Psychological responses to the initial injury and rehabilitation might be an important additional determinant of functional level outcomes after knee surgery. The objectives of this study were (1) to measure pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia levels and (2) determine their association with self-reported subjective knee function during rehabilitation, following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and meniscectomy. The study involved 41 participants. The levels of catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale [PCS]), kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia [TSK-11]), pain (Numeric Pain Rating Scale [NRS]), and subjective knee function (the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS]) were assessed before and after completion of 14-session rehabilitation program. The mean level of catastrophizing changed from 5.8 (SD, 0.9) to 4.2 (SD, 0.5) during rehabilitation (P<0.05). The mean level of kinesiophobia changed from 22.7 (SD, 0.7) to 18.4 (SD, 0.6) (P<0.05). There was a moderate negative correlation between the PCS and the KOOS pain, function in daily living, knee-related quality of life subscales before and after rehabilitation (P<0.05). There was a moderate negative correlation between the TSK-11 score and the KOOS function in daily living subscale before and after rehabilitation (P<0.05). Pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia decreased during rehabilitation. A higher pain catastrophizing level correlated with a greater level of knee pain during activities, more difficulties experienced during daily activities before and after rehabilitation. A high level of kinesiophobia correlated with more difficulties experienced in daily activities and poorer knee-related quality of life before and after rehabilitation.

We aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of community-based occupational therapy on health-related quality of life and engagement in meaningful activities among women with breast cancer. An open label randomized controlled trial study design was applied. The participants were members of various societies of women with cancer. In total, 22 women have participated in the study. Participants of the experimental group (n=11) participated in a 6-week community-based occupational therapy program and the usual activities of various societies, whereas the control group (n=11) women participated in the usual activities of the societies only. 1 of the participants withdrew during the course; therefore 21 completed the study successfully. Participants of both groups were assessed for health-related quality of life and the participants of the experimental group were assessed for engagement in meaningful activities. The evaluation was carried out during the nonacute period of the disease—at the beginning of the study and after 6 weeks. Women of the experimental group demonstrated statistically significantly better scores in the global quality of life, role functions, physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functions, fatigue, insomnia, financial impact, systemic therapy side effects, and breast symptoms scales compared to the control group participants (p<0.05) after the 6 weeks, as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire and its breast cancer module QLQ-BR23. Furthermore, women of the experimental group demonstrated significant greater engagement in meaningful activities when applying community-based occupational therapy (p<0.05), as measured by using the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS). The evaluation of the associations between the women’s engagement in meaningful activities and changes in health-related quality of life showed that greater engagement in meaningful activities was associated with better emotional functions and a lower level of insomnia (p<0.05). Based on the results of our study, we recommend applying occupational therapy in the field of community healthcare in order to maintain or improve breast cancer patients’ health-related quality of life and suggest involving women into meaningful activities during community-based occupational therapy after clarifying which activities are important to them.

A stroke (cerebrovascular accident - CVA) is a significant social-economic issue. Approximately 15-30% of all patients develop life-long disability, 20% require over 3 months of specialized care in healthcare institutions, and the majority of the patients never recover the ability to maintain a proper vertical position. Such CVA sequelae as balance disturbances not only negatively affect patients' daily physical activity, but also result in social isolation. A number of standardized clinical scales, tests, and instrumental examination techniques have been proposed for evaluating not only post-CVA balance function, but also any changes in this function following various interventions. Even though scientific literature lists numerous methods and instruments for the improvement of balance after a CVA, not all of them are equally effective, and there have been rather controversial evaluations of some techniques. Nevertheless, the application of the majority of the techniques as complementary or alternative measures to traditional physical therapy (PT) frequently yields better results.

In Lithuania, the stroke is not only medical, but social issue as well, since only 20% of patients suffering from stroke remain active at work. Yearly stroke incidence in Lithuania is 7000–8000 cases. The most common outcome of stroke is unilateral paralysis (hemiplegia) followed by disorders of coordination, balance, and movements. Due to dysfunctions of movements, self-care, cognition, behavior, and communication, some part of stroke patients remains disabled. They need assistance and care provided by other people. Occupational therapy, which is part of rehabilitation of patients after stroke, is directed to independence training. There are scarce data related to effectiveness of occupational therapy depending on motor, cognitive, and psychosocial dysfunctions. Goals of study were to estimate effectiveness of occupational therapy at the early stage of rehabilitation depending on type of stroke, localization of brain injury, grade of lesion, age, and gender, to identify factors influencing effectiveness of occupational therapy, and to estimate their positive predictive value. The study included 106 patients at the early stage of rehabilitation, who were admitted to Department of Neurorehabilitation after stabilization of clinical condition from Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery (mean duration of 14±2 days after stroke). The program of occupational therapy was not fulfilled by 6 patients: 2 patients were transferred to Nursing Hospital due to severe condition, and 4 patients were discharged prematurely and continued rehabilitation in outpatient setting. Hence, study population consisted of 100 subjects (47 men and 53 women) who were diagnosed with stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic). Patient’s functional status and disorders of activities were evaluated using Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure. Complexes of occupational therapy were adjusted according to examination of patient’s disorders of activities, age, grade of lesion, other diseases, and complications during rehabilitation process. Effectiveness of occupational therapy in patients after stroke at then early stage of rehabilitation was influenced by gender, age, degree of lesion, type of stroke. Better effectiveness of occupational therapy was observed in men (P<0.05), persons younger than 59 years (P<0.05), persons with hemiparesis (P<0.05) and hemorrhagic stroke (P<0.05). Low effectiveness in stroke patients at the early stage of rehabilitation was influenced by neglect (P<0.05), hemiplegia (P<0.001), and older age of patient (P<0.05). Application of individualized occupational therapy complexes for stroke patients at the early stage of rehabilitation with consideration of motoric and cognitive-psychosocial disorders, significantly improves recovery of impaired functions, though occupational therapy should be continued in later rehabilitation stages, since patients after early stage of rehabilitation still have limited independence in daily activities.

Background and Objectives: Nearly 23% of elderly patients hospitalized due to acute coronary syndrome have reduced muscle strength. It is assumed that these patients would better benefit from a complex training—a combination of endurance, strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility—in order to reduce the loss of muscle strength and mass and improve functional capacity. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of two different complementary resistance and balance training programs during short-term cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in elderly patients after a percutaneous or surgical intervention due to acute coronary syndrome. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted from January 2020 to February 2021 in one Lithuanian rehabilitation hospital. A total of 63 participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to three groups (at the ratio of 1:1:1): control (CG, n = 19), intervention 1 (IG-1, n = 26), and intervention 2 (IG-2, n = 18). All the patients attended a usual inpatient CR program of a mean duration of 18.7 ± 1.7 days, while the patients assigned to the intervention groups (IG-1 and IG-2) additionally received different resistance and balance training programs three days a week. Functional capacity, with 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), as well as physical performance, with the short physical performance battery (SPPB) test and one repetition maximum test (1RM) for leg press, were assessed at baseline and after CR. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72.9 ± 5.5 years; 73% were men. All parameters of functional capacity and physical performance improved significantly after CR (p < 0.05), except for peak VO₂ that improved only in the IG-1. Comparison of CR effectiveness among the groups revealed no significant differences. Conclusions: All three rehabilitation programs were safe and well tolerated by elderly patients aged ≥65 years as well as improved functional capacity (6-minute walk distance and peak workload) and physical performance (SPPB and 1RM). Complementary resistance and balance training with traditional physical therapy means and exercises with mechanical devices did not show greater benefits for the results of physical performance compared with the usual CR program.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of physiotherapy with aerobic exercise together with temporomandibular joint range of motion exercises (supervised) and physiotherapy with aerobic exercise only (unsupervised), also to review the correlations between neck movements, pain, temporomandibular joint range of motion movements and quality of life in individuals with migraine. Methods: The flexion, extension and lateral flexion of the cervical spine were measured in degrees with a mechanical goniometer and pressure pain thresholds with algometer. Quality of life was assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire and temporomandibular joint range of motion with a centimeter. Results: The study showed statistically significant cervical flexion results in both groups (p < 0.05), masticatory muscle results and temporomandibular joint range of motion between the groups (p < 0.05). A correlation between left upper trapezius muscle pain and cervical lateral flexion was observed in the intervention group. Physical activity correlated with cervical extension, activity limitation due to physical ailments and general health. A correlation between temporomandibular joint and right-side masticatory muscles pain was found. A correlation between upper trapezius muscle pain and left- as well as right-side temporalis muscles were found in the control group. Strong correlations were found between pain and activity limitation due to physical ailments and emotional state. The temporomandibular joint range of motion strongly correlated with activity limitation due to physical ailments. Conclusions: Physiotherapy based on aerobic exercises together with temporomandibular joint exercises was more effective than physiotherapy based on aerobic exercise for decreasing pain, increasing pressure pain thresholds and cervical range of motion.