Most patients with stroke suffer from complications and these include dysphagia. Dysphagia can cause malnutrition, and malnutrition affects prognosis and recovery. However, there is a lack of accurate studies on the nutritional status of stroke patients with dysphagia and its associated factors in different phases of stroke. This study retrospectively investigated 620 stroke patients who underwent a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) due to dysphagia, from March 2018 to February 2021. The study aimed to evaluate the nutritional state and associated factors of malnutrition in acute and subacute stroke patients with dysphagia. Serum albumin and percentage of current weight to ideal weight were used to determine nutritional status. Malnutrition was observed in 58.9 and 78.9% of acute and subacute stroke patients. Exact logistic regression analysis revealed that old age and high penetration–aspiration scale score were significantly associated factors for malnutrition in patients with acute stroke. Old age, stroke history, bilateral hemiplegia, high modified Rankin score, low Korean Mini-Mental State Examination, pneumonia, and high functional dysphagia score were significantly associated factors for malnutrition in patients with subacute stroke. Patients with these associated factors in each phase of stroke require active nutritional assessment and care to decrease the risk of malnutrition.

To compare long-term effects of antigravity treadmill (AGT) combined with conventional rehabilitation (CR) and CR after hip fracture in patients with sarcopenia. 45 patients were randomly allocated to AGT combined with CR (experimental group) or CR (control group) for 10 consecutive working days. Participants were evaluated prior to treatment, 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment. Outcome measurement included Koval walking ability scores functional ambulatory category (FAC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination, Euro Quality of Life Questionnaire Five-Dimensional Classification, Korean version of modified Barthel index, and grip strength. At 3 weeks and 3 months, the comparison of change scores in KOVAL between two groups revealed difference of 0.84 (95% CI: -1.19, -0.49; p for trend = .000) and 1.21 (95% CI: -2.05, -0.36; p for trend = .006) respectively. At 3 weeks, comparison of change score in FAC between two groups revealed a difference of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.28, 1.19; p for trend = .003). The comparison of change scores between two groups also showed a difference in the 6 months in KOVAL and in the 3 months and 6 months in FAC. The comparison of changes in scores in BBS between two groups revealed difference of 11.63 (95% CI: 5.85, 17.40; p for trend = .001), 9.00 (95% CI: 2.28, 15.71; p for trend = .006), and 11.05 (95% CI: 3.62, 18.48; p for trend = .006) respectively at each follow-up. Both groups were improved after intervention. As additional benefits were evident among those who carried out AGT, it may be appropriate for patients with sarcopenia after hip fracture surgery.

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is commonly seen in clinical settings and negatively influences a patient's daily life. Recently, the application of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been utilized as one of the treatment methods for MPS. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the current evidence for the short-term effect of ESWT on MPS of trapezius. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from the database inception to March 2019. Two reviewers independently screened articles, evaluated methodological quality, and extracted data. The primary outcome was post-interventional pain intensity. Results: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted to determine whether ESWT was used as the main treatment on MPS. The 5 studies reviewed in this meta-analysis were evaluated for changes in pain intensity. Compared with other treatments, focused ESWT in MPS was more effective in reducing the scores of visual analog scale (VAS) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.48, 95% CI −0.74 to −0.22). Conclusions: There is very low level evidence that focused ESWT is effective for short-term relief of neck pain in MPS. The limited sample size and poor quality of these studies highlight and support the need for large scale, good quality placebo controlled trials in this area.

Background: This study was performed to update the current evidence and evaluate the effects of robot-assisted rehabilitation (RAR) in comparison with conventional rehabilitation (CR) in patients following total knee (TKR) or hip replacements (THR). Methods: PubMed Central, OVID Medline, Cochrane Collaboration Library, and EMBASE for a comprehensive search for all relevant studies, from database inception to July 2022. The following inclusion criteria were used to determine eligibility for studies: randomized and matched controlled trials recruiting men and women who underwent TKR and THR; and studies examining the effect of RAR on outcome measures of physical function and pain. Results: A total of 9 studies (230 patients) were included in this review and 4 were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis of 2 studies showed that Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) training for 5 days, significantly improved pain measured on a visual analogue scale, compared to CR in patients following TKR (SMD = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [Cl] 0.39–1.71). Heterogeneity for I² value was lower than moderate (tau^2 = 0.0121; I ² = 5%; P = .30). There were 2 studies that assessed self-selected walking speed. The meta-analysis of these studies showed that HAL training was significantly superior to CR in patients following TKR (SMD = 48.70, 95% Cl -50.53 to 147.94) at 2 months. A high heterogeneity was detected (P < .01; I ² = 97%). Conclusion: The result of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that RAR may be an effective treatment in TKR and THR patients. However, high-quality studies are needed to verify the long-term effect on their recovery.

Background: To compare the incidence and severity of ipsilateral shoulder dysfunction and lymphedema of 2 groups of patients needing to undergo unilateral breast cancer surgery, one of which had only received printed education materials and the other group which had received educational materials plus preoperative education. Methods: We selected 61 patients who had been diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer and planned to undergo surgery. Before surgery, patients were randomly assigned, either to a control group that only received printed education materials about exercise for shoulder pain relief and lymphatic edema prevention following breast cancer surgery, or to an experimental group that received the printed education material with personal education. Participants were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery. To evaluate the impairment of shoulder function, we measured the passive shoulder range of motion (ROM), the degree of pain as visual analog scale (VAS), the short version of the disability of arm, shoulder, and hand (short DASH) scores, and the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). We checked arm circumferences to evaluate lymphedema. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic or clinical variables between the control and experimental groups. The experimental group showed significantly less limitation in abduction (P = .042) and forward flexion (P = .039) in the 6 months following surgery. Change in the VAS, short DASH, and SPADI scores were 1.633 (P < .001), 2.167 (P < .001), and 4.1 (P = .003) at 1 month following surgery, respectively. These then decreased with time. These changes started before shoulder ROM and arm circumference changes had occurred, which had started 3 months following surgery. Conclusions: Preoperative education might be helpful for the prevention of a shoulder ROM limitation, and we need to focus on pain and disability in patients immediately following breast cancer surgery, and then on ROM and lymphedema.