Potential effectiveness of three different treatment approaches to improve minimal to moderate arm and hand function after stroke--a pilot randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To test a study design and explore the feasibility and potential effects of conventional neurological therapy, constraint induced therapy and therapeutic climbing to improve minimal to moderate arm and hand function in patients after a stroke.

Method: A pilot study with six-month follow-up in patients after stroke with minimal to moderate arm and hand function admitted for inpatient rehabilitation was performed. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three treatment approaches.

The influence of a Functional Capacity Evaluation on fitness for work certificates in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain.

Background: Comprehensive medical assessments in the majority of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) have failed to assess working capacity. Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) has become increasingly popular in the evaluation of working capacity in CLBP patients. This study investigates the influence of functional testing on decision making concerning medical fitness assessments for work.

Increasing days at work using function-centered rehabilitation in nonacute nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of function-centered compared with pain-centered inpatient rehabilitation in patients whose absence from work is due to chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP).

Design: Single-blinded randomized controlled trial with follow-up assessments immediately after treatment and at 3 months.

Setting: Center for work rehabilitation in Switzerland.