'' Exploring long COVID (LC)'s impact on social and leisure well-being for individuals and caregivers.

Long COVID (LC) affects physical health and cognition, limiting participation in social and leisure activities. As a novel disabling condition following a COVID-19 infection, informal caregivers of those with LC have taken on expanded roles, including educating themselves on this diagnosis. Gathering insights from people living with LC (PWLC) and their caregivers is crucial for understanding its impact on well-being and identifying targeted rehabilitation practices across the LC care pathway.

An Evaluation of International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) Performance Within the Canadian SCI Network.

Objectives: To describe the performance of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) examination in individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and nontraumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI) across Canadian acute and rehabilitation facilities, evaluating timing, completeness, and classification accuracy.

Methods: Using the Rick Hansen Spinal Cord Injury Registry (2015-2022), participants were analyzed across 6 cohorts: (A) TSCI-acute-admission ( = 4461), (B) TSCI-acute-discharge ( = 972), (C) TSCI-rehabilitation-admission ( = 2673), (D) TSCI-rehabilitation-discharge = 2316), (E) NTSCI-rehabilitation-admission ( = 728), and (F) NTSCI-rehabilitation-discharge = 619). ISNCSCI data included performed (yes/no), timing (≤72 hours, ≤7 days, and >7 days of admission/discharge), completeness, missing items, and worksheet used (yes/no).

Coping with stressful life disruptions due to long COVID: A qualitative study.

Background: Long COVID impacts people's physical health and cognition which immensely affects their psychosocial well-being. A larger study was conducted that explored the psychosocial impacts of Long COVID on individuals and caregivers. This paper focuses on the impact of these stressful disruptions on one's health and psychosocial well-being, and how individuals cope with them.

Experiences of persons with spinal cord injury, their family members, and health care providers during transitions in care in Alberta: a qualitative reflexive thematic analysis.

Purpose: People with Spinal cord injuries (SCI) experience multiple transitions during their healthcare journey. This qualitative study aims to understand experiences of people with SCI, and perceptions from family members, and some healthcare providers on the transitions through the healthcare system in Alberta, Canada.

Methods: Using purposive sampling, 49 participants were interviewed, including 22 people with SCI and 27 stakeholders, including family members and providers, a community-based participatory research study was conducted.

Co-design and prototype development of MedManageSCI: a medication self-management toolkit for adults with spinal cord injury/dysfunction.

Background: Medications are among the most common health interventions, with certain populations, such as individuals with spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D), commonly prescribed multiple medications. Consequently, adults with SCI/D often engage in activities related to medication self-management, but there are few comprehensive resources for this population. The objective of this study was to co-design the prototype of a toolkit to support medication self-management among adults with SCI/D.

Development of a functional electrical stimulation cycling toolkit for spinal cord injury rehabilitation in acute care hospitals: A participatory action approach.

The purpose of our study was to develop a toolkit to facilitate the implementation of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling for persons with a newly acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) in the acute care inpatient hospital setting. The researchers and community members used participatory action as a research approach to co-create the toolkit. We held two focus groups to develop drafts, with a third meeting to provide feedback, and a fourth meeting to evaluate the toolkit and determine dissemination strategies.

Exploring and prioritizing content to include in a medication self-management toolkit for persons with spinal cord injury/dysfunction: A concept mapping approach.

Background: Adults with spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) face challenges with medications they take to manage their secondary conditions (e.g., pain, urinary tract infections, autonomic dysreflexia).

Feasibility characteristics of wrist-worn fitness trackers in health status monitoring for post-COVID patients in remote and rural areas.

Introduction: Common, consumer-grade biosensors mounted on fitness trackers and smartwatches can measure an array of biometrics that have potential utility in post-discharge medical monitoring, especially in remote/rural communities. The feasibility characteristics for wrist-worn biosensors are poorly described for post-COVID conditions and rural populations.

Methods: We prospectively recruited patients in rural communities who were enrolled in an at-home rehabilitation program for post-COVID conditions.

Feasibility and Validity of Wearable Sensors for Monitoring Temporal Parameters in Manual Wheelchair Propulsion.

Upper extremity pain and injury are among the most common musculoskeletal complications manual wheelchair users face. Assessing the temporal parameters of manual wheelchair propulsion, such as propulsion duration, cadence, push duration, and recovery duration, is essential for providing a deep insight into the mobility, level of activity, energy expenditure, and cumulative exposure to repetitive tasks and thus providing personalized feedback. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) to estimate these temporal parameters by identifying the start and end time of hand contact with the push-rim during each propulsion cycle.

Implementation of a Provincial Long COVID Care Pathway in Alberta, Canada: Provider Perceptions.

A novel, complex chronic condition emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic: long COVID. The persistent long COVID symptoms can be multisystem and varied. Effective long COVID management requires multidisciplinary, collaborative models of care, which continue to be developed and refined.

Unraveling Metabolic Changes following Stroke: Insights from a Urinary Metabolomics Analysis.

The neuropathological sequelae of stroke and subsequent recovery are incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the metabolic dynamics following stroke to advance the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms orchestrating stroke recovery. Using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-driven metabolomic profiling approach for urine samples obtained from a clinical group, the objective of this research was to (1) identify novel biomarkers indicative of severity and recovery following stroke, and (2) uncover the biochemical pathways underlying repair and functional recovery after stroke.

Skin and not dorsal root stimulation reduces hypertonus in thoracic motor complete spinal cord injury: a single case report.

On demand and localized treatment for excessive muscle tone after spinal cord injury (SCI) is currently not available. Here, we examine the reduction in leg hypertonus in a person with mid-thoracic, motor complete SCI using a commercial transcutaneous electrical stimulator (TES) applied at 50 or 150 Hz to the lower back and the possible mechanisms producing this bilateral reduction in leg tone. Hypertonus of knee extensors without and during TES, with both cathode (T11-L2) and anode (L3-L5) placed over the spinal column (midline, MID) or 10 cm to the left of midline (lateral, LAT) to only active underlying skin and muscle afferents, was simultaneously measured in both legs with the pendulum test.

Measures for Persons with Spinal Cord Injury to Monitor Their Transitions in Care, Health, Function, and Quality of Life Experiences and Needs: A Protocol for Co-Developing a Self-Evaluation Tool.

Evaluating the experiences of persons with spinal cord injury (PwSCI) regarding their transitions in care and changes in health, function, and quality of life is complex, fragmented, and involves multiple tools and measures. A staged protocol was implemented with PwSCI and relevant expert stakeholders initially exploring and selecting existing measures or tools through a modified Delphi process, followed by choosing one of two options. The options were to either support the use of the 10 selected tools from the Delphi method or to co-develop one unique condensed tool with relevant measures to evaluate all four domains.

Symptomology following COVID-19 among adults in Alberta, Canada: an observational survey study.

Objective: Fatigue, headache, problems sleeping and numerous other symptoms have been reported to be associated with long COVID. However, many of these symptoms coincide with symptoms reported by the general population, possibly exacerbated by restrictions/precautions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the symptoms reported by individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 compared with those who tested negative.

Blood-Derived Metabolic Signatures as Biomarkers of Injury Severity in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.

Metabolomic biomarkers hold promise in aiding the diagnosis and prognostication of traumatic brain injury. In Canada, over 165,000 individuals annually suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), making it one of the most prevalent neurological conditions. In this pilot investigation, we examined blood-derived biomarkers as proxy measures that can provide an objective approach to TBI diagnosis and monitoring.

The Use of Silver Oxynitrate Wound Dressings in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds: A Feasibility Pilot Study.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a silver oxynitrate (Ag 7 NO 11 ) dressing on wound healing in patients with stalled chronic wounds.

Methods: A prospective pilot study was conducted to determine the feasibility and effect of using silver oxynitrate dressings within an outpatient setting in Alberta, Canada. A total of 23 patients (12 women and 11 men; mean age, 66.

Urinary tract infections and urinary bladder health experiences of persons with spinal cord injury in a Canadian province: A mixed methods study showcasing infection prevention as health inequity case.

Context/objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most frequent secondary complications among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The prevention and management of UTIs is prioritized by stakeholders across Canada. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the urinary bladder (bladder) management experiences of people with SCI in Alberta communities, especially how UTIs are experienced and managed.

Effect of test duration and sensor location on the reliability of standing balance parameters derived using body-mounted accelerometers.

Background: Balance parameters derived from wearable sensor measurements during postural sway have been shown to be sensitive to experimental variables such as test duration, sensor number, and sensor location that influence the magnitude and frequency-related properties of measured center-of-mass (COM) and center-of-pressure (COP) excursions. In this study, we investigated the effects of test duration, the number of sensors, and sensor location on the reliability of standing balance parameters derived using body-mounted accelerometers.

Methods: Twelve volunteers without any prior history of balance disorders were enrolled in the study.

Exploring Rehabilitation Provider Experiences of Providing Health Services for People Living with Long COVID in Alberta.

Background: COVID-19 infection can result in persistent symptoms, known as long COVID. Understanding the provider experience of service provision for people with long COVID symptoms is crucial for improving care quality and addressing potential challenges. Currently, there is limited knowledge about the provider experience of long COVID service delivery.

Evaluating Efficiency of a Provincial Telerehabilitation Service in Improving Access to Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Scope: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, community rehabilitation stakeholders from a provincial health system designed a novel telerehabilitation service. The service provided wayfinding and self-management advice to individuals with musculoskeletal concerns, neurological conditions, or post-COVID-19 recovery needs. This study evaluated the efficiency of the service in improving access to care.

Accessing Care Services for Long COVID Sufferers in Alberta, Canada: A Random, Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Designing appropriate rehabilitation programs for long COVID-19 remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to explore the patient experience of accessing long COVID-19 rehabilitation and recovery services. In this cross-sectional, observational study, a telephone survey was administered to a random sample of persons with long COVID-19 in a Canadian province.

Medication self-management toolkits for adults with multiple sclerosis: A scoping review.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that is often treated with multiple medications. Managing multiple medications, also known as polypharmacy, can be challenging for persons with MS. Toolkits are instructional resources designed to promote behaviour change.

Outcomes of Implementing a Webinar-Based Strategy to Improve Spinal Cord Injury Knowledge and Community Building: Convergent Mixed Methods Study.

Background: COVID-19 disrupted services received by persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) worldwide. The International Disability Alliance declared the need for a disability-inclusive response to the COVID-19 crisis, as decreased access to health care services for individuals living with varying levels of function was unacceptable. As a result, an SCI community in Canada created a novel webinar-based strategy aimed at improving access to self-management information for people living with SCI and other stakeholders.

Effect of a Continuous Bedside Pressure Mapping System for Reducing Interface Pressures: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Continuous bedside pressure mapping (CBPM) technology can assist in detecting skin areas with excessive interface pressure and inform efficient patient repositioning to prevent the development of pressure injuries (PI).

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of CBPM technology in reducing interface pressure and the incidence of PIs.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This parallel, 2-group randomized clinical trial was performed at a tertiary acute care center.

Identification of Serum Metabolites as Prognostic Biomarkers Following Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study.

The assessment, management, and prognostication of spinal cord injury (SCI) mainly rely upon observer-based ordinal scales measures. H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provides an effective approach for the discovery of objective biomarkers from biofluids. These biomarkers have the potential to aid in understanding recovery following SCI.