke rehabilitation.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A167).
Asunto(s)
Terapia por Ejercicio , Ejercicio Físico , Rehabilitación de Accidente Cerebrovascular , Accidente Cerebrovascular/terapia , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Encuestas de Atención de la Salud , Humanos , Internet , Masculino , Fisioterapeutas , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: After stroke, aerobic deconditioning can have a profound impact on daily activities. This is usually measured by the peak oxygen consumption rate achieved during exercise testing (VO2-peak). However, VO2-peak may be distorted by motor function. The oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and VO2 at the ventilatory threshold (VO2-VT) could more specifically assess aerobic capacity after stroke, but this has not been tested. OBJECTIVES: To assess the differential influence of motor function on three measures of aerobic capacity (VO2-peak, OUES, and VO2-VT) and to evaluate the inter-rater reliability of VO2-VT determination post-stroke. METHODS: Among 59 persons with chronic stroke, cross-sectional correlations with motor function (comfortable gait speed [CGS] and lower extremity Fugl-Meyer [LEFM]) were compared between the different aerobic capacity measures, after adjustment for covariates, in order to isolate any distorting effect of motor function. Reliability of VO2-VT determination between three raters was assessed with intra-class correlation (ICC). RESULTS: CGS was moderately correlated with VO2-peak (r = 0.52, p < 0.0001) and weakly correlated with OUES (r = 0.41, p = 0.002) and VO2-VT (r = 0.37, p = 0.01). LEFM was weakly correlated with VO2-peak (r = 0.26, p = 0.055) and very weakly correlated with OUES (r = 0.19, p = 0.17) and VO2-VT (r = 0.14, p = 0.31). Compared to VO2-peak, VO2-VT was significantly less correlated with CGS (r difference = -0.16, p = 0.02). Inter-rater reliability of VO2-VT determination was high (ICC: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Motor dysfunction appears to artificially lower measured aerobic capacity. VO2-VT seemed to be less distorted than VO2-peak and had good inter-rater reliability, so it may provide more specific assessment of aerobic capacity post-stroke.