European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Aug 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyBath thermal waters in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease associated with pain, reduced range of motion, and impaired function. Balneotherapy or bathing in thermal or mineral waters is used as a non-invasive treatment for various rheumatic diseases. ⋯ Baths in thermal waters, especially those in sulfurous waters, are effective in reducing pain and improving physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Jun 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEffects of a "test in-train out" walking program versus supervised standard rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients: a feasibility and pilot randomized study.
The loss of normal ambulatory function after stroke, besides causing disability, leads to progressive deconditioning and exposes patients to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and recurrent stroke. Conventional rehabilitation is mainly limited to the subacute period after stroke. Effective, safe and sustainable interventions for patients and healthcare system, including the long-term, should be identified. ⋯ With the limitation of a small sample size, the study suggested that a home-based program for chronic stroke might be an effective alternative to traditional supervised programs with the peculiarity of being sustainable for patients and healthcare system.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Feb 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyEarly versus delayed rehabilitation treatment in hemiplegic patients with ischemic stroke: proprioceptive or cognitive approach?
Early/intensive mobilization may improve functional recovery after stroke but it is not clear which kind of "mobilization" is more effective. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and cognitive therapeutic exercise (CTE) are widespread applied in post-stroke rehabilitation but their efficacy and safety have not been systematically investigated. ⋯ These results show a significant effect of time but not of technique that may impact the decision making in the acute phase of care.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Dec 2015
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyCervical joint position sense in neck pain. Immediate effects of muscle vibration versus mental training interventions: a RCT.
Impaired cervical joint position sense is a feature of chronic neck pain and is commonly argued to rely on abnormal cervical input. If true, muscle vibration, altering afferent input, but not mental interventions, should have an effect on head repositioning acuity and neck pain perception. ⋯ Mental interventions were effective in improving cervical joint position sense and are easy to integrate in rehabilitation regimes. Neck muscle vibration is effective in improving cervical joint position sense and pressure pain thresholds within 5 minutes of application.
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Eur J Phys Rehabil Med · Aug 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialHow could robotic training and botolinum toxin be combined in chronic post stroke upper limb spasticity? A pilot study.
Spasticity has a role of primary importance in functional motor recovery of upper limb after a stroke. The widespread intervention is the botulinum toxin neurolysis, however robotic training could have a role as useful addition to this conventional therapy. ⋯ With the limits of small sample, the results showed some equivalence between these two approaches with respect to motor recovery and spasticity reduction suggesting that the cost effectiveness of each treatment may have an important role in this choice.