Abstract

The HeadUp collar (previously known as the Sheffield Support Snood) provides support for neck weakness caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and has shown to be superior to alternative options in a small cohort of patients from one single center. Here we report the assessment of the HeadUp collar in a larger cohort of patients, exploring the use in other neurological conditions and expanding to other centers across the UK and Ireland. An interventional cross-sectional study design was implemented to investigate the usability and acceptability of the HeadUp collar. A total of 139 patients were recruited for the study, 117 patients had a diagnosis of ALS and 22 patients presented with neck weakness due to other neurological conditions. Participants were assessed at baseline, fitted a HeadUp collar and followed-up one month later. The performance of the HeadUp collar was rated favorably compared to previously worn collars in terms of the ability to eat, drink and swallow. Findings suggest that the collar also permitted a more acceptable range of head movements whilst maintaining a good level of support. We conclude that the HeadUp collar is a suitable option for patients with neck weakness due to ALS and other neurological conditions.

摘要

HeadUp 项圈（以前称为 Sheffield Support Snood）为肌萎缩侧索硬化 (ALS) 引起的颈部无力提供支撑，并且在来自一个中心的一小群患者中显示出优于其他选择。在这里，我们报告了对更多患者队列的 HeadUp 项圈的评估，探索在其他神经系统疾病中的使用，并扩展到英国和爱尔兰的其他中心。实施了一项介入性横断面研究设计来调查 HeadUp 项圈的可用性和可接受性。该研究共招募了 139 名患者，117 名患者被诊断为 ALS，22 名患者因其他神经系统疾病而出现颈部无力。参与者在基线时接受评估，戴上 HeadUp 项圈，并在一个月后进行随访。与以前佩戴的项圈相比，HeadUp 项圈在进食、饮水和吞咽能力方面的性能被评为良好。研究结果表明，衣领还允许更可接受的头部运动范围，同时保持良好的支撑水平。我们得出结论，HeadUp 项圈是 ALS 和其他神经系统疾病导致颈部无力的患者的合适选择。