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Objectives: Restoration of walking is a priority for stroke survivors and key target for physical therapies. Upright pedalling (UP) can provide functional walking‐like activity using a variety of muscle synergies; it is unclear which synergies might be most useful for recovery of walking. Objectives here were as follows: to examine whether neuromuscular measures derived during UP might identify targets for walking rehabilitation after stroke andto determine test–retest repeatability and concurrent validity of the measures. Design This was a prospective correlational study. Setting: The study was carried out in a movement science laboratory. Participants The participants were 18 adults with stroke (StrS) and 10 healthy older adults (HOA). Intervention/measurement: StrS and HOA took part in two identical measurement sessions. During UP, surface electromyography and kinematic data were recorded and then processed to derive three measures: reciprocal activity of quadriceps and hamstrings;percentage muscle activity "on" according to crank angle; andsmoothness of movement. Results: HOA and StrS demonstrated differences in reciprocal muscle activity (p =.044) and quadriceps activity according to crank angle (p =.034) but pedalled similarly smoothly (p =.367). For muscle activation according to crank angle in StrS, intraclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence interval) showing acceptable repeatability were 0.46 [0.32, 0.58] affected quadriceps; 0.43 [0.28, 0.56] affected hamstrings; and 0.67 [0.56, 0.75] unaffected quadriceps. Conclusion: Muscle activation according to crank angle is a promising measure of lower limb impairment during functional activity after stroke; subsequent investigation should determine magnitude of variance between testing sessions. Reciprocal activity of quadriceps and hamstrings muscles and quadriceps activity according to crank angle are both potential targets for physical therapies to improve motor recovery. Further investigations are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Recovery of independent ambulation after stroke is a major goal. However, which rehabilitation regimen best benefits each individual is unknown and decisions are currently made on a subjective basis. Predictors of response to specific therapies would guide the type of therapy most appropriate for each patient. Although lesion topography is a strong predictor of upper limb response, walking involves more distributed functions. Earlier studies that assessed the cortico-spinal tract (CST) were negative, suggesting other structures may be important. Experimental Design: The relationship between lesion topography and response of walking speed to standard rehabilitation was assessed in 50 adult-onset patients using both volumetric measurement of CST lesion load and voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) to assess non-CST structures. Two functional mobility scales, the functional ambulation category (FAC) and the modified rivermead mobility index (MRMI) were also administered. Performance measures were obtained both at entry into the study (3-42 days post-stroke) and at the end of a 6-week course of therapy. Baseline score, age, time since stroke onset and white matter hyperintensities score were included as nuisance covariates in regression models. Principal Observations: CST damage independently predicted response to therapy for FAC and MRMI, but not for walk speed. However, using VLSM the latter was predicted by damage to the putamen, insula, external capsule and neighbouring white matter. Conclusions Walk speed response to rehabilitation was affected by damage involving the putamen and neighbouring structures but not the CST, while the latter had modest but significant impact on everyday functions of general mobility and gait. Hum Brain Mapp 37:689-703, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Mobility problems experienced by elderly people with a dementia are associated with falls, fractures and admission to long-term care. A hospital respite care admission is therefore often seen as an opportunity to provide physiotherapy treatment. Aim To find whether elderly people with a dementia and a mobility problem show a greater improvement in mobility skills if given physiotherapy treatment than if given non-physical activities intervention during a hospital respite admission. Method A controlled randomized multicentre trial with independent blinded assessment. The Southampton Mobility Assessment (mobility score) and Two Minute Walking Test (distance walked) were undertaken at the beginning and end of the study admission and beginning of the next respite admission. Following the first assessment, participants were randomized to either physiotherapy or activities. Results Eighty-one participants, from 12 clinical centres, with a mean age of 81.9 years and CAPE I/O score of 2. During the study admission there was a non-significant trend for a lower reduction in mobility score of the physiotherapy group (Mann-Whitney; p =0.614) and a non-significant trend for greater decrease in distance walked in the activities group (t -test; p =0.325). Discussion The results of this trial do not support the positive changes demonstrated elsewhere. However, changes in respite care during the early stages of this trial may have produced differences between the sample for this trial and that for the pilot study. This trial was therefore underpowered. Conclusion This trial suggests that future research needs to change the focus from clinical settings to presentations. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]