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Bindschedler A, Ziller C, Gerber EY, Behrendt F, Crüts B, Parmar K, Gerth HU, Gäumann S, Dierkes W, Schuster-Amft C, Bonati LH. Feasibility of an Application-Based Outpatient Rehabilitation Program for Stroke Survivors: Acceptability and Preliminary Results for Patient-Reported Outcomes. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:135. [PMID: 38391621 PMCID: PMC10886035 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11020135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of stroke survivors experience long-term impairments. Regular physical activity and other lifestyle modifications play an important role in rehabilitation. Outpatient rehabilitation using telemedicine might be suitable to improve functional ability and long-term secondary prevention. The Strokecoach Intervention Program (SIP, Strokecoach GmbH, Cologne, Germany) comprises training, coaching and monitoring with the aim of improving or at least maintaining functional independence and preventing further stroke through more targeted physical activity. The SIP is provided as blended care, which refers to the integrated and coordinated delivery of healthcare services that combines traditional in-person interactions with technology-mediated interventions, optimizing the use of both face-to-face and virtual modalities to enhance patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptance of the SIP by the participants and its practical application, as well as to obtain initial indications of effects of the SIP on the basis of patient-related outcome measures, blood pressure measurements and recording of physical activity in parallel with the intervention. METHODS Data from individuals with stroke participating in the SIP were analyzed retrospectively. Within the SIP, participants received an application-based training program, were instructed to measure their blood pressure daily and to wear an activity tracker (pedometer). During the intervention period of either 6 or 12 weeks, the participants were supported and motivated by a personal coach via a messenger application. The primary outcomes of the analysis were recruitment, acceptance of and satisfaction with the SIP. Secondary outcomes included functional measures, mobility and health-related quality of life. RESULTS A total of 122 individuals with stroke could be recruited for the SIP. A total of 96 out of 122 were able to start the program (54% female, mean age 54.8 (SD = 13.1), 6.1 (SD = 6.6) years after stroke onset) and 88 completed the SIP. Participants wore the activity tracker on 66% and tracked their blood pressure on 72% of their intervention days. A further analyzed subgroup of 38 participants showed small improvements in patient-reported outcomes such as health-related quality of life (SF-36) with an increase of 12 points in the subdomain mental health, vitality (12.6) and physical functioning (9.1). However, no statistically significant improvements were found in other performance-based measures (Timed Up and Go test, gait speed). CONCLUSIONS This study showed that a blended therapy approach for stroke survivors with mild to moderate impairments in the chronic phase is feasible and was highly accepted by participants, who benefitted from the additional coaching.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carina Ziller
- Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
| | - Eve-Yaël Gerber
- Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Frank Behrendt
- Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
- School of Engineering and Computer Science, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 2501 Biel, Switzerland
| | | | - Katrin Parmar
- Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans Ulrich Gerth
- Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
- Department of Medicine, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Szabina Gäumann
- Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
| | | | - Corina Schuster-Amft
- Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
- School of Engineering and Computer Science, Bern University of Applied Sciences, 2501 Biel, Switzerland
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Leo H Bonati
- Research Department, Reha Rheinfelden, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
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Abstract
We present an EEG study of two music improvisation experiments. Professional musicians with high level of improvisation skills were asked to perform music either according to notes (composed music) or in improvisation. Each piece of music was performed in two different modes: strict mode and "let-go" mode. Synchronized EEG data was measured from both musicians and listeners. We used one of the most reliable causality measures: conditional Mutual Information from Mixed Embedding (MIME), to analyze directed correlations between different EEG channels, which was combined with network theory to construct both intra-brain and cross-brain networks. Differences were identified in intra-brain neural networks between composed music and improvisation and between strict mode and "let-go" mode. Particular brain regions such as frontal, parietal and temporal regions were found to play a key role in differentiating the brain activities between different playing conditions. By comparing the level of degree centralities in intra-brain neural networks, we found a difference between the response of musicians and the listeners when comparing the different playing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaogeng Wan
- Department of Mathematics and Centre for Complexity Science, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Björn Crüts
- Brainmarker BV, Molenweg 15a, Gulpen, The Netherlands
| | - Henrik Jeldtoft Jensen
- Department of Mathematics and Centre for Complexity Science, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Crüts B, Driessen A, van Etten L, Törnqvist H, Blomberg A, Sandström T, Mills NL, Borm PJ. Reply to comment on Cruts et al. (2008), "Exposure to diesel exhaust induces changes in EEG in human volunteers" by Valberg et al. Part Fibre Toxicol 2008; 5:11. [PMID: 18673578 PMCID: PMC2519075 DOI: 10.1186/1743-8977-5-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2008] [Accepted: 08/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Björn Crüts
- Centre of Expertise in Life Sciences, Zuyd University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
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Crüts B, van Etten L, Törnqvist H, Blomberg A, Sandström T, Mills NL, Borm PJ. Exposure to diesel exhaust induces changes in EEG in human volunteers. Part Fibre Toxicol 2008; 5:4. [PMID: 18334019 PMCID: PMC2329662 DOI: 10.1186/1743-8977-5-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2007] [Accepted: 03/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ambient particulate matter and nanoparticles have been shown to translocate to the brain, and potentially influence the central nervous system. No data are available whether this may lead to functional changes in the brain. Methods We exposed 10 human volunteers to dilute diesel exhaust (DE, 300 μg/m3) as a model for ambient PM exposure and filtered air for one hour using a double blind randomized crossover design. Brain activity was monitored during and for one hour following each exposure using quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) at 8 different sites on the scalp. The frequency spectrum of the EEG signals was used to calculate the median power frequency (MPF) and specific frequency bands of the QEEG. Results Our data demonstrate a significant increase in MPF in response to DE in the frontal cortex within 30 min into exposure. The increase in MPF is primarily caused by an increase in fast wave activity (β2) and continues to rise during the 1 hour post-exposure interval. Conclusion This study is the first to show a functional effect of DE exposure in the human brain, indicating a general cortical stress response. Further studies are required to determine whether this effect is mediated by the nanoparticles in DE and to define the precise pathways involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Crüts
- Centre of Expertise in Life Sciences, Zuyd University, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
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