Content - Volume 47, Issue 4

Objective: To investigate whether using a parametric statistic in comparing groups leads to different conclusions when using summative scores from rating scales compared with using their corresponding Rasch-based measures. Methods: A Monte Carlo simulation study was designed to examine between-group differences in the change scores derived from summative scores from rating scales, and those deri ...

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of pre-discharge home assessment visits by occupational therapists in assisting hospitalized patients from a range of settings to return to community living. Data sources: Electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsychINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and OTseeker were searched until February 2014. Study selection: Quantitative ...

Objective: To investigate whether using a parametric statistic in comparing groups leads to different conclusions when using summative scores from rating scales compared with using their corresponding Rasch-based measures. Methods: A Monte Carlo simulation study was designed to examine between-group differences in the change scores derived from summative scores from rating scales, and those deri ...

Objective: To evaluate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on mobility among patients with substantial leg impairment after subacute stroke. Design: Double-blinded, stratified, randomized trial involving a sham control group. Participants: Patients who developed unilateral hemiplegia after first-ever subacute stroke and underwent inpatient stroke rehabilitation. ...

Objectives: To develop a computerized Digit Vigilance Test (C-DVT) with lower random measurement error than that of the DVT and to examine the concurrent validity, ecological validity, and test-retest reliability of the C-DVT in patients with stroke. Design: A cross-sectional study. Patients: Forty-four patients with stroke. Methods: We developed and tested the C-DVT. To examine the psychome ...

Objective: Brain–computer interface technology has been applied to stroke patients to improve their motor function. Event-related desynchronization during motor imagery, which is used as a brain–computer interface trigger, is sometimes difficult to detect in stroke patients. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is known to increase event-related desynchronization. This study i ...

Objective: To identify the predictors of community participation after spinal cord injury. Design: Cross-sectional design. Methods: A total of 139 persons with spinal cord injury living in the community completed 4 instruments: the Impact on Participation and Autonomy (IPA-Thai version), the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF-SF-Thai version), the Personal Resource Questi ...

Objectives: To describe wheelchair-specific anaerobic work capacity, isometric strength and peak aerobic work capacity of physically inactive people with long-term spinal cord injury using outcomes of tests that are feasible for use in rehabilitation centres, and to determine associations among these fitness components. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Manual wheelchair users with ...

Objective: To evaluate the cost-utility of a lifestyle intervention among adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy. Design: Single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Six university hospital/clinics in the Netherlands. Participants: Fifty-seven adolescents and young adults with spastic cerebral palsy classified as Gross Motor Functioning Classification System (GMFCS) level I ...

Objective: To evaluate use of, satisfaction with, and social adjustment with adaptive devices compared with prostheses in young people with upper limb reduction deficiencies. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 218 young people with upper limb reduction deficiencies (age range 2–20 years) and their parents. A questionnaire was used to evaluate participants’ characteristics, difficulties encoun ...

Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of the 23-item version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ-23) and to quantify their stability across 2 cultures/languages and 2 types of care-settings. Methods: Rasch analysis of data from 1,000 patients with low back pain from primary care (UK and Denmark) and secondary care (Denmark). Results: The RMDQ-23 is unidimensional ...

Objective: To examine potential gender bias in recommendations of further examination and rehabilitation in primary care for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain after an interdisciplinary team assessment. Methods: The population consisted of consecutive patients (n = 589 women, 262 men) referred during a 3-year period from primary healthcare for assessment by interdisciplinary ...

Objective: To examine the effects of cycloergometric interval training on parkinsonian rigidity, relaxed biceps brachii muscle tone in affected upper extremities, and serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Design: Case series, repeated-measures design, pilot study. Subjects/patients: Eleven patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease (Hoehn & Yahr scale 2. 3 ± 0. ...

Background: Aqua-cycling is easy to learn, acceptable, and safe for patients with knee osteoarthritis. It can therefore be an ideal component of aquatic circuit training. Objective: To investigate the feasibility of a small group-based aquatic exercise programme including aqua-cycling. Design: A feasibility study using quantitative (pre-post) and qualitative (cross-sectional) assessments. Pa ...