Content - Volume 40, Issue 10

This article does not have an abstract

Objective: To identify valid and reliable outcome measures reflective of ”real-life” active and passive function for app­lication following focal rehabilitation interventions in the hemiparetic upper limb after stroke or brain injury. Methods: A systematic review of the literature, incorporating a wide-based search including electronic databases, primary reports, abstracts and conference pro ...

Objective: To evaluate the effects of rehabilitation on sickness absenteeism, return to work and disability pensions among persons of working age. Method: Original articles published during 1970–2005 indexed in Medline and PsycINFO databases were studied systematically. The main search terms were rehabilitation, sick leave and disability pension. Out of 576 references, 41 potentially eligible p ...

Objective: To analyse different aspects of positive experiences of people on long-term sick leave with regard to their interactions with healthcare and social insurance professionals. Methods: A random population-based questionnaire survey among 10,042 long-term sick-listed people in Sweden. Statements related to positive encounters with the professionals were analysed. Factor analysis and logist ...

Objective: To determine changes in functional independence following spinal cord injury and to evaluate the association between functional independence and physical capacity. Design: Multi-centre prospective cohort study. Subjects: Patients with spinal cord injury admitted for initial rehabilitation. Methods: The motor Functional Independence Measure (FIMmotor) was determined at the start of re ...

Objective: To study the association between C-reactive protein levels and insulin resistance in patients with spinal cord injury. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Forty-two subjects who had sustained spinal cord injuries at least 6 months before enrolment. Methods: Circulating glucose, insulin and C-reactive protein levels were measured after 12 hours' fasting. The homeo­stasis model i ...

Objective: To develop a questionnaire (ABILOCO-Kids) based on the Rasch measurement model that assesses locomotion ability in children with cerebral palsy. Design: Prospective study and questionnaire development. Subjects: A total of 113 children with cerebral palsy (10 (standard deviation 2. 5) years old). Methods: A 41-item questionnaire was developed based on existing scales and on the clini ...

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of comorbid diseases and their impact on functional outcome in patients after stroke. Design: A prospective study. Subjects: A total of 140 patients after stroke. Methods: Comorbidities were assessed with the Liu comorbidity index. Functional independence was evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure (FIMTM). The relationship between comorbidities ...

Objective: To develop a satisfaction measure of activities and participation in the actual environment experienced by patients after chronic stroke using the Rasch measurement model. Methods: A 36-item questionnaire based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health model and existing scales was developed. The questionnaire was submitted to 101 patients (70% men; mean ...

Objective: To determine the risk factors of long-term survival after stroke. Design: A prospective, hospital-based cohort study. Subjects: A total of 449 consecutive patients after acute stroke from 2 medical centres, within a 1-year period, were included. Methods: Dysphagia was confirmed with the water-swallow test within the first week after stroke. Data on co-morbidities and clinical risk fa ...

Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between current post-traumatic brain injury psychiatric disorders and psychosocial outcome. Design: A total of 100 participants and 87 significant others were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Diagnosis. Participants: Participants with mild to very severe traumatic brain injury up to 5. 5 years post-injury. Met ...

Objective: To examine the effects of 2 manual therapy methods compared with one counselling session with a physiotherapist with ”advice-only to stay active” for treating low back pain/leg pain and disability. Design: A randomized, controlled trial with a 1-year follow-up. Subjects: A total of 134 subjects with low back disorders. Methods: Participants with acute to chronic first or recurren ...

Objective and design: The prevalence of low back pain was assessed in relation to physical activity, for both work and leisure activities, in a randomly selected population in the northern part of Sweden. Additionally, the associations between age, sex, level of education, lifestyle factors, demographic characteristics, and low back pain were evaluated. Subjects: A total of 5798 subjects aged 25� ...

Objective: To explore the effect of treatment after botulinum toxin type A combined with treatments for the spastic foot. Design: Single-blind, randomized trial, with 3-month follow-up. Subjects: Twenty-three chronic hemiplegic adult patients with spastic equinus foot. Methods: Following botulinum toxin type A injection at the medial and lateral gastrocnemius, patients were assigned randomly to ...

Objective: To evaluate patients' perceptions of the benefits and problems associated with using the ActiGait implanted drop-foot stimulator Method: Thirteen participants who had suffered a stroke at least 6 months prior to recruitment, had a drop-foot that affected walking and had taken part in a trial in which an ActiGait drop-foot stimulator had been implanted, completed a postal questionnaire. ...

Objective: To determine the effect of admission cognitive status on gait and stair climbing rehabilitation outcome in geriatric patients. Design: Before-after trial. Subjects: A total of 179 geriatric patients (139 women and 40 men; age range 67–97 years) consecutively admitted to a geriatric inpatient rehabilitation regimen (mean length of stay 28. 7 (standard deviation 13. 9) days). Methods ...

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate the effect of motor nerve branch block and neurotomy of the soleus nerve on triceps surae spasticity, reviewing 2 cases. Methods: Beside clinical assessment, we carried out a quantitative measurement of the stiffness of the ankle flexor muscles. The path length of the phase diagram between elastic and viscous stiffness quantifies the reflex response to moveme ...

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Sir, We read with interest the special report by Nijs et al. (1), entitled “Chronic fatigue syndrome: an approach combining self-management with graded exercise to avoid exacerbations”. The paper proposes to provide an integrated model for graded exercise therapy (GET) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The authors state that current GET programmes for people with CFS exacerb ...