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In literature, it has been suggested that SARS-CoV-2's impact on the heart and brain may contribute to immune-mediated thrombosis, the reninangiotensin system related to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Our study compares the rehabilitation outcomes of stroke patients with and without a history of COVID-19. Our study aims to compare rehabilitation results of COVID-19-associated ischemic stroke patients and non-COVID-19 patients, as thrombotic complications and ischemic stroke have largely been reported since the pandemic's beginning. This study included 83 stroke patients aged 18-80 years who were hospitalized and rehabilitated. Patients' age, gender, lesion location, Brunnstrom stage, ambulation level, comorbidities, Charlson comorbidity index, stroke type, pre-stroke history of COVID-19 and symptoms, previous stroke history, and duration of physical therapy program were recorded. Those with a history of COVID-19 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test being positive and/or a history of pneumonia compatible with COVID-19 on thoracic computed tomography examination (28 patients) were included in the COVID-19 group while those without those conditions were included in the non-COVID-19 group (55 patients). Factors contributing to rehabilitation results were compared between the groups. The rehabilitation outcomes were similar across the groups, with no differences in ambulation levels or Brunnstrom staging (hand, upper and lower extremities) (p values 0.237, 0.155, 0.380, 0.192, respectively). However, the COVID-19 group had higher rates of ischemic heart disease and hypothyroidism, no prior history of cerebrovascular accident, more periventricular infarctions, and initially more adversely affected ambulation levels (p values 0.047, 0.038, 0.042, 0.037, 0.028, respectively). The study concluded that there was no apparent difference between the two groups' outcome parameters. Although the COVID-19 group's ambulation level was initially more negatively impacted, no detrimental effects on rehabilitation outcomes were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is important to measure as it is an indication of outcome after stroke. Our objectives were to assess HRQOL in patients 3 months after stroke and to identify factors that predict HRQOL in stroke survivors. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 67 first-ever stroke patients hospitalized in the Ministry of Health Ankara Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic. HRQOL was measured by means of the Stroke Impact Scale-16 (SIS-16). Patients were characterized by age, sex, duration of education, comorbidities, stroke type, affected side, concordance (pa-retic arm=dominant hand), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]), and functional status (Functional Independence Measure [FIM]). We used a linear regression model to examine the influence of de-mographic and clinical characteristics on the different SIS-16 domains. Results: The mean (SD) for age of the 67 patients was 62.03 (13.22) years (range, 33 to 81 years). The MMSE and FIM scores were significantly correlated with the SIS-16 score (P< .001). Linear regression analysis showed that age and functional status were the major independent determinants affecting HRQOL (P=.002 and P< .001,respectively). Conclusion: In this study, we found that age and functional status had a powerful influence on HRQOL. Comprehensive therapy programs aimed to improve HRQOL should focus on improving functional disability,particularly in older stroke patients. There is a need for long-term follow-up studies in stroke patients throughout all recovery stages to evaluate HRQOL in more detail.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the quality of life (QoL) in spinal cord injury (SCI) survivors. Secondary objectives were to determine the effects of various sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on QoL. This cross-sectional study included 54 patients with SCI. The Turkish version of the Short-Form-36 Health Survey was used to assess health-related QoL. Functional status was measured with Functional Independence Measure. Higher values were obtained in younger individuals for bodily pain, in paraplegic patients for physical functioning, role-physical, social functioning, and role-emotional. Moreover, it was observed that functional status correlated well with physical functioning, role-physical, social functioning, and role-emotional. Among the complications investigated, bladder incontinence is related to low health-related QoL in most domains. SCI may interfere with some health domains of QoL according to the patient's age, neurologic levels, functional status and presence of complications, mainly bladder incontinence.

To examine the therapeutic value of lower extremity functional electrical stimulation (FES) - evoked cycling on functional independence, health status, gait parameters, pulmonary functions, and biochemical values in patients with chronic complete/incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Fifteen patients with SCI (duration of more than 6 months) who were able to stand up and walk with long leg braces or assistive devices and had stable neurological status and trunk balance undertook FES cycling for 6 weeks (three times per week). The main outcomes were: Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and 20-meter walk test (20MWT). Secondary outcomes include measurements of pulmonary function tests and biochemical values. All parameters were evaluated at the beginning and end of the program. Improvements were seen in motor and total scores of FIM (p = 0.007), physical mobility subscale of NHP (p = 0.011), 6MWT (p = 0.001), and 20MWT (p = 0.011). In pulmonary functions, only forced vital capacity (FVC) levels demonstrated a significant increase compared with baseline (p = 0.011). Biochemical values reached no significant level. The results of this study showed that the FES cycling exercise program improves motor and total FIM scores, gait parameters, and FVC values of pulmonary functions in patients with chronic SCI experience. The FES cycle might be a valuable and well-tolerated intervention in clinical rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Ebru. Umay, Atilay. Yaylaci, Guleser. Saylam, Ibrahim. Gundogdu, Eda. Gurcay, Dehen. Akcapinar, Zeynep. Kirac Background: Dysphagia is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in stroke patients. Aims: As [...]