Reliability of the Soleus H-Reflex in Different Sitting Postures.

The Soleus (SOL) Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) is commonly recorded in sitting position. However, the reliability of recording is unknown. We assessed the reliability of SOL H-reflex amplitude measurements across multiple traces and sessions during erect, slumped, and slouched sitting postures using the generalizability theory.

Electromyographic activity of quadriceps muscle during sit-to-stand in patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: The sit-to-stand (STS) is a simple test to evaluate the functional performance of the quadriceps muscle in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). The aim was to evaluate the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the ipsilateral quadriceps during STS task at different seat heights and feet positions in patients with severe unilateral OA. The EMG activity was recorded in a group of eight participants with unilateral OA during the performance of STS task in four conditions: (1) knee-height seat with feet together, (2) knee-height seat with feet askew (feet side by side and heel-to-toe), (3) low-height seat (25% lower than knee-height seat) with feet together, and (4) low-height seat with feet askew.

Qualitative assessment of component-specific, fall-risk screening procedures to create a fall risk screening form.

Background: The Day Center, Case Management, and Home Care components of a local senior health agency each have used different screening forms for assessing their clients for fall risk. A common instrument, easily administered by all components as part of their routine practice, would be helpful in systematically identifying elders at risk of falling. Developing a common screening instrument would be useful at other senior health agencies as well.

Effect of a home exercise program on dynamic balance in elderly with a history of falls.

Objective: To determine exercise efficacy in improving dynamic balance in community-dwelling elderly with a fall history.

Methods: Thirty-five participants were randomly assigned to a treatment (TG; n = 19, 77 ± 7 yr) or control group (CG; n = 16, 75 ± 8 yr). The TG received an individualized home exercise program, and the CG received phone calls twice per week for 12 weeks.

Concurrent validity and reliability of two-dimensional video analysis of hip and knee joint motion during mechanical lifting.

Movement patterns used during mechanical lifting are usually assessed subjectively by clinicians as a stoop or squat based on visual estimation of joint motion and position. Two-dimensional (2D) video analysis has the potential to objectively measure joint motion during a mechanical lifting task. This study investigated concurrent validity, intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability of 2D video analysis using Dartfish software for the measurement of sagittal plane angles at the hip and knee during mechanical lifting.

Fatigue effects on knee joint stability during two jump tasks in women.

Dynamic knee joint stability may be affected by the onset of metabolic fatigue during sports participation that could increase the risk for knee injury. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of metabolic fatigue on knee muscle activation, peak knee joint angles, and peak knee internal moments in young women during 2 jumping tasks. Fifteen women (mean age: 24.

Psychometric properties of the Berg Balance Scale in a community-dwelling elderly resident population in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: To investigate the psychometric properties (acceptability, internal consistency reliability, interrater reliability, construct validity) and identify the most challenging items of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for elderly people living in the community.

Methods: A total of 268 community-dwelling adults 65 years of age or older volunteered to participate in this study. Each subject's performance was assessed with the BBS, timed up and go (TUG) test, and usual gait speed.

Shoulder dysfunction assessment: self-report and impaired scapular movements.

Background And Purpose: Shoulder dysfunction is common in various patient populations. This investigation was performed to assess shoulder dysfunction with self-report and performance-based functional measures.

Subjects: Fifty men (25 with shoulder dysfunction and 25 without shoulder dysfunction) participated in this study.

Altered patterns of muscle activation during performance of four functional tasks in patients with shoulder disorders: interpretation from voluntary response index.

Altered motor control of the shoulder muscles during performance of a specific motor task in patients with shoulder disorders (SDs) has been an interesting subject to researchers. This study compared shoulder muscle activation patterns by surface electromyography (sEMG), including the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) muscles, during four functional tasks in 25 patients with SDs and controls. A voluntary response index (VRI) was calculated, including magnitude and similarity index (SI), to quantify sEMG patterns during four functional tasks.

Functional activity characteristics of individuals with shoulder dysfunctions.

Shoulder-related dysfunction affects individuals' ability to function independently and thus decreases quality of life. Functional task assessment is a key concern for a clinician in diagnostic assessment, outcome measurement, and planning of treatment programs. The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of the FASTRAK 3-dimensional (3-D) motion analysis and surface electromyography (sEMG) systems to analyze 3-D shoulder complex movements during functional tasks and compare motion patterns between subjects with and without shoulder dysfunctions (SDs).

Physical-performance tests to evaluate mobility disability in community-dwelling elders.

The purposes of this study were to evaluate community-dwelling elderly adults with different levels of perceived mobility with 5 physical-performance tests, determine the cutoff values of the 5 tests, and identify the best tests for classifying mobility status. The community-mobility statuses of 203 community-dwelling elders were classified as able, decreased, or disabled based on their self-reported ability to walk several blocks and climb stairs. They also performed the functional reach, timed 50-ft walk, timed 5-step, timed floor transfer, and 5-min-walk endurance tests.

Functional activities characteristics of shoulder complex movements: Exploration with a 3-D electromagnetic measurement system.

The high prevalence of shoulder-related dysfunction has focused increased attention on functional activity assessment. This study (1) tested the reliability of three-dimensional shoulder complex movements during four functional tasks representing different levels of task difficulty, (2) characterized the four functional tasks, and (3) examined the relationships between age and shoulder movements. Twenty-five asymptomatic subjects, all veterans aged 30-82, performed the four functional tasks.

Reliability of selected physical performance tests in young adult women.

The purposes of this investigation were to establish the reliability of selected physical performance tests in women athletes and nonathletes and to determine performance differences between groups. Fifty women (25 athletes, 25 nonathletes) performed 5 tests in 2 sessions. The performance tests included the figure-eight hop test, up-and-down hop test, side-to-side hop test, hexagon hop test, and zigzag run test.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Flexilevel Scale of Shoulder Function.

Background: Existing measures of self-reported shoulder function fail to measure effectively the full range of shoulder functioning. The classic approach for improving the reliability of a scale is adding items, but a scale with a substantial number of items imposes a large response burden on participants. A more efficient approach is to use modern psychometric methods to construct an adaptive scale in which patients respond only to items that are targeted at their level of shoulder function.

Effectiveness of physical therapy for patients with neck pain: an individualized approach using a clinical decision-making algorithm.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an individualized physical therapy intervention in treating neck pain based on a clinical reasoning algorithm. Treatment effectiveness was examined by assessing changes in impairment, physical performance, and disability in response to intervention.

Design: One treatment group of 30 patients with neck pain completed physical therapy treatment.

A randomized controlled trial comparing 2 instructional approaches to home exercise instruction following arthroscopic full-thickness rotator cuff repair surgery.

Study Design: A prospective unblinded randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of 2 types of home program instruction, videotape versus personal instruction by a physical therapist, on subjective outcomes and exercise compliance following arthroscopic repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear.

Background: Advances in orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation have placed increased emphasis on home exercise programs.

Reliability by surgical status of self-reported outcomes in patients who have shoulder pathologies.

Study Design: A test-retest design was used to evaluate the reliability of the self-report sections of 4 shoulder pain and disability scales.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare interitem consistency and test-retest reliability by surgical status (postoperative versus nonoperative) and to evaluate the effect of surgical status in the prediction of retest scores.

Background: Patients and healthcare providers evaluate shoulder status based on self-evaluations of pain and disability.

Test-retest strength reliability: hand-held dynamometry in community-dwelling elderly fallers.

Objective: To determine the reliability of a standardized protocol by using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD) to measure lower-extremity strength in community-dwelling elderly fallers.

Design: Within-session test-retest reliability of the HHD.

Setting: Balance laboratory of a university.