Background: Community mobility (CM) is considered a part of community reintegration that enhances Quality of Life (QoL). Achieving an appropriate gait speed is essential in attaining an independent outdoor ambulation and satisfactory CM. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify whether gait speed is a predictor of CM and QoL in patients with stroke following a multimodal rehabilitation program (MRP). Methods: This was a baseline control trial with 6-months follow-up in an outpatient rehabilitation setting at a university hospital. Twenty-six stroke survivors completed the MRP (24 sessions, 2 days/wk, 1 hr/session). The MRP consisted of aerobic exercise, task-oriented exercises, balance exercises and stretching. Participants also performed an ambulation program at home. Outcome variables were: walking speed (10-m walking test) and QoL (physical and psychosocial domains of Euroquol and Sickness Impact Profile). Results: At the end of the intervention, comfortable and fast walking speed increased by an average of 0.16 (SD 0.21) (*p < .05) and 0.40 (SD 0.51) (**p < .001) m/s, respectively. After the intervention, all participants achieved independent outdoor ambulation with an increase of 34.14 of walking minutes/day in the community and a decrease of sitting time of 95.45 minutes/day. Regarding QoL there were increased mean scores on the physical and psychosocial dimensions of Euroquol and the Sickness Impact Profile, respectively (**p < .001). Conclusions: The results suggest that improved walking speed after the MRP is associated with CM and higher scores in QoL. These findings support the need to implement rehabilitation programs to promote increased speed.
Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) was the second most frequent cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men in 2020. The aim of this study was to analyze trends in the incidence, mortality and survival of PCa in Girona, Spain, over 25 years. Methods: Population-based study of PCa collected in the Girona Cancer Registry, 1994–2018. Age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were calculated per 100,000 men-year. Joinpoint regression models were used for trends, calculating the annual percentage changes (APC). Observed and net survival were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier and Pohar-Perme estimations, respectively. Results: A total of 9,846 cases of PCa were registered between 1994–2018. The age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were 154.7 (95%CI: 151.7 157.8) and 38.9 (95%CI: 37.3 –40.6), respectively. An increased incidence of 6.2% was observed from 1994 to 2003 (95%CI: 4.4 –8.1), and a decrease of -2.7% (95%CI: -3.5 –;-1.9) between 2003 and 2018. Mortality APC was -2.6% (95%CI: -3.3 –-2.0). Five-year observed and net survival were 72.8% (95%CI: 71.8 – 73.7) and 87.2% (95%CI: 85.9 – 88.4), respectively. Five-year net survival increased over time from 72.9% (1994–1998) to 91.3% (2014–2018). Conclusions: The analyses show a clear reduction in PCa incidence rates from 2003 on, along with an increase in overall survival when comparing the earlier period with more recent years.
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 12-week multimodal exercise rehabilitation program on walking speed, walking ability and activities of daily living (ADLs) among people who had suffered a stroke. Thirty-one stroke survivors who had completed a conventional rehabilitation program voluntarily participated in the study. Twenty-six participants completed the multimodal exercise rehabilitation program (2 days/wk, 1 hr/session). Physical outcome measures were: walking speed (10-m walking test), walking ability (6-min walking test and functional ambulation classification) and ADLs (Barthel Index). The program consisted on: aerobic exercise; task oriented exercises; balance and postural tonic activities; and stretching. Participants also followed a program of progressive ambulation at home. They were evaluated at baseline, postintervention and at the end of a 6-month follow-up period. After the intervention there were significant improvements in all outcomes measures that were maintained 6 months later. Comfortable and fast walking speed increased an average of 0.16 and 0.40 m/sec, respectively. The walking distance in the 6-min walking test increased an average of 59.8 m. At the end of the intervention, participants had achieved independent ambulation both indoors and outdoors. In ADLs, 40% were independent at baseline vs. 64% at the end of the intervention. Our study demonstrates that a multimodal exercise rehabilitation program adapted to stroke survivors has benefits on walking speed, walking ability and independence in ADLs.
1 June 2012 in Clinical and Translational Oncology