Browsing by Author "Zivkovic, Vesna (52664489000)"

Pediatric stroke (PS) is an injury caused by the occlusion or rupture of a blood vessel in the central nervous system (CNS) of children, before or after birth. Hemiparesis is the most common motoric deficit associated with PS in children. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that PS is a significant challenge for rehabilitation, especially since the consequences may also appear during the child’s growth and development, reducing functional capacity. The plasticity of the child’s CNS is an important predecessor of recovery, but disruption of the neural network, specific to an immature brain, can have harmful and potentially devastating consequences. In this review, we summarize the complexity of the consequences associated with PS and the possibilities and role of modern rehabilitation. An analysis of the current literature reveals that Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, forced-use therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, functional electrical stimulation and robot-assisted therapy have demonstrated at least partial improvements in motor domains related to hemiparesis or hemiplegia caused by PS, but they are supported with different levels of evidence. Due to the lack of randomized controlled studies, the optimal rehabilitation treatment is still debatable, and therefore, most recommendations are primarily based on expert consensuses, opinions and an insufficient level of evidence. © 2024 by the authors.

Pediatric stroke (PS) is an injury caused by the occlusion or rupture of a blood vessel in the central nervous system (CNS) of children, before or after birth. Hemiparesis is the most common motoric deficit associated with PS in children. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that PS is a significant challenge for rehabilitation, especially since the consequences may also appear during the child’s growth and development, reducing functional capacity. The plasticity of the child’s CNS is an important predecessor of recovery, but disruption of the neural network, specific to an immature brain, can have harmful and potentially devastating consequences. In this review, we summarize the complexity of the consequences associated with PS and the possibilities and role of modern rehabilitation. An analysis of the current literature reveals that Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, forced-use therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, functional electrical stimulation and robot-assisted therapy have demonstrated at least partial improvements in motor domains related to hemiparesis or hemiplegia caused by PS, but they are supported with different levels of evidence. Due to the lack of randomized controlled studies, the optimal rehabilitation treatment is still debatable, and therefore, most recommendations are primarily based on expert consensuses, opinions and an insufficient level of evidence. © 2024 by the authors.

Background and aim: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a nonprogressive neurological disorder characterized by permanent developmental disorders of movement and posture. One of the most common goals of rehabilitation is the treatment of gait disorders. Ataxic gait disorder tends to worsen in the adolescent period. Research indicates a positive therapeutic effect of the combined application of conventional rehabilitation, robotic neurorehabilitation (RNR) and virtual reality, but there is no consensus on the length of treatment and frequency of application. The aim of this case report was to contribute to the definition of the RNR protocol for the treatment of ataxic gait disorder in adolescents with CP. Case report: In a female child with an ataxic form of CP who was on regular conventional kinesitherapy in the age period between 13 to 15 years, robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) was applied for the treatment of gait disorders. The rehabilitation protocol lasted 10 weeks, 5 times a week, and included individual, conventional kinesitherapy for 30 min and RAGT for 30 min. Combined RNR treatment was conducted once a year in the period between July and September. The results of the therapeutic evaluation revealed that the functional motor level remained unchanged, while the improved functional motor status for the category of standing and gait was maintained during treatment between the patient’s 13 and 15 years age. In their 15th year, independent gait over a shorter distance (14 m) was achieved, as well as a normal gait frequency (83 steps/minute), with a desirable duration of the left leg support phase of 65% and 70% for the right leg support phase. Conclusions: The results of our research indicate that the application of conventional kinesitherapy and RAGT, over the period of 10 weeks a year, can have a positive effect on improving the postural and locomotor functions of ataxic gait in adolescents with CP. © 2025 by the authors.

Aim: The present study investigated the relationship between fear of falling and functional status, and sociodemographic and health-related factors in nursing home residents aged older than 65 years. Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 100 participants who were residents of a nursing home and aged older than 65 years. Fear of falling was assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale. Functional status was assessed by four performance-based measures. Balance was assessed by the Berg Balance Scale, mobility by the Timed Up and Go test, lower limbs muscle strength by the Chair Rising Test and participants’ functional ability by the motor Functional Independence Measure. Results: There was a significant negative correlation between the Falls Efficacy Scale and Berg Balance Scale (P < 0.001), and motor Functional Independence Measure (P < 0.001) scores; and a positive correlation with the Timed Up and Go test (P < 0.001) and Chair Rising Test (P < 0.001) values. Falls Efficacy Scale score increase is associated with age, being a widower/widow and the number of falls in the previous year. Higher fear of falling is associated with an increase in the number of falls in the previous year and with a decrease in Berg Balance Scale score. Conclusions: The study found a significant associations between Falls Efficacy Scale score and all of the examined parameters of functional status, the number of falls in the previous year, age and marital status of widower/widow. The major finding was that poor balance and an increase in the number of falls in the previous year are independent factors significantly associated with the fear of falling. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1470–1476. © 2016 Japan Geriatrics Society

Aim: The present study investigated the relationship between fear of falling and functional status, and sociodemographic and health-related factors in nursing home residents aged older than 65 years. Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 100 participants who were residents of a nursing home and aged older than 65 years. Fear of falling was assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale. Functional status was assessed by four performance-based measures. Balance was assessed by the Berg Balance Scale, mobility by the Timed Up and Go test, lower limbs muscle strength by the Chair Rising Test and participants’ functional ability by the motor Functional Independence Measure. Results: There was a significant negative correlation between the Falls Efficacy Scale and Berg Balance Scale (P < 0.001), and motor Functional Independence Measure (P < 0.001) scores; and a positive correlation with the Timed Up and Go test (P < 0.001) and Chair Rising Test (P < 0.001) values. Falls Efficacy Scale score increase is associated with age, being a widower/widow and the number of falls in the previous year. Higher fear of falling is associated with an increase in the number of falls in the previous year and with a decrease in Berg Balance Scale score. Conclusions: The study found a significant associations between Falls Efficacy Scale score and all of the examined parameters of functional status, the number of falls in the previous year, age and marital status of widower/widow. The major finding was that poor balance and an increase in the number of falls in the previous year are independent factors significantly associated with the fear of falling. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1470–1476. © 2016 Japan Geriatrics Society