Selections From This Month in the Archives

Article Outline

• Levodopa Improves Procedural Motor Learning in Chronic Stroke Patients
• Branched Chain Amino Acids May Improve Recovery from a Vegetative or Minimally Conscious State in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study
• Social Skills Treatment for People With Severe, Chronic Acquired Brain Injuries: A Multicenter Trial
• Effects of Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training on Physical Fitness and Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
• Effects of Resistance Training on Lower-Extremity Impairments in Older People With Hip Fracture

Nina Rösser, MA

Peter Heuschmann, MD, MPH

Heike Wersching, MD

Caterina Breitenstein, PhD

Stefan Knecht, MD

Agnes Flöel, MD

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Levodopa Improves Procedural Motor Learning in Chronic Stroke Patients 

This article is covered in a combined summary of the articles by Rosser et al and Aquilani et al. The summary is listed directly below • SEE PAGE 1633

Roberto Aquilani, MD

Mirella Boselli, MD

Federica Boschi, PhD

Simona Viglio, PhD

Paolo Iadarola, PhD

Maurizia Dossena, PhD

Ornella Pastoris, PhD

Manuela Verri, PhD

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Branched Chain Amino Acids May Improve Recovery from a Vegetative or Minimally Conscious State in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study 

The benefits of pharmacologic interventions as a part of neurologic rehabilitation are addressed by 2 articles in this month's Archives. Rösser and colleagues assess the effects of a 2-day course of levadopa on motor leaning in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 18 subjects with stable stroke and found improvements in the intervention group that were independent of changes in mood, arousal, or reaction time. The second study, by Aquilani and colleagues, investigates the benefits of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation in an RCT involving subjects with recent severe traumatic brain injury. Aquilani found that BCAA supplementation, which may increase the availability of adenosine triphosphate to the brain, resulted in improvements in Disability Rating Scale scores that were not apparent in control subjects. • SEE PAGE 1642

Skye McDonald, PhD

Robyn Tate, PhD

Leanne Togher, PhD

Cristina Bornhofen, PhD

Esther Long, MPsychol (Clin)

Paul Gertler, MPsychol (Clin)

Rebecca Bowen, MPsychol (Clin)

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Social Skills Treatment for People With Severe, Chronic Acquired Brain Injuries: A Multicenter Trial 

McDonald and colleagues examine the ability of a social skills training program to help subjects with traumatic brain injuries overcome injury-acquired impairments in behavioral control and social interaction. Thirty-nine subjects were divided into 3 groups: 13 completed a 12-week social skills training program involving weekly group and individual sessions; 13 participated in social activities alone; and 13 served as controls. Outcome measures included, but were not restricted to, the Behaviorally Referenced Rating System of Intermediary Social Skills-Revised, The Awareness of Social Inference Test, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. The investigators found that the treatment group showed improvements relative to the other groups on only 1 measure and concluded that treatment effects were modest, limited to direct measures of social behavior and perception. • SEE PAGE 1648

Heli Valkeinen, PhD

Markku Alén, MD, PhD

Arja Häkkinen, PhD

Pekka Hannonen, MD, PhD

Katriina Kukkonen-Harjula, MD, PhD

Keijo Häkkinen, PhD

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Effects of Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training on Physical Fitness and Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial 

Postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia are known to benefit from both strength and endurance training programs. However, the effects of concurrent strength and endurance training (CSET) in this population are less clear, due to concerns about subject tolerance as well as research suggesting that CSET produces less than optimal results. Valkeinen and colleagues studied this issue in a randomized controlled trial of 26 postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia who underwent a 21-week low-to-moderate intensity CSET program. The investigators found that the demands of their CSET regimen resulted in improvements in the CSET group's lower-extremity strength, work capabilities, functional mobility, and perceived symptoms that were not apparent in the control group. The authors conclude that CSET appears beneficial in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia, but that more extensive studies are needed to confirm their results. • SEE PAGE 1660

Erja Portegijs, MSc

Mauri Kallinen, MD, PhD

Taina Rantanen, PhD

Ari Heinonen, PhD

Sanna Sihvonen, PhD

Markku Alen, MD, PhD

Ilkka Kiviranta, MD, PhD

Sarianna Sipilä, PhD

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Effects of Resistance Training on Lower-Extremity Impairments in Older People With Hip Fracture 

Portegijs and collaborators investigated the effects of resistance training on lower-extremity strength and mobility in a randomized controlled trial of community-dwelling adults who had had hip fracture repair within the last 0.5 to 7 years. Twenty-four people participated in a 12-week progressive strength and power training program and 22 served as control subjects. At trial conclusion, subjects in the intervention group demonstrated improvements in lower-extremity strength as well as a tendency toward improved power output of the weaker leg and perceived outdoor walking capability relative to the control subjects, although walking speed and balance did not appear affected by training. The investigators conclude that resistance training programs are feasible following a hip fracture but that more intensive training may be necessary. • SEE PAGE 1667