Symptom increase following a functional capacity evaluation in patients with chronic low back pain: an explorative study of safety.

Introduction: This study was performed to study intensity and duration of symptom increase following an FCE and to explore safety of an FCE.

Methods: Included were 92 patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), mean age 38.5 years, mean self-reported disability 12.

Skin problems in lower limb amputees: a systematic review.

Purpose: Skin problems of the stump in lower limb amputees are relative common in daily rehabilitation practice, possibly impeding prosthetic use. This impediment may have great impact in daily life. Our objective was to review literature systematically concerning incidence and prevalence of skin disorders of the stump in lower limb amputees.

A systematic review of the effects of shoes and other ankle or foot appliances on balance in older people and people with peripheral nervous system disorders.

The objective of this paper is to identify and review all publications on effects ankle and/or foot appliances (AFA) on balance in older people (>or=60 years) and patients with peripheral nervous system disorders (PNSD). These two groups account for the majority of the population with deteriorated balance due to peripheral somatosensory feedback problems. To provide a context for understanding and interpreting the studies that have been published to date, we will briefly summarize current theories on the role of somatosensory mechanisms in control of balance and how balance can be affected by AFA.

Safe lifting in patients with chronic low back pain: comparing FCE lifting task and Niosh lifting guideline.

Introduction: Both the floor-to-waist lifting task of the Isernhagen Work Systems Functional Capacity Evaluation (IWS FCE) and recommended weight limit (RWL) of the NIOSH produce safe lifting weights and are used world-wide nowadays. It is unknown whether they produce similar safe lifting weights. Aim of this study was to compare FCE performance on the floor-to-waist lifting task and RWL of the NIOSH lifting guideline for this task, in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Use of the Delphi Technique for developing national clinical guidelines for prescription of lower-limb prostheses.

The aim of this project was the development of evidence- and consensus-based clinical practice guidelines for lower-limb prosthesis prescription for achieving transparency and consensus among clinicians, manufacturers, and insurance companies. This article describes a modified Delphi Technique, which is based on different methods of collecting evidence, and its role in the development of national clinical guidelines for prosthesis prescription. We used a multimethod approach to develop guidelines for the clinical practice of prosthesis prescription for lower-limb amputees.

Work status and chronic low back pain: exploring the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.

Purpose: Exploring which variables are related to work status in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), classified according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Method: Ninety-two patients with CLBP filled out questionnaires inquiring after health status, impairments in body functions/structures, limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), participation in work, environmental and personal factors. Additionally, patients performed tests to measure physical fitness and performance of work-related activities.

Chronic pain in rehabilitation medicine.

In this paper the chronicity of pain in non-specific pain syndromes is discussed. Experts in the study of pain with several professional backgrounds in rehabilitation are the authors of this paper. Clinical experience and literature form the basis of the paper.

Phantom breast sensations and phantom breast pain: a 2-year prospective study and a methodological analysis of literature.

The first aim of this study was to assess prospectively the incidence of phantom breast sensations (PB sensations) and phantom breast pain (PB pain) in a sample of patients treated for breast cancer (n=204) by means of a modified radical mastectomy (n=82). Patients were assessed 6 weeks, 6, 12 and 24 months after mastectomy, by means of a questionnaire. After 24 months, assessments of 74 (90%) patients were available.

Potential barriers to the use of health services among ethnic minorities: a review.

Background: Ethnic minority patients seem to be confronted with barriers when using health services. Yet, care providers are often oblivious to these barriers, although they may share to some extent the burden of responsibility for them. In order to enlighten care providers, as to the potential pitfalls that may exist, there is a need to explore the different factors in the creation of the barriers.

Long term treatment related upper limb morbidity and quality of life after sentinel lymph node biopsy for stage I or II breast cancer.

Background: In a prospective study, long term upper-limb morbidity, perceived disabilities in activities of daily life (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) were assessed before and 2 years after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary lymph node dissections (ALND) for breast cancer.

Methods: Two hundred and four patients with stage I/II breast cancer, mean age 55.6 years (SD: 11.

Functional results after a Krukenberg amputation.

This case report presents a 51 year old female patient who had a train accident in 1999. She suffered bilateral trans-tibial and bilateral trans-radial amputations. In this paper, the evolution of the right transradial amputation where eventually a Krukenberg procedure was performed, is described as is its good functional outcome after rehabilitation treatment.

Literature review of the possible advantages of silicon liner socket use in trans-tibial prostheses.

The silicon liner socket has been used in the trans-tibial prosthesis since the 1980s. Silicon liner sockets are sleeves of silicon material that are rolled onto the stump and fix the prosthesis to it. The producers of the liners propagate many advantages in their use i.

Responsiveness of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire: consequences of using different external criteria.

Objective: To determine the consequences of using different external criteria on responsiveness of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) in patients with chronic low back pain.

Design: Questionnaire measures before and after rehabilitation treatment.

Setting: Rehabilitation centre.

Comparing self-report, clinical examination and functional testing in the assessment of work-related limitations in patients with chronic low back pain.

Purpose: To compare the work-related limitations assessed using self-report, clinical examination and functional testing in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Methods: Work-related limitations of 92 patients were assessed using self-report, clinical examination and functional testing. To obtain the assessed limitations the patient (self-report), the physician (clinical examination) and a trained evaluator (functional testing) completed a scorings form about the work-related limitations of the patient.

Development of an exercise testing protocol for patients with a lower limb amputation: results of a pilot study.

Due to a decrease in physical activity, lower limb amputees experience a decline in physical fitness. This causes problems in walking with a prosthesis because energy expenditure in walking with a prosthesis is much higher than in walking with two sound legs. Exercise training may therefore increase the functional walking ability of these patients.

Gait in children with cerebral palsy: observer reliability of Physician Rating Scale and Edinburgh Visual Gait Analysis Interval Testing scale.

The aim of this study was to test the inter- and intraobserver reliability of the Physician Rating Scale (PRS) and the Edinburgh Visual Gait Analysis Interval Testing (GAIT) scale for use in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Both assessment scales are quantitative observational scales, evaluating gait. The study involved 24 patients ages 3 to 10 years (mean age 6.

Claimed walking distance of lower limb amputees.

Purpose: Walking ability in general and specifically for lower limb amputees is of major importance for social mobility and ADL independence. Walking determines prosthesis prescription. The aim of this study was to mathematically analyse factors influencing claimed walking distance of lower limb amputees of 500 m or more.

Elbow orthoses: a review of literature.

The objective of this study is to review the available literature on elbow orthoses in patients with various diagnoses to assess the scientific base of the prescription of elbow orthoses. A search of literature in Medline, Embase, Cochrane and Recal was performed using the keyword "elbow" combined with "orthosis related keywords". Abstracts were read to select the papers dealing primarily with monoarticular elbow orthoses.

Testing lifting capacity: validity of determining effort level by means of observation.

Study Design: Video observation study.

Objectives: To establish the validity of determining effort level by visual observation of a lifting test.

Summary Of Background Data: Determining effort level during a lifting test is critical for interpretation of test performance, yet the validity of these determinations has not been established in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain.

Test-retest reliability of the Isernhagen Work Systems Functional Capacity Evaluation in healthy adults.

Aim of this study was to investigate test-retest reliability of the Isernhagen Work System Functional Capacity Evaluation (IWS FCE) in healthy subjects. The IWS FCE consists of 28 tests that reflect work-related activities such as lifting, carrying, bending, etc. A convenience sample of 26 healthy subjects participated in the study.

Discomfort and factual recollection in intensive care unit patients.

Introduction: A stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), although potentially life-saving, may cause considerable discomfort to patients. However, retrospective assessment of discomfort is difficult because recollection of stressful events may be impaired by sedation and severe illness during the ICU stay. This study addresses the following questions.

Validity and intra- and interobserver reliability of an indirect volume measurements in patients with upper extremity lymphedema.

We investigated a method of indirect volume measurement that utilized surface measurements and a simplified formula derived from the formula for a frustum (Sitzia's method) to determine limb volumes in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema of the upper extremity. Repeated measurements of upper-extremity limb volume were obtained by two observers on both upper extremities of 30 women with unilateral lymphedema. Volume was calculated using a simplified formula and compared with water displacement method as a gold standard.

A systematic literature review of the effect of different prosthetic components on human functioning with a lower-limb prosthesis.

A correct prosthetic prescription can be derived from adapting the functional benefits of a prosthesis to the functional needs of the prosthetic user. For adequate matching, the functional abilities of the amputees are of value, as well as the technical and functional aspects of the various prosthetic components. No clear clinical consensus seems to be given on the precise prescription criteria.

Treatment-related upper limb morbidity 1 year after sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection for stage I or II breast cancer.

Background: In a prospective study, upper limb morbidity and perceived disability/activities of daily life (ADLs) were assessed before and 1 year after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).

Methods: A total of 204 patients with stage I/II breast cancer (mean age, 55.6 years; SD, 11.