StrokEngine Newsletter - January 2009

It has been another successful year. Since the last newsletter in May of 2008, StrokEngine and StrokEngine Assess have grown by an additional 26 modules in total, in addition to regular module updates. We continue to improve the site by addressing our readers' needs, including:

• Links to the new Canadian Best Practices 2008 stroke guidelines, and
• A new format in StrokEngine-Assess that allows clinicians and researchers to search by domains (cognition, visual function, participation, etc.). This format, requested by our users, enables clinicians to see the range of tools available to measure any one domain.

Our hard work is paying off as we are receiving weekly kudos and congratulations from readers around the world, emailing us to let us know how our site is helping them to achieve the best practice possible. Congratulations and thank you to everyone!

Readers of the site can now click on this new button to link to the new Best Practices 2008 stroke guidelines.

Objective: To bridge the gap in knowledge translation between research findings and current clinical practice by providing current information about the value of the various interventions used in stroke rehabilitation.

At Present: 53 modules in total are on line (up from 39 as of June 2008)!

• In Depth Review: 22 modules
• Family/Patient Information: 31 modules

New Modules

• Aerobic Exercise - Early After Stroke
  Expert Reviewers: Janice Eng, PhD PT; Pamela Duncan, PhD PT(C)
• Aerobic Exercise - Late After Stroke
  Expert Reviewers: Janice Eng, PhD PT; Pamela Duncan, PhD PT(C)
• Functional Electrical Stimulation for the Lower Extremities
• Motor Imagery / Mental Practice
  Expert Reviewer: Stephen Page, PhD (C)
• Music Therapy
• Positioning
• Virtual Reality - Lower Limb

Recently updated modules:

• Aphasia
  Expert reviewer: Jennifer Sweeney, M.S., CCC-SLP, S-LP© Founder, BC Aphasia Centre
• Assistive Devices
• Balance Training
• Biofeedback - Lower Extremity
• Biofeedback - Upper Extremity
• Functional Electrical Stimulation for the Upper Extremities
• Unilateral Spatial Neglect Interventions
• Urinary Incontinence
• Virtual Reality - Upper Limb
  Expert reviewer - Francine Malouin PhD, PT

Coming soon:

• Acupuncture*
• Aphasia
  Expert Reviewer - Aura Kagan, PhD, SLP
• Dysphagia
  Expert Reviewer - Rosemary Martino, PhD, SLP
• TMS
• Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Constraint Induced Movement Therapy for the Arm and Hand*
• Treadmill (Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training)*
• Functional Electrical Stimulation for the Upper Extremities

*update

A special thank you to collaborators on StrokEngine module writing and development: Amy Henderson, PhD student; Erica Kader; Adam Kagan, BSc BA; Patrick Paul, BSc CS; Elissa Sitcoff, BSc BA and to the undergraduate students, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University for their additional support in module development

Objective: To provide the most current information about usability and psychometric properties of assessment tools in stroke rehabilitation.

At Present: 50 modules in total are on line (up from 38 in June 2008)!

New modules since June 2008:

• Action Research Arm Test (ARAT)
• Chedoke Arm and Hand Activity Inventory (CAHAI)
• Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment
• Box and Block Test (BBT)
• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Modified Ashworth Scale
• Orpington Prognostic Score (OPS)
• Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI)
• Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (SADQ)
• Two-Minute Walk Test (2MWT)
• Five-Minute Walk Test (5MWT)
• Twelve-Minute Walk Test (12MWT)
• Three-Minute Walk Test (3MWT)
• Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)

Updated modules since June 2008:

• Modified Rankin Scale (MRS)

A special thank you to the collaborators on StrokEngine Assess module writing: Lisa Blum, MSc OT candidate and Sabrina Mendes Figueiredo, MSc candidate.

New to StrokEngine Assess - Assessment Tool

Readers can now link to a comprehensive table of assessment tools, domain by ICF classification and the construct being measured. The table is available either by domain or by name of assessment (alphabetically).

Here are a just a few enthusiastic emails from readers of our sites:

"I am a faculty member in Physical Therapy at the University of Indianapolis. You have an outstanding compilation of resource for clinicians, faculty, and students. Thank you so much for the significant work in compiling these measurements for stroke assessment."
-- Clyde B. Killian, PT, PhD

"Enjoyed the content of your website. Great resource..."
-- Todd Blind, CTRS Stroke & General Rehabilitation Team Leader, Dodd Hall Rehabilitation Services, Ohio State University Medical Center

"This site is excellent! What a great resource."
-- Sue Colbourne, Occupational Therapist, Ladysmith Community Health Centre

"Many thanks to Dr. Nicol Bitensky, and to all of the stroke team members for this great on line resource. I attended Atlantic Stroke conference 2008, and it is Dr.Bitensky's message that encouraged me to work more passionately with a team approach to address stroke management issues. Thanks again for creating and sharing your resources for better patient care."
-- Dr. Ryve Loshaj

Anita Petzold, MSc candidate, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, has joined the team to work on the development and editing of modules for StrokEngine.

Welcome to the team!

Introduction to research team

• Nicol Korner-Bitensky, PhD OT(C) (PI)
• Mark Bayley, MD (C)
• Johanne Desrosiers, PhD (C) OT
• Chantal Dumoulin, PhD PT
• Pamela Duncan, PhD PT(C)
• Janice Eng, PT, PhD
• Lesley K. Fellows (MD, DPhil)
• Joyce Fung, PhD PT
• Jeff Jutai, PhD
• Aura Kagan, SLP, PhD
• Franceen Kaizer, OT(HQP)
• Lorie Kloda, MLIS
• Mindy Levin, PT, PhD
• Rosmary Martino, PhD SLP
• Nancy E. Mayo, PT, PhD
• Anita Menon, MSc (PhD candidate) OT
• Stephen Page, PhD (C)
• Carol Richards, PhD PT (C)
• Annie Rochette, PhD OT
• Robert Teasell, MD (C)
• Aliki Thomas, M.Ed. (HQP), PhD Candidate
• Sharon Wood-Dauphinee, PT & OT, PhD (C)

Introduction to collaborators on module writing

• Elissa Sitcoff, BSc BA - StrokEngine Coordinator
• Patrick Paul, BSc CS - StrokEngine Website Coordinator
• Lisa Blum, MSc OT candidate - StrokEngine Assess module development/editor
• Amy Henderson PhD student (Behavioural Neuroscience) - StrokEngine
• Erica Kader - StrokEngine module development/editor
• Adam Kagan, BSc BA - StrokEngine module development/editor
• Sabrina Mendes Figueiredo, MSc candidate - StrokEngine Assess module development/editor
• Anita Petzold, MSc candidate - StrokEngine module development/editor