Content - Volume 39, Issue 7

Background: While hip fractures are an important cause of disability, dependency and death in older adults, the benefit of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation for people who have sustained hip fracture has not been demonstrated. Methods: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials which compare co-ordinated multi-disciplinary rehabilitation with usual orthopaedic care in older people who had ...

Objective: To investigate occupational therapists’, physiotherapists’ and speech language pathologists’ family-related rehabilitation practice post-stroke and its association with clinician and environmental variables. Methods: A Canadian cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted on 1755 clinicians. Three case studies describing typical patients after stroke receiving acute care, in-p ...

Objective: To investigate the activity of proprioceptive systems during early recovery of motor function after ischaemic stroke in a prospective, longitudinal, functional imaging study. Methods: Ten patients with unilateral infarction of the posterior internal capsule were investigated using oxygen-15-water positron emission tomography during passive extension of the index finger. Patients were ...

Objective: To evaluate the ultrasonographic measurement of shoulder subluxation in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. Design: Prospective, single blind study. Patients: A total of 41 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were included (24 men and 17 women, mean age 56 years (standard deviation 11), age range 34–78 years). Methods: Clinical evaluation of the affected shoulder was assessed ...

Objective: To assess postural instability in patients with traumatic brain injury upon enrolment to vocational adjustment. Design: A cross-sectional study. Patients and methods: Sixty-eight patients at the time of admission to a vocational adjustment programme and 52 healthy age-matched controls were evaluated. Complaints of dizziness, or balance impairment and data from a clinical examination ...

Objective: Development of an adaptive, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-oriented patient questionnaire on mobility and self-care based on an item response theory model (MOSES questionnaire). Methods: Using item reconstruction rules, items were developed for the ICF chapters “mobility”, “self-care” and “domestic life”. The resulting instrument, ...

Objective: To determine whether the Barrow Neurological Institute Screen for Higher Cerebral Functions (BNIS) can differentiate brain-dysfunctional patients from controls. Design: A case-control study. Subjects: A total of 92 controls and 120 patients from a neuro-rehabilitation clinic with a diagnosis of: right and left hemisphere stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease or anoxi ...

Objective: Several studies have shown positive effects of treatment of chronic diseases in a warm climate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effect of a 4-week rehabilitation programme in a warm climate for patients with neuromuscular diseases. Design: A randomized controlled trial with a cross-over design. One period of intervention and one period of “life as usual”. Pat ...

Objective: To describe and compare life habits between individuals with adult and mild phenotypes of myotonic dystrophy; identify life habit dimensions in which accomplishment is compromised; and describe satisfaction related to life habits. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: A random sample of 200 subjects with myotonic dystrophy (42 mild phenotypes, 158 adult phenotypes). Measurement ...

Objective: Gait retraining should target the walking skills most needed for independence in the home and community. The main objective of this study was to document the walking tasks most commonly encountered in daily life by able-bodied adults. The study also compared participation in walking tasks between able-bodied adults and persons with incomplete spinal cord injuries. Participants: Conven ...

Objective: To study the effect of manual therapy and stretching on neck function in women with chronic neck pain. Methods: A total of 125 women were randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 received manual therapy twice a week for 4 weeks followed by stretching exercises. Group 2 performed stretching 5 times a week for 4 weeks followed by manual therapy. Neck function was assessed by isometric neck str ...

Objective: To investigate the clinical usefulness of the REHAROB Therapeutic System, which provides passive robot-mediated physiotherapy for patients with spastic hemiparesis. Design: Controlled, randomized, preliminary study. Patients and methods: Thirty patients with hemiparesis as a consequence of upper motor neurone lesion were divided randomly into 2 groups: robotic and control. Subjects ...