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Background Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knee. After undergoing TKA, patients can be treated with continuous passive motion (CPM); however, inconsistent results have been reported on the effectiveness of CPM as part of a rehabilitation strategy. This discrepancy may be due to the difference between the set-arc of CPM and real arcs of knee motion. In this randomized controlled trial, we compared the efficacy of the sitting-type CPM, which can apply a more fitted arc of motion, to that of the conventional CPM. Methods We performed a prospective, multicenter, single-blind, three-arm, randomized controlled trial. Patients who underwent unilateral TKA were recruited and randomly allocated to three groups (151 participants; Group 1, conventional type; Group 2, mixed; and Group 3, sitting type). All participants underwent 10 days of CPM management. Passive and active ranges of motion (ROMs), pain, lower-extremity edema, patient-reported outcomes, and functional assessments were evaluated at four time points. Results Passive and active ROMs and pain significantly improved during and after the intervention in all groups; however, no significant differences were noted between the groups. Compared with the conventional type, the sitting-type CPM devices were rated higher in participant’s satisfaction questionnaires. Conclusion The sitting-type CPM had equivalent efficacy to that of the conventional-type CPM but provided higher satisfaction to patients after TKA. Therefore, the sitting-type CPM may be a useful tool in post-TKA rehabilitation. Clinical trial registration This clincial trial was registed with the Clinical Research Information Service of Republic of Korea, KCT0005520, Registered on 21 October 2020, date of first enrollment at 10/11/2020 https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/21750 .

Flexor tendon injuries in zone II of the hand pose serious clinical complications due to the high risk of adhesion formation and suboptimal clinical outcomes, although controlled active motion (CAM) and early passive mobilization (EPM) are standard protocols used during rehabilitation. This randomized trial compared functional outcomes between CAM and EPM systems after zone II flexor tendon repair. Forty patients with entire zone II flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis tears were randomly assigned to either the CAM or EPM protocol for 12 weeks’ rehabilitation. Total active motion (TAM), grip strength, and disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) scores were assessed in the 6th and 12th week after the repair. Two-way mixed ANOVA was used to determine the effect of the treatment regarding the type of protocol and time within and between groups, as well as, Cohen’s d was used to calculate the effect size. There was a significant improvement over time in both groups for all measured outcomes (p < 0.001). However, CAM showed superior results than EPM across all time points (6th and 12th week); for TAM (p < 0.05, Cohen's d =11.8 and 9.9), grip strength (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = 7.97 and 9.7), and DASH score (p < 0.05, Cohen's d = 5.8 and 5.5). By 12 weeks, 80% of CAM patients achieved an \"excellent\" rating according to the Strickland formula of the TAM grading compared with 55% for the EPM group. While both CAM and EPM protocols improve functional status after zone II flexor tendon repair, CAM confers a distinct early advantage in a digital range of motion and manual function compared with EPM. These data support the preferred adoption of the CAM rehabilitation approach after area II flexor tendon surgical repair. •The CAM and EPM protocols improved the outcomes in flexor tendon injuries rehabilitation in zone II.•The CAM had a superior effect during the first few weeks in the rehabilitation.•Early addition of the wrist tenodesis exercises showed better outcomes.

Background This study aimed to assess whether use of continuous passive motion (CPM) could improve range of motion in patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), if it could affect the surgical wound aspect (SWA) and if it could influence on pain management after TKA. Methods We randomized 210 patients in two groups, 102 patients in the CPM group, who received a standard rehabilitation protocol together with CPM application; and 108 patients in the no-CPM group, without CPM. Variables as knee motion (flexion, extension, range of motion) and pain were measured before surgery, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd postoperative day, and in the 2nd, 6th, 12th and 24th postoperative weeks following TKA. The SWA was determined by the “surgical wound aspect score” (SWAS) in the next 48 h after surgery. This scale analyzes swelling, erythema, hematoma, blood drainage and blisters. Results There was an improvement in the knee motion over the course of follow-up in both groups, without significant difference in flexion parameter. We found no significant differences in the total score of SWA, except for hematoma, with less severity in the CPM group. Furthermore, we found no differences in the others SWAS parameters and pain. Conclusions The application of CPM does not provide benefit to our patients undergoing TKA in terms of either improved flexion mobility or decreased pain. No relationship was found between the use of CPM and the global score of SWA following a TKA, except for a decrease in hematoma appearance.

Background The use of continuous passive motion therapy (CPM) has led to promising results in the early phase of rehabilitation after surgical treatment of rotator cuff tears and arthrolysis of the elbow. However, its use has not been proven in other pathologies of the upper extremity. Therefore, the aim of the underlying study was to evaluate the use of CPM therapy after plate osteosynthesis of proximal humeral fractures. Methods 95 patients with isolated proximal humerus fractures were enrolled in a prospective, randomized study. Patients were assigned to a treatment group with ( n  = 48, CPM) or without CPM therapy ( n  = 47, CG). Four patients (2 of each cohort) violated the study protocol and were excluded. CPM therapy was used for 6 weeks after surgery 2–3 times daily. Functional (range of motion) and patient reported outcomes (PROM, Constant Score [CSS], QuickDASH, subjective shoulder value [SSV], pain on visual analogue scale [VAS]) were evaluated at 6 weeks, 3 and 12months. 60 patients completed the 1-year follow-up. Results The average patient age was 65.3 years (min: 27, max: 88, SD: ± 14.7). Seventy-two patients were female (79%). There was no difference regarding injury severity (2/3/4 part-fracture: 6/32/7 vs. 9/26/11, p  = 0.867) and sex ( p  = 0.08). However, patients in the CPM group were significantly younger (CPM: 67 [min: 34, max: 82], CG: 74 [min: 27, max: 88], p  = 0.032). After 6 weeks we observed a better range of motion for forward flexion (CPM: 90° [min: 50°, max: 180°] vs. CG: 80° [min: 20°, max: 170°] p  = 0.035) and abduction (CPM: 80° [min: 40°, max: 180°] vs. CG: 70° [min: 20°, max: 180°], p  = 0.048) in the CPM group. There was no difference regarding the further planes of motion or the assessed PROMs at 6 weeks. At 3 and 12 months the results between the treatment groups equalized with no further significant differences. Conclusion The treatment with CPM increases the range of motion after plate osteosynthesis of proximal humerus fractures in the first 6 weeks after surgery. This effect is not sustained after 3 and 12months. The evaluated PROMs are not being influenced by CPM therapy. Hence the results of this prospective randomized study suggest that CPM can be a beneficial asset in the early period of rehabilitation after proximal humerus plate osteosynthesis. Trial registration The study protocol was registered in the US National Institutes of Health’s database ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov ) registry under NCT 05952622.

Background Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an important management strategy for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) refractory to conservative management. Postoperative range of motion (ROM) exercise is important to recover patients’ activities of daily living. Continuous passive motion (CPM) is a machine that provides passive ROM exercises of the knee joint in a pre-defined arc of motion. The short- and long-term effects of CPM exercise are controversial. We hypothesized that the inconsistent results of the CPM exercise are due to poor fitting of CPM machines and measurement errors. This study aims to present a protocol for investigating a new type of CPM machine that could be applied in a sitting position in comparison with the conventional type of CPM machine for patients with unilateral TKAs. Methods This study presents the protocol of a prospective, multicenter, single-blinded, three-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT). One hundred and twenty-six patients receiving unilateral TKAs will be recruited at the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of two urban tertiary medical hospitals. The patients were randomly divided into three groups with a 1:1:1 allocation. The intervention group will receive two weeks of post-operative rehabilitation using a new type of CPM machine. The control group will receive 2 weeks of post-operative rehabilitation using conventional CPM machines. The third group will receive post-operative rehabilitation with both types of CPM machines. The primary outcome will be the change in the passive ROM of the affected knee joint from baseline to 2 weeks after baseline assessment. The secondary outcomes will be pain and functional measurements, and will include patient-reported outcomes and performance tests surveyed at multiple time points up to 3 months after TKA. Discussion This is the first RCT to investigate the effect of a new type of CPM machine. The results of this RCT will determine whether the position of the patients during CPM exercise is important in post-operative rehabilitation protocols after TKAs and will provide evidence for the development of proper rehabilitation guidelines after TKAs. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service of Republic of Korea, KCT0005520, Registered on 21 October 2020, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/21750

Objective: To determine whether passive leg movement during tilt table mobilization reduces the incidence of orthostatic dysfunction in mobilization of patients being comatose or semi-comatose early after brain injury. Design: Randomized crossover pilot trial using sequential testing. Setting: Neurorehabilitation hospital. Subjects: Nine patients still unconscious within the first three months of brain injury (5 men, 4 women; age 51 ± 20 years). Intervention: Patients were subjected once to a conventional tilt table and once to a tilt table with an integrated stepping device. Main outcome measure: The number of syncopes/presyncopes (orthostatic hypotension, tachypnoea, increased sweating) during interventions. Results: One patient had presyncopes on both devices, six patients had presyncopes on the conventional tilt table but not on the tilt table with integrated stepping, and two patients did not exhibit presyncopal symptoms on either device. There were significantly more incidents on the tilt table without than on the one with an integrated stepping device (P<0.05) at tilts of 50 or 70 degrees respectively. Conclusion: Patients tolerate greater degrees of head-up tilt better with simultaneous leg movement.

Background and Purpose. The primary purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine which method of mobilization—(1) standardized exercises (SE) and continuous passive motion (CPM), (2) SE and slider board (SB) therapy, using an inexpensive, nontechnical device that requires minimal knee active range of motion (ROM), or (3) SE alone—achieved the maximum degree of knee ROM in the first 6 months following primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The secondary purpose was to compare health-related quality of life among these 3 groups. Subjects. The subjects were 120 patients (n=40/group) who received a TKA at a teaching hospital between June 1997 and July 1998 and who agreed to participate in the study. Methods. Subjects were examined preoperatively, at discharge, and at 3 and 6 months after surgery. The examination consisted of measurement of knee ROM and completion of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results. The 3 treatment groups were similar with respect to age, sex, and diagnosis at the start of the study. There were no differences in knee ROM or in WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index or SF-36 scores at any of the measurement intervals. The rate of postoperative complications also was not different among the groups. Discussion and Conclusion. When postoperative rehabilitation regimens that focus on early mobilization of the patient are used, adjunct ROM therapies (CPM and SB) that are added to daily SE sessions are not required. Six months after TKA, patients attain a satisfactory level of knee ROM and function.

This study examined the use of gravity-assisted passive flexion (GAP-FLEX) for perioperative total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recovery. The main questions associated with this technique were: (1) Can GAP-FLEX improve patient recovery of range of motion after TKA? (2) Does GAP-FLEX reduce patient time and effort associated with therapy compared with continuous passive motion (CPM)? (3) Does GAP-FLEX reduce overall episodic care cost? A prospective, randomized multicenter study was conducted. Two senior surgeons used identical surgical approach, prosthesis, and postoperative management protocols. Patients consenting to the study were randomly assigned to either standard of care (CPM) or GAP-FLEX groups. Active flexion range of motion (ROM) was measured via goniometer with a primary endpoint established at 4 weeks after surgery. Secondary endpoints included pain and functional mobility. A total of 27 patients completed the study. Average ROM in the GAP-FLEX sample was 8.4° greater than the CPM sample ( P =.009) at study endpoint. The GAP-FLEX patients achieved greater postoperative ROM within 2 days and maintained an improvement over CPM to study endpoint. Eighty-five percent (11 of 13) of GAP-FLEX patients achieved or surpassed their baseline ROM by study endpoint, compared with 50% (7 of 14) of CPM patients. These improvements occurred while requiring 90% less therapy time on device compared with the CPM patients. Patients did not report any statistically different pain levels but did exhibit higher functional mobility at endpoint ( P =.026). [ Orthopedics . 2020;43(5):e431–e437.]

Background Manual body weight supported treadmill training and robot-aided treadmill training are frequently used techniques for the gait rehabilitation of individuals after stroke and spinal cord injury. Current evidence suggests that robot-aided gait training may be improved by making robotic behavior more patient-cooperative. In this study, we have investigated the immediate effects of patient-cooperative versus non-cooperative robot-aided gait training on individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Methods Eleven patients with iSCI participated in a single training session with the gait rehabilitation robot Lokomat. The patients were exposed to four different training modes in random order: During both non-cooperative position control and compliant impedance control, fixed timing of movements was provided. During two variants of the patient-cooperative path control approach, free timing of movements was enabled and the robot provided only spatial guidance. The two variants of the path control approach differed in the amount of additional support, which was either individually adjusted or exaggerated. Joint angles and torques of the robot as well as muscle activity and heart rate of the patients were recorded. Kinematic variability, interaction torques, heart rate and muscle activity were compared between the different conditions. Results Patients showed more spatial and temporal kinematic variability, reduced interaction torques, a higher increase of heart rate and more muscle activity in the patient-cooperative path control mode with individually adjusted support than in the non-cooperative position control mode. In the compliant impedance control mode, spatial kinematic variability was increased and interaction torques were reduced, but temporal kinematic variability, heart rate and muscle activity were not significantly higher than in the position control mode. Conclusions Patient-cooperative robot-aided gait training with free timing of movements made individuals with iSCI participate more actively and with larger kinematic variability than non-cooperative, position-controlled robot-aided gait training.

Background Physiotherapy is an important part of treatment after severe brain injuries and stroke, but its effect on intracranial and systemic hemodynamics is minimally investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of an early bedside cycle exercise on intracranial and systemic hemodynamics in critically ill patients when admitted to a neurointensive care unit (NICU). Methods Twenty critically ill patients suffering from brain injuries or stroke were included in this study performed in the NICU at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. One early implemented exercise session was performed using a bedside cycle ergometer for 20 min. Intracranial and hemodynamic variables were measured two times before, three times during, and two times after the bedside cycling exercise. Analyzed variables were intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), and stroke volume variation (SVV). The cycling intervention was conducted within 7 ± 5 days after admission to the NICU. Results Cycle exercise increased MAP ( p  = 0.029) and SV ( p  = 0.003) significantly. After exercise CO, SV, MAP, and CPP decreased significantly, while no changes in HR, SVV, SpO 2 , or ICP were noted when compared to values obtained during exercise. There were no differences in data obtained before versus after exercise. Conclusion Early implemented exercise with a bedside cycle ergometer, for patients with severe brain injuries or stroke when admitted to a NICU, is considered to be a clinically safe procedure.