Rigid shoulder taping with physiotherapy in patients with subacromial pain syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of individualized physiotherapy in combination with rigid taping compared with individualized physiotherapy alone in patients with subacromial pain syndrome.

Design: A prospective randomized trial with concealed allocation.

Patients: A total of 140 patients between 18 and 65 years of age from primary physiotherapy settings.

Regression-Based Norms for the Symbol Digit Modalities Test in the Dutch Population: Improving Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis?

Background/aims: Appropriate and timely screening instruments that sensitively capture the cognitive functioning of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are the need of the hour. We evaluated newly derived regression-based norms for the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) in a Dutch-speaking sample, as an indicator of the cognitive state of MS patients.

Methods: Regression-based norms for the SDMT were created from a healthy control sample (n = 96) and used to convert MS patients' (n = 157) raw scores to demographically adjusted Z-scores, correcting for the effects of age, age2, gender, and education.

Newly Identified Gait Patterns in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis May Be Related to Push-off Quality.

Background: Limited walking ability is an important problem for patients with multiple sclerosis. A better understanding of how gait impairments lead to limited walking ability may help to develop more targeted interventions. Although gait classifications are available in cerebral palsy and stroke, relevant knowledge in MS is scarce.

Transforaminal epidural steroid injections influence Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) pain response classification in candidates for lumbar herniated disc surgery.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Background: Although lumbar radiculopathy is regarded as a specific diagnosis, the most effective treatment strategy is unclear. Commonly used treatments include transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TESIs) and Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy (MDT), but no studies have investigated the effectiveness of this combination.

Writing information transfers for out-of-hours palliative care: a controlled trial among GPs.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the effect of the implementation of an information handover form regarding patients receiving palliative care. Outcome was the information available for the out-of-hours GP co-operative.

Design: We conducted a controlled trial.

The Influence of Centralization and Directional Preference on Spinal Control in Patients With Nonspecific Low Back Pain.

Study Design: Prospective cohort, test-retest design.

Background: Directional preference (DP) with centralization (CEN) and DP without CEN are common pain-pattern responses assessed by Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT). Although there is evidence that MDT can reduce pain and disability in the short term by treating the patient with direction-specific exercises concordant with the patient's DP, the mechanism responsible for this is unclear.

Can Optimism, Pessimism, Hope, Treatment Credibility and Treatment Expectancy Be Distinguished in Patients Undergoing Total Hip and Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Objectives: The constructs optimism, pessimism, hope, treatment credibility and treatment expectancy are associated with outcomes of medical treatment. While these constructs are grounded in different theoretical models, they nonetheless show some conceptual overlap. The purpose of this study was to examine whether currently available measurement instruments for these constructs capture the conceptual differences between these constructs within a treatment setting.

Language comprehension in nonspeaking children with severe cerebral palsy: Neuroanatomical substrate?

Background And Aims: To identify relations between brain abnormalities and spoken language comprehension, MRI characteristics of 80 nonspeaking children with severe CP were examined.

Methods: MRI scans were analysed for patterns of brain abnormalities and scored for specific MRI measures: white matter (WM) areas; size of lateral ventricles, WM abnormality/reduction, cysts, subarachnoid space, corpus callosum thinning and grey matter (GM) areas; cortical GM abnormalities, thalamus, putamen, globus pallidus and nucleus caudatus and cerebellar abnormalities. Language comprehension was assessed with a new validated instrument (C-BiLLT).

Productivity at work and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine which combination of personal, disease-related and environmental factors is best associated with at-work productivity loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to determine whether at-work productivity loss is associated with the quality of life for these patients.

Methods: This study is based on cross-sectional data. Patients completed a questionnaire with personal, disease-related and environmental factors (related to the work environment), and clinical characteristics were obtained from patient medical records.

Comparison of reading performance tests concerning difficulty of sentences and paragraphs and their reliability.

Purpose: In research and practice, sentences or paragraphs of reading tests may be randomly chosen to assess reading performance. This means that in addition to test reliability, all sentences or paragraphs should be reliable and equally difficult to read. The sentences and paragraphs of five (un-) standardised Dutch reading tests were investigated in this regard.

In a clinimetric analysis, 3D stereophotogrammetry was found to be reliable and valid for measuring scar volume in clinical research.

Objectives: Volume is an important feature in the evaluation of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry is a noninvasive technique for the measurement of scar volume. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of 3D stereophotogrammetry for measuring scar volume.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Lumbosacral Spine Magnetic Resonance Image Reading by Chiropractors, Chiropractic Radiologists, and Medical Radiologists.

Study Design: A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study was conducted in 2 sessions.

Objective: It is important to know whether it is possible to accurately detect "specific findings" on lumbosacral magnetic resonance (MR) images and whether the results of different observers are comparable.

Summary Of Background Data: Health care providers frequently use magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnostic process of patients with low back pain.

The Arm Function in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (AMSQ): development and validation of a new tool using IRT methods.

Purpose: We developed the Arm Function in Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (AMSQ) to measure arm and hand function in MS, based on existing scales. We aimed at developing a unidimensional scale containing enough items to be used as an itembank. In this study, we investigated reliability and differential item functioning of the Dutch version.

Effects of a Dual Sensory Loss Protocol on Hearing Aid Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Dual sensory loss (DSL; concurrent vision and hearing loss) negatively affects quality of life. As speechreading is hampered, use of hearing aids (HAs) is important for older adults with DSL. However, due to vision loss, use of small and complex HAs is assumed to be difficult.

Spoken language comprehension of phrases, simple and compound-active sentences in non-speaking children with severe cerebral palsy.

Background: Children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) (i.e. 'non-speaking children with severely limited mobility') are restricted in many domains that are important to the acquisition of language.

The sensitivity to change over time of the Amsterdam IADL Questionnaire(©).

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity to change over time of a new informant-based instrument to assess instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) during the course of dementia: the Amsterdam IADL Questionnaire(©) (A-IADL-Q).

Methods: Participants (n = 102) were patients and their informants who visited the Alzheimer Center of the VU University Medical Center. Linear mixed models with random effects were used to relate longitudinal change on the A-IADL-Q to diagnosis and to longitudinal change in cognitive measures.

Minimally important change values of a measurement instrument depend more on baseline values than on the type of intervention.

Objectives: Multi-item questionnaires are frequently used to measure outcomes in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in patients with sciatica. Knowing the minimaly important change (MIC) values for these instruments will facilitate interpretation of change scores. MIC values have been shown to be dependent on baseline values.

Longitudinal observation, evaluation and interpretation of coping with mental (emotional) health in low vision rehabilitation using the Dutch ICF Activity Inventory.

Background: Since there is evidence that mental health aspects (such as depression) may inhibit an optimal rehabilitation outcome, there is growing interest in the psychosocial aspects of vision loss as part of rehabilitation. The purpose of this study is to provide more insight into the construct validity and (longitudinal) interpretation of goals related to 'Coping with mental (emotional) health aspects' which are part of the recently developed 'Dutch ICF Activity Inventory (D-AI). Moreover, the data allowed to provide some insight in the outcome in this domain in relation to rehabilitation programs followed in Dutch Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Centers at baseline and follow-up.

The effect of galantamine on brain atrophy rate in subjects with mild cognitive impairment is modified by apolipoprotein E genotype: post-hoc analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The aim of this investigation was to assess the effect of galantamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and allosteric modulator of nicotinic receptors, on brain atrophy in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to assess effect modification by apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype.

Methods: We used data from the Galantamine-International-11 (Gal-Int-11) trial, a 24-month, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose (16 to 24 mg daily) study in patients with MCI. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including a 3-dimensional T1-weighted gradient echo volumetric sequence, was performed at screening and at 24 months.

Predictive value of diffusion-weighted imaging without and with including contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in image analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: To assess disease-free survival (DFS) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with (chemo)radiotherapy ([C]RT).

Methods: Pretreatment MR-images of 78 patients were retrospectively studied. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) were calculated with two sets of two b-values: 0-750s/mm(2) (ADC750) and 0-1000s/mm(2) (ADC1000).

Hands4U: the effects of a multifaceted implementation strategy on hand eczema prevalence in a healthcare setting. Results of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Healthcare workers have an increased risk of developing hand eczema. A multifaceted implementation strategy was developed to implement a guideline to prevent hand eczema among healthcare workers.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of the implementation strategy on self-reported hand eczema and preventive behaviour.

Treatment of forefoot problems in older people: a randomized clinical trial comparing podiatric treatment with standardized shoe advice.

Purpose: Consultations for forefoot pain are frequent in primary care, but scientific support of treatment options is scarce. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of podiatric treatment vs standardized advice on proper shoe characteristics and fit of shoes by means of an information leaflet for people aged 50 years and older with forefoot pain in primary care.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 205 participants aged 50 years and older with hindering nontraumatic forefoot pain have been recruited at their general practitioner's office.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on physical performance and activity in non-western immigrants.

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among non-western immigrants in The Netherlands and associated with poor physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on physical performance, exercise capacity, and daily physical activity in vitamin D-deficient, overweight non-western immigrants. A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the effect of vitamin D on physical performance.