Content - Volume 43, Issue 10

Objective: To review the development of Rasch analysis by examining the history of its application to the Functional Independence Measure (FIMTM), and highlighting current issues in the approach. Methods: All Rasch-based papers concerning the FIMTM were reviewed for their analytical strategy and results. Four analytical pathways were identified that accommodated the majority of these strategies. ...

On June 9th 2011 the WHO World Report on Disability (WRD), called for by the World Health Assembly (WHA), was launched at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The WRD displays what has come to be known as the integrative model of functioning and disability as expressed in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The present paper summarizes the represen ...

Objective: To identify risk factors and predict falling in stroke patients. To determine the strength of general vs mobility screening for this prediction. Design: Prospective study. Subjects: Patients in the first 6 months after stroke. Methods: The following assessments were carried out: an interview concerning civil state and fall history, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depressi ...

Objective: To review the development of Rasch analysis by examining the history of its application to the Functional Independence Measure (FIMTM), and highlighting current issues in the approach. Methods: All Rasch-based papers concerning the FIMTM were reviewed for their analytical strategy and results. Four analytical pathways were identified that accommodated the majority of these strategies. ...

Objective: To investigate the inter-rater reliability of the Early Functional Abilities (EFA) scale. Design: An observational study of inter-rater reliability in an open cohort. Patients: Twenty-four patients with traumatic brain injury in need of medical or surgical intervention in the early rehabilitation section of the intensive care unit. Methods: The EFA was assessed by 4 different prof ...

Objective: To explore the relationship between functional status and different domains of postural control, and to make recommendations about the use of postural control tests in clinical practice among women with rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects: A total of 91 women with rheumatoid arthritis and 110 controls. The patients were grouped according to the total score of the Health Assessment Question ...

Objective: To assess the effects of using a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint on the functional performance of activities of daily living in persons with an above-knee leg amputation. Objective: To assess the effects of using a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint on the functional performance of activities of daily living in persons with an above-knee leg amputation. ...

Objective: To explore the perceptions of being discharged home following lower limb orthopaedic surgery in older adults. Methods: Qualitative interviews with 11 patients over the age of 65 years were conducted between 6 and 12 weeks after discharge home and analysed using interpretative pheno­menological analysis (IPA). Results: Three themes were identified from analysis of the participants ...

Objective: To investigate the correlation of higher-order coping strategies of tenacious goal pursuit and flexible goal adjustment with adjustment after rehabilitation in spinal cord injury. Design: Cross-sectional correlational study. Subjects/patients: All 397 eligible patients entered for spinal cord rehabilitation between 1999 and 2009 were contacted and 130 (33%) agreed to complete a self ...

Objective: To evaluate the improvement rate of quadriceps muscle peak torque in healthy subjects and patients with burn injuries after an isokinetic training programme. Subjects: Thirty male volunteers, 15 healthy and 15 subjects with burn injury after complete healing, participated in the study. Methods: Concentric and eccentric torque of quadriceps was measured for both groups using an isoki ...

Objective: To investigate the recovery pattern of bilateral upper extremity muscle strength and to predict the recovery of strength early after stroke using a logarithmic regression model. Design: Longitudinal study. Subjects: Twenty-one inpatients with post-stroke hemiparesis were enrolled. The mean time after stroke event was 7. 1 days (standard deviation (SD) 3. 5 days). Methods: Bilatera ...

Background and purpose: The Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (EADL) Scale is frequently used in clinical practice and research in rehabilitation to assess patients’ independence in activities of daily living. Summative scores are used for this purpose, but this is problematic because the EADL is an ordinal level measurement scale. Objectives: To examine the fit of data to the Ras ...

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of neurorehabilitative training using an electroencephalogram-based brain– computer interface for hand paralysis following stroke. Design: A case series study. Subjects: Eight outpatients with chronic stroke demonstrating moderate to severe hemiparesis. Methods: Based on analysis of volitionally decreased amplitudes of sensory motor rhythm during mo ...

Abstract is missing (Commentary)

Abstract is missing (Letter)