Objectives: To evaluate caregivers’ fear of post-fracture patients falling, we previously developed the Caregivers’ Fear of Falling Index (CFFI). In this study, we investigated the relationship between patient performance in activities of daily living (ADLs) and CFFI.

Methods: We surveyed 55 patients receiving home-visit rehabilitation after fall-related fracture and their primary caregivers. Participants (patient and caregiver pair) were divided into two groups based on patient performance in basic ADLs (BADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs). ROC analysis was conducted to assess the usefulness of CFFI and Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) in determining declines in performance in BADLs and IADLs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between CFFI and declining performance in BADLs and IADLs.

Results: ROC analysis showed that CFFI exhibited a higher accuracy than FES-I (AUC: 0.73 in BADLs, 0.77 in IADLs) as an indicator of reduced ADL performance. Multivariate logistic analysis adjusted for age, sex, and physical function showed that CFFI was associated with a decline in patients’ performance in IADLs (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.85–0.99).

Conclusions: Caregivers’ fear of post-fracture patients falling was associated with a decline in patients’ performance in IADLs. These findings may serve as a guide for supporting caregivers of post-fracture patients.

Objectives: Poor adherence to home exercise programs (HEPs) is a significant barrier to continuity of care and eventual outcomes, thus requiring innovative mitigating approaches. This study aimed to develop and test the feasibility of a remote support application (RSA) designed to encourage adherence to HEPs.

Methods: Using standard computer programing, an RSA with administrator and user interfaces was developed for mobile phone or tablet. Consenting patients receiving physiotherapy for musculoskeletal conditions (n=19) were randomly assigned into the experimental group (n=10) or the control group (n=9). The experimental group received their customized HEP reminders via the RSA, whereas the control group used conventional paper handouts for HEPs. Adherence to HEPs was assessed over 4 weeks. The feasibility of the RSA was assessed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale and System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaires. Data were summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The adherence rate of patients in experimental group was significantly higher than that of patients in the control group after 2 weeks [median diff.=−6.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): −8.0 to −5.0; U=5.00; Z=−3.304; P=0.001; r=0.75] and 4 weeks (median diff.=−7.0, 95% CI: −8.0 to −5.0; U=0; Z=−3.695; P<0.001; r=0.84) of intervention. The RSA had a mean SUS score of 82.53±9.04 (out of 100) and a mean app quality rating score of 75.95±4.98 (out of 95).

Conclusions: The use of an RSA to improve adherence to HEPs is feasible for patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether the phase angle is associated with physical function at discharge and discharge destination in patients with osteoporotic fragile fractures.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with fragile osteoporotic fractures who were admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward. The phase angle was calculated using a body composition meter and bioelectrical impedance analysis. The primary outcome was the Functional Independence Measure motor (FIM-motor) score at discharge, and the secondary outcome was discharge to home. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the association between phase angle and FIM-motor scores at discharge and discharge to home.

Results: The study included 127 patients (108 women, age 81.2 ± 9.7 years). The median phase angle on admission was 4.1° for men and 3.6° for women. The median FIM-motor score at discharge was 83, with 92 (72.4%) patients discharged home and 35 (27.6%) discharged to a destination other than home. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for confounders revealed a significant independent association between the phase angle and FIM-motor score at discharge (β=0.262, P=0.019). However, no significant association was found between phase angle and discharge destination (odds ratio, 1.350; 95% confidence interval: 0.680–2.670, P=0.391).

Conclusions: Phase angle was independently associated with physical function at discharge in patients with fragile osteoporotic fractures. For patients with a reduced phase angle on admission, a multidisciplinary approach, including exercise, nutrition, oral health, and medication, should be implemented to maximize improvement in physical function.

Background: Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a clinical syndrome characterized by abnormal involuntary movements and specific clinical features that are incongruent with known neurologic diseases. Clinical information is lacking on outpatient rehabilitation for patients with FND.

Case: A 28-year-old woman visited our hospital for gait disturbance. She had experienced an occupational accident 20 months earlier. Her injuries were relatively minor, but subsequently, she was unable to move her ankle voluntarily and began receiving workers’ compensation benefits. The patient had persistent gait disturbance and preferred to walk with an ankle–foot orthosis. However, at her first visit, her ankle could move while walking without her ankle brace. Nerve conduction studies showed no abnormalities. Shortly after receiving an explanation regarding the diagnosis of FND, the patient was able to move her ankle voluntarily; however, her gait disturbance was partially persistent. After outpatient rehabilitation, she was able to walk in different types of footwear without an ankle brace. Satisfied with the result, she agreed to end rehabilitation and her access to workers’ compensation.

Discussion: After diagnosis and rehabilitation for FND following an occupational injury, our patient was eventually able to walk without an ankle brace. In this case, providing the patient with information regarding a diagnosis of FND and obtaining her informed consent for subsequent rehabilitation may have helped to improve the symptoms of FND.

Objectives : To provide targeted interventions for the prevention of first ankle sprains, this study determined the prevalence of ankle sprains in female adolescent soccer players and analyzed the correlation between the age at the first occurrence of ankle sprain and the age at menarche.

Methods : The study included 131 female participants from three club teams. The mean age was 13.37 ± 0.96 years. A survey was conducted using a questionnaire that requested information regarding the age at which the first ankle sprain occurred, age at menarche, status of ankle problems, extent to which the ankle joint problem affected playing ability, use of medical facilities or other healthcare facilities for the first or recurrent ankle sprains, and methods used to care for their ankle.

Results: Ankle sprains most commonly occurred for the first time at 12 years, followed by the ages of 13, 10, and 11 years. About 25% of participants experienced their first ankle sprain at the age of menarche, 20% at 1 year after menarche, and 16% a year before menarche. The incidence of the first ankle sprain was high in the second and fifth years after starting to play soccer. Medical treatment was rarely received for the second or subsequent injury, although 36% had some sequelae.

Conclusions: Adolescent female soccer players were not injured early in their soccer careers. Most players experienced their first ankle sprain at the age of 12 years, which was at or close to the age of menarche.

Background: Aphasia is a common disorder among stroke patients. Assessment of aphasia is essential for scheduling appropriate rehabilitative treatment. Although this is conventionally accomplished using neuropsychological test batteries, these tests are not always accessible because of attention and/or consciousness disturbances during acute care. To overcome this issue, we have introduced a newly developed automated tractography known as XTRACT.

Cases: Diffusion-tensor images were acquired from three patients on days 10–14. Brain images were processed by XTRACT, which automatically extracts neural tracts using standardized protocols. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values were then bilaterally evaluated in the following neural tracts associated with aphasia: arcuate fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, middle longitudinal fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus. Case 1 had word-finding difficulty on admission. FA values in the lesioned left hemisphere were not decreased in all tracts and this patient fully recovered during acute care. Case 2 had reduced spontaneous speech and a low FA value in the left arcuate fasciculus. Rehabilitative treatment was scheduled to improve the verbal output of sentences and word recall. Case 3 could not complete the conventional aphasia test battery because of attention disturbance. He had low FA values in all tracts in the left hemisphere. Rehabilitative treatment was designed to focus on both speaking and auditory comprehension.

Discussion: Automated tractography enables quantitative assessment of the neural damage associated with aphasia, even in patients with attention and/or consciousness disturbances. This modality can aid in the assessment of aphasia and allows the planning of appropriate rehabilitative treatment.

Background: Magnetic stimulation devices can be large because of the need for cooling systems. We developed a compact and lightweight Spinning Permanent Magnet (SPM) device that generates magnetic fields with intensities below the motor threshold. In this report, we present the case of a post-stroke patient in which an immediate reduction in spasticity of the ankle plantar flexors was achieved after SPM treatment.

Case: A 37-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a right putamen hemorrhage. The patient underwent conservative therapy and exhibited residual left hemiplegia and spasticity. Three months after stroke onset, he was able to walk with supervision while using a left ankle–foot orthosis and a T-cane. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score of the left ankle plantar flexors was 1+. The plantar flexors were stimulated by SPM treatment. The outcomes were the Hmax/Mmax of the tibial nerve (soleus muscle) and the MAS score. On the first day, SPM stimulation was applied for 30 min. On the second day, a sham stimulation of the same duration was performed. On the third day, the SPM stimulation was repeated. Hmax/Mmax decreased from 41.5% to 37.7% on the first day, and from 46.9% to 31.6% on the third day after SPM stimulation. The MAS score decreased from 1+ to 1 on both days. In contrast, after sham stimulation, Hmax/Mmax increased from 39.2% to 44.2%, whereas the MAS score remained unchanged at 1+.

Discussion: Stimulation below the motor threshold using SPM treatment can effectively reduce spasticity.

Objectives: This study investigated the transition patterns of activities of daily living (ADL) status based on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor and cognitive items in patients who experienced subacute stroke.

Methods: In this single-site, retrospective investigation, 1592 FIM samples were collected during the hospitalization of 373 stroke patients who were admitted between April 2018 and March 2020. FIM item levels were transformed from seven to three (FIM1–2, Complete Dependence; FIM3–5, Modified Dependence; FIM6-7, Independence). FIM samples were classified by latent class modeling into six latent ADL states based on the independence levels of FIM motor and cognitive items. We created an ADL status transition diagram based on the FIM sample’s probability of belonging to each status at different hospitalization timepoints.

Results: Transition diagrams for each ADL status at admission revealed distinct patterns. In two ADL statuses for which patients required full assistance in FIM motor items, the patients remained motor-dependent without achieving independence on discharge. In contrast, patients in transition from the other four ADL statuses largely achieved independence in motor items by the time of discharge. The time required to reach higher ADL status varied according to the initial ADL status at admission; the slowest improvement was observed in statuses initially classified as needing the most assistance, whereas many patients achieved transition within 3 months from admission.

Conclusions: Based on the characteristics of patient ADL status and timing of its changes, the classification of ADL status and visualization of ADL transition can contribute to improved treatment.

Objectives: This study investigated the outcomes of the early introduction of a standing program for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of 41 outpatients with DMD aged 15–20 years. We introduced the standing program using knee–ankle–foot orthoses (KAFO) to slow the progression of scoliosis when ankle dorsiflexion became less than 0° in the ambulatory period.

Results: Thirty-two patients with DMD were offered the standing program with KAFO; 12 continued the program until the age of 15 years (complete group) and 20 discontinued the program before the age of 15 years (incomplete group). The non-standing program group included 9 patients. The standing program with KAFO was significantly associated with the Cobb angle at the age of 15 years after adjustment for the duration of corticosteroid use and DMD mutation type (P=0.0004). At the age of 15 years, significant correlations were found between the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) and non-ambulatory period (P=0.0010), non-ambulatory period and Cobb angle (P<0.0001), Cobb angle and percent predicted forced vital capacity (P=0.0004), and ankle dorsiflexion ROM and Cobb angle (P=0.0066). In the complete group, the age at ambulation loss (log-rank P=0.0015), scoliosis progression (log-rank P=0.0032), and pulmonary dysfunction (log-rank P=0.0006) were significantly higher than in the non-standing program group.

Conclusions: The early introduction of a standing program for DMD patients may prolong the ambulation period and slow the progression of scoliosis and pulmonary dysfunction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of sensory electrical stimulation (SES) and task-related trunk training (TRTT) interventions on sitting postural control in stroke survivors.

Methods: Acute to subacute stroke survivors were screened and recruited for this study. Patients were randomly assigned to the SES group, receiving TRTT combined with simultaneous SES of the neck and lumbar muscles, or to the sham group, receiving TRTT combined with sham stimulation. The primary outcome of the sitting task assessment was the joint angles of the neck and trunk. The outcome was measured at three time points (baseline; online effect: 10 min after the intervention started while the intervention continued; and after-effect: immediately after the intervention).

Results: In total, 26 patients were divided into the SES (n=13) and sham (n=13) groups. The SES group showed a significant increase in the trunk joint angle for the online effect (P=0.03) and the after-effect (P=0.01) when compared with those measured at baseline.

Conclusions: TRTT combined with simultaneous SES of the neck and lumbar muscles can immediately change the trunk angle during a sitting balancing task.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between trunk muscle mass index (TMI), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), and walking independence in patients aged 65 years and older undergoing rehabilitation for hip fracture.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study was conducted in a convalescent rehabilitation ward and included 314 patients (aged ≥65 years) with hip fracture. The patients were classified into the independence group [functional independence measure (FIM)-walk score ≥6] or the non-independence group (FIM-walk score ≤5) according to the mobility item score among the motor FIM items at the time of discharge. Age, sex, TMI, ASMI, and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) data were also extracted. Between-group and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors associated with walking independence.

Results: The independence group had higher TMI (males: 6.6±0.9 vs. 5.6±1.0 kg/m², P <0.001; females: 6.1±0.8 vs. 5.7±1.0 kg/m², P <0.001), ASMI (males: 6.7±1.1 vs. 5.9±1.3 kg/m², P=0.004; females: 5.3±0.9 vs. 4.7±0.8 kg/m², P <0.001), MMSE-J (21.5±4.9 vs. 16.4±4.5 points, P <0.001), and MNA-SF [median (interquartile range): 8 (6–9) vs. 7 (5–8) points, P <0.001] than the non-independence group. Multivariate analysis showed that TMI at admission was significantly associated with walking independence (odds ratio: 1.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.28–2.72, P <0.001).

Conclusions: This study suggests that a higher TMI at admission was important for acquiring walking independence in patients with hip fracture and shows the importance of early evaluation of TMI during hospitalization of patients with hip fracture.

Objectives: One of the causes of death in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) is aspiration pneumonia caused by cough dysfunction. This study aimed to identify an effective approach to improve coughing and to explore the establishment of criteria for the use of gastrostomy based on cough and respiratory dysfunctions.

Methods: Eighteen probable MSA patients participated in the study. They were categorized into air stacking and non-air stacking groups. First, we investigated how the inspiration volume changes by applying maximum insufflation capacity (MIC). Second, peak cough flow (PCF) was measured by different cough augmentation methods: 1) spontaneous coughing (SpC); 2) SpC with MIC (SpC + MIC); 3) SpC with manually assisted cough (MAC) (SpC + MAC); and 4) SpC with MIC and MAC (SpC + MIC + MAC). Among these four conditions, PCF values were compared to determine the most effective approach for cough augmentation. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed on percent forced vital capacity (%FVC) to determine an index for discriminating PCF below160 L/min, which indicates a high risk of suffocation, involving SpC and SpC + MIC.

Results: Inspiration volume increased significantly with MIC in both groups (P < 0.05), and PCF increased significantly with MIC in the air stacking group (P < 0.01). PCF could not be maintained at 160 L/min when %FVC fell below 59%, even when MIC was applied.

Conclusions: PCF increases with MIC in patients with MSA. It may be meaningful to consider the timing of gastrostomy introduction based on the severity of cough and respiratory dysfunction.

Abstract

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate adherence and satisfaction with prostheses and orthoses (POs) of the lower extremities delivered to community-dwelling patients and to assess the relationship of adherence and satisfaction with patient background factors, including medical status, physical findings, and level of participation.

Methods : We conducted a descriptive cohort study. Consecutive patients with disability who applied for lower extremity POs were invited to enroll. The patients’ background information was collected at enrolment, and they were asked at 6 months after PO delivery whether they were using their PO as expected prior to its delivery, and, on a numerical rating scale (NRS, 0 − 10), if they were satisfied with their POs. Furthermore, the relationship between usage/satisfaction and the participants’ backgrounds was evaluated and the participants’ comments regarding their POs were summarized.

Results : This study analyzed the data of 51 participants (mean age, 56.5 ± 19 years). At the 6-month follow-up, 45 participants used POs as much as they had expected before delivery; this group was younger than their counterparts (52.7 versus 69.2 years). The median satisfaction score using the NRS was 8.5. Older participants (r = – 0.33), participants who were able to attach and remove their POs, and those who were independent in locomotion scored lower on satisfaction. Other background factors were not different regarding adherence or satisfaction.

Conclusions : This study demonstrated the difficulty in predicting the usage and satisfaction with lower limb POs from users’ backgrounds. Producer–user communication, particularly with patients of older age and/or a higher level of participation, may improve adherence and satisfaction.

Objectives : There has been no analysis of the effects of in-hospital rehabilitation on adult patients with Down’s Syndrome (DS) after hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Medical claims data retrospectively collected nationwide were used to examine outcomes at discharge.

Methods : Hospitalization data were obtained from 440 Japanese hospitals for DS patients with CAP that were discharged between 1 June 2009 and 31 January 2022 (n=2897). After the exclusion of 2478 patients, mainly on the basis of age or type of admission, the records of 419 patients were extracted. The following were used as outcomes: (1) 30-day readmission, (2) 45-day readmission, (3) discharge Barthel Index (BI), (4) BI score gain, and (5) length of hospital stay. The targeted minimum loss-based estimator was used to examine effects of the average daily times of rehabilitation on outcomes at discharge.

Results : Most patients had no in-hospital rehabilitation (73.5%). Provided that the average daily time of rehabilitation therapy was at least 20 min, BI scores were lower at discharge (coefficient, −15.91; 95% confidence interval, −30.07 to −1.75) and BI gain was lower (coefficient, −12.56; 95% confidence interval, −25.60 to 0.47) when compared with the use of no rehabilitation therapy.

Conclusions : In-hospital rehabilitation medicine in DS patients with CAP provided by a therapist was not associated with improved activities of daily living at discharge. Future studies are warranted to develop systematic, efficient, and comprehensive rehabilitation medicine for DS patients suffering from CAP.

Objectives: Coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) is an indication for rehabilitation medicine, especially in severe cases. However, there has been no system analysis of safe and continuous provision of medical rehabilitation for COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to confirm the effectiveness of rehabilitation for severe COVID-19 and to analyze the optimization of the medical rehabilitation system using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM).

Methods: The subject of the analysis was the medical rehabilitation system itself, which had been implemented by the Rehabilitation Center of our hospital in response to the increased number of COVID-19 patients. In the FRAM analysis, Functions were identified, and their relationships were examined. Functions were established using a hierarchical cross-check by the authors. Patient outcomes resulting from optimization of the rehabilitation system were length of hospital stay, patient independence in daily living, and rehabilitation-related medical costs, and these were statistically validated.

Results: In repeated optimizations of the rehabilitation system, the main issues were “handling of infected patients and isolation of usual clinical practice,” “staff rotation,” and “remote consultation”. The modification of the medical rehabilitation system was associated with shorter hospital stays, shorter periods of time without prescription, faster improvement in independence of daily living, and lower rehabilitation-related medical costs.

Conclusions: Optimization at each stage of medical rehabilitation resulted in positive effects on patient outcomes. FRAM is useful for identifying and the optimization of key functions.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of hemodialysis (HD) on activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with hip fracture.

Methods: This study included 28 patients (14 HD and 14 non-HD patients) with acute hip fracture. The effects of variables such as age, sex, surgical procedure, length of hospital stay, serum albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), number of physical therapy units, and functional independence measure (FIM) were assessed. For each factor, a two-group comparison was conducted between the HD and non-HD groups. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the factors affecting FIM efficacy (E-FIM).

Results: For HD patients, total and motor FIM at discharge, E-FIM, and albumin level were significantly lower than in non-HD patients. Length of hospital stay was significantly longer for HD patients. Multiple regression analysis showed that HD had a negative effect on E-FIM.

Conclusions: The results suggest that rehabilitation for HD patients with hip fractures require intervention that not only provides standard rehabilitation but also addresses aspects of renal rehabilitation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of untreated hand diseases on hand grip strength, a value that is commonly used as a diagnostic parameter for sarcopenia and frailty in geriatric populations. We hypothesized that individuals with untreated hand diseases would have lower grip strength than those without hand diseases.

Methods: A total of 240 individuals aged at least 65 years were recruited and divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of typical hand diseases. Grip strength was compared between the two groups separately for men and women using a t-test, with each group consisting of 60 women or 60 men.

Results: Both women and men in the hand disease group exhibited significantly lower grip strength than those in the control group.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that untreated hand diseases have a negative impact on grip strength, and this may introduce bias in the screening or diagnosis of sarcopenia and frailty. It is essential to consider the presence of hand diseases when measuring hand grip strength in older adults.

Background: There are numerous etiologies relating to physeal arrest. The clinical manifestations of physeal arrest may include limb length discrepancy (LLD) and bone malalignment, especially in younger children with more growth ahead of them.

Case: We performed three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) four times over a 13-year period in a boy aged from 9 to 22 years who was suffering from LLD and genu valgum. At the final follow-up, the patient’s LLD and coronal malalignment had been ameliorated on radiographic findings after multiple corrective surgeries, including the use of external fixation. In 3DGA, the patient’s Gait Profile Score (GPS) at age 12.5 years was poorest at 12.4°, improving to 8.4° at age 22.3, a change of 2.5 times the minimal clinically important difference. Assessment of kinetics showed a mean knee coronal moment during the stance phase of 0.17 (varus) and 0.20 (valgus) Nm/kg at the ages of 18.6 and 22.3 years, respectively. Importantly, this revealed significant improvement from the perspective of knee coronal moment (P <0.001).

Discussion: This is the first report of long-term follow-up 3DGA using GPS in a patient undergoing multiple corrective surgeries for LLD and genu valgum. Although both LLD and genu valgum improved, gait function did not normalize. This shows that focusing on radiographic findings alone may not lead to improved patient outcomes and indicates the value of gait function assessment.

Objectives: Little attention has been paid to the relationship between balance function and bathing independence. This research aimed to determine the degree of balance function needed by patients with stroke and patients with hip fracture (hereinafter referred to as patients with stroke and hip fracture) to bathe independently.

Methods: Retrospective data analysis was performed on 59 patients with hip fracture and 201 patients with stroke. Logistic regression was performed to determine whether bathing independence was associated with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in patients with stroke and hip fracture. A receiver operating characteristic curve was generated to calculate cutoff values.

Results: The BBS was significantly associated with bathing independence in patients with stroke and hip fracture. The calculated BBS cutoff value was 48 points for those with stroke (sensitivity, 84.7%; specificity, 79.1%) and 43 points for those with hip fracture (sensitivity, 81.3%; specificity, 77.8%).

Conclusions: Balance function was independently associated with bathing independence. The level of balance function required for bathing independence may be lower for patients with hip fracture than for those with stroke. This could be a simple and useful indicator for rehabilitation professionals to interpret BBS results when conducting bathing interventions.

Objectives: Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who develop pneumonia face the risk of ventilatory muscle disuse in the acute phase, which can result in persistent respiratory impairments in the subacute phase. Although rehabilitation during the acute phase is considered effective, there are limited reports on this topic. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of acute-phase rehabilitation in patients with severe COVID-19.

Methods: The study included 57 patients (45 men and 12 women; mean age: 63.2±12.1 years) admitted between April and June 2021, all of whom required intubation for respiratory management. Among them, 34 patients underwent acute-phase rehabilitation interventions based on the early goal-directed mobilization protocol. The primary objectives were to assess the occurrence of medical accidents related to acute-phase rehabilitation and evaluate their impact on survival and mobility upon hospital discharge. Statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms were employed for data analysis.

Results: Remarkably, no medical accidents occurred during the acute-phase rehabilitation among the patients. Furthermore, our findings indicated that acute-phase rehabilitation did not influence survival outcomes. However, it did have a positive impact on the mobility of patients upon hospital discharge.

Conclusions: Acute-phase rehabilitation can be safely administered to patients with severe COVID-19 by following an early goal-directed mobilization protocol. This approach may also contribute to improved activities of daily living after discharge.

Background: Total laryngectomy is a surgical procedure to completely remove the hyoid bone, larynx, and associated muscles as a curative treatment for laryngeal cancer. This leads to insufficient swallowing function with compensative movements of the residual tongue to propel the food bolus to the pharynx and esophagus. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms of compensative swallowing after total laryngectomy remain unclear. Recently, swallowing-related cortical activation such as event-related desynchronization (ERD) during swallowing has been reported in healthy participants and neurological patients with dysphagia. Abnormal ERD elucidates the pathophysiological cortical activities that are related to swallowing. No report has investigated ERD in post-total laryngectomy patients.

Case: We investigated ERD during volitional swallowing using electroencephalography in three male patients after total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer (age and time after surgery: Case 1, 75 years, 10 years; Case 2, 85 years, 19 years; Case 3, 73 years, 19 years). In video fluorographic swallowing studies, we observed compensatory tongue movements such as posterior–inferior retraction of the tongue and contact on the posterior pharyngeal wall in all three cases. Significant ERD was localized in the bilateral medial sensorimotor areas and the left lateral parietal area in Case 1, in the bilateral frontal and left temporal areas in Case 2, and in the left prefrontal and premotor areas in Case 3.

Discussion: These results suggest that cortical activities related to swallowing might reflect cortical reorganization for modified swallowing movements of residual tongue muscles to compensate for reduced swallowing pressure in patients after total laryngectomy.

Objectives: This study explored the relationship between clinical severity of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) and ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) by ultrasound examination to identify appropriate measurement sites for UNE diagnosis and evaluation.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we examined the arms of 37 patients diagnosed with UNE and those of 34 individuals as controls. The ulnar nerve CSAs were measured at 2 cm distal to the tip of the medial epicondyle (dME), the tip of the medial epicondyle (ME), 2 cm proximal to the tip of the medial epicondyle (pME), and any site showing the maximum CSA between the dME and pME (largest dpME). The modified McGowan classification (grades I, IIA, IIB, and III) was used to rate the clinical severity of UNE.

Results: For all sites, the CSAs were significantly correlated with clinical severity. The sites showing the maximum CSA were inconsistent between controls and grade IIA patients. Grade IIB patients showed the largest CSA at the ME in the majority of patients. In grade III patients, maximum CSA occurred only at the ME.

Conclusions: Serial assessment to detect nerve enlargement at multiple sites was beneficial for mild UNE patients with weakness of the ulnar distal muscles with Medical Research Council (MRC) score of 4 or higher (grade IIA). For severe UNE patients with weakness of the ulnar distal muscles classified as MRC3 or less (grades IIB, III), the most efficient method for detecting enlarged nerves was to initially measure the CSA at the ME.

Background : Walking disability caused by central nervous system injury often lingers. In the chronic phase, there is great need to improve walking speed and gait, even for patients who walk independently. Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) has been widely used, but few studies have focused on improving gait patterns, and its effectiveness for motor function has been limited. This report describes the combination of “RAGT to learn the gait pattern” and “ankle robot training to improve motor function” in a patient with chronic stage brain injury.

Case : A 34-year-old woman suffered a traumatic brain injury 5 years ago. She had residual right hemiplegia [Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremity (FMA-LE): 18 points] and mild sensory impairment, but she walked independently with a short leg brace and a cane. Her comfortable gait speed was 0.57 m/s without an orthosis, and her 6-m walk test distance was 240 m. The Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (G.A.I.T.) score was 35 points. After hospitalization, ankle robot training was performed daily, with RAGT performed 10 times in total. Post-intervention evaluation performed on Day 28 showed: FMA-LE, 23 points; comfortable walking speed, 0.69 m/s; G.A.I.T., 27 points; and three-dimensional motion analysis showed ankle dorsiflexion improved from 3.22° to 12.59° and knee flexion improved from 1.75° to 16.54° in the swing phase.

Discussion : This is one of few studies to have examined the combination of two robots. Combining the features of each robot improved the gait pattern and motor function, even in the chronic phase.

Objectives : This study assessed how early postoperative rehabilitation interventions affected the duration of hospital stay in patients with prostate cancer who had radical prostatectomy with robotic assistance.

Methods : From the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, we extracted case data for patients discharged between April 2014 and March 2020. Patients were recognized by code C61 from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition. We ran a multilevel linear regression analysis to investigate the impact of early rehabilitation on the duration of hospital stay.

Results : There were 2151 participants in the trial. In patients with prostate cancer who had resection utilizing robotic-assisted devices, early rehabilitation was related to a substantial decrease in duration of hospital stay (coefficient, −0.86; 95% CI, −1.64 to −0.07; P=0.032).

Conclusions : Early postoperative rehabilitation may contribute to shorter hospital stays in patients with prostate cancer at high risk of both postoperative complications and a decline in their ability to perform activities of daily living.

Objectives: This study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the effects of thoracic spine self-mobilization on patients with low back pain (LBP) and lumbar hypermobility.

Methods: Twenty-four patients (15 men, 9 women) with LBP were randomly allocated to a thoracic spine self-mobilization group or sham group. The thoracic spine self-mobilization group performed thoracic spine active flexion and extension activities using two tennis balls fixed with athletic tape. Outcome measures were collected pre-intervention and after 4 weeks and included the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index, lumbar rotation angle measured using MRI taken in the lateral position with 45° of trunk rotation, thoracolumbar rotation range of motion (ROM) in the sitting position, and stiffness of the erector spinae muscles. The effects of the intervention were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by multiple comparisons. The significance level was set at 5%.

Results: The results of the two-way repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the main effect of the group was significant (P<0.05) for VAS, the sum of the lumbar rotation angle, and the thoracolumbar rotation ROM. A significant group-by-time interaction was found for the sum of lumbar rotation angles. The results of the multiple comparison tests for VAS, sum of the lumbar rotation angle from L1 to S1, and thoracolumbar rotation ROM were significantly different after 4 weeks.

Conclusions: This study revealed a decrease in lumbar segmentation after thoracic spine mobilization. Thoracic spine mobilization may be effective in patients with LBP and hypermobility.

Objectives: We collected opinions about the use of a stroke-specific regional clinical pathway for facilitating collaboration between acute and rehabilitation hospitals in Japan.

Methods: The study surveys were administered in acute hospitals designated as primary stroke centers and certified by the Japan Stroke Association (n=961) and in rehabilitation hospitals affiliated with the Kaifukuki Rehabilitation Ward Association (n=1237). The survey collected information on interfacility collaboration when caring for patients admitted during the acute phase following non-traumatic stroke from April 2020 to March 2021. We examined the pathway’s usefulness and challenges relative to facility type using the χ² test.

Results: Of 422 acute hospitals and 223 rehabilitation hospitals that responded to our survey, 259 (62.1%) acute hospitals and 164 (85.4%) rehabilitation hospitals used the pathway. Fewer rehabilitation hospitals than acute hospitals considered that the pathway was useful (52.0% vs. 63.8%, P=0.02). Fewer rehabilitation hospitals did not experience pathway-related problems when compared with acute hospitals (38.0% vs. 55.8%, P<0.01).

Conclusions: Personnel at rehabilitation hospitals were less satisfied with the regional clinical care pathway than those in acute hospitals. These results suggest that the current stroke-specific regional clinical pathway could be improved.

Background: Many patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop malnutrition after a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) with mechanical ventilation. Early enteral nutrition is recommended, but optimal nutrition management during post-extubation recovery remains challenging.

Cases: The subjects were 12 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients with COVID-19 (9 men, 3 women; median age, 55.6 years). We reviewed patient characteristics, physical function, and nutrient intake during hospitalization from just after extubation to discharge. During this period, the median Functional Oral Intake Scale score improved from 4.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 3.3–5.3) to 7.0 (IQR 5.8–7.0), the median Medical Research Council (MRC) scale score improved from 45.0 (IQR 39.3–48.5) to 53.5 (IQR 47.5–59.3), and the median Barthel index improved from 7.5 (IQR 0–16.3) to 72.5 (IQR 42.5–95.0). In 3 patients, the MRC scale score remained below 48 before discharge, indicating that ICU-acquired weakness had been prolonged. The median daily caloric intake during this phase increased from 6.9 kcal/kg per day (3.5–10.2 kcal/kg per day) to 24.8 kcal/kg per day (21.0–27.9 kcal/kg per day). About half of these patients showed caloric intake below 25 kcal/kg per day before discharge. Based on the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) diagnostic scheme, 10 patients were diagnosed with malnutrition during hospitalization.

Discussion: Physical function improved in more than half of the patients, but nutritional status was not recovered. More studies for nutritional management are required to prevent malnutrition and to enhance functional recovery during the post-extubation rehabilitation phase.

Background: Carnitine is a vital human nutrient. Although there are many reports on carnitine deficiency, most studies have been conducted on children, patients with severe mental and physical disabilities, epileptic patients, patients with liver cirrhosis, and dialysis patients. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on carnitine administration for disorders of consciousness after stroke. We report two such cases in which carnitine administration improved disorders of consciousness.

Cases: Case 1 was a woman in her sixties who was admitted to our rehabilitation center 4 months after the onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage. After admission, her disorders of consciousness worsened even though she was actively undergoing rehabilitation. Suspecting carnitine deficiency, we administered 1500 mg/day of L-carnitine, which resulted in improvement of her disorders of consciousness and disappearance of symptoms such as convulsions. Case 2 was a man in his thirties who was admitted to our rehabilitation center 5 months after the onset of cerebral hemorrhage. During active rehabilitation, he suffered worsening disorders of consciousness, convulsions, and cramps. We found carnitine deficiency with a blood carnitine concentration of 21 mg/dL, so we administered 1500 mg/day of L-carnitine; symptoms of disorders of consciousness and convulsions then improved.

Discussion: It is possible that carnitine deficiency has been overlooked in some patients in rehabilitation wards, and measurement of ammonia might facilitate its detection. Because carnitine deficiency can interfere with active rehabilitation, nutritional management with attention to carnitine deficiency could be important during rehabilitation.

Background: Transcutaneous electrical sensory nerve stimulation (TESS) is used to enhance the recovery of sensorimotor function in post-stroke hemiparesis. However, TESS efficacy for post-stroke gait disturbance remains unknown. We hypothesized that TESS on the area innervated by the tibial nerve, targeting the superficial plantar sensation, combined with gait training would improve gait function in patients with gait disturbance caused by severe superficial sensory disturbance after stroke.

Case: A 42-year-old man was referred to the convalescent rehabilitation hospital 4 months after a left pontine hemorrhage. He showed severe superficial sensory disturbance without motor paresis in the right lower leg and planta pedis. Gait training with TESS on the tibial nerve innervated area was performed, targeting plantar sensation according to an N-of-1 study design of a single-case ABCAB that included two 10-min sessions of gait training without TESS (phase A), two gait training sessions with TESS targeting the right plantar sensation (phase B), and one session with TESS targeting the upper leg sensation as control (phase C). The patient showed increased gait distance and stride length, improved superficial sensation on the right planta pedis, and improved balance after phase B, but not after phases A and C.

Discussion: Gait training with TESS on the tibial nerve innervated area improved gait ability, superficial plantar sensation on the targeted side, and balance function in a post-stroke patient with sensory disturbance. Gait training with TESS may be effective for gait dysfunction caused by sensory disturbance in patients with central nervous system disorders.

Objectives : We aimed to review the most recent articles on the rehabilitation of patients after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to identify the methods and effects of rehabilitation on such patients.

Methods : A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science from study inception to October 2022 using the following search terms to identify meta-analyses and randomized controlled studies with abstracts written in English: [“COVID-19” or “COVID 19” or “2019-nCoV” or “SARS-CoV” or “novel coronavirus” or “SARS-CoV-2”] and [“rehabilitation”]. Publications investigating the effects of pulmonary and physical rehabilitation on patients with COVID-19 were extracted.

Results: The extraction process selected four meta-analyses, two systematic reviews, two literature reviews, and two randomized controlled trials. Pulmonary rehabilitation recovered forced vital capacity (FVC), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and dyspnea. Pulmonary rehabilitation increased predicted FVC, distance in the 6MWD test, and HRQOL score compared with baseline values. Physical rehabilitation, comprising aerobic exercises and resistance training, effectively improved fatigue, functional capacity, and quality of life with no adverse events. Telerehabilitation was an effective tool to provide rehabilitation for patients with COVID-19.

Conclusions: Our study suggests that rehabilitation after COVID-19 should be considered an effective therapeutic strategy to improve the functional capacity and quality of life of patients with COVID-19.

Objectives : Few reports have investigated the relationship between pain, catastrophic thinking, and health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with hand fractures. We investigated the correlation between scores of the pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS; rumination, helplessness, and magnification), and between the scores of PCS and health-related QOL based on the Short Form 8 questionnaire (SF-8).

Methods : Thirty-seven patients with hand and finger fractures were treated in a public hospital (16 men, 21 women; mean age, 56.5 years) and were treated by an occupational therapist. The relations between NRS, PCS, and SF-8 scores were examined at 4 to 6 months post-treatment. The effects of hand pain on catastrophic thinking and on mental, psychological, and daily role-based factors were analyzed by correlation and partial correlation analyses.

Results: The mean NRS score was 2.13. The mean PCS subitem scores were: rumination, 6.00; helplessness, 1.97; and magnification, 2.18. There were significant positive correlations between the NRS and all PCS scores. Relations between the PCS scores and SF-8 subitem scores, excluding items that were not correlated with NRS in partial correlation analysis, indicated significant negative correlations between multiple PCS subitems and SF-8 subitem scores for role physical, bodily pain, vitality, mental health, and physical component summary.

Conclusions: Pain and catastrophic thinking were correlated with health-related QOL in patients with hand fractures. In addition to assessing hand pain, therapists should monitor the effects of mental and psychological factors and daily activities in this group of patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to update the current knowledge on non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) effects, such as repetitive transcranial brain stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation, in patients with post-stroke dysphagia (PSD).

Methods: We summarized the basic principles and therapeutic strategies of NIBS. We then reviewed nine meta-analyses from 2022 that investigated the efficacy of NIBS in PSD rehabilitation.

Results: Although dysphagia is a common and devastating sequela of stroke, the efficacy of conventional swallowing therapies remains controversial. NIBS techniques have been proposed as promising approaches for managing PSD via neuromodulation. Recent meta-analyses have shown that NIBS techniques are beneficial for the recovery of patients with PSD.

Conclusions: NIBS has the potential to become a novel alternative treatment for PSD rehabilitation.

Background: Task-specific dystonia (TSD) confined to the lower extremities (LE) is relatively rare. This report describes dystonia confined to the LE only during forward walking. This case required careful neurological and diagnostic assessment because the patient was taking several neuropsychiatric drugs that cause symptomatic dystonia, such as aripiprazole (ARP).

Case: A 53-year-old man visited our university hospital with a complaint of abnormalities in the LE that appeared only during walking. Neurological examinations other than walking were normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed meningioma in the right sphenoid ridge. The patient had been treated for depression with neuropsychiatric medications for a long time, and his abnormal gait appeared about 2 years after additional administration of ARP. After the meningioma was removed, his symptoms remained. Surface electromyography showed dystonia in both LE during forward walking, although his abnormal gait appeared to be accompanied by spasticity. The patient was tentatively diagnosed with tardive dystonia (TD). Although dystonia did not disappear clinically, it was alleviated after discontinuing ARP. Administration of trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride and concomitant rehabilitation improved his dystonia until return to work, but some residual gait abnormalities remained.

Discussion: We report an unusual case of TD with task specificity confined to the LE. The TD was induced by the administration of ARP in combination with multiple psychotropic medications. Careful consideration was required for clinical diagnosis, rehabilitation, and assessment of its relevance to TSD.

Objectives : It is unclear whether the increased center of mass lateral shift during gait induced by leg length difference induces lateral instability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of leg length discrepancy (LLD) on dynamic gait stability and the compensatory kinematic and dynamic strategies for this effect by using the extrapolated center of mass and margin of stability.

Methods : Nineteen healthy male participants walked without insoles (no LLD condition; 0 cm) and with added insoles (LLD condition; 3 cm). Kinematic and kinetic data were analyzed using a three-dimensional motion analyzer and force plates; the values were compared between the two conditions. Correlation analysis was performed on the parameters and the margin of stability and significant changes were identified.

Results: Compared with the no-LLD condition, in the LLD condition, lateral stability was maintained on both the short leg side and the long leg side. Nonetheless, changes in joint angles and muscle activity on the frontal plane were observed on the short leg side, although the correlations were not significant. On the long leg side, a moderate negative correlation was found between the lateral flexion angle of the trunk and the margin of stability (r=–0.56, P=0.011).

Conclusions: The short leg side may compensate for lateral stability by complex changes in joint angles and muscle activity, and the long leg side may compensate for lateral stability by actively adjusting the trunk lateral flexion angle.

Objectives : To ease the burden on care facilities, there is a need to reduce the number of frail older people with multiple chronic and non-communicable diseases (multimorbidity) that require long-term care. We investigated the effects of therapeutic exercise in rehabilitation treatment for older individuals with frailty and multimorbidity.

Methods : We performed 4 weeks of inpatient rehabilitation treatment for frail older patients with multimorbidity. The therapeutic exercise was performed based on whole-body evaluations by qualified physiatrists and physiotherapists. Sixty-minute sessions were conducted twice a day and six times a week in accordance with the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. Physical functions (grip strength, isometric lower muscle strength, 10-m walking test, and 6-min walking test) were measured at admission and discharge.

Results : Of the 33 patients, 8 were unable to complete physical function evaluations, and 1 patient had a stress fracture of the right calcaneus beyond the rehabilitation time. Twenty-four patients were included in the analysis. Compared to the admission period, significant improvements were observed for all evaluated parameters post-therapy (P < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was found between the number of chronic diseases and changes to physical function (P > 0.05).

Conclusions : Physical function of frail older individuals with multimorbidity improves through rehabilitation treatments supervised by physiatrists and physiotherapists. The number of chronic illnesses and the improvements in physical function were not related. Therefore, rehabilitation treatments for older patients may target both frailty and multimorbidity. Our results will aid in the rehabilitation treatment plans for this demographic.

Objectives: This study investigated the factors contributing to complete oral intake (COI) in dysphagic stroke patients with enteral feeding tubes in the local clinical setting.

Methods: Data of patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding on admission to convalescent rehabilitation wards (CRWs) were extracted from the Kaga Regional Cooperation Clinical Pathway for Stroke database for multiple centers including 19 acute care hospitals and 11 hospitals with CRWs. Patients were divided into two groups based on their status regarding COI or incomplete oral intake (ICOI) at discharge. Logistic regression analysis with forced-entry variables was used to identify factors contributing to COI.

Results: On discharge from CRWs, COI and ICOI were observed in 140 and 207 cases, respectively. The COI group was younger, had a higher rate of initial stroke, higher Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores, higher Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor and cognitive scores, higher Body Mass Index (BMI), lower rate of patients with PEG, and shorter stays in acute care wards. Logistic regression analysis with forced entry revealed that younger age; initial stroke; higher FOIS score, FIM cognitive score, and BMI; and shorter stay in the acute care ward contributed to COI.

Conclusions: The primary factors contributing to COI in dysphagic stroke patients with enteral feeding tubes were younger age, initial stroke, higher swallowing and cognitive function, good nutritional status, and shorter stay in the acute care ward.

Objectives: Increased long-term impairment is common among intensive care unit (ICU) survivors. However, predictors of activities of daily living (ADL) in ICU survivors are poorly understood. We aimed to focus on the trajectory of physical function and explore the clinical variables that affect ADL at hospital discharge.

Methods: We enrolled 411 patients admitted to the ICU from April 2018 to October 2020. Physical function was evaluated at ICU admission, ICU discharge, and hospital discharge. We assessed physical function (grip strength, arm and calf circumference, quadriceps thickness, and Barthel index). Patients were assigned to the high or low ADL group based on their Barthel index at discharge. Propensity score matching analysis was performed to minimize selection biases and differences in clinical characteristics.

Results: After matching propensity scores, 114 of the 411 patients (aged 65±15 years) were evaluated. The high ADL group showed better physical function at ICU discharge and hospital discharge than the low ADL group. An overall decreasing trend in muscle mass was observed over time; the rates of decline were lower in the high ADL group than in the low ADL group. The cutoff values for relative changes in calf circumference and quadriceps thickness to predict high ADL were −7.89% (sensitivity: 77.8%, specificity: 55.6%) and −28.1% (sensitivity: 81.0%, specificity: 58.8%), respectively.

Conclusions: The relative decreases in calf circumference and quadriceps thickness during hospitalization were lower in patients who maintained their ADL. Assessment of the trajectory of physical function can predict ADL status at hospital discharge among ICU survivors.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the effect of an intervention using a head-mounted display with a web camera set at a modified pitch angle on spatial awareness, sit-to-stand movement, and standing balance in patients with left and right hemisphere damage.

Methods: The participants were 12 patients with right hemisphere damage and 12 patients with left hemisphere damage. The line bisection test, a sit-to-stand movement, and balance assessment were performed before and after the intervention. The intervention task involved pointing at targets 48 times in an upward bias condition.

Results: Significant upward deviation on the line bisection test was noted in patients with right hemisphere damage. The load on the forefoot during the sit-to-stand movement was significantly increased. The range of anterior–posterior sway during forward movement in the balance assessment was reduced.

Conclusions: An adaptation task performed in an upward bias condition may produce an immediate effect on upward localization, sit-to-stand movement, and balance performance in patients with right hemisphere stroke.

Objectives: Measurement of skeletal muscle using ultrasonography (US) has received considerable attention as an alternative method of muscle assessment. However, intra- and inter-rater reliability remains controversial. Furthermore, there is no consensus regarding the relationship between muscle assessment using US and muscle mass or physical assessment. We aimed to verify the validity and reliability of muscle measurements using US and its relationships with muscle strength and physical assessment.

Methods: The 22 participants were all healthy men. Quadriceps muscle thickness was measured by US by three different raters. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess inter- and intra-rater reliability. The maximum isokinetic strength of the quadriceps and handgrip strength were used as measures of lower and upper muscle strength, respectively. Leg muscle mass was assessed using the leg skeletal muscle index (SMI), measured by body impedance analysis, and calf circumference.

Results: The intra-rater reliability was excellent which the ICC(1,1) ranges 0.957-0.993, and ICC(1,3) ranges 0.985-0.998. For inter-rater reliability, the values of 0.904 for ICC(2,1) and 0.966 for ICC(2,3) indicated excellent reliability. Leg SMI was significantly correlated with quadriceps thickness (r=0.36). Maximum isokinetic strength and handgrip strength showed weak but statistically significant correlations with quadriceps thickness (r=0.20, r=0.30, respectively). The correlation between quadriceps thickness and calf circumference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Quadriceps muscle assessment using US is a valid and reliable technique for healthy individuals. Quadriceps muscle thickness was significantly positively correlated with upper and lower muscle strength and leg SMI. Muscle thickness assessment could replace full body muscle assessment in clinical settings.

Background: This case report describes the successful management of rehabilitation therapy for a hematological malignancy patient who was receiving chemotherapy and had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Case: A 76-year-old man receiving chemotherapy for relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (MM) presented to our hospital with fever and dyspnea and was hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Physical therapy (20 min/day, 5 days/week) was started on day 6 of hospitalization while the patient was receiving oxygen therapy. Conditioning exercises and movement exercises were performed in an isolation room, and blood counts, fracture susceptibility, and respiratory status were monitored. The patient was severely immunocompromised and required 34 days of isolation due to persistent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Physical function was assessed by manual muscle testing of the lower extremities and by the extent of lower extremity fatigue and dyspnea on exertion, as assessed using the Borg scale. Motor capacity was assessed using the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) score and the Barthel Index (BI). Muscle weakness and severe dyspnea developed 4 days after physical therapy was started. However, physical therapy led to improvements in DEMMI score and BI. The patient was discharged home on day 43 with home medical care.

Discussion: Careful management of MM and COVID-19 facilitated safe treatment with physical therapy. The patient’s physical function improved with a carefully planned physical therapy program. Moreover, the patient required prolonged isolation due to persistent viral shedding; however, as a result of the treatment, which was coordinated between physicians and nurses, the patient could be discharged home.

Background: Palatal augmentation prosthesis (PAP) and palatal lift prosthesis (PLP) have been used to improve dysphagia and dysarthria. However, to date, there are few reports on their combined use. We report a quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of a flexible-palatal lift/augmentation combination prosthesis (fPL/ACP) based on videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and speech intelligibility testing.

Case: An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a hip fracture. She developed aspiration pneumonia at 1 month after partial hip replacement. Oral motor function tests revealed a motor deficit of the tongue and soft palate. VFSS showed delayed oral transit, nasopharyngeal reflux, and excessive pharyngeal residue. The cause of her dysphagia was assumed to be pre-existing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and sarcopenia. To improve the dysphagia, an fPL/ACP was fabricated and applied. It improved the patient’s oral and pharyngeal swallowing and speech intelligibility. In addition to prosthetic treatment, rehabilitation and nutritional support allowed her to be discharged.

Discussion: The effects of fPL/ACP in the present case were similar to those of flexible-PLP and PAP. f-PLP assists in elevation of the soft palate and improved the nasopharyngeal reflux and hypernasal speech. PAP promotes tongue movement and results in improved oral transit and speech intelligibility. Therefore, fPL/ACP may be effective in patients with motor deficits in both the tongue and soft palate. To maximize the effect of the intraoral prosthesis, a transdisciplinary approach with concurrent swallowing rehabilitation, nutritional support, and physical and occupational therapy is necessary.

Recent technological advances in non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) have led to the development of therapies for post-stroke upper extremity paralysis. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a NIBS technique, controls regional activity by non-invasively stimulating selected areas of the cerebral cortex. The therapeutic principle by which rTMS is thought to work is the correction of interhemispheric inhibition imbalances. The guidelines for rTMS for post-stroke upper limb paralysis have graded it as a highly effective treatment, and, based on functional brain imaging and neurophysiological testing, it has been shown to result in progress toward normalization. Our research group has published many reports showing improvement in upper limb function after administration of the NovEl Intervention Using Repetitive TMS and intensive one-to-one therapy (NEURO), demonstrating its safety and efficacy. Based on the findings to date, rTMS should be considered as a treatment strategy based on a functional assessment of the severity of upper extremity paralysis (Fugl-Meyer Assessment), and NEURO should be combined with pharmacotherapy, botulinum treatment, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy to maximize therapeutic effects. In the future, it will be important to establish tailormade treatments in which stimulation frequency and sites are adjusted according to the pathological conditions of interhemispheric imbalance, as revealed by functional brain imaging.

Objectives: There is no established treatment for chronic fatigue and various cognitive dysfunctions (brain fog) caused by long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to clarify the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for treating these symptoms.

Methods: High-frequency rTMS was applied to occipital and frontal lobes in 12 patients with chronic fatigue and cognitive dysfunction 3 months after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Before and after ten sessions of rTMS, Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Apathy Scale (AS), and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-fourth edition (WAIS4) were determined and N-isopropyl-p-[¹²³I]iodoamphetamine single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed.

Results: Twelve subjects completed ten sessions of rTMS without adverse events. The mean age of the subjects was 44.3 ± 10.7 years, and the mean duration of illness was 202.4 ± 114.5 days. BFI, which was 5.7 ± 2.3 before the intervention, decreased significantly to 1.9 ± 1.8 after the intervention. The AS was significantly decreased after the intervention from 19.2 ± 8.7 to 10.3 ± 7.2. All WAIS4 sub-items were significantly improved after rTMS intervention, and the full-scale intelligence quotient increased from 94.6 ± 10.9 to 104.4 ± 13.0. Hypoperfusion in the bilateral occipital and frontal lobes observed on SPECT improved in extent and severity after ten sessions of rTMS.

Conclusions: Although we are still in the early stages of exploring the effects of rTMS, the procedure has the potential for use as a new non-invasive treatment for the symptoms of long COVID.

Objectives: This study compared the balance function in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with their balance function after subsequent training sessions with a Balance Exercise Assist Robot (BEAR).

Methods: In this prospective observational study, inpatients who underwent allo-HSCT from human leukocyte antigen-mismatched relatives were enrolled from December 2015 to October 2017. Patients were allowed to leave their clean room after allo-HSCT and underwent balance exercise training using the BEAR. Sessions (20–40 min) were performed 5 days per week and consisted of three games that were performed four times each. A total of 15 sessions were performed by each patient. Patient balance function was assessed before BEAR therapy according to the mini-balance evaluation systems test (mini-BESTest), and patients were divided into two groups (Low and High) based on a 70% cut-off value for the total mini-BESTest score. Patient balance was also assessed after BEAR therapy.

Results: Fourteen patients providing written informed consent fulfilled the protocol: six patients in the Low group, and eight patients in the High group. In the Low group, there was a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-evaluations in postural response, which a sub-item of the mini-BESTest. In the High group, there was no significant difference between pre- and post-evaluations in the mini-BESTest.

Conclusions: BEAR sessions improve balance function in patients undergoing allo-HSCT.

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of a supervised home-based vestibular rehabilitation program using a booklet on gait function and dizziness in patients with chronic peripheral vestibular hypofunction.

Methods: This was a non-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Patients (n=42) with chronic peripheral vestibular hypofunction were randomly divided into the vestibular rehabilitation group (VR group; n=20) or the control group (n=22). Patients in the VR group received a supervised home-based vestibular rehabilitation program using a booklet in addition to physician care for 4 weeks. The physical therapist checked the home program when the VR group visited the outpatient clinic once a week. Patients in the control group received physician care only during the trial period. The primary outcome was functional gait assessment (FGA). The secondary outcomes were the dynamic gait index (DGI) and the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI).

Results: Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant interaction for FGA, DGI, DHI total, and DHI emotional scores (P<0.05) with the VR group improving more than the control group. No significant interactions were found for DHI physical and DHI functional scores (P≥0.05).

Conclusions: The home-based vestibular rehabilitation program in this study was effective in improving gait function and dizziness in patients with chronic peripheral vestibular hypofunction. Regular supervision may have improved adherence to home exercise and contributed to the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the cognitive abilities of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) using the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavior Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS), a tool designed for testing cognition in individuals with limited hand motor function. The impact of cognitive dysfunction on quality of life was also assessed.

Methods: Forty-one patients with SCI were assessed using ECAS, the brief version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure.

Results: Overall, 28 of the 41 participants scored below the cut-off threshold for normal population in ECAS. The domains affected were language, 63%; memory, 51%; executive function, 44%; verbal fluency, 44%; and visuospatial skills, 24%. On multiple regression analysis, the ECAS total score moderately strongly explained the variance in the WHOQOL-BREF psychological (β = 0.428, t = 2.958, P = 0.005) and environmental (β = 0.411, t = 2.819, P = 0.008) domains. ECAS memory scores independently influenced WHOQOL-BREF physical (β = 0.398, t = 2.67, P = 0.011) and environmental (β = 0.37, t = 2.697, P = 0.010) domains. WHOQOL-BREF psychological scores were significantly influenced by ECAS executive scores (β = 0.415, t = 2.85, P = 0.007), whereas the social domain was not significantly influenced by ECAS scores.

Conclusions: It was feasible to use ECAS in individuals with SCI. Cognitive ability influenced the quality of life of people with SCI.