Pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia decreased during rehabilitation. A higher pain catastrophizing level correlated with a greater level of knee pain during activities, more difficulties experienced during daily activities before and after rehabilitation. A high level of kinesiophobia correlated with more difficulties experienced in daily activities and poorer knee-related quality of life before and after rehabilitation.

The objective of this study is to assess and compare the effect of applying a computerised cognitive training programme and virtual environment rehabilitation system on cognitive functions in patients after a stroke. Methods. A controlled trial included 121 persons referred to second stage rehabilitation. The subjects were differentiated into three impact groups by a single blinded trial. Results. The trial revealed that cognitive functions improved in all patient groups (p<0.001). A paired comparison analysis of all groups demonstrated a tendency for cognitive functions, evaluated by the MoCA–LT test, to be more strongly improved in patients who practised a computerised cognitive training programme during their OT sessions than those who did not (p=0.054). Conclusions. The final outcome of the trial was that cognitive functions significantly improved in patients who practised computerised cognitive training programmes or virtual environment rehabilitation systems, compared to those participants who only had occupational therapy sessions.

A stroke (cerebrovascular accident - CVA) is a significant social-economic issue. Approximately 15-30% of all patients develop life-long disability, 20% require over 3 months of specialized care in healthcare institutions, and the majority of the patients never recover the ability to maintain a proper vertical position. Such CVA sequelae as balance disturbances not only negatively affect patients' daily physical activity, but also result in social isolation. A number of standardized clinical scales, tests, and instrumental examination techniques have been proposed for evaluating not only post-CVA balance function, but also any changes in this function following various interventions. Even though scientific literature lists numerous methods and instruments for the improvement of balance after a CVA, not all of them are equally effective, and there have been rather controversial evaluations of some techniques. Nevertheless, the application of the majority of the techniques as complementary or alternative measures to traditional physical therapy (PT) frequently yields better results.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of health care-associated infections, risk factors, and antimicrobial use. Material and Methods. The study was carried out as a point-prevalence study in acute care wards, i.e., intensive care, surgical, and medical wards, at Vilnius University Hospital Santariškių Klinikos in April 2010. The study variables included the patient’s general data, indwelling devices, surgery, infection and its microbiological investigation, and antimicrobial use. All the variables that were logically related or had a P value of <0.25 in the univariate analysis were included in the stepwise logistic regression in order to study the factors potentially associated with health careassociated infections. Results. A total of 731 patients were surveyed. The overall prevalence rate of health care-associated infections was 3.8%. The prevalence of health care-associated infections differed by hospital wards (range 0.0%–19.2%). The lower respiratory tract (32.2%), urinary tract (28.5%), and surgical site infections (32.1%) were the most common health care-associated infections. Moreover, 89.3% of the cases of health care-associated infections were microbiologically investigated. Staphylococcus aureus (28.6%) and Escherichia coli (19.1%) were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. The use of one or more invasive devices was recorded in 332 patients (45.4%). Of the surveyed patients, 20.2% received antimicrobial agents. The most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents were fluoroquinolones (21.1%), broad-spectrum penicillins (19.1%), and first- or second-generation cephalosporins (18.6%). Conclusions. The prevalence of health care-associated infections was found to be similar to the reported overall prevalence rate of health care-associated infections in acute care hospitals in Lithuania.

[Purpose] The aim of study was to evaluate the impact of physical therapy on the recovery of motor and mental status in patients who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury, according to coma duration in acute and post-acute rehabilitation. [Subjects and Methods] The study population comprised patients with levels of consciousness ranging from 3 to 8 according to Glasgow Coma Scale score. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on coma duration as follows: group 1, those who were in a coma up to 1 week, and group 2, those who were in a coma for more than 2 weeks. The recovery of the patients’ motor function was evaluated according to the Motor Assessment Scale and the recovery of mental status according to the Mini-Mental State Examination. [Results] The evaluation of motor and mental status recovery revealed that the patients who were in a coma up to 1 week recovered significantly better after physical therapy during the acute rehabilitation than those who were in a coma for longer than 2 weeks. [Conclusion] The recovery of motor and mental status of the patients in acute rehabilitation was significantly better for those in a coma for a shorter period.

Background and Objectives: Nearly 23% of elderly patients hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome have reduced muscle strength. It is assumed that these patients would better benefit from a complex training—a combination of endurance, strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility—in order to reduce the loss of muscle strength and mass and improve functional capacity. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of two different complementary resistance and balance training programs during short-term cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in elderly patients after a percutaneous or surgical intervention due to acute coronary syndrome. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted from January 2020 to February 2021 in one Lithuanian rehabilitation hospital. A total of 63 participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to three groups (at the ratio of 1:1:1): control (CG, n = 19), intervention 1 (IG-1, n = 26), and intervention 2 (IG-2, n = 18). All the patients attended a usual inpatient CR program of a mean duration of 18.7 ± 1.7 days, while the patients assigned to the intervention groups (IG-1 and IG-2) additionally received different resistance and balance training programs three days a week. Functional capacity, with 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), as well as physical performance, with the short physical performance battery (SPPB) test and one repetition maximum test (1RM) for leg press, were assessed at baseline and after CR. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72.9 ± 5.5 years; 73% were men. All parameters of functional capacity and physical performance improved significantly after CR (p < 0.05), except for peak VO2 that improved only in the IG-1. Comparison of CR effectiveness among the groups revealed no significant differences. Conclusions: All three rehabilitation programs were safe and well tolerated by elderly patients aged ≥65 years as well as improved functional capacity (6-minute walk distance and peak workload) and physical performance (SPPB and 1RM). Complementary resistance and balance training with traditional physical therapy means and exercises with mechanical devices did not show greater benefits for the results of physical performance compared with the usual CR program.

Tyrimo pagrindimas. Literatūroje pateikiama nepakankamai duomenų apie metodikų (tarp jų irkineziterapinio pleistro), gerinančių ligonių po galvos smegenų insulto rankos funkcijas ankstyvuojureabilitacijos etapu, taikymo veiksmingumą.Tikslas – įvertinti kineziterapinio pleistro poveikį patyrusiųjų galvos smegenų insultą pažeistosrankos funkcijos atsigavimui ankstyvuoju reabilitacijos etapu.Metodai. Keturiasdešimt tiriamųjų po galvos smegenų insulto buvo suskirstyti į dvi grupes. Tiriamieji buvo ne vyresni kaip 75 metų, jų rankos raumenų jėga – ne mažesnė nei 2 balai (pagal Lovettskalę), pažintinės funkcijos įvertintos ne mažiau kaip 11 balų (pagal trumpą protinės būklės vertinimo testą), t. y. jiems nustatytas vidutinio sunkumo kognityvinis sutrikimas. Pirmos grupės ligoniamskineziterapijos metu buvo taikyti pratimai ir kineziterapinis pleistras, antros – tik pratimai. Plaštakosraumenų jėga matuota dinamometru, rankos funkcija vertinta taikant Wolf funkcinio vertinimo testą,modifkuotos judesių vertinimo skalės rankos funkcijai vertinti skirtą dalį ir Fugl-Meyer modifkuotąmotorinės funkcijos sutrikimo testą.Rezultatai. Po kineziterapijos procedūrų abiejų grupių rankos funkcija vertinant pagal Wolf irFugl-Meyer testų rezultatų vidurkius reikšmingai pagerėjo: pirmos grupės ligonių Wolf testo rezultatų įverčio pokytis buvo 49,4 ± 1,3 balo, antros – 23,1 ± 2,0 balo, Fugl-Meyer testo – atitinkamai31,3 ± 0,3 ir 21,9 ± 0,6 balo (p < 0,05). Pirmos grupės ligonių plaštakos raumenų jėga reikšmingaipagerėjo 26,2 ± 2,2 kg, antros – 12,2 ± 1,8 kg (p < 0,05). Pirmos grupės tiriamųjų pečių lanko judesiųatsigavimas pagal JVS pagerėjo 3,0 ± 0,1 balo, antros – 2,1 ± 0,1 balo, plaštakos judesių – atitinkamai2,6 ± 0,1 ir 1,7 ± 0,1 balo, sudėtingi rankos judesiai – 2,8 ± 0,1 ir 1,4 ± 0,1 balo (p < 0,05).Išvados. Po galvos smegenų insulto asmenys, kuriems buvo taikyti pratimai kartu su kineziterapiniu pleistru, pažeistos rankos funkciją atgavo geriau, lyginant su tais, kuriems buvo taikyti tikpratimai (p < 0,05).

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