Objectives. Patient experiences of structured heart failure rehabilitation and their views on the important components of heart failure services were examined. Methods. Focus groups were conducted with fifteen participants (men, <svg style="vertical-align:-0.09pt;width:38.474998px;" id="M1" height="9.7124996" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 38.474998 9.7124996" width="38.474998" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" >
	<g transform="matrix(1.25,0,0,-1.25,0,9.7125)">
		<g transform="translate(72,-64.23)">
			<text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-71.95,64.37)">
				<tspan style="font-size: 11.21px; " x="0" y="0">𝑛</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 11.21px; " x="8.6749916" y="0">=</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 11.21px; " x="19.468296" y="0">1</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 11.21px; " x="25.072296" y="0">2</tspan>
			</text>

		</g>
	</g>
</svg>) attending one of two heart failure rehabilitation programmes. Sessions were guided by a semistructured interview schedule covering participants' experiences of the programme, maintenance, and GP role. Focus group transcripts were analysed qualitatively. Results. Participants indicated that rehabilitation programmes substantially met their needs. Supervised exercise sessions increased confidence to resume physical activity, while peer-group interaction and supportive medical staff improved morale. However, once the programme ended, some participants' self-care motivation lapsed, especially maintenance of an exercise routine. Patients doubted their GPs' ability to help them manage their condition. Conclusion. Structured rehabilitation programmes are effective in enabling patients to develop lifestyle skills to live with heart failure. However, postrehabilitation maintenance interventions are necessary to sustain patients' confidence in disease self-management.

Nuala E. Tully

Karen M. Morgan

Helen M. Burke

Hannah M. McGee

Patient Experiences of Structured Heart Failure Programmes

We test the hypothesis that the odds of self-reported receipt of lifestyle advice from a health care provider will be lower among outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) nonattendees and nonreferred patients compared to OCR attendees. Logistic regression was used to analyse cross-sectional data provided by 65&#x25; (4971/7678) of patients aged 20 to 84 years discharged from public hospitals with a diagnosis indicating eligibility for OCR between 2002 and 2007. Among respondents, 71&#x25; (3518) and 55&#x25; (2724) recalled advice regarding physical activity and diet, respectively, while 88&#x25; (592/674) of smokers recalled quit advice. OCR attendance was low: 36&#x25; (1764) of respondents reported attending OCR, 11&#x25; (552) did not attend following referral, and 45&#x25; (2217) did not recall being invited. The odds of recalling advice regarding physical activity and diet were significantly lower among OCR nonattendees compared to attendees (OR 0.34, 95&#x25; CI 0.21, 0.56 and OR 0.33, 95&#x25; CI 0.25, 0.44, resp.) and among nonreferred respondents compared to OCR attendees (OR 0.10, 95&#x25; CI 0.07, 0.15 and OR 0.17, 95&#x25; CI 0.14, 0.22, resp.). Patients hospitalised for coronary heart disease should be referred to OCR or a suitable alternative to improve recall of lifestyle advice that will reduce the risk of further coronary events.

Natalie A. Johnson

Kerry J. Inder

Ben D. Ewald

Erica L. James

Steven J. Bowe

Association between Participation in Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation and Self-Reported Receipt of Lifestyle Advice from
a Healthcare Provider: Results of a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Dysfunction of the transverse abdominis (TrA) has been associated with LBP. Several therapeutic exercises are prescribed to help target the TrA. Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) is used to capture activation of the TrA during exercise. The purpose was to examine TrA activation during the ADIM and quadruped exercises between healthy and nonsymptomatic LBP patients. We instructed the subjects how to perform the exercises and measured muscle thickness of the TrA at rest and during the exercises using RUSI. This allowed us to calculate TrA activation ratio during these exercises. We found no significant differences between activation ratios of the two groups during either exercise; however TrA activation during the ADIM was higher than the quadruped exercise. These exercises were capable of activating the TrA, which may be in part  due to the verbal instruction they received. These exercises could be used during prevention or rehabilitation programs, since the TrA is activated.

Nathaniel Gorbet

Noelle M. Selkow

Joseph M. Hart

Susan Saliba

No Difference in Transverse Abdominis Activation Ratio between Healthy and Asymptomatic Low Back Pain Patients during Therapeutic Exercise

Introduction. Respiratory cancer and its treatment are known to contribute to muscle weakness and functional impairment. Aim. To assess the effects of rehabilitation in patients with respiratory cancer. Methods. Radically treated respiratory cancer patients were included in a 12-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. Results. 16 patients (age: 61 ± 7 years; FEV1: 57 ± 16% pred.) showed a reduced exercise tolerance (VO2max: 56 ± 15% pred.; 6 MWD: 67 ± 11% pred.), muscle force (PImax: 54 ± 22% pred.; QF: 67 ± 16% pred.), and quality of life (CRDQd: 17 ± 5 points; CRDQf: 16 ± 5 points). Exercise tolerance, muscle force, and quality of life improved significantly after rehabilitation. Conclusion. Radically treated patients with respiratory cancer have a decreased exercise capacity, muscle force, and quality of life. 12 weeks of rehabilitation leads to a significant improvement in exercise capacity, respiratory muscle force, and quality of life.

B. Salhi

I. Demedts

A. Simpelaere

S. Decraene

K. Vermaelen

V. Surmont

J. P. van Meerbeeck

E. Derom

Endurance and Resistance Training in Radically Treated Respiratory Cancer patients: A Pilot Study

A major research focus is optimization of interventions for low back pain (LBP). Predisposing factors for LBP development have been previously identified. To differentiate changes in these factors with intervention, factor stability over time must be determined. 
Twenty-three volunteers without LBP participated in a LBP-inducing standing protocol on two separate days. Outcome measures included visual analog scale (VAS) for LBP and trunk/hip muscle coactivation patterns. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to examine repeatability. 
Between-day repeatability of outcome measures was excellent (ICCs <svg style="vertical-align:-0.30096pt;width:42.525002px;" id="M1" height="11.0625" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 42.525002 11.0625" width="42.525002" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(1.25,0,0,-1.25,0,11.0625)"><g transform="translate(72,-63.15)"><text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-71.95,63.5)"><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="0" y="0">&gt;</tspan><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="12.027886" y="0">0</tspan><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="18.279387" y="0">.</tspan><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="21.405136" y="0">8</tspan><tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="27.656635" y="0">0</tspan></text></g></g></svg>). Individuals were consistent in subjective LBP, with 83% reporting similar day-to-day VAS levels. 
Muscle co-activation patterns and LBP reports are stable measures over time for this LBP-inducing protocol. Changes in these measures following intervention can be considered to be treatment effects and are not due to natural variability. This provides support for use of this protocol in studying interventions for standing-induced LBP.

Erika Nelson-Wong

Jack P. Callaghan

Repeatability of Clinical, Biomechanical, and Motor  Control Profiles in People with and without  Standing-Induced Low Back Pain

Background. The aim of this study was to assess sexual function before and after cardiac rehabilitation in relation to medical
variables. Methods. Analysis of patients participating in a 12-week exercise-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program (OCR) between April 1999 and December 2007. Exercise capacity (ExC) and quality of life including sexual function were assessed before and after OCR. 
Results. Complete data were available in 896 male patients. No sexual activity at all was indicated by 23.1&#x25; at baseline and 21.8&#x25; after OCR, no problems with sexual activity by 40.8&#x25; at baseline and 38.6&#x25; after OCR. Patients showed an increase in specific problems (erectile dysfunction and lack of orgasm) from 18&#x25; to 23&#x25; (<svg style="vertical-align:-0.30096pt;width:63.962502px;" id="M1" height="11.0625" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 63.962502 11.0625" width="63.962502" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	<g transform="matrix(1.25,0,0,-1.25,0,11.0625)">
		<g transform="translate(72,-63.15)">
			<text transform="matrix(1,0,0,-1,-71.95,63.5)">
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="0" y="0">𝑃</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="10.890113" y="0">&lt;</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="22.930502" y="0">.</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="26.056252" y="0">0</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="32.307751" y="0">0</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="38.559254" y="0">0</tspan>
				<tspan style="font-size: 12.50px; " x="44.810753" y="0">1</tspan>
			</text>

		</g>
	</g>
</svg>) during OCR. We found the following independent positive and negative predictors of sexual problems after OCR: hyperlipidemia, age, CABG, baseline ExC and improvement of ExC, subjective physical and mental capacity, and sense of affiliation. Conclusions. Sexual dysfunction is present in over half of the patients undergoing OCR with no overall improvement during OCR. Age, CABG, low exercise capacity are independent predictors of sexual dysfunction after OCR.

J&#246;rg Schumann

Michael J. Zellweger

Marcello Di Valentino

Simone Piazzalonga

Andreas Hoffmann

Sexual Dysfunction before and after Cardiac Rehabilitation

Objectives. To explore research mentoring experiences and perceived mentoring needs of aging and disability researchers at different career stages. Design. Focus group and individual interviews with rehabilitation researchers at various career stages based in hospitals, universities, and hospital-based research institutes in Ontario, Canada. Results. The overall theme was mentoring for transition. Participants across career stages referred to helpful mentoring experiences as those that assisted them to move from their previous stage into the present stage or from the present stage into their next career progression. Unhelpful mentoring experiences were characterized by mentor actions that were potentially detrimental to transition. Subsumed under this theme were three categories. The first, “hidden information” referred to practical information that was difficult to access. The second “delicate issues” referred to helping the participant work through issues related to sensitive matters, the discussion of which could put the participants or their colleagues in a vulnerable position. The third category was “special challenges of clinician-researchers”. Conclusions. Helpful mentoring for rehabilitation researchers working on concerns related to aging and disability appears to be characterized by interaction with more experienced individuals who aid the researcher work through issues related to career transition.

Mary Egan

Kerry Byrne

Paul Stolee

Judy King

Mentoring Experiences of Aging and Disability Rehabilitation Researchers

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Rehabilitation Research and Practice publishes original research articles and&nbsp;review articles in all areas of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

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Rehabilitation Research and Practice - Table of contents 2010

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Rehabilitation Research and Practice publishes original research articles and review articles in all areas of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation Research and Practice