Evaluating the reliability and validity of the Icelandic translation of the Mini-BESTest in rehabilitation patients: an international implication for balance assessment.

Background: The Mini-BESTest (Balance Evaluation Systems Test) is a standardized balance evaluation tool. The psychometric properties of the Mini-BESTest are being established around the world.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Icelandic translation of the Mini-BESTest.

Comparison of diabetic and idiopathic sensory polyneuropathies with respect to nerve fibre affection and risk factors.

Background And Purpose: Chronic distal sensory or sensorimotor polyneuropathy is the most common pattern of polyneuropathy. The cause of this pattern is most often diabetes or unknown. This cross-sectional study is one of the first studies to compare the demographics, cardiovascular risk factors and clinical characteristics of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) with idiopathic polyneuropathy (IPN).

Health Competency Standards in Physical Therapist Practice.

Although the physical therapist profession is the leading established, largely nonpharmacological health profession in the world and is committed to health promotion and noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention, these have yet to be designated as core physical therapist competencies. Based on findings of 3 Physical Therapy Summits on Global Health, addressing NCDs (heart disease, cancer, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung disease) has been declared an urgent professional priority. The Third Summit established the status of health competencies in physical therapist practice across the 5 World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) regions with a view to establish health competency standards, this article's focus.

The First Physical Therapy Summit on Global Health: implications and recommendations for the 21st century.

The First Physical Therapy Summit on Global Health was convened at the 2007 World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) Congress to vision practice in the 21st century and, in turn, entry-level education and research, as informed by epidemiological indicators, and consistent with evidence-based noninvasive interventions, the hallmark of physical therapy. The Summit and its findings were informed by WHO data and validated through national databases of the countries of the five WCPT regions. The health priorities based on mortality were examined in relation to proportions of physical therapists practicing in the areas of regional priorities and of the curricula in entry-level programs.

The relation between walking capacity and clinical correlates in survivors of chronic spinal poliomyelitis.

Objectives: To examine (1) common clinical measures that may influence walking performance in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in people with chronic poliomyelitis and (2) the test-retest reliability of the 6MWT distance, lower-extremity muscle strength, balance, and balance confidence on separate trials.

Design: A prospective quasi-experimental study.

Setting: University-based postpolio clinic.

The use of aerobic exercise training in improving aerobic capacity in individuals with stroke: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine whether aerobic exercise improves aerobic capacity in individuals with stroke.

Design: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. DATABASES SEARCHED: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Physiotherapy Evidence Database were searched.

Exercise leads to faster postural reflexes, improved balance and mobility, and fewer falls in older persons with chronic stroke.

Objectives: To determine the effect of two different community-based group exercise programs on functional balance, mobility, postural reflexes, and falls in older adults with chronic stroke.

Design: A randomized, clinical trial.

Setting: Community center.

Water-based exercise for cardiovascular fitness in people with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an 8-week, water-based exercise program (experimental group) with that of an upper-extremity function program (control group) to increase cardiovascular fitness within a community setting for people with stroke.

Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Public community center.