NeuroRehabilitation
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death in Mexico, and Mexican TBI caregivers have been shown to experience significant mental health problems and high levels of family needs. ⋯ Interventions for TBI caregivers in Mexico-and likely in other global regions with high levels of familism-should include an emphasis on overall family health, the delineation of family roles regarding household responsibilities, the improvement of social support networks and the social presence of family members, and the provision of complete and relevant information regarding TBI. When these needs are more comprehensively met, caregiver mental health will likely improve.
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 2013
Selective use of low frequency stimulation in Parkinson's disease based on absence of tremor.
High frequency stimulation (HFS) of the subthalamic nucleus is one of the most effective treatments for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). HFS has provided beneficial improvements in the cardinal features of PD, but has not been proven as effective for addressing the axial predominant levodopa resistant symptoms, such as speech disturbances, gait disturbances, and postural instability. Recent studies have suggested that changes in stimulation parameters may influence differing PD symptoms. ⋯ These results may suggest that HFS is better than LFS for reducing tremor in tremor dominant patients. However, patients with mild or no tremor show no acute differences in benefit from LFS as compared to HFS.
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 2013
Case ReportsEffects of the progressive walking-to-running technique on gait kinematics, ultrasound imaging, and motor function in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy - an experimenter-blind case study.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the progressive walking-to-running technique (PWRT) in a child with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). ⋯ Our novel walking-running training paradigm was effective for restoring gait and running ability in a child with spastic diplegic CP.
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 2013
Case ReportsRecovery of injured cingulum in a patient with brain injury: diffusion tensor tractography study.
Little is known about neural recovery of an injured cingulum following brain injury. We report on a patient with brain injury who showed apparent neural recovery of an injured cingulum on follow up diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). ⋯ These changes observed on DTT in both cingulums appeared to indicate recovery of the injured cingulum in this patient. The results of this study may suggest a mechanism for recovery of injured cingulum following brain injury.
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NeuroRehabilitation · Jan 2013
ReviewNeuropsychological and neuroanatomical sequelae of chronic non-malignant pain and opioid analgesia.
The pervasive disease of chronic pain is a common challenge for the clinical rehabilitation professional. Concurrent with physical and emotional symptoms, pain-related cognitive impairment has been reported. Although opioid analgesics are frequently prescribed, concern exists that opioids possess adverse cognitive effects of their own. ⋯ To date, evidence from opioid studies suggests only mild deficits in specific cognitive domains (e.g., memory, attention/concentration) and only under specific conditions (e.g., dose escalations). Additionally, neuroimaging and neuropsychological evidence suggests that pain itself results in cognitive sequelae. Methodological improvements in future research will allow for better delineation of the contributing effects of pain and opioids, with an overall goal of improving evidence-based clinical treatment recommendations.