Hi Beth!

I don't know about evidence, but I suspect there's no "one size fits 
all". E.g. in Danish SCI rehab it's considered beneficial to go home for 
weekends as soon as possible - for obvious implementation reasons. But 
more and more Danish neuro departments (TBI, CVA etc) have OTs and PTs 
working evenings and weekends to best cover round the clock training for 
acute patients, and those unable to go home - also other care personnel 
are trained to implement the training in care and ADLs - like using the 
ABC-concept. I know in the commune where I last worked we had some 
live-in spaces for training/rehab, where the OTs worked weekends also - 
but patients going home weekends was still considered on an individual 
basis. Then there is the need for a balanced week - with more social and 
leisure like activities on weekends - to provide some normality and 
quality of life. And the need for space between certain kinds of 
physical training, like in sports.

I just checked on those rehab departments I know to have a "policy" 
about all week training or not, but non of them mentioned any written 
evidence to support it. About therapizenter Burgau I read (in Danish, my 
translation):

In weekends and holidays reduced therapy is offered.....therapeutic 
nursing is offered 24/7....... Department of advanced rehab offers no 
therapy in weekends - .... wants the patient to stay with family .... 
important to keep up social contacts..

A google scolar search came up with this:
http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowAbstract&ProduktNr=224153&Ausgabe=231340&ArtikelNr=87932
 - The Effect of Weekends and Holidays on Stroke Outcome in Acute Stroke 
Units

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=2911615&dopt=Abstract
 - Impact of physical therapy weekend coverage on length of stay in an 
acute care community hospital.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=10088589&dopt=Abstract
 - Are stroke patients discharged sooner if in-patient rehabilitation 
services are provided seven v six days per week?

Also I noticed, when using constraint induced movement, weekends are 
often included, at least with some homework.

Greetings from Denmark

susanne

Hancox Beth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi All
>
> I am an English OT working in elderly rehab. I used to work in
> California where we treated patients on a 5, 6 or 7 day basis
> depending on their insurance. Here in the UK we are now looking at
> introducing 6 or 7 day therapy. Has anyone got any information on
> evidence that supports that this is beneficial to patients?
>
> Many Thanks
> Beth Hancox 


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