METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is an international, multicentre, randomised controlled study at five institutions with a total of 150 patients with subacute stroke. Participants will be randomised into two groups (75 patients in the robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) group and 75 patients in the control group). The gait training will be performed with a total of 20 sessions (60 min/session); 5 sessions a week for 4 weeks. The RAGT group will receive 30 min of gait training using an exoskeleton (ANGEL LEGS M20, Angel Robotics) and 30 min of conventional gait training, while the control group will receive 60 min conventional gait training. In all the patients, the functional assessments such as ambulation, motor and balance will be evaluated before and after the intervention. Follow-up monitoring will be performed to verify whether the patient can walk without physical assistance for 3 months. The primary outcome is the improvement of the Functional Ambulatory Category after the gait training. The functional assessments will also be evaluated immediately after the last training session in the RAGT group to assess the assistive effects of an exoskeletal wearable robot. This trial will provide evidence on the effects of an exoskeleton to improve and assist ambulatory function in patients with subacute stroke.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of each hospital and conforms to the Declaration of Helsinki. The results will be disseminated through publication.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05157347) on 15 December 2021 and CRIS (KCT0006815) on 19 November 2021.
OBJECTIVE: This article provides the reader with an understanding of the natural history, pathophysiology, phases and clinical features of idiopathic frozen shoulder. It also outlines patients at risk of developing idiopathic frozen shoulder and addresses an evidence-based conservative approach to the management of this condition.
DISCUSSION: The primary care physician plays a pivotal part in the identification and management of idiopathic frozen shoulder, with the vast majority of patients responding to conservative management. A shared care approach with a skilled physiotherapist is essential.
METHODS: Twenty-five final year physiotherapy students were asked to view and interpret the findings of six CXRs, together with a brief vignette, typical of a single commonly encountered diagnosis. Students were also asked if they had received additional CXR training on placement or had a desire to specialize in respiratory care.
RESULTS: The CXR interpretations were scored as incorrect 0, partially correct 1 (abnormality detected but not able to diagnose or missed some detail) and 2 correct. Scores for each of the six CXRs were added to give a total score (out of 12). The median score was 3 out of 12, (range 0-9). Median scores were slightly higher at 4 out of 12 in those students with additional training or a desire to specialize (range 1-7), but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.43).
CONCLUSIONS: Final year physiotherapy students were not able to reliably interpret CXRs. These findings were consistent with previous published research involving medical students. Therefore on graduation before starting "on call" duties it is recommended newly qualified physiotherapists receive additional training in CXR interpretation.
METHODS: This is an assessor blinded randomized controlled trial comparing 2 intervention approaches namely ART-added physiotherapy (experimental group) and usual physiotherapy (control group). A total of 70 post-stroke patients will be recruited and allocated into either the ART-added physiotherapy or the usual physiotherapy group. The ART-added physiotherapy group will undergo a 20-minute ART session followed by 40 minutes of usual physiotherapy. While the usual physiotherapy group will receive usual physiotherapy alone for 60 minutes. All participants will be treated once a week and are required to carry out a set of home exercises for 2 times per week during the 12-week intervention. Assessment of emotional status and functional independence will be carried out at pre-intervention and week 13 of the intervention with the use of Hospital anxiety and depression scale, Barthel index, and EuroQol-5 dimensions-5 levels. All data will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
DISCUSSION: The expected main study outcome is an enhanced evidence-based physiotherapy program that may be used by physiotherapists in the rehabilitation of stroke patients with emotional disturbances.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12619001664134 (last updated on 28/11/2019).
Methods: Seven patients with acute grade 1 ankle sprain (15 days of ankle sprain) were recruited. They were provided with 7 days of protection, optimal loading, ice, compression, and elevation (POLICE) treatment, and the standard physiotherapy programme consisted of towel stretching and balancing exercises on one leg. Pain scale score was recorded daily during the physiotherapy programme. The isokinetic ankle strengths of the patient's injured and uninjured legs were compared before and after the physiotherapy programme. Isokinetic tests were conducted in painless range of motion for the injured leg.
Results: Pain was significantly reduced after the patients underwent the standard physiotherapy programme. No significant differences were observed in terms of the ankle peak torque, time to peak torque, and ankle plantar flexion-to-dorsiflexion ratio of the injured and uninjured legs. The injured leg showed significant improvement in terms of ankle eversion-to-inversion ratio (E:I) after 7 days of performing the standard physiotherapy programme.
Conclusion: Performing the standard physiotherapy programme for 1 week reduces pain and improves the ankle E:I in patients with grade 1 ankle sprain.