Short-term Effect of Positioning Cushions and Harmonic Techniques on Paratonia in Persons With Dementia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study investigated the short-term effect of both harmonic techniques and supporting cushions on muscle tone, range of motion, pain and daily care activities in 22 patients with moderate to severe paratonia. The study consisted of two parts, each part was conducted during one week. In the first part of the study the short-term effect of supporting cushions was examined; in the second part of the study the additional short-term effect of harmonic techniques was investigated.

Official Title
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Short-term Effect of Positioning Cushions and Harmonic Techniques on Paratonia in Persons With Dementia

Conditions
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Dementia, Paratonia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Supporting cushions
* Other: Harmonic techniques


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: dementia (confirmed in medical file) presence of moderate to severe paratonia (confirmed with PAI and MAS) proxy consent Exclusion Criteria: -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: all participants<br>All participants received the same interventions, there were no subgroups interventions: supporting cushions and harmonic techniques | Other: Supporting cushions<br>* Cushions were placed in a way that the head and four limbs were well supported, without leaving empty space between body and cushions or mattress.<br>Other: Harmonic techniques<br>* Harmonic techniques (HT) is a group of manual techniques described by Lederman (2000).The goal of this techniques in this study was to reduce the muscle tone and additionally/subsequently increase the ROM.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in muscle tone of biceps brachii and rectus femoris | Change in MyotonPRO measurement of intrinsic muscle tone of left and right biceps brachii and left and right rectus femoris | On each measurement moment (3 or 4 times a day, 3 different days, 2 weeks for each participant) | 
| Change in maximal extension of elbow and knee | Change in goniometric measurement of maximal elbow and knee extension | On each measurement moment (3 or 4 times a day, 3 different days, 2 weeks for each participant) | 
| Change in pain | Change in PACSLAC-D score (PACSLAC-D is a Dutch adaptation of the Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate): observation scale of pain during morning care. Scores range from 0 to 24, indicating the presence of various pain expressions. Higher scores indicate more pain. | On each measurement moment (3 or 4 times a day, 3 different days, 2 weeks for each participant) | 
| Comparison of pain during morning care | Comparison of PACSLAC-D scores during control week and harmonics week.PACSLAC-D is a Dutch adaptation of the Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate: observation scale of pain during morning care. Scores range from 0 to 24, indicating the presence of various pain expressions. Higher scores indicate more pain. | rated after morning care, daily during 2 weeks for each participant (control week and intervention week) | 
| Comparison of comfort during morning care | Comparison of score on comfort questionnaire 4 questions regarding comfort of morning care (both for caregiver as estimated for patient) between control week and harmonics week, as rated with a visual analogue scale (0-10, interpretation dependent on the question) | rated after morning care, daily during 2 weeks for each participant (control week and intervention week) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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harmonic techniques, supporting cushions, intervention