Dany Gagnon - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Dany Gagnon

Research paper thumbnail of Effectiveness of Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD: Preliminary Outcomes

Studies in health technology and informatics, 2017

Limited scientific evidence on the effectiveness of psychiatric service dogs used by Veterans wit... more Limited scientific evidence on the effectiveness of psychiatric service dogs used by Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is available. This study investigated their short-term effectiveness among 15 Canadian veterans who received a first psychiatric service dog. Preliminary results suggest potential beneficial effects at 3 months on the psychiatric symptoms.

Research paper thumbnail of Scoping review of propelling aids for manual wheelchairs

Assistive Technology, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Pain, fatigue, function and participation among long-term manual wheelchair users partnered with a mobility service dog

Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology, Jan 20, 2017

To assess the effects of a mobility service dog (MSD) on pain, fatigue, wheelchair-related functi... more To assess the effects of a mobility service dog (MSD) on pain, fatigue, wheelchair-related functional tasks, participation and satisfaction among manual wheelchair users over a nine-month period. A longitudinal study with repeated assessment times before and three, six and nine months after intervention was achieved. Intervention consisted in partnering each participant with a MSD. The setting is a well-established provincial service dog training school and participants homes. A convenience sample of 24 long-term manual wheelchair users with a spinal cord injury was involved. Outcome measures were: Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), vitality scale from the SF-36, grip strength, Wheelchair Skills Test (WST), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI), Life Space Assessment, Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive...

Research paper thumbnail of A Logic Model as the Sequence of Needs and Experience that Lead PTSD Patients to Seek a Service Dog and Concerns Related to It: A Stakeholders Perspective

International Journal of Neurorehabilitation, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Effectiveness of power wheelchair simulator training, delivered at home, on wheelchair driving skills

Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2016

Use of a power wheelchair (PW) can improve quality of life and participation in individuals with ... more Use of a power wheelchair (PW) can improve quality of life and participation in individuals with mobility impairments. PW skills training is generally seen as insufficient by both clinicians and PW users. A virtual reality (VR) simulator may be helpful in improving PW driving skills, when used in addition to regular training. In previous work, challenging PW driving activities have been identified through interviews with expert clinicians and PW users and were then integrated in the McGill immersive wheelchair simulator (miWe). Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR simulator training, delivered through a home program on real PW driving skills. The miWe simulator included six PW driving activities (adapted bathroom, shopping center, supermarket, elevator, street crossing and adapted transport vehicle). A computer with a joystick was installed in the participant's home. Participants (new PW users) were randomly allocated to the experimental or control group. Those in the experimental group were asked to practice all six-simulator activities for at least 20minutes every two days, over a two-week period. Participants in the control group were asked to practice on a racing videogame, for an equivalent amount of time as the experimental group. We compared wheelchair-driving skills as measured by the wheelchair skills test (WST), before and after the intervention. Preliminary analyses were made on the 35 participants who completed the study. All practiced on the simulator or computer game at least twice as much as what was minimally required. Results indicate that the WST scores in the experimental group increased by 6% on average, compared to 3% in the control group. Feedback regarding ease of use and potential usefulness of the PW simulator was very positive. Our preliminary results show that miWe simulator training may slightly improve wheelchair skills as compared to training with a racing videogame. A PW simulator may be helpful to new users if it promotes the practice of activities in specific environmental contexts to complement the basic skills training received in the clinic.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Demand and Rate of Perceived Exertion During Propulsion in a Natural Environment With and Without the Use of a Mobility Assistance Dog in Manual Wheelchair Users

American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation / Association of Academic Physiatrists, Sep 4, 2016

The aim of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory demand during manual wheelchair (MWC) prop... more The aim of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory demand during manual wheelchair (MWC) propulsion among MWC users with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in a natural environment with and without the use of a trained mobility assistance dog (MAD). In this quasi-experimental repeated-measures analysis of difference, 13 experienced MWC users with an SCI propelled themselves with and without their trained MAD at a self-selected natural speed along a standardized 630-m course in a natural environment. Participants were equipped with a portable gas analyzer to measure their oxygen consumption, ventilation, tidal volume, respiratory quotient, respiratory rate, and heart rate before, during, and after completing the course. Participants also rated their perceived exertion on a modified Borg scale following each trial. All cardiorespiratory outcome measures decreased significantly with the use of a MAD (P ≤ 0.013; mean difference, -9% to -38%). Furthermore, most participants completed the cou...

Research paper thumbnail of Ultrasonographic Measures of the Acromiohumeral Distance and Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness in Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of peak shoulder and elbow mechanical loads during weight-relief lifts and sitting pivot transfers among manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of s response to reviews Ideal timing to initiate interdisciplinary inpatient stroke rehabilitation : an exploratory study

Research paper thumbnail of Wearable exoskeleton control modes selected during overground walking affect muscle synergies in adults with a chronic incomplete spinal cord injury

Neurophysiologie Clinique, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of L’art de se déplacer dans la ville

Neurophysiologie Clinique, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Manual wheelchair users gradually face fewer postural stability and control challenges with increasing rolling resistance while maintaining a rear-wheel wheelie

Human Movement Science, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Locomotor training using an overground robotic exoskeleton in long-term manual wheelchair users with a chronic spinal cord injury living in the community: Lessons learned from a feasibility study in terms of recruitment, attendance, learnability, performance and safety

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2018

For individuals who sustain a complete motor spinal cord injury (SCI) and rely on a wheelchair as... more For individuals who sustain a complete motor spinal cord injury (SCI) and rely on a wheelchair as their primary mode of locomotion, overground robotic exoskeletons represent a promising solution to stand and walk again. Although overground robotic exoskeletons have gained tremendous attention over the past decade and are now being transferred from laboratories to clinical settings, their effects remain unclear given the paucity of scientific evidence and the absence of large-scale clinical trials. This study aims to examine the feasibility of a locomotor training program with an overground robotic exoskeleton in terms of recruitment, attendance, and drop-out rates as well as walking performance, learnability, and safety. Individuals with a SCI were invited to participate in a 6 to 8-week locomotor training program with a robotic exoskeleton encompassing 18 sessions. Selected participants underwent a comprehensive screening process and completed two familiarization sessions with the ...

Research paper thumbnail of Lower extremity outcome measures: considerations for clinical trials in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord, Jul 27, 2018

This is a focused review article. To identify important concepts in lower extremity (LE) assessme... more This is a focused review article. To identify important concepts in lower extremity (LE) assessment with a focus on locomotor outcomes and provide guidance on how existing outcome measurement tools may be best used to assess experimental therapies in spinal cord injury (SCI). The emphasis lies on LE outcomes in individuals with complete and incomplete SCI in Phase II-III trials. This review includes a summary of topics discussed during a workshop focusing on LE function in SCI, conceptual discussion of corresponding outcome measures and additional focused literature review. There are a number of sensitive, accurate, and responsive outcome tools measuring both quantitative and qualitative aspects of LE function. However, in trials with individuals with very acute injuries, a baseline assessment of the primary (or secondary) LE outcome measure is often not feasible. There is no single outcome measure to assess all individuals with SCI that can be used to monitor changes in LE function...

Research paper thumbnail of Abstracts and Workshops 7th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference November 9 - 11, 2017 Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

The journal of spinal cord medicine, Nov 1, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting rehabilitation length of stay in Canada: It’s not just about impairment

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of The role of upper extremity strength and trunk control on performance-based manual wheelchair propulsion tests in individuals with a spinal cord injury

Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Do Performance-Based Wheelchair Propulsion Tests Detect Changes Among Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury During Inpatient Rehabilitation in Quebec?

Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Jul 15, 2016

To quantify and compare the responsiveness and concurrent validity of 3 performance-based manual ... more To quantify and compare the responsiveness and concurrent validity of 3 performance-based manual wheelchair propulsion tests among manual wheelchair users with subacute spinal cord injury (SCI) undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. Quasi-experimental repeated-measures design. Publicly funded comprehensive inpatient SCI rehabilitation program. Consenting adult manual wheelchair users with a subacute SCI admitted and discharged from inpatient rehabilitation (N=14). Participants performed 20-m propulsion at both self-selected natural and maximal speeds, the slalom, and the 6-minute propulsion tests at rehabilitation admission and discharge. Time required to complete the performance-based wheelchair propulsion tests. Standardized response means (SRMs) were computed for each performance test and Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to explore the associations between performance tests. The slalom (SRM=1.24), 20-m propulsion at maximum speed (SRM=.99), and 6-minute propulsi...

Research paper thumbnail of Ideal timing to transfer from an acute care hospital to an interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program following a stroke: an exploratory study

BMC health services research, Jan 23, 2006

Timely accessibility to organized inpatient stroke rehabilitation services may become compromised... more Timely accessibility to organized inpatient stroke rehabilitation services may become compromised since the demand for rehabilitation services following stroke is rapidly growing with no promise of additional resources. This often leads to prolonged lengths of stays in acute care facilities for individuals surviving a stroke. It is believed that this delay spent in acute care facilities may inhibit the crucial motor recovery process taking place shortly after a stroke. It is important to document the ideal timing to initiate intensive inpatient stroke rehabilitation after the neurological event. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the specific influence of short, moderate and long onset-admission intervals (OAI) on rehabilitation outcomes across homogeneous subgroups of patients who were admitted to a standardized interdisciplinary inpatient stroke rehabilitation program. A total of 418 patients discharged from the inpatient neurological rehabilitation program at t...

Research paper thumbnail of Trunk strength and function using the multidirectional reach distance in individuals with non-traumatic spinal cord injury

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Effectiveness of Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD: Preliminary Outcomes

Studies in health technology and informatics, 2017

Limited scientific evidence on the effectiveness of psychiatric service dogs used by Veterans wit... more Limited scientific evidence on the effectiveness of psychiatric service dogs used by Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is available. This study investigated their short-term effectiveness among 15 Canadian veterans who received a first psychiatric service dog. Preliminary results suggest potential beneficial effects at 3 months on the psychiatric symptoms.

Research paper thumbnail of Scoping review of propelling aids for manual wheelchairs

Assistive Technology, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Pain, fatigue, function and participation among long-term manual wheelchair users partnered with a mobility service dog

Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology, Jan 20, 2017

To assess the effects of a mobility service dog (MSD) on pain, fatigue, wheelchair-related functi... more To assess the effects of a mobility service dog (MSD) on pain, fatigue, wheelchair-related functional tasks, participation and satisfaction among manual wheelchair users over a nine-month period. A longitudinal study with repeated assessment times before and three, six and nine months after intervention was achieved. Intervention consisted in partnering each participant with a MSD. The setting is a well-established provincial service dog training school and participants homes. A convenience sample of 24 long-term manual wheelchair users with a spinal cord injury was involved. Outcome measures were: Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE), vitality scale from the SF-36, grip strength, Wheelchair Skills Test (WST), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI), Life Space Assessment, Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive...

Research paper thumbnail of A Logic Model as the Sequence of Needs and Experience that Lead PTSD Patients to Seek a Service Dog and Concerns Related to It: A Stakeholders Perspective

International Journal of Neurorehabilitation, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Effectiveness of power wheelchair simulator training, delivered at home, on wheelchair driving skills

Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2016

Use of a power wheelchair (PW) can improve quality of life and participation in individuals with ... more Use of a power wheelchair (PW) can improve quality of life and participation in individuals with mobility impairments. PW skills training is generally seen as insufficient by both clinicians and PW users. A virtual reality (VR) simulator may be helpful in improving PW driving skills, when used in addition to regular training. In previous work, challenging PW driving activities have been identified through interviews with expert clinicians and PW users and were then integrated in the McGill immersive wheelchair simulator (miWe). Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of VR simulator training, delivered through a home program on real PW driving skills. The miWe simulator included six PW driving activities (adapted bathroom, shopping center, supermarket, elevator, street crossing and adapted transport vehicle). A computer with a joystick was installed in the participant's home. Participants (new PW users) were randomly allocated to the experimental or control group. Those in the experimental group were asked to practice all six-simulator activities for at least 20minutes every two days, over a two-week period. Participants in the control group were asked to practice on a racing videogame, for an equivalent amount of time as the experimental group. We compared wheelchair-driving skills as measured by the wheelchair skills test (WST), before and after the intervention. Preliminary analyses were made on the 35 participants who completed the study. All practiced on the simulator or computer game at least twice as much as what was minimally required. Results indicate that the WST scores in the experimental group increased by 6% on average, compared to 3% in the control group. Feedback regarding ease of use and potential usefulness of the PW simulator was very positive. Our preliminary results show that miWe simulator training may slightly improve wheelchair skills as compared to training with a racing videogame. A PW simulator may be helpful to new users if it promotes the practice of activities in specific environmental contexts to complement the basic skills training received in the clinic.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Demand and Rate of Perceived Exertion During Propulsion in a Natural Environment With and Without the Use of a Mobility Assistance Dog in Manual Wheelchair Users

American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation / Association of Academic Physiatrists, Sep 4, 2016

The aim of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory demand during manual wheelchair (MWC) prop... more The aim of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory demand during manual wheelchair (MWC) propulsion among MWC users with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in a natural environment with and without the use of a trained mobility assistance dog (MAD). In this quasi-experimental repeated-measures analysis of difference, 13 experienced MWC users with an SCI propelled themselves with and without their trained MAD at a self-selected natural speed along a standardized 630-m course in a natural environment. Participants were equipped with a portable gas analyzer to measure their oxygen consumption, ventilation, tidal volume, respiratory quotient, respiratory rate, and heart rate before, during, and after completing the course. Participants also rated their perceived exertion on a modified Borg scale following each trial. All cardiorespiratory outcome measures decreased significantly with the use of a MAD (P ≤ 0.013; mean difference, -9% to -38%). Furthermore, most participants completed the cou...

Research paper thumbnail of Ultrasonographic Measures of the Acromiohumeral Distance and Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness in Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of peak shoulder and elbow mechanical loads during weight-relief lifts and sitting pivot transfers among manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of s response to reviews Ideal timing to initiate interdisciplinary inpatient stroke rehabilitation : an exploratory study

Research paper thumbnail of Wearable exoskeleton control modes selected during overground walking affect muscle synergies in adults with a chronic incomplete spinal cord injury

Neurophysiologie Clinique, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of L’art de se déplacer dans la ville

Neurophysiologie Clinique, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Manual wheelchair users gradually face fewer postural stability and control challenges with increasing rolling resistance while maintaining a rear-wheel wheelie

Human Movement Science, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Locomotor training using an overground robotic exoskeleton in long-term manual wheelchair users with a chronic spinal cord injury living in the community: Lessons learned from a feasibility study in terms of recruitment, attendance, learnability, performance and safety

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2018

For individuals who sustain a complete motor spinal cord injury (SCI) and rely on a wheelchair as... more For individuals who sustain a complete motor spinal cord injury (SCI) and rely on a wheelchair as their primary mode of locomotion, overground robotic exoskeletons represent a promising solution to stand and walk again. Although overground robotic exoskeletons have gained tremendous attention over the past decade and are now being transferred from laboratories to clinical settings, their effects remain unclear given the paucity of scientific evidence and the absence of large-scale clinical trials. This study aims to examine the feasibility of a locomotor training program with an overground robotic exoskeleton in terms of recruitment, attendance, and drop-out rates as well as walking performance, learnability, and safety. Individuals with a SCI were invited to participate in a 6 to 8-week locomotor training program with a robotic exoskeleton encompassing 18 sessions. Selected participants underwent a comprehensive screening process and completed two familiarization sessions with the ...

Research paper thumbnail of Lower extremity outcome measures: considerations for clinical trials in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord, Jul 27, 2018

This is a focused review article. To identify important concepts in lower extremity (LE) assessme... more This is a focused review article. To identify important concepts in lower extremity (LE) assessment with a focus on locomotor outcomes and provide guidance on how existing outcome measurement tools may be best used to assess experimental therapies in spinal cord injury (SCI). The emphasis lies on LE outcomes in individuals with complete and incomplete SCI in Phase II-III trials. This review includes a summary of topics discussed during a workshop focusing on LE function in SCI, conceptual discussion of corresponding outcome measures and additional focused literature review. There are a number of sensitive, accurate, and responsive outcome tools measuring both quantitative and qualitative aspects of LE function. However, in trials with individuals with very acute injuries, a baseline assessment of the primary (or secondary) LE outcome measure is often not feasible. There is no single outcome measure to assess all individuals with SCI that can be used to monitor changes in LE function...

Research paper thumbnail of Abstracts and Workshops 7th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference November 9 - 11, 2017 Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

The journal of spinal cord medicine, Nov 1, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Predicting rehabilitation length of stay in Canada: It’s not just about impairment

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of The role of upper extremity strength and trunk control on performance-based manual wheelchair propulsion tests in individuals with a spinal cord injury

Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Do Performance-Based Wheelchair Propulsion Tests Detect Changes Among Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury During Inpatient Rehabilitation in Quebec?

Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Jul 15, 2016

To quantify and compare the responsiveness and concurrent validity of 3 performance-based manual ... more To quantify and compare the responsiveness and concurrent validity of 3 performance-based manual wheelchair propulsion tests among manual wheelchair users with subacute spinal cord injury (SCI) undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. Quasi-experimental repeated-measures design. Publicly funded comprehensive inpatient SCI rehabilitation program. Consenting adult manual wheelchair users with a subacute SCI admitted and discharged from inpatient rehabilitation (N=14). Participants performed 20-m propulsion at both self-selected natural and maximal speeds, the slalom, and the 6-minute propulsion tests at rehabilitation admission and discharge. Time required to complete the performance-based wheelchair propulsion tests. Standardized response means (SRMs) were computed for each performance test and Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to explore the associations between performance tests. The slalom (SRM=1.24), 20-m propulsion at maximum speed (SRM=.99), and 6-minute propulsi...

Research paper thumbnail of Ideal timing to transfer from an acute care hospital to an interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program following a stroke: an exploratory study

BMC health services research, Jan 23, 2006

Timely accessibility to organized inpatient stroke rehabilitation services may become compromised... more Timely accessibility to organized inpatient stroke rehabilitation services may become compromised since the demand for rehabilitation services following stroke is rapidly growing with no promise of additional resources. This often leads to prolonged lengths of stays in acute care facilities for individuals surviving a stroke. It is believed that this delay spent in acute care facilities may inhibit the crucial motor recovery process taking place shortly after a stroke. It is important to document the ideal timing to initiate intensive inpatient stroke rehabilitation after the neurological event. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the specific influence of short, moderate and long onset-admission intervals (OAI) on rehabilitation outcomes across homogeneous subgroups of patients who were admitted to a standardized interdisciplinary inpatient stroke rehabilitation program. A total of 418 patients discharged from the inpatient neurological rehabilitation program at t...

Research paper thumbnail of Trunk strength and function using the multidirectional reach distance in individuals with non-traumatic spinal cord injury

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2014