[The specificities of the interventions of physiotherapists in intensive care]

The intervention of physiotherapists in the intensive care unit allows the optimisation of the care project through the assessment and management of the motor, respiratory and swallowing functions of patients. If COVID-19 has only slightly modified the practice of these professionals, the impact of the pandemic on intensive care units has reinforced the added value of their care.

Physical activity and aging research: opportunities abound

Aging is associated with large between-subjects variability in motor function among older adults, which can compromise identifying the mechanisms for age-related reductions in motor performance. This variability is in part explained by differences among older adults in habitual physical activity. Quantifying and accounting for physical activity levels of the participants in aging studies will help differentiate those changes in motor function associated with biological aging rather than those induced by inactivity. Novelty: Quantification of physical activity levels in studies with older participants will help differentiate the effects of aging rather than physical inactivity.

Hyperbaric oxygen and focused rehabilitation program: a feasibility study in improving upper limb motor function after stroke

Neuroplasticity and recovery after stroke can be enhanced by a rehabilitation program pertinent to upper limb motor function exercise and mental imagery (EMI) as well as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). We assessed feasibility and safety of the combined approach utilizing both HBOT and EMI, and to derive preliminary estimates of its efficacy. In this randomized controlled trial, 27 patients with upper extremity hemiparesis at 3-48 months after stroke were randomized to receive either a complementary rehabilitation program of HBOT-EMI (intervention group), or EMI alone (control group). Feasibility and safety were assessed as total session attendance, duration of sessions, attrition rates, missing data, and intervention-related adverse events. Secondary clinical outcomes were assessed with both objective tools and self-reported measures at baseline, 8 weeks (end of treatment), and 12-weeks follow-up. Session attendance, duration, and attrition rate did not differ between the groups; there were no serious adverse events. Compared with baseline, there were significant sustained improvements of objective and subjective outcomes' measures in the intervention group, and a single improvement in an objective measure in the control group. Between-group outcome comparisons were not statistically significant. This study demonstrated that the combination HBOT-EMI was a safe and feasible approach in patients recovering from chronic stroke. There were also trends for improved motor function of the affected upper limb after the treatments. ClinicalTrials.gov registration no.: NCT02666469. Novelty HBOT combined with an upper limb exercise and mental imagery rehabilitation program is feasible and safe in chronic stroke patients. This combined approach showed trends for improved functional recovery.