https://hdl.handle.net/10259/4142 2026-05-14T11:09:08Z https://hdl.handle.net/10259/10180 Impact of a Dynamic Orthosis on Manual Dexterity Among People With Parkinson’s Disease: A Randomized Trial Jiménez Barrios, María; González Bernal, Jerónimo; Santamaría Peláez, Mirian; Collazo Riobó, Carla; Cubo Delgado, Esther; Trejo Gabriel y Galán, José Mª; Matthews, Martin J. A.; González Santos, Josefa Importance: A dynamic elastomeric fabric orthosis could be a novel nonpharmacological treatment of motor symptoms among people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the orthosis in improving manual dexterity among people with PD. Design: A randomized trial with 60 participants (control group, n = 20; experimental group, n = 40). Manual dexterity was assessed in on–off states of the disease, with and without the orthosis. Setting: Burgos University Hospital (Burgos, Spain). Participants: Consecutive nonprobabilistic sampling. Patients were included if they had been diagnosed with PD, had motor symptoms in at least one upper limb, and attended the hospital’s neurology department. Participants were ages 48 to 89 yr, with an average disease duration of 5.38 yr (SD = 4.23). Exclusion criteria were tremor due to another neurological disease or a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score ≤26. Intervention: The experimental group used the orthosis on the most affected upper limb for 2 mo; the control group participants did not receive the orthosis. Outcomes and Measures: Manual dexterity was measured with the Purdue Pegboard Test, Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test, and Square Test. Paired t tests for related samples and analysis of covariance tests were used. Results: Some participants improved on some manual dexterity items while wearing the orthosis. However, it was not sustained when the orthosis was removed after 2 mo of use. Conclusions and Relevance: The orthosis may improve certain aspects of manual dexterity and functionality among people with PD, but only while it is worn. Plain-Language Summary: The common motor symptoms and declines in manual dexterity that people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience can significantly affect their ability to perform activities of daily living as well as their quality of life. Manual dexterity is a strong predictor of the level of functional independence for people with PD. This study evaluated the efficacy of an elastomeric fabric orthosis to improve manual dexterity for people with PD. The study found that while wearing the orthosis the motor symptoms of PD were reduced and manual dexterity and upper limb functionality improved. Wearing the orthosis has the potential to enhance functionality, foster greater autonomy, and substantially improve the quality of life of people with PD. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10259/8838 Functionality and Quality of Life with Parkinson’s Disease after Use of a Dynamic Upper Limb Orthosis: A Pilot Study Jiménez Barrios, María; González Bernal, Jerónimo; Cubo Delgado, Esther; Gabriel Galán, José María; García López, Beatriz; Berardi, Anna; Tofani, Marco; Galeoto, Giovanni; Matthews, Martin J. A.; Santamaría Peláez, Mirian; González Santos, Josefa Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative movement disorder, whose symptoms have a negative impact on quality of life and functionality. Although its main treatment is pharmacological, non-pharmacological aids such as the dynamic elastomeric fabric orthosis (DEFO) merit an evaluation. Our objective is to assess the DEFO in upper limb (UL) functional mobility and in the quality of life of PD patients. A total of 40 patients with PD participated in a randomized controlled crossover study, and were assigned to a control group (CG) and to an experimental group (EG). Both groups used the DEFO for two months, the experimental group the first two months of the study and the control group the last two. Motor variables were measured in the ON and OFF states at the baseline assessment and at two months. Differences from the baseline assessment were observed in some motor items of the Kinesia assessment, such as rest tremor, amplitude, rhythm or alternating movements in the ON and OFF states with and without orthosis. No differences were found in the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS) or the PD quality-of-life questionnaire. The DEFO improves some motor aspects of the UL in PD patients but this does not translate to the amelioration of the standard of functional and quality-of-life scales. 2023-03-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10259/8798 Influence on Forgiveness, Character Strengths and Satisfaction with Life of a Short Mindfulness Intervention via a Spanish Smartphone Application Pizarro Ruiz, Juan Pablo; Ordóñez Camblor, Nuria; Líbano Miralles, Mario del; Escolar Llamazares, María del Camino Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are a recognized effective psychological practice characterized by attention control, awareness, acceptance, non-reactivity, and non-judgmental thinking obtained through the practice of meditation. They have been shown to be useful in reducing stress and enhancing well-being in different contexts. In this research, the effectiveness of an MBI was evaluated on variables that can promote successful job performance such as mindfulness trait, positive and negative affect, forgiveness, personality strengths and satisfaction with life. The intervention was carried out through a smartphone application called “Aire Fresco” (Fresh Air) during 14 days in the middle of the quarantine produced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The study sample was composed of 164 Spanish people who were distributed in two groups: control group and experimental group, which were evaluated before and after the intervention. The MANCOVA performed showed an overall positive effect of the intervention on the variables evaluated. The different ANCOVAs carried out showed that the intervention was beneficial in increasing mindfulness trait, reducing negative affect or increasing life satisfaction, among others. Our study is, as far as we know, the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of a brief intervention in mindfulness conducted using a smartphone application in Spanish. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10259/8795 Infant Cranial Deformity: Cranial Helmet Therapy or Physiotherapy? González Santos, Josefa; González Bernal, Jerónimo; Fuente Anuncibay, Raquel de la; Soto Cámara, Raúl; Cubo Delgado, Esther; Aguilar-Parra, José M.; Trigueros Ramos, Rubén; López Liria, Remedios Objective: To compare cranial helmet therapy (CHT) and physiotherapy (PT) for the effective treatment of positional plagiocephaly in infants in terms of improving functional recovery. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving 48 infants between 5–10 months of age with cranial deformities. The Cranial Vault Asymmetry Index (CVAI) and the Brunet–Lezine scale were calculated at the initiation of the study and after 40 treatment sessions. Results: The infants’ first assessment showed a delay in overall development areas with a global developmental quotient (DQ) (posture, coordination, sociability, and language) of 80.15. Although developmental improvements were observed in both groups in the Brunet–Lezine scale after treatment, the MANCOVA test showed no significant differences (F(5) = 0.82, p = 0.506, eta2 = 0.09). The CVAI reduced to 4.07% during the final evaluation in the cranial helmet group and 5.85% in the physiotherapy group without any significant differences between the two therapies (p = 0.70). Conclusions: No statistically significant differences were found between CHT and PT. After treatment, improvements from baseline measurements were observed in each of the readings of cranial deformity. 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z