Validating a measure to assess factors that affect assistive technology use by students with disabilities in elementary and secondary education.

Purpose/aim: The purpose of this study was to measure the predictive validity, internal consistency and clinical utility of the Matching Assistive Technology to Child & Augmentative Communication Evaluation Simplified (MATCH-ACES) assessment.

Methods: Twenty-three assistive technology team evaluators assessed 35 children using the MATCH-ACES assessment. This quasi-experimental study examined the internal consistency, predictive validity and clinical utility of the MATCH-ACES assessment.

Determinants of use of a walking device in persons with Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To identify determinants for the use of a walking device in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Design: Cross-sectional study of participants with PD.

Setting: Laboratory.

Relationship of falls and fear of falling to activity limitations and physical inactivity in Parkinson's disease.

Aim: To investigate the relationships between falls, fear of falling, and activity limitations in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Design/methods: Cross-sectional study of individuals with mild to moderate PD (N = 83). Associations among demographic data, fall frequency, disease severity, motor impairment, ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), Activities Balance Confidence Scale, Iowa Fatigue Scale, Comorbidity Index, and Physical Activity Scale for Elders were studied.

Predictive validity of social support relative to psychological well-being in men with spinal cord injury.

Purpose: Compare predictive validity (relative to psychological well-being) of long and short versions of 2 measures of social support for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Research Method: Sixty-nine men with SCI completed (a) a long and short version of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), (b) a structured interview regarding the frequency with which a person receives 11 kinds of support from each of their most important supporters (maximum of 5), and (c) a global measure of the same 11 kinds of support. Approximately 3 years later they completed 4 measures of psychological well-being--the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CESD), the Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).

Influence of fear of falling on gait and balance in Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: To study the relationship of fear of falling (FoF) with gait characteristics and balance in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: Seventy-nine non-demented individuals (62 males) with PD were studied. Their mean age was 69.

Reliability of the non-instrumented walk test in persons with Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: To study the reliability of a Non-Instrumented Walk Test in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: Thirty individuals (21 Males) with PD were studied. Their mean age was 68.

Gait variability in Parkinson's disease: influence of walking speed and dopaminergic treatment.

Objectives: To study the effects of levodopa and walking speed on gait variability in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Thirty-three individuals with PD were studied. Their mean age was 70.

Efficacy of cranial electrotherapy stimulation for neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury: a multi-site randomized controlled trial with a secondary 6-month open-label phase.

Background: Chronic pain is a significant problem for many individuals following spinal cord injury (SCI). Unfortunately, SCI-related neuropathic pain has proven to be largely refractory to analgesic medications and other available treatments. Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) has been effective in managing some types of pain.

Feasibility of using cranial electrotherapy stimulation for pain in persons with Parkinson's disease.

Objectives. To assess the feasibility of treating musculoskeletal pain in the lower back and/or lower extremities in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) with cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES). Design.

Effect of dronabinol on central neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: a pilot study.

Objective: To test the efficacy and safety of a cannabinoid, dronabinol, compared with an active control, diphenhydramine, in relieving neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury.

Design: A randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover pilot study.

Results: Seven adults with spinal cord injury and neuropathic pain below the level of injury participated.

A pilot study: influence of visual cue color on freezing of gait in persons with Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of red and green light beams on gait and freezing of gait (FOG) in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Seven persons with PD who experienced FOG participated in the study. Gait and turning performances were studied while walking with canes with red, green, and no light beams while "off" and "on" anti-Parkinsonian medications.

Evaluation of a new device to prevent falls in persons with Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: To compare walking characteristics of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) using a new walking aid, the WalkAbout, with usual walking.

Method: Fifteen subjects with PD were recruited. Subjects walked in their usual fashion and then walked again in the WalkAbout.

Effects of assistance dogs on persons with mobility or hearing impairments: a pilot study.

Service dogs help persons with mobility impairments by retrieving items and performing other tasks. Hearing dogs alert persons with hearing impairments to environmental sounds. We conducted a pre-post, wait list-controlled pilot study to assess the impact of the dogs on the lives of recipients.

Preventing recurrent pressure ulcers in veterans with spinal cord injury: impact of a structured education and follow-up intervention.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that enhanced education and structured follow-up after pressure ulcer surgery will result in fewer recurrences.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Veterans Affairs medical center.

Pain after spinal cord injury: an evidence-based review for clinical practice and research. Report of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Spinal Cord Injury Measures meeting.

Background/objectives: To examine the reliability, validity, sensitivity, and practicality of various outcome measures for pain after spinal cord injury (SCI), and to provide recommendations for specific measures for use in clinical trials.

Data Sources: Relevant articles were obtained through a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PubMed databases from inception through 2006.

Study Selection: The authors performed literature searches to find articles containing data relevant to the reliability and validity of each pain outcome measure in SCI and selected non-SCI populations.

Perceived preparedness for physiatric specialization and future career goals of graduating postgraduate year IV residents during the 2004-2005 academic year.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends among postgraduate year (PGY) IV physiatry residents, at the time of graduation from residency, in terms of their perceived experiences in the core clinical areas, confidence with procedural subspecialization, choice in career specialization, and desire to pursue clinical fellowship.

Design: Surveys were distributed to 386 PGY IV residents in physiatry at the end of the 2004-2005 academic year.

Results: Ninety-three residents (24%) completed responses in a confidential manner.

Gender differences regarding career issues and promotion in academic physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Objective: To assess gender differences in academic progress and attitudes toward promotion in academic physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).

Design: A survey was sent to members of the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP). Questions addressed demographics, job description, hours worked, childcare responsibilities, publications, career aspirations, mentoring, and familiarity with promotion and tenure policies.

Comparison of the effectiveness of amitriptyline and gabapentin on chronic neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To test the hypotheses that both amitriptyline and gabapentin are more effective in relieving neuropathic pain than an active placebo, diphenhydramine.

Design: Randomized, controlled, double blind, triple crossover 8-week trial.

Setting: Veterans Affairs medical center.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation conditions in the Astrodome clinic after hurricane Katrina.

Objective: To report the physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) conditions seen in the Astrodome Clinic after Hurricane Katrina.

Design: Retrospective chart analysis from the county hospital-sponsored disaster-relief clinic in large urban city, including a study of 239 patients with 292 PMR conditions. The total number of patients seen in the Astrodome Medical Clinic was 11,245.

A structured educational model to improve pressure ulcer prevention knowledge in veterans with spinal cord dysfunction.

Objective: This paper describes an educational model for increasing and retaining the knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention and management in veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) or multiple sclerosis (MS) who have had surgical repair of a pressure ulcer. It also describes the correlates of pressure ulcer knowledge at admission and discharge.

Methods: Before pressure ulcer surgery, 41 male veterans with SCI or MS were randomized to either an intervention group or a control group.

Using cranial electrotherapy stimulation to treat pain associated with spinal cord injury.

Treatments for chronic pain in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) have been less than effective. Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES), a noninvasive technique that delivers a microcurrent to the brain via ear clip electrodes, has been shown to effectively treat several neurological and psychiatric disorders. The present study examined the effects of daily 1-hour active CES or sham CES treatment (randomly assigned) for 21 days on pain intensity and interference with activities in 38 males with SCI.

A pilot study of healing touch and progressive relaxation for chronic neuropathic pain in persons with spinal cord injury.

This pilot study assessed the role of Healing Touch (HT), an energy-based therapy, in modulating chronic neuropathic pain and the associated psychological distress from post spinal cord injury. Twelve veterans were assigned to either HT or guided progressive relaxation for six weekly home visits. The instruments selected showed sensitivity, although there was a large variation among the groups.

Racial/ethnic differences in FIM scores and length of stay for underinsured patients undergoing stroke inpatient rehabilitation.

Objective: To explore racial/ethnic differences in FIM data from admission to discharge in underinsured patients undergoing inpatient stroke rehabilitation.

Design: This is a retrospective analysis of the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) database of an inpatient rehabilitation unit of a county hospital in a large urban city. Data included 171 adult patients admitted to the stroke rehabilitation unit between January 2000 and October 2003.

Prevalence and characteristics of chronic pain in veterans with spinal cord injury.

To assess prevalence and characteristics of individual chronic (>6 mo) pain components in the veteran spinal cord injury (SCI) population, we conducted a telephone survey with 348 (66%) of 530 veterans with SCI who received care from one regional Department of Veterans Affairs SCI center during a 3 yr period. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to assess qualitative properties of the pain experience. Other questions were used to assess frequency, duration, intensity, exacerbating factors, and effects on daily activities.