Content - Volume 42, Issue 4

Objective: To review different types of electrotherapy for the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods: A structured search of the electronic database MEDLINE was performed from the time of its initiation to July 2009. Articles in English and German were selected. Results: The efficacy of different types of electrotherapy for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy has been ...

Objective: To explore the occurrence of, and risk factors for, spasticity until 6 months after first-ever stroke. Methods: Forty-nine patients were examined at day 2–10, at 1 month, and at 6 months. The modified Ashworth Scale was used to assess resistance to passive movements. A comprehensive clinical examination was performed to identify other positive signs of upper motor neurone syndrome, ...

Objective: To examine the dimensionality of the Zarit Burden Interview in a sample of carers of adults with acquired brain injury. Design: A cross-sectional UK survey using postal questionnaires. Participants: A sample of 222 carers; 43 men (19. 4%) and 179 women (80. 6%); mean age 54 years. Types of brain injury included traumatic brain injury (49. 5%), stroke (25. 9%), brain infection (17. 3 ...

Objectives: To assess the acceptance, utilization and clinical results of an arm studio designed to intensify treatment of the severely to moderately affected arm after stroke. In line with a distal bilateral approach, the equipment comprised 4 workstations, 1 finger trainer, and 3 machines for bilateral training of selected distal and proximal movements. Design: Open study. Subjects: Of 119 t ...

Objectives: To apply Rasch analysis to evaluate the psychometric properties of the composite score of the 3 upper limb subscales of the Motor Assessment Scale (UL-MAS) when administered in the acute/subacute phase post-stroke. Design: Prospective data collection of UL-MAS scores. Participants: Eighty Eighty individuals a mean of 64. 8 days (standard deviation 53. 3; range 4–193 days) followi ...

Objective: To improve, with the aid of psychometric analysis, the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), a tool designed to analyse several postural control systems that may contribute to poor functional balance in adults. Methods: Performance of the BESTest was examined in a convenience sample of 115 consecutive adult patients with diverse neurological diagnoses and disease severity, referr ...

Objective: To measure the effect of intensive therapy and the lasting effect of a standardized functional training programme with vs. without the addition of chemodernervation of the muscles of the forearm and hand. Patients and methods: Twenty children with spastic hemiplegia, aged 4–16 years, were matched for baseline characteristics and randomized to standardized task-oriented therapy for 6 ...

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy has been reported to be effective in reducing muscle hypertonia in adults. Aim: To evaluate the effect of shock wave treatment of spastic muscles in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Twelve children with spastic equinus foot (6 boys, 6 girls; mean age 8 years (standard deviation (SD) 2. 31)) were monitored. Clinical (Ashworth Scale, passive ra ...

Objective: To compare the efficacy of three 12-month training programmes on headache and upper extremity pain in patients with chronic neck pain. Methods: A total of 180 female office workers, with chronic, non-specific neck pain were randomly assigned to 3 groups. The strength group performed isometric, dynamic and stretching exercises. The endurance group performed dynamic muscle and stretchin ...

Objective: To examine the state of, and change in, biopsycho­social health and quality of life of patients after whiplash injury, before and after an inpatient interdisciplinary pain management programme. Methods: Observational, prospective cohort study (n = 103) using medical record data and standardized self-assessments to compare health state with general population norms and to determin ...

Objective: The aim of this observational study was to explore whether patients with traumatic peripheral nerve injury of the hand perceive referred sensations; sensations that are perceived to emanate from other areas of the body than the part being stimulated. Referred sensations have been reported following amputation, somatosensory deafferentation, local anaesthesia, stroke, brachial plexus a ...

Objective: To identify and compare objective and self-perceived characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who do and do not choose rehabilitation. Subjects: The study comprised 205 consecutive patients with mild to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They chose either inpatient rehabilitation (n = 161) or ordinary outpatient consultations (n =� ...

Objective: To investigate eye–hand coordination in stroke survivors and its relationship with sensori-motor impairments and hand functioning in daily life. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: Fifteen subjects with stroke (mean age 62. 5 years (standard deviation (SD) 7. 1); time post-stroke 5. 2 years (SD 3. 0)) recruited by convenience sampling. Methods: A fast finger-pointing task t ...

Study design: Cohort study. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of neuropathic pain in adults with spina bifida, to study the relationship between neuropathic pain, age at examination, gender, completeness of injury, neurological level and presence of hydrocephalus. Methods: A total of 110 patients with spina bifida who visited the spinal cord injury outpatient clinic Spinalis were includ ...

Objective: To evaluate the perceptions of health and quality of life among a group of polio survivors in Israel and to identify potential activities for improving their quality of life. Design: An observational study. Subjects: The sample consisted of 101 polio survivors who sought treatment at 2 post-polio clinics in Israel. The majority of participants were between the ages of 45 and 65 year ...