Stroke remains a leading cause of disability in the western world, with symptoms ranging in severity from mild congnitive or motor impairments, to severe impairments in both cognitive and motor domains. Despite ongoing research aimed at helping stroke patients the disease cannot be prevented or cured, therefore a large body of research has been aimed at identifying effective rehabilitative strategies. Based on our understanding of normal brain function, and the meachanisms mediating the limited spontaneous recovery that is observed following injury, factors that promote brain plasticity are likely to be effective treatments for stroke symptoms. The current thesis investigated three novel treatments (COX-2 inhibitor drug, vitamin supplement diet, and social experience) in a rat model of focal ischemia in the motor cortex. All three treatments have been previously shown to alter plasticity in the normal brain, however the current experiments show that the treatments have differential effects following stroke. The COX-2 inhibitors provided limited improvement in functional performance, whereas the vitamin supplement treatment had no effect. Social experience on the other hand was found to block the usually observed spontaneous improvements following the stroke. These results suggest that factors that alter dendritic plasticity may in fact serve as effective stroke treatments depending on the site and the mechanisms whereby the plastic changes are induced. / ix, 149 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke can produce chronic incapacitating motor impairments. Understanding the neural basis of the motor syndromes is complicated by the diversity of neural structures damaged but the problem can be addressed in laboratory rats by inducing selective infarcts. Nevertheless, the motor syndromes that ensue from stroke in rats remain poorly understood and undermine its potential as a model for clinical stroke. The objective of the present thesis was to document the skilled reaching impairments from neocortical and subcortical MCA infarcts in rats. In addition, the integrity of the motor system components spared by the infarct was assessed neurophysiologically and neuroanatomically. Characteristic reaching impairments emerged from each infarct but there were also some overlapping features that might be explained by neural dysfunction extending beyond the boundaries of the infarct. The present studies showed that the laboratory rat is an ideal animal model for studying stroke, which should be of interest to both clinical and research scientists studying stroke. / xiii, 345 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm. + 1 CD-ROM

Stress has been shown to exacerbate cell death and cognitive deficits after ischemic injury in rodents, however, little is known of the effects of stress on motor recovery. The objective of this present thesis is to examine the effects of chronic stress on skilled motor recovery after devascularization lesion in rats. It was found that pre-lesion stress induced the most behavioural impairments, while post-lesion stress exacerbated infarct volume. The effects of chronic multiple stress on skilled motor recovery after lesion was also examined. Chronic multiple stress did not modulate skilled motor recovery nor did it have any influence on infarct volume. Additionally, stress had effect on edema after devascularization lesion. The present thesis suggests that the time of exposure to chronic stress in respect to the ischemic lesion, in addition to the type of stress, will differentially affect recovery and compensation in rats. / xii, 122 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Stroke is a sudden and devastating medical condition. People who experience a stroke tend to have long-term physical limitations including impaired walking as part of the ongoing consequences of stroke. While a variety of rehabilitation interventions have demonstrated efficacy for improving walking after stroke, none of the interventions have emerged as superior, and prior to this study, therapeutic-yoga had not been tested as an intervention to improve walking recovery after stroke. METHODS: This study was a secondary data analysis of group therapeutic-yoga on walking recovery measures including walking speed, walking distance, and spatiotemporal step parameter symmetry. The walking recovery measures were collected as secondary outcomes in a sub-sample (n=12) in a pilot randomized controlled study (n=47) designed to test the efficacy of 8-weeks of group therapeutic-yoga on balance and fear of falling. Participants in the current study completed 12-weeks of group therapeutic yoga with outcome assessments at baseline, 8-weeks, and 12-weeks. The main analysis was repeated measures ANOVA to assess the main effect of time with additional analyses including effect sizes, percent of participants achieving change greater than or equal to minimal detectable change (MDC), and mean change score comparisons between baseline and 8-weeks, 8-weeks and 12-weeks, and baseline and 12-weeks. RESULTS: Twelve people with chronic stroke enrolled in the study with 9 completing the intervention and all 3 assessments. No significant main effect of time was found on any of the variables of interest. Walking distance demonstrated a trend toward significant change (p=0.064) and step length symmetry demonstrated significant change (p=0.05) between baseline and 12-weeks. Several spatiotemporal step parameter symmetry ratios demonstrated small to medium effect sizes with the majority (91%) being a negative effect. CONCLUSION: Twelve weeks of group therapeutic-yoga appears to be feasible in a population of people with chronic stroke. Walking distance and step parameter symmetry should be tested in a larger sample. An improved understanding of the impact, progression, and remediation of walking asymmetry is needed.

Hung, Sze Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 186-192). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Radiography in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Supervisor: Ms. Ferial Isaacs Co-supervisor: Prof. Susan J. Van Rensburg Bellville September 2013 / Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is characterised by demyelination within the central nervous system (CNS), which may result in neurological disabilities over time, causing considerable hardship to patients and their families, in addition to being costly to treat. Recent studies have linked MS to impaired cerebral blood flow, called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). Anecdotal evidence has suggested that surgical correction thereof results in improvement of symptoms experienced by MS patients. To my knowledge, no information is available in the literature on carotid artery disease in MS. The USA National MS Society has therefore called for more research to be done in this area. This cross-sectional observational sub-study will determine, by ultrasound (B-Mode, Colour and Pulsed-wave Doppler), the prevalence of chronic venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and carotid artery disease in the selected sample of MS patients within the region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Biochemical data; lifestyle factors such as physical activity and smoking; and nutritional status of MS patients were determined from the main study entitled: “The development of a comprehensive gene-based, pathology supported intervention program for improved quality of life in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis” (Division of Chemical Pathology, NHLS, Tygerberg Hospital, and University of Stellenbosch). Twenty-nine (29) patients were aged between 28-64years and they suffered from MS for 0.83-27years. A larger proximal and mid cross-sectional diameter (CSD) of the right IJV compared to the left (differences significant, P= 0.026 and P=0.023) was demonstrated. Increased intima media thickness (IMT) was present in 13.33% of the non-smoking MS group and 20% in the smoking MS group. IJV reflux was evident in 13.33% of the MS group. A significant reduction of cross-sectional diameters of the IJV’s was evident in smoking MS patients; suggesting that smoking is not only a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease but could also be related to narrowing of the major neck veins. This study also supports findings of other studies viz that there’s no significant correlation between extracranial venous abnormalities and MS. Early carotid artery disease was noted in smoking and non-smoking MS patients, however the findings were non-significant.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Stroke is the main cause of disability in the United States. Individuals with stroke commonly report sensory impairment affects their recovery. Motor recovery and sensory impairment are related and impact individuals’ ability to perform valued occupations. Despite the prevalence of sensation impairment after stroke, many occupational therapists fail to include sensation assessment and intervention in treatment planning. The exclusion of sensation in occupational therapy interventions during stroke rehabilitation may be due to the lack of literature supporting the association between sensation and occupational performance. The current study aimed to determine the relationship between touch sensation of the affected hand and occupational performance and satisfaction in individuals with chronic stroke. Using a cross-sectional study design, this study associated factors related to hand sensation and function in individuals with chronic stroke. Fifty individuals with chronic stroke participated in a one-time testing session in which assessments related to sensation, movement of the hand and engagement in daily activities were administered. Correlation analyses were utilized to determine relationships between touch sensation of the affected hand with individuals’ abilities to engage in valued daily activities, arm and hand disability, and manual abilities. The main finding of the study was that individuals with intact sensation reported greater ability to perform valued occupations and satisfaction with their performance, as compared with individuals with touch sensation impairment. For individuals with impaired touch sensation of the affected hand, impairment of touch sensation of the hand did not correlate with individuals’ performance or satisfaction with valued occupations, arm or hand movement, or manual abilities. Collectively, the results of this study reflect the complex interaction between touch sensation, occupational performance, motor functioning, and manual abilities of the affected hand for individuals’ who have experienced a stroke. This study informs therapists, rehabilitation scientists, and other healthcare professionals that client-centered, individualized approaches, including a wide array of clinical assessments and intervention, including assessment of occupational performance and sensation, remain important components in stroke rehabilitation.