Evaluation of a group-based sensorimotor intervention programme to improve Chinese handwriting of primary school students.

Objective: Sensorimotor performance is influential in Chinese handwriting, but few studies have examined the efficacy of sensorimotor-based interventions on Chinese handwriting among primary school students with poor handwriting performance. The study aims to evaluate a sensorimotor-based intervention to improve handwriting in the mainstream primary schools.

Methods: This study adopted a two-group pretest-posttest design.

A systematic review assessing the effectiveness of hand therapy programmes in adults with burns using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework.

This systematic review aimed to confirm the effectiveness of hand therapy programmes using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework for each of the three phases of the wound healing process in adults with burns. A systematic review was conducted to determine the efficacy of different hand therapy programmes in the management of burnt hands. Two independent reviewers conducted a literature search using the PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases for original articles reporting effectiveness of hand therapy programmes for adults with burns.

A finite element model of the 3D-printed transparent facemask for applying pressure therapy.

Background: Transparent facemask has been widely used for the prevention and treatment of facial hypertrophic scars all over the world. 3D printing has improved the fabrication accuracy of the traditional transparent facemasks. However, the pressure distribution pattern generated by the 3D-printed transparent facemasks has not been thoroughly investigated.

Ultrasonographic assessment in vivo of the excursion and tension of flexor digitorum profundus tendon on different rehabilitation protocols after tendon repair.

Study Design: Interpretive description study.

Purpose: In management of patients with flexion tendon injuries, passive, control active and active motion protocols were proposed after repair to minimize tendon adhesion. The purpose of this study was to compare the excursion distance and the tension of Flexor Digitorum Profundus (FDP) during simulated active and passive motion using ultrasonography techniques using normal subjects.

Vascularity and Thickness Changes in Immature Hypertrophic Scars Treated With a Pulsed Dye Laser.

Background And Objectives: Growth of capillaries is an essential process after a dermal injury. An immature scar with robust growth of capillaries tends to be hypertrophic. Pulsed dye laser (PDL) causes damage to microvascular structures and is increasingly used for early erythematous scars to limit scar growth.

Measuring vascularity of hypertrophic scars by dermoscopy: Construct validity and predictive ability of scar thickness change.

Background: Vascularity of hypertrophic scar is a key indicator of scar maturation and a vital parameter of evaluating effects of scar management interventions. This study aims to explore the construct validity of dermoscopy for measuring vascularity of hypertrophic scar and its predictive ability of scar thickness change.

Methods: Patients with hypertrophic scars were recruited for scar assessments at baseline and at one-month follow-up, which consisted of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, DermaLab Combo, ultrasound and dermoscopy.

Measuring the tilt and slant of Chinese handwriting in primary school students: A computerized approach.

Background: "Horizontal strokes should be level and vertical strokes should be straight" is a common guideline in the teaching of Chinese handwriting. Measuring deviations in level horizontal and straight vertical strokes in students' Chinese handwriting is usually assessed manually. However, this task is time-consuming and may have inconsistent outcomes when judged by different people.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth.

To adapt the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth for use with Chinese children and youths, and to investigate its psychometric properties. The Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth was translated into Chinese using a cultural adaptation process. Parents of 69 children aged 5-12 years with disabilities and 319 children without disabilities completed the questionnaires.

Developmental skills between kindergarten children with handwriting difficulties in Chinese and/or English.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the differences in developmental skills between children with and without handwriting difficulties in their last year of kindergarten education.

Methods: Standardised tests on handwriting performance and developmental skills were administered to 20 typically developing children, 21 children with handwriting difficulties in Chinese and 23 children with handwriting difficulties in both Chinese and English. We used one-way MANOVA, univariate ANOVA and post hoc comparisons, to compare the developmental skills between children with and without handwriting difficulties.

Computerised Handwriting Speed Test System (CHSTS): Validation of a handwriting assessment for Chinese secondary students.

Background/aim: Handwriting difficulties can be detrimental to students' performance in school tests and even in public examinations. It is crucial for school-based occupational therapists to identify students with handwriting difficulties and support them with appropriate adaptive strategies. The purpose of this study is to validate a computerised assessment - the Computerised Handwriting Speed Test System (CHSTS) of both Chinese and English handwriting for Chinese secondary students and provide an objective reference for extra time allowance in paper-based examinations.

Measurement of vascularity in the scar: A systematic review.

Background: Vascularity is an important parameter closely associated with the scar maturation. Reliable and accurate measurement of vascularity helps to monitor the scar change and adopt targeted interventions to prevent excessive scarring and achieve promising outcomes. However, there is no consensus on the assessment tools for the vascularity measurement in scars.

The recovery of post-burn hypertrophic scar in a monitored pressure therapy intervention programme and the timing of intervention.

Introduction: Pressure therapy used to be considered as the mainstay non-invasive treatment of hypertrophic scar. However, the maturation process of hypertrophic scar during pressure therapy process has seldom be reported. Moreover, although early application of pressure therapy after burn injuries is reco6mmended, minimal evidence exists to support it.

Predictors for return to work after physical injury in China: A one-year review.

Background: Several studies have explored the factors influencing patients' return to work (RTW) status. However, only few studies have tried to explore the predictors for RTW in subpopulations in terms of different levels of disability, particularly in the Chinese population.

Objective: This study describes the trends in patient's RTW and explores the predictors associated with RTW for patients with work-related injury in Mainland China.

Handwriting assessment to distinguish comorbid learning difficulties from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Chinese adolescents: A case-control study.

Objectives: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning difficulties (LDs) are proposed as 2 overlapping disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the handwriting performance in ADHD and comorbid ADHD-LD adolescents.

Methods: The study examined the Chinese and English handwriting performance and sensorimotor skills of 32 ADHD, 12 ADHD-LD, and their matched controls.

The Relationship Between Sensorimotor and Handwriting Performance in Chinese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Impaired sensorimotor control, as a common feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), could be a driving factor to handwriting problems. This study examined the Chinese and English handwriting and sensorimotor skills of 15 ASD and 174 typically developing Chinese adolescents. Participants with ASD had lower writing speed and poor manual dexterity (MD) than the typically developing participants.

The application of 3D-printed transparent facemask for facial scar management and its biomechanical rationale.

Introduction: Deep facial burns leave conspicuous scar to the patients and affect their quality of life. Transparent facemask has been adopted for the prevention and treatment of facial hypertrophic scars for decades. Recently, with the advancement of 3D printing, the transparent facemask could facilitate the fitting of the facial contour.

A Systematic Review on the Effect of Mechanical Stretch on Hypertrophic Scars after Burn Injuries.

Objective/background: To review the effect of mechanical stretch on hypertrophic scars after burn injuries.

Methods: A systematic review of all controlled trials related to the effect of mechanical stretch on post burn hypertrophic scars was conducted. Studies of conservative scar managements that applied mechanical forces parallel to the scar surface, including stretching exercise, massage, and splinting, were appraised.

3D-printed transparent facemasks in the treatment of facial hypertrophic scars of young children with burns.

Introduction: Facial burns could create serious scar problems resulting disfigurement particularly on children. The conventional methods of producing transparent face masks for scar control remains complex and require dexterous skills of experienced clinician and patients' compliance during fitting. In this study, we adopted a portable 3D scanning and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to produce 3D-printed transparent facemasks.

Robotic approaches for the rehabilitation of upper limb recovery after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review with a meta-analysis of studies was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of robotic training (RT) and conventional training (CT) in improving the motor recovery of paretic upper limbs in stroke patients. Numerous electronic databases were searched from January 2000 to May 2016. Finally, 13 randomized-controlled trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the three meta-analyses.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with sensory cueing on unilateral neglect in subacute patients with right hemispheric stroke: a randomized controlled study.

Objective: To compare the effects of rTMS combined with sensory cueing, rTMS alone, and conventional rehabilitation on unilateral neglect, hemiplegic arm functions and performance of activities of daily living.

Design: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Setting: A convalescent hospital.

Predictors of functional independence, quality of life, and return to work in patients with burn injuries in mainland China.

Background: Burn injury may be associated with long-term rehabilitation and disability, while research studies on the functional performance after injuries, quality of life (QOL), and abilities to return to work of burn patients are limited. These outcomes are related not just to the degree and nature of injuries, but also to the socio-economical background of the society. This study aimed to identify the factors which might affect burn patients' abilities to reintegrate back to the society based on a sample in mainland China.

The Effect of a Self-management Program on the Quality-of-Life of Community-dwelling Older Adults with Chronic Musculoskeletal Knee Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate a 6-week self-management program on pain conducted in a mobile setting at the residences of older adult participants.

Methods: In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial, 46 community-dwelling older adults with chronic knee pain were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 19) and wait-list control groups (n = 27). The experimental group engaged in the 6-week program while the control group was only given some pamphlets on exercise and joint care.

Effects of mobility training on severe burn patients in the BICU: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To assess the effects of mobility training on severe burn patients in the Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Severe burn patients with equal to or more than 50% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burns who received early rehabilitation in the BICU were included in this study.

One world one burn rehabilitation standard.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) burns are a huge global health problem resulting in death and devastation to those who survive large burns as they are faced with significant functional limitations that prevent purposeful and productive living. Members of the International Society for Burn Injuries (ISBI) Rehabilitation Committee conducted a needs assessment survey in order to characterize how burn rehabilitation is implemented worldwide and how the international burn rehabilitation community can help improve burn rehabilitation in identified geographic locations which need assistance in rehabilitating burn survivors successfully. The results of this survey indicated that poor and in some cases resource limited environments (RLEs) around the world seem to lack the financial, educational and material resources to conduct burn rehabilitation successfully.