Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of most disabling disorders of the central nervous system. The motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement, postural instability and difficulty with walking and gait, are difficult to measure. When disease symptoms become more...

In many patients after stroke, spasticity develops over time, resulting in a decrease in the patient’s independence, pain, worsening mood, and, consequently, lower quality of life. In the last ten years, a rich arsenal of physical agents to reduce muscle tone such as extracorporeal shock therapy (ESWT) wave has come through. The aim of this narrative review article is to present the current state of knowledge on the use of ESWT as a supplement to the comprehensive rehabilitation of people after stroke suffering from spasticity. The PubMed and PEDro databases were searched for papers published in English from January 2000 to December 2020, 22 of which met inclusion criteria for clinical studies related to post-stroke spasticity management with ESWT. A total of 22 studies including 468 post-stroke patients—11 reports with the upper limb (267 patients) and 10 reports within the lower limb (201 patients), as well as one report including both upper and lower limb. We focused our attention on clinical and methodological aspects. Therefore, we performed the assessment of enrolled studies in terms of methodological quality using the PEDro and level of evidence using the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Furthermore, we indicated implications for clinical practice in using ESWT for post-stroke spasticity management. Moreover, we discussed a suggestion for future research directions. In conclusion, an ESWT effectively reduces muscle tone in people with spastic limb after stroke. Further, ESWT is safe and free of undesirable side effects. The mechanism of action of ESWT on muscles affected by spasticity is still unknown. To date, no standard parameters of ESWT in post-stroke spasticity regarding intensity, frequency, location, and the number of sessions has been established. Further research, meeting the highest standards, is needed to establish uniform muscle stimulation parameters using ESWT.

Background: Taking care of a child with Cerebral Palsy (CP) may be linked with adverse effects in the parents’ physical and mental health. The causes of anxiety and depression symptoms associated with childcare are still not fully understood. Aim: To assess the intensity of anxiety and depression symptoms in parents of children with CP compared to a control group and to identify selected mental health predictors. Design and Methods: Data were collected from 301 respondents, including 190 parents of children with CP (study group) and 111 parents taking care of children developing normally (control group). Intensity of anxiety and depression was rated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scale. Gross Motor Function Classification System for Cerebral Palsy (GMFCS), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), Berlin Support Social Scales (BSSS) scales and a specially designed questionnaire were used to assess the predictors. The investigated variables included the children’s and the parents’ characteristics, as well as environmental factors. The analyses applied Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, M(SD) as well as multiple regression. Results: The level of anxiety and depression was clearly higher in the parents of children with CP–the mean levels of anxiety and depression in the study group and the controls amounted to 8.1 vs. 4.7 and 6.8 vs. 3.7, respectively. The factors associated with intensity of anxiety and depression in the parents of children with CP included lack of social support, mainly perceived and received support, unsatisfying parental health status, poor economic status of the family, as well as difficult living conditions, sense of coherence, loneliness, the parent’s gender, and the child’s intellectual disability. Conclusions: Identification of significant anxiety and depression predictors, understood as modifiable factors, should be considered in determining and planning comprehensive support for a child with CP and his/her primary parental caregiver.

Cultural adaptation and cross-sectional psychometric testing. The aim of this study was to validate the Polish translation of the Roland-Morris Questionnaire (RMQ), which evaluates the functional level of activity of patients with discogenic low back pain with radicular radiation, caused by intervertebral herniation, according to category A1 in the Kirkaldy-Willis classification and Type QTF6 in classification Quebec Task Force. The main concern of patients with low back pain is the functional limitation that the symptoms cause. It is important to find a validation tool by means of which their functional level can be assessed. The RMQ was compared with MOS Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36), to pain scale, to depression scale, to functional scale that measures activities of daily living, and to measuring forward and side bending of the spine. Independently, two professionals made a translation and then two native speakers made a translation-back of the RMQ. Then 104 patients with lumbar disc herniation completed the RMQ, SF-36, VAS and FIR (ADL scale). The study group comprised 39 women and 65 men with an average age of 44 years. The significant correlation between the RMQ and other questionnaires was found. RMQ and SF-36 Physical, r = 0.47, P < 0.00001, RMQ and Pain, r = 0.462, P < 0.00001. Cronbach's alpha showed a value of 0.88 (scale 0-1). The correlation between severity of disease and quality of life, between bending of spine and quality of life, between depression and quality of life, and between activities of daily living and quality of life has been found. According to this study, the RMQ can be used as a valid tool in the assessment of the functional level of patients with lumbar pain and previous lumbar herniation. The RMQ is fast and easy to complete; it is valid, reliable, and sensitive. We recommend the questionnaire to be used in research of quality of life in low back pain.