Adapted Feeding Utensils for People With Parkinson's-Related or Essential Tremor.

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of four adapted feeding utensils with participants with essential tremor (ET) or tremor related to Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: Participants performed a simulated feeding task under five conditions: (1) standard spoon (control condition), (2) weighted spoon with standard handle, (3) weighted spoon with built-up handle, (4) swivel spoon, and (5) Liftware Steady™ spoon, a product using active tremor cancellation technology. Participants rated each adapted utensil in comparison with the standard spoon regarding performance, ease of use, speed, neatness, and aesthetics.

Impact of wheelchair seat height on neck and shoulder range of motion during functional task performance.

Wheelchair users are at high risk for developing repetitive stress injuries (RSI) of the cervical spine and glenohumeral joints due to increased demands on active range of motion (AROM) when performing functional tasks from a seated position. The addition of a seat elevation device may alleviate the risk factors that lead to the development of RSI. However, there are no studies which establish that wheelchair seat height impacts upon arthrokinematic requirements at vulnerable joints.

Activity engagement and health quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: This descriptive study examined differences in health quality of life (HQoL) and activity engagement in two groups of people with Parkinson's disease (PD): those who regularly participated in classes offered by the community-based program, Brooklyn Parkinson's Group (BPg), and a comparison group. Individuals in the comparison group did not participate in any community-based programs for people with PD, and were recruited from a clinic for PD and related disorders (PDRD) in an urban medical center.

Method: We enrolled 26 participants; 13 participants were recruited from BPg and 13 from PDRD Clinic.

Rasch analysis of a new hierarchical scoring system for evaluating hand function on the motor assessment scale for stroke.

Objectives. (1) To develop two independent measurement scales for use as items assessing hand movements and hand activities within the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), an existing instrument used for clinical assessment of motor performance in stroke survivors; (2) To examine the psychometric properties of these new measurement scales. Design.

Assessing arm and hand function after stroke: a validity test of the hierarchical scoring system used in the motor assessment scale for stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the validity of the scoring hierarchy for the 3 upper-limb items on the Motor Assessment Scale (MAS).

Design: Application of Rasch analysis to 3 independent measurement scales, each representing the upper-arm function, hand movements, and advanced hand activities items of the MAS.

Setting: Inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy (OT) programs in a department of rehabilitation of an urban hospital center.