Objective:To measure the change in Young′s modulus of the biceps brachii during passive stretching and to assess the potential of shear wave elastography (SWE) as an auxiliary quantitative technique for assessing muscle tone.Methods:Forty-nine stroke survivors and 30 healthy subjects were evaluated using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS). According to their MAS scores they were divided into a healthy group, a healthy elbow group, an MAS class-0 group, an MAS class-1 group, an MAS class-1 + group and an MAS class-2 group. During passive extension of the subjects′ elbows, shear wave elastography was used to image the biceps brachii. Six points of the elbow were selected to record the instantaneous Young′s modulus ( EX) and calculate its change during the movement (Δ E). Those data were correlated with the MAS scores and compared among the groups. Results:Persons with higher MAS scores tended to have a higher Young′s modulus of the biceps brachii, and the modulus was likely to increase more with increases in the angle of elbow extension. From half of the range of motion to full extension there were significant differences in EX and Δ E between MAS class-0 and class-1 groups, as well as between the class-0 and class-1 + groups. There were, however, no significant differences between MAS class-1 and MAS class-1 + . Conclusions:MAS scores can usefully predict biceps brachii stiffness during passive elbow flexion. Shear wave elastography can quantify that stiffness and also muscle tone.

ObjectiveTo describe the medical services, quality and safety of rehabilitation medicine departments in general hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals in 2020 from the aspects of structure, link and outcome quality. MethodsThrough the National Clinical Improvement System of the National Health Commission, all secondary and above general hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals were investigated in 2021, the relevant data from 9 138 hospitals, including traditional Chinese Medicine hospitals and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine hospitals in 2020. A total of 2 676 sampling hospitals were equipped with rehabilitation medicine wards. After cleaning, a total of 2 268 samples of hospitals were included for analysis. Then, the setting of wards of rehabilitation medicine departments in 6 336 hospitals that participated in the questionnaire of rehabilitation medicine departments from 2017 to 2020 was analyzed. ResultsAmong the 9 138 general hospitals surveyed this year, only 2 676 had rehabilitation wards, and three general hospitals administrated to National Health Commision had not yet set up wards. In general hospitals, the average number of physicians per bed in 57.92% hospitals, the average number of rehabilitation therapists per bed in 80.44% hospitals, and the average number of nurses per bed in 53.92% hospitals did not meet the national requirements, and the average number of rehabilitation medical personnel per bed in rehabilitation medicine departments in different regions was significantly different. The rates of early rehabilitation intervention were 13.20%, 18.90% and 29.25% respectively in the department of orthopedics, department of neurology and department of intensive care in general hospitals. The average activity of daily living improvement rate of discharged patients from rehabilitation department of general hospital was 76.35%, and that of discharged patients from rehabilitation specialized hospital was 64.30%. ConclusionProfessional medical services and quality safety of rehabilitation medicine in China improve steadily, and the degree of homogenization is further strengthened. However, from the perspective of the current prominent problems, in 2020, most general hospitals in China have not configured the wards of rehabilitation medicine, and there are problems such as the total number of rehabilitation medical personnel in the country does not meet the requirements, uneven distribution, insufficient early intervention in rehabilitation, and room for improvement of rehabilitation treatment effect, which need continuous improvement.

ObjectiveTo analyze the medical services, quality and safety of rehabilitation medicine departments in general hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals in 2021 in perspectives of structure, segment and outcome quality. MethodsWe analyzed the data from National Clinical Improvement System of the National Health Commission, involving 9 328 hospitals, including all secondary and above general hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals, as well as traditional Chinese Medicine hospitals and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine hospitals in 2021. A total of 2 513 sampling hospitals that equipped with rehabilitation wards were included. ResultsAmong the 9 328 general hospitals surveyed this year, only 2 713 had rehabilitation wards. In general hospitals, the average number of physicians per bed in 56.77% hospitals, the average number of rehabilitation therapists per bed in 80.36% hospitals, and the average number of nurses per bed in 53.53% hospitals did not meet the national requirements, and the average number of rehabilitation medical personnel per bed in rehabilitation medicine departments in different regions was significantly different. The rates of early rehabilitation intervention were 13.45%, 20.67% and 29.74% respectively in department of orthopedics, department of neurology and intensive care units in general hospitals. The average improvement rate of activities of daily living of discharged patients was 77.87% in rehabilitation department of general hospitals, and 69.01% in rehabilitation hospitals. ConclusionIn 2021, professional medical services, quality and safety of rehabilitation medicine in China have improved steadily. However, most general hospitals in China still have not configured the rehabilitation wards, and there are problems such as the total number of rehabilitation medical personnel in the country does not meet the requirements, early rehabilitation intervention is significantly insufficient, and the implementation of important evaluation and therapies is deficient. The effect of rehabilitation still needs to improve. It is necessary to continuously promote capacity building of the medical rehabilitation to improve the quality of medical rehabilitation services.