Peripheral sensory stimulation of the paretic hand may increase pinch strength of acute and subacute stroke patients immediately after stimulation.

No abstract

No abstract

Background. Dysphagia is a common problem in acute stroke patient. Aspiration pneumonia increases in this group. Swallowing therapy is immediately conducted in a stable stroke patient. An effectiveness of our program has not been determined. Objective. To determine an effectiveness of conventional swallowing therapy in acute stroke patients with dysphagia. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed data from medical records of acute stroke patients with dysphagia who participated a swallowing therapy from January 2017 to June 2017. Fifty-seven acute stroke patients with dysphagia (26 males and 31 females) were participating in a conventional swallowing therapy (50 minutes a day for 3 days per week). A functional oral intake scale (FOIS) and swallow function scoring system (SFSS) were used to determine an effectiveness of the swallowing therapy. FOIS and SFSS scores before the first therapy session and after the last therapy session were compared using a paired t-test. Results. The mean age of the patient was 69.5±15.35 years. The period from stroke onset to the first swallowing therapy session was 7.5±6.69 days. The number of therapy was 5.6±2.83 sessions. Participants showed a significant improvement of the FOIS (mean score increased from 1.74 to 3.30 points, P=0.001) and SFSS (mean score increased from 2.51 to 3.68 points, P=0.001). Forty-two percent of patients with tube dependent change to total oral intake. Conclusion. Conventional swallowing therapy is an effective treatment in acute stroke with dysphagia.

No abstract

Background: De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a common disease among the patients who performed unaccustomed repetitive movement of the thumb side of the wrist. A neoprene thumb stabilizer splint is often used to restrict thumb movement. However, because of its cost, usage of an elastic bandage made of cheaper materials is proposed. Objective: Compare the effectiveness between the elastic bandage and the neoprene thumb stabilizer splint in acute De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Methods: Forty participants with acute De Quervain’s tenosynovitis were divided into two groups (20 participants each). The first group used the elastic bandage, and the second group used the neoprene thumb stabilizer splint. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain, lateral and palmar pinch strength were measured before and after using the bandage and the splint for one or two weeks. Results: The average ages in the bandage and the splint group were 53.15±10.42 and 48±11.7 years, respectively. The VAS pain score of the bandage and splint group over week 0, 1, and 2 were 58.50, 33.90 and 19.55, and 51.60, 35.85 and 25.20, respectively. The bandage and splint group had the lateral pinch strength over the time of 9.40, 10.70 and 11.25 lbs, and 8.90, 9.88 and 10.57 lbs, respectively. Furthermore, they had the palmar pinch strength of 3.63, 4.68 and 5.28 lbs, and 3.07, 3.92 and 4.29 lbs, respectively. Conclusion: The pain and strength were not significantly different between the bandage and the splint group in acute De Quervain tenosynovitis. Using the bandage may be more cost-effectiveness than using the splint.

Purpose. Stroke patients have difficulty performing tasks using their paretic hands. There are limited data on the effects of using a soft robotic glove to assist with hand function. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a soft robotic glove in assisting hand function in stroke patients. Methods. This study was a cross-sectional pilot study. Twenty stroke patients with partial or complete hand weakness were recruited from a rehabilitation centre. The Box and Block Test (BBT) and the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) were performed under two conditions: with and without use of the soft robotic glove. The order of the conditions was randomly assigned by a computer-generated program. Results. BBT scores increased 6.4 blocks when using the soft robotic glove ( p < 0.001 ). ARAT grasp, grip, pinch, and overall scores increased by 27.08% ( p < 0.01 ), 28.75% ( p < 0.001 ), 15.89% ( p < 0.01 ), and 21.15% ( p < 0.001 ), respectively, using the glove versus not using the glove. Conclusions. The findings of this study suggest that using a soft robotic glove can assist a poststroke paretic hand in executing grasp, grip, and pinch.

No abstract