The interpretation-use argument- the essential ingredient for high quality assessment design and validation.

There is increasing interest in health professions education (HPE) in applying argument-based validity approaches, such as Kane's, to assessment design. The critical first step in employing Kane's approach is to specify the interpretation-use argument (IUA). However, in the HPE literature, this step is often poorly articulated.

Allied Health Professions Accreditation Standards for Work Integrated Learning: A Document Analysis.

A key role of allied health (AH) professional regulatory and professional bodies is to ensure that AH education programs provide work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for students. The requirements are outlined via the respective profession's educational accreditation standards. Although a significant component of the AH professional degrees, researchers have not explored how standards specific to WIL are developed, nor how WIL might be conceptualised through the standards.

Identification of factors important to study quality in exercise performance studies.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify factors important to quality in exercise performance studies, specifically in the domains of aerobic, anaerobic and strength exercise. Factors related to diet and body composition were also targeted as these often influence or change with exercise.

Design: Cross-sectional study employing focus groups and a modified Delphi method.

Feasibility of the PHYZ X 2U program: a mobile and cloud-based outreach service to improve chronic disease outcomes in underserviced rural communities.

Chronic disease is prevalent in rural communities, but access to health care is limited. Allied health intervention, incorporating behaviour change and exercise, may improve health outcomes. PHYZ X 2U is a new service delivery model incorporating face-to-face consultations via a mobile clinic and remote health coaching, delivered by physiotherapy and exercise physiology clinicians and university students on clinical placement, to provide exercise programs to people living with chronic disease in rural New South Wales, Australia.

Safety and efficacy of progressive resistance exercise for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in children: a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial.

Background: Exercise is potentially therapeutic for neuromuscular disorders, but a risk of harm exists due to overwork weakness. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of progressive resistance exercise for foot dorsiflexion weakness in children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Methods: We did this randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial across the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (NSW, Australia).

Predictors of recurrent sprains after an index lateral ankle sprain: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To explore and identify the predictors of ankle sprain after an index (first) lateral ankle sprain.

Design: Prospective cohort study, Level of evidence II.

Setting: Musculoskeletal research laboratory at the University of Sydney.

Gait patterns of children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Gait abnormalities reported in childhood Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) include foot-drop, reduced ankle power at push-off and increased knee and hip flexion for swing clearance ('steppage-gait'). The purpose of this study was to describe the gait patterns of 60 children aged 6-17 years with CMT (CMT) and distinguish differences based on functional weakness using the CMT Pediatric Scale (CMTPedS). Data were captured using Vicon Nexus system and compared to 50 healthy norms.

The effect of ankle taping on functional performance in participants with functional ankle instability.

Objective: To investigate the effect of rigid ankle tape on functional performance, self-efficacy and perceived stability, confidence and reassurance during functional tasks in participants with functional ankle instability.

Design: Clinical measurement, crossover design.

Methods: Participants (n = 25) with functional ankle instability (Cumberland Ankle Instability Score < 25) were recruited from university students and sporting clubs.

Using Balance Tests to Discriminate Between Participants With a Recent Index Lateral Ankle Sprain and Healthy Control Participants: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Context: The first step to identifying factors that increase the risk of recurrent ankle sprains is to identify impairments after a first sprain and compare performance with individuals who have never sustained a sprain. Few researchers have restricted recruitment to a homogeneous group of patients with first sprains, thereby introducing the potential for confounding.

Objective: To identify impairments that differ in participants with a recent index lateral ankle sprain versus participants with no history of ankle sprain.

Correlates of functional ankle instability in children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Background: Functional ankle instability (FAI) is commonly reported by children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), however,, the specific variables associated with FAI remain unknown. An improved understanding of these variables may suggest interventions to improve ankle stability and possibly prevent the long-term complications associated with ankle instability in this population. The aim of this study was to therefore investigate the relationship between FAI and other functional, structural, anthropometric and demographic characteristics in a cross sectional sample of children and adolescents with CMT.

1000 Norms Project: protocol of a cross-sectional study cataloging human variation.

Background: Clinical decision-making regarding diagnosis and management largely depends on comparison with healthy or 'normal' values. Physiotherapists and researchers therefore need access to robust patient-centred outcome measures and appropriate reference values. However there is a lack of high-quality reference data for many clinical measures.

Randomised controlled trial protocol of foot and ankle exercise for children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Introduction: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is one of the most commonly inherited neuromuscular diseases--there is no effective treatment. Foot and ankle weakness is a major problem for children with CMT, thus interventions that focus on maintaining and increasing strength may provide a solution.

Research Question: Is progressive resistance strength training an effective and safe intervention to improve strength, disability, gait and quality of life of children with CMT?

Participants And Setting: Sixty children (6 to 17 years) with confirmed CMT who reside in Sydney, Australia will be recruited via referral from a paediatric neurologist, advertisements or the Australasian Paediatric CMT Registry.

Energy expenditure in individuals with spinal cord injury quantified by doubly labeled water and a multi-sensor armband.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether doubly labeled water (DLW) and a multi-sensor armband (SWA) could detect the variation in energy expenditure incurred by a period of increased exercise (EXE) versus a period of high sedentary activity (SED), in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Eight participants with SCI were submitted to 2 testing periods of energy expenditure assessment: 1) a 14-day phase during which sedentary living conditions were imposed and 2) a 14-day phase during which an exercise training intervention was employed. For each phase, total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) were measured by DLW and SWA.

Predictors of chronic ankle instability after an index lateral ankle sprain: a systematic review.

Objectives: To identify the predictors of chronic ankle instability after an index lateral ankle sprain.

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: The databases of MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, PEDro, and Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials were searched from the earliest record until May 2013.

Exercise, energy expenditure, and body composition in people with spinal cord injury.

Background: The objective of this study was to verify the long-term effects of exercise on energy expenditure and body composition in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), as very little information is available on this population under free-living conditions.

Methods: Free-living energy expenditure and body composition using doubly labeled water (DLW) was measured in 13 individuals with SCI, subdivided in 2 groups: (1) sedentary (SED; N = 7) and (2) regularly engaged in any exercise program, for at least 150 min·wk(-1) (EXE; N = 6).

Results: The total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) was significantly higher in the EXE group (33 ± 4.

High-intensity progressive resistance training improves flat-ground walking in older adults with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of whole-body progressive resistance training (PRT) as a treatment for the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in older adults.

Design: Randomized controlled pilot trial.

Setting: University clinical weight training facility in Sydney, Australia.

The effect of exercise on fitness and performance-based tests of function in intermittent claudication: a systematic review.

Background And Objective: Exercise is a widely accepted treatment known to improve walking ability in persons with peripheral arterial disease (PAD); however, it has not been confirmed as to whether exercise improves fitness and performance-based function and, consequently, performance of activities of daily living (ADL). This systematic review aims to identify whether any mode of structured exercise improves physical fitness or performance-based tests of function and whether improvement in walking ability is related to an improvement in these outcomes.

Data Sources And Study Selection: Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using an exercise intervention for the treatment of intermittent claudication with fitness (including the 6-min walk (6MW), aerobic capacity, shuttle and muscle strength) tests and performance-based tests of function as the outcomes.

Preliminary evidence that low ankle-brachial index is associated with reduced bilateral hip extensor strength and functional mobility in peripheral arterial disease.

Objective: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has been associated with skeletal muscle pathology, including atrophy of the affected muscles. In addition, oxidative metabolism is impaired, muscle function is reduced, and gait and mobility are restricted. We hypothesized that greater severity of symptomatic PAD would be associated with lower levels of muscle mass, strength, and endurance, and that these musculoskeletal abnormalities in turn would impair functional performance and walking ability in patients with PAD.

Prevalence and impact of chronic musculoskeletal ankle disorders in the community.

Objective: To determine the point prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal ankle disorders in the community.

Design: Cross-sectional stratified (metropolitan vs regional) random sample.

Setting: General community.

Comparison of methods to assess energy expenditure and physical activity in people with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To compare different methods of assessing energy expenditure (EE) and physical activity (PA) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) under community-dwelling conditions.

Methods: A reference standard encompassing the doubly labelled water (DLW) technique, heart rate monitoring (FLEX-HR), a multi-sensor armband (SenseWear Armband (SWA)), and two PA recall questionnaires were employed in 14 people with SCI to estimate EE and leisure-time PA.

Results: Mean total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) assessed by DLW, FLEX-HR, and SWA were 9817 ± 2491 kJ/day, 8498 ± 1516 kJ/day, and 11414 ± 3242 kJ/day, respectively.

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials: Walking versus alternative exercise prescription as treatment for intermittent claudication.

Objective: There is a subset of older adults with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) who are unable to complete current walking exercise therapy guidelines due to the severity of claudication, presence of foot pathology, arthritis and/or other co-morbidities. Our aim was to therefore systematically review the evidence for the effectiveness of all forms of exercise on claudication in PAD, and subsequently compare walking to alternative modes.

Methods: An electronic search of the literature was performed from earliest record until March 2011 using a variety of electronic databases.

Carbohydrate ingestion during endurance exercise improves performance in adults.

This study was a systematic review with meta-analysis examining the efficacy of carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion compared with placebo (PLA) on endurance exercise performance in adults. Relevant databases were searched to January 2011. Included studies were PLA-controlled, randomized, crossover designs in which CHO ingestion not exceeding 8% and between 30 and 80 g/h during exercise of ≥1 h was evaluated via time trial (TT) or exercise time to exhaustion (TTE).

Serial night casting increases ankle dorsiflexion range in children and young adults with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: a randomised trial.

Question: Does 4 weeks of serial night casting followed by 4 weeks of stretching of the gastrocnemius and soleus improve ankle dorsiflexion range and other outcomes compared with no intervention in children and young adults with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?

Design: Randomised trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis.

Participants: 30 children and young adults with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and restricted ankle dorsiflexion range.

Intervention: The experimental group received 4 weeks of serial night casting followed by 4 weeks of weightbearing stretches.