In this article, the authors review recent studies on 3 factors that have been shown to affect the learning of motor skills-the performer's attentional focus, self-control, and practice in dyads-and discuss their implications for rehabilitation. Research has shown that directing learners' attention to the effects of their movements can be more beneficial for learning than directing their attention to the details of their own actions. Furthermore, giving learners some control over the training regimen has been found to enhance learning, unlike prescriptive training protocols that dictate when feedback will be delivered, how often, and the order that tasks will be practiced. Finally, not only can practice in dyads (or larger groups) reduce the costs of training, but it can also result in more effective learning than individual practice sessions. The incorporation of these factors into rehabilitation practice can potentially enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of rehabilitation.

Background: People with low vision or blindness may experience anxiety, fear, and depression—sometimes severe—as a result of the challenges encountered when they seek medical care. Such patients deserve, and health care professionals must provide, equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from their health care in a safe environment. A search of the literature yielded information on the needs of visually impaired people but failed to find a comprehensive program that health care facilities could use to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. This gap in the literature on visually impaired patients (VIPs) and implications for their care led us to conduct focused meetings with this population. Objective: The specific aims of this quality improvement (QI) project were to determine the needs of hospitalized VIPs, develop educational and other resources that would help clinicians and ancillary hospital staff in their interactions with VIPs, and assemble a toolbox of useful materials for VIPs themselves. Methods: A VIP care team identified the needs of VIPs as reported in the literature and in personal meetings with visually impaired people in the community. The team also surveyed interdisciplinary hospital staff members to determine their experience in caring for VIPs as well as their educational needs, and then developed strategies and educational modules to help clinicians and ancillary staff members accommodate the unique needs of VIPs in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The team also assembled a VIP toolbox that contained several items useful to VIPs themselves. Supplementary information tailored to the function of each hospital department (such as nursing, admissions, environmental services, dietary, and radiology) was also provided to help staff members improve VIPs' hospital experience. Results: The hospital's interdisciplinary staff members participated in an education program to improve their care of VIPs. Before the program, only 23.6% of 161 staff members reported having received education on caring for VIPs. After the program, however, 56.4% of 140 staff members reported having received such education. Former patients requested bracelets and room identifiers that would alert staff members to VIPs' needs, and the team provided these. The team also introduced a braille version of the hospital menu and provided VIP toolboxes at each nursing station that contained many useful daily care items. Conclusions: VIPs have specific needs when hospitalized. Patients' and staff members' responses to this QI project were overwhelmingly positive; both groups were appreciative of the newly implemented initiatives to meet the special needs of the visually impaired.

During maximal whole body exercise arterial hypoxemia may reduce cerebral oxygenation and provoke central fatigue, defined as an inability of the central nervous system to fully recruit the involved muscles. This study evaluated the effect of hyperoxia on central fatigue indices, i.e., reduction in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and transcranial magnetic stimulated (TMS) force generation. Six competitive rowers performed 2000 m all‐out exercise on a rowing ergometer in normoxia and hyperoxia (30% O2). Arm MVC was assessed with electromyography (EMG) of the m. biceps brachii and the m. brachioradialis. Voluntary activation of the elbow flexor muscles was assessed with TMS single pulses that were delivered to the motor cortex and evoked motor potential in the biceps brachii. Arterial hemoglobin O2 saturation was 92.5 +/− 0.2% during exercise in normoxia, while it was maintained at 98.9 +/− 0.2% in hyperoxia. Maximal rowing in normoxia resulted in a significant reduction (7.4 +/−5.1 %) in MVC, while there was no difference in the extra force produced by TMS. Following hyperoxic exercise the MVC and TMS were not different. These data indicate that following maximal rowing the force generating capacity of the elbow flexor muscles is attenuated but, even though TMS could not confirm a role of central fatigue for the force deficit, hyperoxia may prevent the development of such force deficit.