Intensive Care AND Physiotherapy

BACKGROUND: There is ample evidence supporting the use of different manipulative therapy techniques for Cervicogenic Headache (CgH). However, no technique can be singled as the best available treatment for patients with CgH. Therefore, the objective of the study is to find and compare the clinical effects of cervical spine over thoracic spine manipulation and conventional physiotherapy in patients with CgH. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: It is a prospective, randomized controlled study conducted between July 2020 and January 2023 at the University hospital...

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic healthcare professionals in the multiprofessional intensive care unit (ICU) team are important for early mobilization, dysphagia therapy, and psychosocial care of critically ill patients. OBJECTIVE: Despite the high relevance of therapeutic healthcare professions for care in ICUs, there are no recommendations on the specific staffing of therapists in ICUs. RESULTS: Considering the main areas of activity of the individual professional groups and based on productivity time, a requirements analysis for staffing ICUs of different care levels with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and psychologists was performed...

Respiratory physiotherapy, including the management of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV), is a key supportive intervention for critically ill patients. MV has potential for inducing ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) as well as long-term complications related to prolonged bed rest, such as post-intensive care syndrome and intensive care unit acquired weakness. Physical and respiratory therapy, developed by the critical care team, in a timely manner, has been shown to prevent these complications...

Physical disability is a common component of post-intensive care syndrome, but the importance of musculoskeletal health in this population is currently unknown. We aimed to determine the musculoskeletal health state of intensive care unit survivors and assess its relationship with health-related quality of life; employment; and psychological and physical function. We conducted a multicentre prospective cohort study of adults admitted to intensive care for > 48 h without musculoskeletal trauma or neurological insult...

The most important gold standard treatment following advanced knee osteoarthritis is total knee arthroplasty. Following surgery of total knee replacement, the majority of patients report decreased pain and successful long-term results, but recovery is unpredictable, and most patients continue to exhibit muscle weakness in their lower limbs and functional limitations in comparison to similarly aged control individuals. The goal of this review article was to systematically review different articles containing controlled and randomized studies to find out the effectiveness of outpatient care postoperatively on short- and long-term functional recovery...

Stroke can be characterized by rapidly emerging neurological manifestations of global or focal impairment of neurological functionality, with consequences lasting a day or more or giving rise to mortality, with no significant etiology other than vascular origin. A middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct is a form of stroke that develops when the MCA, one of the primary arteries providing blood to the brain, becomes blocked or obstructed. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is an emerging method that has mainly been utilized to rehabilitate stroke patients, especially upper extremities...

In India, organophosphorus (OP) chemicals known as anticholinesterases cause a considerable amount of disease and mortality. While precise figures are unavailable, data from hospitals indicates that about 50% of acute poisoning episodes are attributed to organophosphates. Anticholinesterases, when accidentally or suicidally exposed, cause three different neurological disorders. The first is an acute cholinergic crisis that can be fatal and necessitates administration in an intensive care unit; the second is an intermediate syndrome that frequently results in cranial nerve palsies, proximal and respiratory muscle weakness, and respiratory support for patients; and the third is a delayed organophosphate-induced polyneuropathy...

QUESTION: What is the effect of a protocol targeted at the various stages of labour - with a peanut ball, positioning and pelvic mobility - on the duration of labour, pain severity, fatigue, maternal outcomes, neonatal outcomes and satisfaction in parturients without analgesia? DESIGN: A randomised trial with concealed allocation, blinding of assessors and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred women in active labour. INTERVENTION: The experimental group received the protocol targeted at the various stages of labour, with a peanut ball, positioning and pelvic mobility, whilst the control group received usual care...

OBJECTIVES: To measure and compare the clinimetric properties of the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment (CPAx) and Physical Function in Intensive Care Test-scored (PFIT-s) for assessment of physical function and activity. DESIGN: Prospective cohort design using crossover-randomisation of the sequence in which participants were assessed with CPAx and PFIT-s. SETTING: Surgical and transplant intensive care units (ICU) in an academic hospital...

BACKGROUND: Gait disturbances represent one of the most disabling features of Parkinson's disease (PD). AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the non-inferiority of a new wearable visual cueing system (Q-Walk) for gait rehabilitation in PD subjects, compared to traditional visual cues (stripes on the floor). DESIGN: Open-label, monocentric, randomized controlled non-inferiority trial. SETTING: Outpatients. POPULATION: Patients affected by idiopathic PD without cognitive impairment, Hoehn and Yahr stage II-IV, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor section III ≥2, stable drug usage since at least 3 weeks...

Palliative care (PC) focuses on the body, mind, and spirit and can also provide pain and symptom relief, clarifying and focusing the provision of care on the patient's desires and goals, and helping them understand their disease and its treatment plans. Although PC is widely recognized for its applicability near the end of life or during terminal illness, it is also applicable and beneficial for patients with diseases in their earlier stages. Near the end of life, palliative care often focuses on providing continual symptom management and supportive care...

Chilaiditi syndrome (CS) is an uncommon case of the asymptomatic radiographic finding of an intestinal loop between the liver and the diaphragm. The most crucial phases in the diagnosis process are a thorough physical examination and precise imaging, particularly in challenging disorders such as CS. The presence of free air under the right hemidiaphragm in this syndrome, the diagnosis of which is based on radiographic imaging, might direct the start of treatment without the need for surgical intervention. An 86-year-old man, with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was checked out in our hospital's emergency department (ED) after experiencing nausea and vomiting...

Background: Virtual reality (VR) has been suggested as a new therapeutic approach in various sectors of rehabilitation, including the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and one of its treatment goals is to improve the gait pattern and walking ability of patients. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate if VR, along with conventional physiotherapy treatment (CT), has superior effects to kinesiotherapy alone on pain, physical capacity, balance, and the parameters of anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) in patients with knee OA...

BACKGROUND Because of advancements in critical care, Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) have experienced improved survival rates. However, PICU-acquired frailty and cognitive deficits continue to be issues. In PICUs, early mobilization is emerging as a useful technique. The present study assesses early mobilization awareness, opinions, and practices among pediatric critical care providers in Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS From July 2020 to February 2021, a survey was undertaken in Saudi Arabia, targeting 110 physicians, 200 nurses, 30 respiratory therapists, and 20 physiotherapists...

BACKGROUND: Disproportionate effects of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic on older adults in post-acute care settings created many professional and ethical challenges for patients and healthcare providers. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the professional and ethical issues of physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) in providing facility-based post-acute care in residential settings (skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and long-term acute care hospitals) during the COVID-19 pandemic...

INTRODUCTION: Shoulder pain is common and associated with substantial morbidity. Different treatment strategies are being prescribed with equivocal results. Virtual reality (VR) is a novel technology and emerging research suggests that VR may be a promising alternative to current treatments. Prior to effectiveness research or any large-scale introduction, VR-applications require appropriate scrutiny including feasibility- and acceptability of clinicians and patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to collect experiences of physiotherapists after using immersive VR...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the Start to move protocol compared to conventional treatment in subjects over 15 years of age hospitalized in the ICU on an improvement in functionality, decrease in ICU-acquired weakness (DAUCI), incidence of delirium, days of mechanical ventilation (MV), length of stay in ICU and mortality at 28 days. DESIGN: randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Intensive Care Unit. PARTICIPANTS: Includes adults older than 15 years with invasive mechanical ventilation more than 48h, randomized allocation...

BACKGROUND:  To be objective and achievable, the rehabilitation goals must be focused on the functional expectations of patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD). OBJECTIVE:  Investigate rehabilitation programs that are able to modify the activity/participation of patients with NMD. Data search: Embase, BVS/Lilacs, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), CINAHL/EBSCO, and Medline were searched in June 2021. It was last updated in March 2023. METHODS:  Randomized controlled trials investigating any rehabilitation therapy for patients with NMD with an outcome encompassing the activity/participation components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) were included...

This case study demonstrates the implementation of evidence-based guidelines in the intensive care unit setting, including light sedation and early physical rehabilitation while receiving prone positioning and lung protective mechanical ventilation for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictive factors for the length of physiotherapy sessions applied to adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. DESIGN: Longitudinal panel study. SETTING: ICU of a secondary-care public teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Medical and surgical patients who received physiotherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The study investigator followed physiotherapists during their work shift and timed the physiotherapy session length with a stopwatch...