Content - Volume 49, Issue 5

Objective: To describe variation in structural and process characteristics of acute in-hospital rehabilitation and referral to post-acute care for patients with traumatic brain injury across Europe. Design: Survey study, of neurotrauma centres. Methods: A 14-item survey about in-hospital rehabilitation and referral to post-acute care was sent to 71 neurotrauma centres participating in a Europe ...

Introduction: Balance impairments are common in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia and are among the most debilitating symptoms, as they frequently result in falls and fall-related injuries. Several features of hereditary spastic paraplegia contribute to balance impairments and multiple treatment options exist. However, an overview of these underlying mechanisms and their treatment is cur ...

Background: The current global refugee crisis poses major challenges in providing effective healthcare to refugees, particularly for non-communicable diseases management and disability. This article provides an overview of refugee health and potential challenges from the rehabilitation perspective. Methods: A literature search (both academic and grey literature) was conducted using medical and h ...

Objective: To describe professionals’ perceptions of factors that facilitate or hamper the implementation and continuation of a physical activity promotion programme in rehabilitation. Design: This study used a qualitative design. Methods: Semi-structured interviews (n = 22) were conducted with rehabilitation professionals (n = 28) involved in the implementation of a ...

Objective: To describe variation in structural and process characteristics of acute in-hospital rehabilitation and referral to post-acute care for patients with traumatic brain injury across Europe. Design: Survey study, of neurotrauma centres. Methods: A 14-item survey about in-hospital rehabilitation and referral to post-acute care was sent to 71 neurotrauma centres participating in a Europe ...

Objective: This exploratory study investigated to what extent gait characteristics and clinical physical therapy assessments predict falls in chronic stroke survivors. Design: Prospective study. Subjects: Chronic fall-prone and non-fall-prone stroke survivors. Methods: Steady-state gait characteristics were collected from 40 participants while walking on a treadmill with motion capture of sp ...

Objective: To examine the relationship between patient-rated physician empathy and outcome of botulinum toxin treatment for post-stroke upper limb spasticity. Design: Cohort study. Subjects: Twenty chronic stroke patients with upper limb spasticity. Methods: All patients received incobotulinumtoxinA injection in at least one muscle for each of the following patterns: flexed elbow, flexed wri ...

Introduction: Two widely used outcome measures to assess functioning in neurological rehabilitation are the Functional Independence Measure (FIM™) and the Barthel Index. The current study aims to establish the equivalence of the total score of the FIM™ motor scale and the Barthel Index through the application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and Rasch ...

Objective: To generate practice-based evidence of outcomes in an interdisciplinary spasticity management clinic using practical application of the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS). Design: Retrospective chart review. Patients: A total of 225 adult patients who were referred for spasticity management at a tertiary rehabilitation hospital and returned for follow-up between 2010 and 2013. Methods: G ...

Objectives: To update the incidence rate, aetiology and injury characteristics of acutely-injured adults with traumatic spinal cord injury in Stockholm, Sweden, using international standards of reporting. Study design: Prospective, (regional) population-based observation. Subjects: Forty-nine consecutively enrolled individuals. Methods: A surveillance system of newly-injured adults with trau ...

Objective: To investigate the effect on balance control of postural changes related to ankylosing spondylitis. Design: Thirty-four subjects with ankylosing spondylitis and 34 healthy individuals were enrolled. Examination of postural alignment was conducted using lumbar Schober, hand to ground distance, tragus to wall distance and occiput to wall distance measurements, and Bath Ankylosing Spondy ...

Objective: Chronic fatigue and chronic pain both deter people from participating in exercise, even though exercise is often a key component of treatment. While reasons for this may seem obvious, the extent and mechanism(s) of reduced exercise performance among affected individuals, particularly those with chronic pain, are not well described. We hypothesized that patients with chronic fatigue are ...