Stepping onto a single step: a kinematic study.

Background And Purpose: To describe the timings and ranges of linear displacements of the pelvis and feet occurring in a healthy older population when stepping up onto a step, and to describe variations noted in a small sample of subjects with hemiplegia.

Method: An observational case series study design was used and the study took place in a gait laboratory in a general hospital. A convenience sample of 54 healthy volunteers (mean age 57.

Productive work and employment for persons with traumatic brain injury: what have we learned after 20 years?

This article describes return to work outcomes for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) through a selective review of the published literature and an examination of TBI labor force participation from the Rehabilitation Services Administration 91l and the Social Security Administration Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach databases. Implications and recommendations to further our understanding about the different parts of the work outcome profile of individuals with TBI are offered.

Psychometric properties of 2 simplified 3-level balance scales used for patients with stroke.

Background And Purpose: To determine if the 3-level scales yield data as reliable and valid as data obtained for the original scales, 2 simplified 3-level measures of balance--a modified Berg Balance Scale (BBS-3P) and a modified Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS-3P)--were proposed by the researchers, and psychometric properties of each were compared with those of the original measures (the Berg Balance Scale [BBS] and the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients [PASS], respectively) in patients with stroke.

Subjects And Methods: The study consisted of 2 parts. The first part examined the reliability and concurrent and convergent validity of measurements obtained with these instruments.

Clinical physiotherapy documentation in stroke rehabilitation: an ICIDH-2 beta-2 based analysis.

Purpose: To explore the focus of physiotherapists practising in stroke rehabilitation, through identification of central elements in clinical physiotherapy documentation.

Method: A descriptive study in which the Motor Assessment Scale for Stroke (MAS) and 20 physiotherapy records were collected from the stroke unit of a rehabilitation hospital and classified according to the ICIDH-2 beta-2. The text was broken down into single units of functional descriptions and assigned classification codes.

The reliability of determining effort level of lifting and carrying in a functional capacity evaluation.

Objectives: To establish inter- and intra-rater reliability of observations in a functional capacity evaluation.

Background: Functional capacity evaluations are used to assess a person's functional capacity as it relates to work. Lifting and carrying are important aspects of a functional capacity evaluation.

Healthy swing: a golf rehabilitation model.

Objective: To describe a rehabilitation model using a multidisciplinary team approach for the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with golf injuries or physically challenged persons desiring to play golf.

Design: A retrospective, descriptive study of a multidisciplinary golf rehabilitation program that included evaluation by a physiatrist, a physical therapist, and a Professional Golf Association golf professional.

Results: A total of 145 individuals were treated in this program between 1994 and 1997.

A study of the gait characteristics of patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the knee.

Purpose: There is scant information at present on the effects of severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint on gait. In the present study the kinematic and kinetic parameters of gait and the pattern of activation of four lower limb muscles were examined during walking at a self-selected pace on level ground. The spatiotemporal parameters of gait were also computed.

Industrial medicine and acute musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 3. Cumulative trauma disorders of the upper limb in computer users.

Unlabelled: This self-directed learning module highlights various cumulative trauma disorders of the upper limb that may be seen in computer users. The biomechanics and ergonomics of computer users are addressed in relationship to specific neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions within the neck and upper limbs. In addition to a general overview of these conditions, a case presentation is used to show the evaluation and treatment of a computer user who has carpal tunnel syndrome and concomitant de Quervain tenosynovitis.

Deltoid triceps transfer and functional independence of people with tetraplegia.

Study Design: Matched case control study.

Setting: Two regional spinal units - Salisbury, UK (surgical centre) and London, UK (control centre).

Objective: To compare the functional independence and wheelchair mobility of spinal cord injured subjects, post deltoid triceps transfer, with matched control subjects.

Parents' and therapists' opinion on features that make a chair useful for a young disabled child.

Children who fail to develop postural skills within a normal time scale are prescribed special seating to position them appropriately. For children to derive benefit from such seating, they must use it at home as well as in therapy sessions. A study was undertaken to explore the opinions of therapists and parents concerning the effectiveness and acceptability of a sample of special seating available on the UK market for young children.

Fall events described by people with Parkinson's disease: implications for clinical interviewing and the research agenda.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the terminology used by people with Parkinson's disease (PD) when recounting falls and near-misses (fall events) and to identify the surrounding circumstances.

Method: This cross-sectional study (part of an investigation identifying risk factors for falling in PD) utilized structured interviews about falling, conducted in participants' homes. Content analysis of participants' descriptions of events was performed.

Brain injury as a result of violence: preliminary findings from the traumatic brain injury model systems.

Objectives: To identify possible risk factors that may predispose individuals to violent traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine the effect of etiology of injury on outcomes.

Study Design: Prospective, longitudinal multicenter study.

Setting: TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) located at Wayne State University/Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Detroit, MI; The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, Houston, TX; Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA; and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA.

A portable, real-time, clinical gait velocity analysis system.

A direct ultrasound ranging system (DURS) has been developed for the quantitative evaluation of gait velocity. DURS consists of a transponder worn by the subject, a base unit infrared (IR) emitter/ultrasound (US) receiver, and a laptop computer. During gait analysis the transponder is worn by the subject at the approximate level of the body center of mass.

A study of the attitudes of a rural Indian community toward people with physical disabilities.

Objective: To examine the attitudes of a rural community in southern India toward its disabled members.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Method: One hundred and twenty randomly selected villagers around the town of Vellore in southern India were invited to take part in the study.

Does pulse oximetry reliably detect aspiration in dysphagic stroke patients?

Background And Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the value of pulse oximetry in the diagnosis of aspiration by comparing it with the gold standard, videofluoroscopy, by use of a prospective, controlled, single-blind study design.

Methods: Pulse oximetry was performed simultaneously with videofluoroscopy in 54 consecutive dysphagic stroke patients. Oxygen saturation measurements were taken before the video-fluoroscopic examination (baseline), on swallowing and continuously for 2 minutes after swallowing, and 10 minutes later.

The scalability of the Rivermead Motor Assessment in nonacute stroke patients.

Objective: To examine the scalability of the Rivermead Motor Assessment (RMA) with nonacute stroke patients in the community.

Design: This was a prospective study of the patients after discharge from hospital. All subjects were assessed on the RMA at six and 12 months after discharge home from hospital.

The scalability of the Rivermead Motor Assessment in acute stroke patients.

Objective: To examine the scalability of the Rivermead Motor Assessment with hospitalized acute stroke patients.

Design: This was a prospective study of hospitalized stroke patients.

Subjects: Fifty-one selected stroke patients, including those over the age of 65, were assessed at one, three and six weeks post-stroke using the Rivermead Motor Assessment.

Properties of musculus gluteus maximus in above-knee amputees.

The present study aimed at evaluating possible changes of the gluteus maximus muscle bulk size and in the contracting properties of gluteus maximus in the amputated above-knee limb. Seven male above-knee amputees, with a mean age of 47.4 years volunteered to participate in the present study.

Prevention of spinal injuries from diving in Slovenia.

Injury of the cervical spine involving the spinal cord such as results from diving into shallow water causes very severe disability. In spite of progress in medical science, results of the treatment and rehabilitation of such patients are not satisfactory. Every effort should be undertaken to give young swimmers, the most frequent victims of diving injuries, proper instructions to prevent spinal cord injury.

Implants for tremor.

Chronic or contingent electrical stimulation at various sites in the region of the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus can suppress contralateral intention tremor and the resting tremor seen in Parkinson's disease and idiopathic tremor. The procedure appears to carry less risk, in producing physical or cognitive impairment, than stereotactic ablation. However, the procedure has been tried in few centres to date and long term follow-up studies are needed to place this treatment in its true clinical perspective.

Early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

Early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is often difficult. The insidious onset of the disease, its slow progression and the lack of laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis contribute to this difficulty. Nevertheless, early diagnosis can be greatly facilitated by the systematic application of diagnostic clinical criteria and the selective use of radiological and laboratory tests.

Assessing motor-skill acquisition in four centres for the treatment of children with cerebral palsy.

An inventory of factors has been established that are important in defining the nature and circumstances of centres providing treatment for children with cerebral palsy. A method was developed for assessing the precision of the effects of aim- or goal-setting procedures, which were found to differ widely between centres. A knowledge of these factors and an understanding of the needs of individual parents and children is of potential value in the design of future trials employing randomisation and control of biasing factors, and in helping parents choose the centre most likely to meet their needs.

Upper limb prosthetic use in Slovenia.

The article deals with the use of different types of upper limb prostheses in Slovenia. Four hundred and fourteen upper limb amputees were sent a questionnaire on the type of their prosthesis, its use and reasons for non-use, respectively. The replies were subject to statistical analysis.