Content - Volume 43, Issue 6

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether an Internet-based cognitive behavioural intervention would have an effect on the symptoms of chronic back pain. Design: Experimental design with a treatment group and a control group measured before and after a treatment period. Subjects: Participants who met the criteria for chronic back pain (n = 54). Methods: All participants ...

Background and objective: The concept of the “standing” of scientific journals (in terms of influence, prestige, popularity, etc. ) is multi-dimensional and cannot be captured adequately by a single indicator. The aim of this report is to compare and comment on different bibliometric indicators related to some leading journals in rehabilitation, in order to provide further insights regarding t ...

Objective: To compare the benefits of home physiotherapy, institution-based physiotherapy and no physiotherapy following hip fracture surgery. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Methods: Two reviewers independently extracted data from 5 included studies. Standardized mean differences were pooled for health-related quality of life and performance-based ...

Objective: Mortality, cause of death and risk indicators for death among patients with traumatic spinal cord injury were investigated over a 30-year period. Design: A cross-sectional study with retrospective data. Subjects: All patients (n = 1647) aged 16 years and over who had sustained traumatic spinal cord injury during the period 1976–2005, who were admitted to Käpylä Rehabilitatio ...

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of repeated treatment with incobotulinum toxin A (botulinum neurotoxin type A free from complexing proteins; NT 201) in post-stroke upper limb spasticity. Patients and design: After completing a double-blind, placebo- controlled, multicentre study (up to 20 weeks), 145 patients received up to 5 additional sets of NT 201 injections for an open-la ...

Objective: To examine the effect of various forms of training interventions, with and without virtual reality, on the initiation and maintenance of active participation during robot-assisted gait training. Design: Intervention study at the Rehabilitation Centre Affoltern a. A. , University Children’s Hospital, Zurich. Subjects: Ten patients (5 males, mean age 12. 47 years, standard deviation ...

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether an Internet-based cognitive behavioural intervention would have an effect on the symptoms of chronic back pain. Design: Experimental design with a treatment group and a control group measured before and after a treatment period. Subjects: Participants who met the criteria for chronic back pain (n = 54). Methods: All participants ...

Objective: To investigate the long-term efficacy of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in enhancing motor recovery in the upper extremities of stroke patients. Methods: A total of 46 patients with stroke were assigned to a neuromuscular electrical stimulation group or a control group. All patients received a standard rehabilitation programme. Patients in the neuromuscular electrical stimulatio ...

Background: Spasticity is a frequent disabling symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis, which contributes to functional deterioration. Objective: To evaluate the long-term effect of intrathecal baclofen therapy in multiple sclerosis-related spasticity and to evaluate the side-effects of long-term therapy, and the doses of baclofen required. Methods: Fourteen patients with multiple sclerosi ...

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the various factors affecting functional recovery of earthquake survivors with tibial shaft fractures in Sichuan, China, and to provide a clinical reference for the future management of people injured in earthquakes. Methods: A total of 174 earthquake survivors with tibial shaft fractures were investigated using a face-to-face survey 15 months afte ...

Objective: To assess the impact of a long-term exercise programme vs usual care on perceived health status, functional capacity and depression in patients with fibromyalgia. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Subjects: Forty-two women with fibromyalgia were allocated randomly to 1 of 2 groups: an experimental group that carried out aerobic, strength and flexibility exercises for 24 weeks and ...

Background: Virtual-reality is increasingly used to improve rehabilitation outcomes. The Nintendo Wii offers an in­expensive alternative to more complex systems. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Wii-based therapy for post-stroke rehabilitation. Methods: Seven patients (5 men, 2 women, aged 42–83 years; 1–38 months post-stroke, mean 15. 3 months) and 5 healthy controls (3 men, 2 w ...

Objective: To investigate the sustained effect of a rehabilitation programme for patients with ankylosing spondylitis, and to compare the effect of this intervention given in a Mediterranean vs a Norwegian setting. Methods: A total of 107 patients with ankylosing spondylitis applying for rehabilitation were randomized to a 4-week inpatient rehabilitation programme in a Mediterranean country or i ...

Objectives: To determine physical therapists’ perceptions and use of standardized assessments of walking ability post-stroke. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: A questionnaire was posted to physical therapists in neurological practice registered in Ontario, Canada (n = 1155). Of the 705 responders, 270 treated adults with stroke and completed the questionnaire. Results: Assessme ...

Objective: To investigate the effects of physiological ischaemia training on the quantity and activity of endothelial progenitor cells in rabbits with intermittent myocardial ischaemia. Methods: A reversible coronary artery water balloon occluder (5. 0 mm inner diameter) was placed around the proximal left ventricular branch and intermittent myocardial ischaemia was induced by deflation and infl ...

Background and objective: The increase in resistance to passive muscle stretch in a paretic limb due to an upper motor neurone lesion is often referred to as muscle spasticity. However, this terminology is inaccurate and does not take into account the complex pathogenesis of the condition or describe the factors that contribute to the clinically observed changes in muscle tone. In this report we p ...

Abstract is missing (Letter)