The role and position of passive intervertebral motion assessment within clinical reasoning and decision-making in manual physical therapy: a qualitative interview study.

Passive intervertebral motion (PIVM) assessment is a characterizing skill of manual physical therapists (MPTs) and is important for judgments about impairments in spinal joint function. It is unknown as to why and how MPTs use this mobility testing of spinal motion segments within their clinical reasoning and decision-making. This qualitative study aimed to explore and understand the role and position of PIVM assessment within the manual diagnostic process.

Treatment-related and patient-related expectations of patients with musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of published measurement tools.

Objectives: Many of the various types of treatments that are used in the rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) require active involvement of the patient. Patient expectations, for instance with regard to treatment, such as physical therapy, could be important prognostic factors. Behavioral interventions to modify those expectations might improve treatment outcome and prevent chronicity.

Improved interpretation of stroke trial results using empirical Barthel item weights.

Background And Purpose: Attempts have been made to provide guidelines for interpreting Barthel scores. We used a Rasch analysis to improve the measurement properties and clinical interpretability of the Barthel index score.

Methods: A specific extension of Rasch model was used to identify items that preclude the summation of items and to improve the item rating scale by examining the scores on the Barthel of 559 stroke patients scored 3 weeks (n=89) and 6 months (n=470) after stroke.