Correlations between the sequelae of stroke and physical activity in Korean adult stroke patients

The use and effects of whole-body exercises on swallowing function: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Swallowing function can become impaired due to primary medical conditions or age-related presbyphagia, resulting in swallowing disorders, known as dysphagia. Specific manoeuvres that target different musculature have been innovated and researched, but whole-body exercises (WBE) that target multiple large groups of body systems and muscles have been rarely considered in dysphagia management, despite the causes of dysphagia being often systemic.

AIMS

To identify intervention studies that have used or incorporated WBE to target swallowing function in humans, and report on their findings.

METHODS & PROCEDURES

A scoping review was conducted given the paucity and novelty of this topic in research and practice. Key search terms were used to search five major databases on for all human studies published before 28 November 2022. Studies that were not interventional or used animal models were excluded. All swallowing and oromotor-related outcomes were extracted from the studies. Two researchers independently reviewed all search results following the PRISMA-ScR guideline before meeting to resolve any disagreements.

MAIN CONTRIBUTION

Final analysis was conducted on 11 papers that described 10 studies, with 10 papers (9 studies) reporting positive findings for swallowing or oromotor function-related outcomes. Studies ranged from randomised controlled trials to case studies in design. The study design and populations were heterogeneous, with outcome measures for swallowing and oromotor function ranging from subjective questionnaires to instrumental assessments.

CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS

Dysphagia rehabilitation that incorporates WBE as part of a comprehensive programme appears to be more beneficial than either WBE or swallowing-related interventions alone. This review is an initial attempt to systematically examine the evidence on this topic. There is a need for future research to study how WBE can be used, either alone or combined with traditional swallowing exercises, to influence swallowing function in different healthy and clinical populations.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on this subject Dysphagia rehabilitation usually focuses only on the swallowing muscles and structures of the head, neck, and respiratory system. Whole-body exercise (WBE) and fitness are associated with stronger performance of the tongue muscles, there may be transference potential of WBE to swallowing function. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This review found 10 studies conducted in the last decade that investigated the inclusion of WBE in programmes intended to improve swallowing and/or oromotor-related outcomes. The studies varied widely in design and methodology, but most reported evidence in support of the inclusion of WBE to improve or maintain swallowing and/or oromotor-related functions. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? There is potential for WBE to have a synergistic effect on swallowing function when combined with traditional swallowing exercises. Future clinical research should compare different rehabilitation approaches with controls. Clinicians should enlist allied health professionals who can provide whole-body rehabilitation when managing dysphagia.

The effect of stigma on social participation in community-dwelling Chinese patients with stroke sequelae: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of stigma on social participation in community-dwelling Chinese patients with stroke sequelae.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey study.

SETTING

The study was conducted in two community centres in Tianjin, China.

SUBJECTS

Community-dwelling Chinese patients with stroke sequelae.

MEASURES

Chinese version of Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness, Chinese version of Impact on Participation and Autonomy, Modified Barthel index, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, background and disease-related questions. Pearson's correlation coefficients were computed between stigma and social participation. The impact of stigma on social participation was estimated by hierarchical multiple regression analysis after controlling for demographic, physical and psychosocial characteristics.

RESULTS

In total, 136 patients with stroke sequelae were included in this study, with a mean age of 67.8 years. The Chinese version of the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness had a mean score of 48.4 (SD 16.9), and the Chinese version of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy was 67.1 (SD 21.1). Significant correlations were found between stigma and social participation. Pearson's correlation coefficient ranged from 0.354 to 0.605 (P < 0.01). Enacted stigma provided a significant explanation for the variance of social participation by 1.1% (P < 0.05). Felt stigma provided a significant explanation for the variance of social participation by 2.9% (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Felt stigma and enacted stigma have independent associations with social participation. Patients with stroke sequelae who reported higher stigma experienced a lower level of social participation.

Association between physical activity and stroke in a middle-aged and elderly Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence has reported that physical activity (PA) is effective in reducing stroke and mortality. However, whether PA levels are associated with stroke in middle-aged and elderly people in Jiangxi Province of China remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the association between PA and the risk of stroke in Jiangxi Province of China.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Jiangxi Province of China from November 2013 to August 2014, using standardized questionnaire forms and physical measurements. Self-reported PA was assessed using the international PA questionnaire. A history of stroke was self-reported by answering the questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between PA levels and the risk of stroke after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and disease-related risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 10,398 participants (4240 men and 6158 women, aged 45 to 97 years) completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Compared with low-intensity PA, vigorous PA was associated with graded reduction in the risk of stroke (odds ratio [OR] of 0.763, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.717-0.812, P < .001 for trend). However, there were no significant differences between individuals in the low-intensity PA and moderate-intensity PA group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with low PA, vigorous PA, but not moderate PA, was associated with a lower risk of stroke in middle aged and elderly people in southern China, specifically among men. These findings suggested that increasing PA is beneficial.

Patterns of instrumental activities of daily living and association with predictors among community-dwelling older women: A latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to classify patterns of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among community-dwelling older women, to examine difference in characteristics among the classes, and to explore predictors of class membership.

METHODS

This study was a secondary analysis of nationwide data from the 2014 Actual Living Condition of the Elderly and Welfare Need Survey. A total of 10,451 individuals aged 65 years or older were interviewed for the 2014 dataset, but we only selected the female participants (n = 6095) for this study. For statistical analyses, latent class analysis was applied to identify different latent classes of IADL and then the effects of predictors on IADL patterns were analyzed by using multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

The 5-class model was the best fit for the data. The size of class 1was the biggest (n = 5093, 83.6%), followed by class 5 (n = 401, 6.6%), class 3 (n = 308, 5.1%), class 2 (n = 181, 3.0%), and class 4 (n = 113, 1.8%). The largest class had total independency on all items of IADL. In the multinomial regression, members in the classes 2, 3, 4 and 5 were significantly more likely to have older age and decreased cognitive status compared with the class of total independency on all items of IADL (class1).

CONCLUSIONS

The predictors of the classes identified in this study can be used for tailored and targeted interventions to increased old adults' independency on IADL.