Unilateral and bilateral upper limb dysfunction at body functions, activity and participation levels in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: There has been limited research on upper limb dysfunction in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Objective: The objective of this paper is to study unilateral and bilateral upper limb dysfunction at different International Classification of Functioning (ICF) levels according to overall disability in PwMS.

Methods: A total of 105 PwMS (16 with EDSS<4 (mild); 17 with EDSS 4-5.

Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process uniquely measures spatial neglect during activities of daily living.

Objectives: To explore the factor structure of the Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process (KF-NAP), and evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of spatial neglect among stroke survivors.

Design: Inception cohort.

Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF).

Balance ability measured with the Berg balance scale: a determinant of fall history in community-dwelling adults with leg amputation.

Objective: Falls are common among adults with leg amputations and associated with balance confidence. But subjective confidence is not equivalent with physical ability. This multivariate analyses of community-dwelling adults with leg amputations examined relationships among individual characteristics, falls, balance ability and balance confidence.

Associations of upper limb disability measures on different levels of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: It is unknown how impairments caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) affect upper limb capacity, performance, and community integration.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which impairments explained the variance in activity level and participation level measures of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the extent to which upper limb capacity measures explained perceived performance on the activity level in people with MS and different dexterity levels.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study.

Responsiveness of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36): changes in hand function using self-reported and clinician-rated assessments.

OBJECTIVE. To examine the responsiveness of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36) compared with a clinician-administered functional assessment. METHOD.

Role of balance ability and confidence in prosthetic use for mobility of people with lower-limb loss.

For people with lower-limb loss, impaired balance is common and limits prosthetic function within the community. This cross-sectional study (1) analyzed relationships among prosthetic use for mobility, balance ability and confidence, and amputation-related variables and (2) determined multivariate models to identify level of prosthetic use. Subjects included 46 community-dwelling adults (mean age 56.

What do clinicians need from a rehabilitation treatment taxonomy? An alternate approach for describing treatment content versus process.

Clinician feedback and thought processes about treatment classification and description will aid development of the rehabilitation treatment taxonomy (RTT) presented in this supplement. Here, we discuss comparisons between the proposed RTT and an inductive practice-based evidence (PBE) model used to describe rehabilitation treatments. Interviews with clinicians well versed with PBE highlight the complexity of rehabilitation treatments, and bring to light potential advantages and challenges of a deductive, theory-driven classification to uncover the black box of rehabilitation.

Preliminary assessment of balance with the Berg Balance Scale in adults who have a leg amputation and dwell in the community: Rasch rating scale analysis.

Background: Self-report measures of balance and multidimensional mobility assessments are common for people with a leg amputation, yet clinical assessment of balance ability remains less explored. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), typically used for other populations with impaired balance, has been used for young people with a high level of functioning after traumatic amputation but rarely for older people after vascular amputation.

Objective: The study objective was to examine the psychometric properties of the BBS with Rasch rating scale analysis to determine the validity and utility of the BBS in assessing balance ability in adults who have a leg amputation and dwell in the community.

The development and preliminary validation of the Taiwanese Manual Ability Measure for Burns.

Objective: To develop and validate the Taiwanese Manual Ability Measure for Burns (T-MAM for Burns), a task-oriented functional evaluation tool to assess self-reported manual ability in burn patients.

Design: A longitudinal study.

Participants: A sample of 45 burn patients from burn rehabilitation centers with varying degrees of hand involvement.

Smallest real difference of 2 instrumental activities of daily living measures in patients with chronic stroke.

Objective: To estimate the smallest real difference (SRD) values of 2 instrumental activities of daily living measures (the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living [NEADL] and the Frenchay Activities Index [FAI]) in patients with chronic stroke.

Design: Test-retest reliability study.

Setting: Physical rehabilitation units of 5 hospitals.

Preoperative enoxaparin is safe to use in major gynecologic surgery for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of preoperative enoxaparin in patients undergoing major gynecologic oncology surgery.

Methods: We identified a retrospective cohort group of patients undergoing major gynecologic oncology surgery from June 2002 to June 2004. Exclusion criteria included laparoscopic surgery, inferior vena cava filter, history of venous thromboembolism, and current anticoagulation for prior venous thromboembolism.

Factors influencing therapists' decision-making in the acceptance of new technology devices in stroke rehabilitation.

Objective: The aims of this study were to identify factors or barriers in therapists' decisions to acquire and use new technology devices (NTDs) and to examine rating differences across therapy disciplines.

Design: Literature review, key informant interviews, and focus group sessions were conducted to define a conceptual framework of acceptance/resistance of NTDs and to develop survey items. The survey was subsequently mailed to therapists.

Psychometric validation of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36) in patients with neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders.

Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36), a new hand function outcome measure, and to examine differences in manual abilities and item parameters in patients with neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions.

Design: Convenience sample from 2 time periods, cross-sectional.

Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation units and private hand clinics.

Test-retest reproducibility and smallest real difference of 5 hand function tests in patients with stroke.

Objective: To investigate the test-retest reproducibility and smallest real difference (SRD) of 3 hand strength tests (grip, palmar pinch, and lateral pinch) and 2 dexterity tests (the Box and Block test [BBT] and the Nine Hole Peg test [NHPT]) in patients with stroke.

Methods: The 5 tests were administered on 62 stroke patients in 2 sessions, 3 to 7 days apart. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine the level of reproducibility between measurements on 2 sessions.

Relationship between performance-based and self-reported assessment of hand function.

Objective: To examine the relationships between self-reported and performance-based hand function.

Method: Thirty participants with hand function limitations completed the Manual Ability Measure (MAM-36) and the Upper Extremity Performance Test for the Elderly (TEMPA). Participants were categorized into two groups: (1) Dominant Hand Affected and (2) Nondominant Hand Affected.

Hand strength and perceived manual ability among patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: To describe hand function among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to examine the relationship between strength and self-reported abilities.

Design: Cross-sectional study using a convenience sample.

Setting: Outpatient department at a rehabilitation center.

Grip strength, perceived ability, and health status in individuals with arthritis: an exploratory study.

The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to describe the hand strength, self-reported manual ability and health status in individuals with osteo- or rheumatoid arthritis, and (2) to evaluate the scale (psychometric) properties of the 36-item Manual Ability Measure (MAM) as it applied to this sample. We administered four self-report assessments to the participants and measured their grip and pinch strength. The results indicated that persons with arthritis had decreased grip and pinch strength, more functional limitations, compromised health status and restricted participation in everyday occupations when compared to the general population.

Psychometric properties and developmental differences in children's ADL item hierarchy: a study of the WeeFIM instrument.

Objective: To investigate the measurement properties of the WeeFIM instrument and examine the developmental differences in motor item difficulty in a pediatric inpatient rehabilitation sample.

Design: Database approach, retrospective study, using 814 WeeFIM records from 12 facilities. Rasch rating scale analysis was used for all analyses.

Impact of pediatric rehabilitation services on children's functional outcomes.

Objectives: Relatively little is known about the treatment effectiveness and functional outcomes of pediatric rehabilitation therapies. This study was conducted to gain knowledge of the type and quantity of inpatient rehabilitation services provided to children who received acute inpatient rehabilitation and compare functional gains by age and diagnosis.

Method: A retrospective cohort design was used.

Functional gains and therapy intensity during subacute rehabilitation: a study of 20 facilities.

Objectives: To document patient, program characteristics, and therapy service provision in subacute rehabilitation across 3 types of facilities that provide subacute rehabilitation, to examine the determinants of therapy intensity, and to evaluate the contribution of rehabilitation services to functional gains.

Design: A retrospective study linking administrative billing data and patients' functional assessment records.

Setting: Twenty facilities part of the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) subacute database

Participants: A total of 1976 billing records of patients with stroke, orthopedic, and debility impairments, discharged in 1996 and 1997, were retrieved and linked with the FIM trade mark instrument ratings from UDSMR subacute database.