Instruments for assessment of impairments and activity limitations in patients with hand conditions: A European Delphi study.

Objective: To reach multidisciplinary European consensus on the assessment tools for impairments and activity limitations in patients with hand conditions.

Design: Electronic Delphi method.

Subjects: Thirty experts from European societies for hand therapy, hand surgery, and physical and rehabilitation medicine.

Construct validity of the canadian occupational performance measure in participants with tendon injury and Dupuytren disease.

Background: In patient-centered practice, instruments need to assess outcomes that are meaningful to patients with hand conditions. It is unclear which assessment tools address these subjective perspectives best.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the construct validity of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) in relation to the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) in people with hand conditions.

Dutch evidence-based guidelines for amputation and prosthetics of the lower extremity: Rehabilitation process and prosthetics. Part 2.

Background: A structured, multidisciplinary approach in the rehabilitation process after amputation is needed that includes a greater focus on the involvement of both (para)medics and prosthetists. There is considerable variation in prosthetic prescription concerning the moment of initial prosthesis fitting and the use of replacement parts.

Objectives: To produce an evidence-based guideline for the amputation and prosthetics of the lower extremities.

Dutch evidence-based guidelines for amputation and prosthetics of the lower extremity: Amputation surgery and postoperative management. Part 1.

Background: Surgeons still use a range of criteria to determine whether amputation is indicated. In addition, there is considerable debate regarding immediate postoperative management, especially concerning the use of 'immediate/delayed fitting' versus conservative elastic bandaging.

Objectives: To produce an evidence-based guideline for the amputation and prosthetics of the lower extremities.

Residual complaints after neuralgic amyotrophy.

Objective: To develop recommendations regarding outcome measures and topics to be addressed in rehabilitation for persons with neuralgic amyotrophy (NA), this study explored which functions and activities are related to persisting pain in NA and which questionnaires best capture these factors.

Design: A questionnaire-based survey from 2 cross-sectional cohorts, one of patients visiting the neurology outpatient clinic and a cohort seen at a multidisciplinary plexus clinic.

Setting: Two tertiary referral clinics based in the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation from a university medical center provided the data.

Predicting prosthetic use in elderly patients after major lower limb amputation.

Background: The main determinants of prosthetic use known from literature apply to the younger patient with lower limb amputation. Studies aimed at identifying determinants of outcome of lower limb amputation in elderly patients with multimorbidity that rehabilitate in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are scarce.

Objectives: To predict prosthetic use and physical mobility in geriatric patients admitted to SNFs for rehabilitation after lower limb amputation and the impact of multimorbidity.

Geriatric rehabilitation of lower limb amputees: a multicenter study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine factors independently associated with successful rehabilitation of patients with lower limb amputation in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).

Methods: All patients admitted to one of the 11 participating SNFs were eligible. Multidisciplinary teams collected the data.

Effects of aerobic exercise therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy on functioning and quality of life in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: protocol of the FACTS-2-ALS trial.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor neurons in the spinal cord, brainstem and motor cortex, leading to muscle weakness. Muscle weakness may result in the avoidance of physical activity, which exacerbates disuse weakness and cardiovascular deconditioning. The impact of the grave prognosis may result in depressive symptoms and hopelessness.

Evidence for bilaterally delayed and decreased obstacle avoidance responses while walking with a lower limb prosthesis.

Objective: To examine whether the increased failure rates in obstacle avoidance of patients with lower limb amputation can be understood on the basis of increased delay and/or decreased amplitudes of obstacle avoidance responses.

Methods: Subjects performed obstacle avoidance on a treadmill while EMG recordings were made of several major muscles of the leg.

Results: It was found that subjects with a lower limb amputation have delayed responses (e.

Clinimetric properties of instruments to assess activities in patients with hand injury: a systematic review of the literature.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature to assess the clinimetric properties of instruments measuring limitations of activity.

Data Sources: The Medline, Cochrane Library, Picarta, Occupational Therapy-seeker, and CINAHL databases were searched for English or Dutch language articles published between 2001 and 2006.

Study Selection: Two reviewers independently reviewed the identified publications for eligibility (based on the title and abstract), methodologic criteria, and clinimetric properties.

Study of the human pelvis using CAT-scan: gender differences and anatomy of the ramus ossis ischii.

Objective: In a descriptive study we present the CAT-scan norm data of pelvic sizes in Caucasian men and women. The study was performed to investigate possible differences in pelvic sizes between men and women and the inter-individual range of pelvic sizes. The data may be useful as a guide in the development of orthoses and prostheses.

From satisfaction to expectation: the patient's perspective in lower limb prosthetic care.

Purpose: To obtain information about the wishes and experiences of patients with a lower limb amputation with regard to prosthetic prescription and their exchange of information with the healthcare providers.

Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire.

Setting: Outpatient clinic of a Rehabilitation Centre.

High failure rates when avoiding obstacles during treadmill walking in patients with a transtibial amputation.

Objective: To investigate if and to what extent patients with a transtibial amputation are less successful in avoiding unexpected obstacles while walking than healthy adults.

Design: Experimental 2-group design.

Setting: Dutch rehabilitation center.

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.

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.