Improvements and Residual Limitations Experienced by Patients With Guillain-Barré Syndrome Undergoing Inpatient Rehabilitation.

The purposes of this study were to (1) describe the level of functional independence of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome before and after inpatient rehabilitation, (2) determine whether the level of functional independence increased in each functional domain during inpatient rehabilitation, and (3) determine whether independence at the end of inpatient rehabilitation differed significantly between domains. Data from patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome discharged from inpatient rehabilitation settings in 2019 were obtained from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation database. The primary variables analyzed were paired, dichotomous variables of the number of patients who achieved full independence in the admission and discharge scores for the activities that comprise the domains, subscales, and total of the Functional Independence Measure.

Normal gait speed varies by age and sex but not by geographical region: a systematic review.

Questions: What are comfortable gait speed values for apparently healthy adults? How do these differ by age group, sex and geographical region?

Design: Systematic review of observational studies with meta-analysis.

Participants: Apparently healthy, community-dwelling adults who have undergone measurement of comfortable gait speed.

Search Method: Potentially relevant studies were identified in four databases.

Magnitude, validity and responsiveness of dynamometer measured neck retraction strength in patients referred with neck pain to out-patient physical therapy.

[Purpose] The magnitude, validity, and reliability of dynamometer measures of neck retraction strength have been reported but not for individuals referred with neck complaints to physical therapy. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to describe neck retraction strength and its responsiveness and validity as a correlate of neck pain and disability among patients referred for physical therapy. [Participant and Methods] Twenty-six consecutive patients referred with neck pain participated.

The heel-raise test for ankle plantarflexor strength: a scoping review and meta-analysis of studies providing norms.

[Purpose] The heel-raise test (HRT) is sometimes used to quantify ankle plantarflexion strength. However, descriptions of the test vary and normative values are limited. This paper, therefore was generated to summarize procedures and provide normative values for the HRT in a younger and older age group of adults.

Functional Independence predicts patients with stroke more likely to be discharged to the community after inpatient rehabilitation.

Background: Functional domain predictors of discharge destination following inpatient rehabilitation for stroke have not been thoroughly identified.

Objectives: 1) Determine the relationships between intrinsic variables (demographic; comorbidities; functional independence at admission to and at discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF)) and discharge to home. 2) Determine cut scores for Functional Independence Measure® (FIM) subscales and domains that predict discharge to the community.

Neurologic and musculoskeletal effects of tilt-table standing on adults: a systematic review.

[Purpose] Tilt table use is associated, most often, with the assessment of syncope. However, it also has applications for patients with neurologic and orthopedic problems. These applications do not appear to be widely applied.

Measurement of finger tapping performance using a smartphone application: a pilot study.

[Purpose] Describe the measurement, reliability and validity of finger tapping repetitions recorded using a commercially available smartphone application (app). [Participants and Methods] We tested a convenience sample of 12 young right-handed participants who completed unilateral index finger tapping and peg board completion tasks with each hand. [Results] Measurement of finger tapping performance was practicable and was shown to be acceptably reliable and able to distinguish between performance of the dominant versus nondominant hand.

Measurement of trunk muscle strength after stroke: An integrative review.

Background: Research examining the measurement of trunk muscle strength after stroke is limited and diverse. This review, therefore, was undertaken to summarize research addressing what is known about measurements of trunk muscle strength after stroke.

Methods: Potentially relevant research was identified via 3 electronic database searches and a hand search.

Predicting the handgrip strength across the age span: Cross-validating reference equations from the 2011 NIH toolbox norming study.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional observational study.

Background: Reference equations for describing hand-grip strength across the age span were derived from the 2011 NIH Toolbox norming study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to cross-validate reference equations by evaluating its predicting power on a separate, independent data set from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study METHODS: Observed hand-grip strength data from 13,676 noninstitutionalized participants were obtained from the NHANES study.

Kinematics of shoulder, trunk, pelvis, and hip while reaching forward to progressively distant targets.

Introduction: Information on the normal contribution of various body regions to forward reaching provides a basis for assessing the maneuver. The purpose of this study was to describe the kinematics of the shoulder, trunk, pelvis, and hip of healthy young males while they stood and reached toward a target at arm's length and 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of body height beyond.

Method: Twelve healthy adult males were marked with 22 spherical reflective markers.

Forward flexed posture: reliability and determinants of tragus-to-wall measurement.

: Forward flexed posture is an impairment in body structure commonly seen among older adults and those with pathologies such as ankylosing spondylitis and osteoporosis. Accurate measurement of forward flexed posture is important as it is related to pain, mobility limitations, and falls. Our purpose was to examine the reliability and determinants of forward flexed posture as indicated by tragus-to-wall (TTW) distance: Twenty healthy younger and 20 healthy older adults were included in this secondary analysis of data from a neck strength study.

Performance and Clinimetric Properties of the Timed Up From Floor Test Completed by Apparently Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Women.

Background And Purpose: Standing up from the floor is a demanding mobility activity with important implications. The purpose of this study was to describe performance and the clinimetric properties of the Timed Up From Floor (TUFF) test completed by apparently healthy community-dwelling older women.

Methods: In this observational and methodological quality study, 52 community-dwelling women, 55 years and older, were examined.

Grip Strength: An Indispensable Biomarker For Older Adults.

Grip strength has been proposed as a biomarker. Supporting this proposition, evidence is provided herein that shows grip strength is largely consistent as an explanator of concurrent overall strength, upper limb function, bone mineral density, fractures, falls, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, depression, sleep problems, diabetes, multimorbidity, and quality of life. Evidence is also provided for a predictive link between grip strength and all-cause and disease-specific mortality, future function, bone mineral density, fractures, cognition and depression, and problems associated with hospitalization.

Effects of Intensive Versus Standard Ambulatory Blood Pressure Control on Cerebrovascular Outcomes in Older People (INFINITY).

Background: Subcortical microvascular disease represented by brain white matter hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging is associated with functional decline in older people with hypertension. The effects of 2 levels of 24-hour average systolic blood pressure (BP) on mobility, white matter disease progression, and cognitive function over 3 years were studied.

Methods: This trial was a prospective, randomized, blinded end-points study in patients ≥75 years of age with systolic hypertension and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of white matter hyperintensity lesions.

Relationships between grip strength, dexterity, and fine hand use are attenuated by age in children 3 to 13 years-of-age.

[Purpose] The purpose of this secondary analysis of data from the validation phase of National Institutes of Health Toolbox study was to describe the relationship between grip strength, dexterity, fine hand use, and age. [Participants and Methods] Children 3 to 13 years (n=132) contributed data. Grip strength was measured bilaterally with a Jamar dynamometer.

Between-side differences in hand-grip strength across the age span: Findings from 2011-2014 NHANES and 2011 NIH Toolbox studies.

This project was undertaken to describe percentage differences in the grip strength between the dominant and nondominant-sides of left- and right-handed males and females across the age span. Data used in the project were from population-based samples of participants: 13,653 from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and 3,571 from the 2011 normative phase of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox project. Depending on how percentage differences were calculated, the overall grip strength was a mean 5.

Handgrip Strength: A Comparison of Values Obtained From the NHANES and NIH Toolbox Studies.

Importance: Handgrip dynamometry is probably the most commonly used method to characterize overall human muscle strength.

Objective: To compare and summarize grip strength measurements obtained from two population-based studies.

Design: Secondary data analysis.

Considerations and Practical Options for Measuring Muscle Strength: A Narrative Review.

Muscle strength impairments are related to mobility limitations and other untoward outcomes. This narrative review, therefore, describes considerations relative to the definition and measurement of muscle strength. Thereafter, practical options for measuring muscle strength are described and their clinimetric properties are delineated.

Minimal clinically important difference for grip strength: a systematic review.

[Purpose] The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in grip strength is critical to interpreting changes in hand strength over time. This review was undertaken to summarize extant descriptions of the MCID for grip strength. [Methods] A search of 3 bibliographic databases as well as a hand search were completed to identify articles reporting the MCID for grip forces obtained by dynamometry.

Feasibility and informativeness of the Patient-Specific Functional Scale with patients with Parkinson's disease.

: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and informativeness of the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) for identifying activities that persons with Parkinson disease (PD) self-identified as difficult.: Informativeness was investigated by cross-referencing the identified activities with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Twenty-eight individuals with PD (Hoehn & Yahr stage 1-4) completed the PSFS.

1-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PROCEDURES, PERFORMANCE, AND CLINIMETRIC PROPERTIES.

Purpose: Tests for quantifying exercise capacity that are applicable in diverse settings are needed. The 1-min sit-to-stand test (1-MSTST) is such a test. This systematic review summarizes the literature addressing 1-MSTST procedures, performance, and clinimetric properties.

Tragus-to-wall: A systematic review of procedures, measurements obtained, and clinimetric properties.

Objective: Our purpose was to summarize the literature on the applicability, procedures for performing, and clinimetric findings related to the measurement of tragus-to-wall (TTW) distance.

Method: Pubmed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were systematically searched using the key words "tragus" AND "wall". Articles were examined for information on the participants whose TTW distance was measured, the procedures used for measuring TTW, and findings regarding TTW distances measured and the clinimetric properties of the measurements.

Relationships among clinic, home, and ambulatory blood pressures with small vessel disease of the brain and functional status in older people with hypertension.

Background: Subcortical small vessel disease, represented as white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on magnetic resonance images (MRI) is associated with functional decline in older people with hypertension. We evaluated the relationships of clinic and out-of-office blood pressures (BP) with WMH and functional status in older persons.

Methods: Using cross-sectional data from 199 older study participants enrolled in the INFINITY trial, we analyzed the clinic, 24-hour ambulatory, and home BPs and their relationships with WMH burden and mobility and cognitive outcomes.