Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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To quantify the incidence of swallowing deficits (dysphagia) and to identify factors that predict risk for dysphagia in the rehabilitation setting following acute traumatic spinal cord injury. ⋯ Swallowing abnormalities are present in a significant percentage of patients presenting to rehabilitation with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury. Patients with a tracheostomy appear to have a substantially increased risk of development of dysphagia, although other factors are also relevant. Risk of dysphagia should be evaluated to decrease the potential for morbidity related to swallowing abnormalities.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialCost-effectiveness analysis of adjuvant physical or occupational therapy for patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
To study from a societal viewpoint the cost-effectiveness of adjuvant treatment for patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) of one upper extremity. ⋯ PT results in clinically relevant improvement in RSD. Costs associated with adjuvant treatment are moderate compared to other medical costs. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of PT versus OT and CT were moderate or even dominant, thus PT was both more effective and less costly than its comparators.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparative analgesic effects of H-wave therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain threshold in humans.
To assess the comparative analgesic efficacy of H-wave therapy (HWT) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) using a mechanical model of pain threshold measurement. ⋯ The findings showed that HWT and TENS provided localized hypoalgesia during stimulation and for up to 5 minutes after it. No frequency- or modality-specific effects were observed between the groups.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 1999
Comparative Study Clinical TrialAlteration of interferential current and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation frequency: effects on nerve excitation.
To investigate the effects of different interferential current (IC) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) frequencies on sensory, motor, and pain thresholds. ⋯ It is postulated that the medium frequency component of IC is the main parameter in stimulation, contrary to traditional claims of the amplitude modulated frequency being important. TENS was shown to be a more adaptable method of stimulating these nerve pathways than IC.
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To examine emotional and behavioral adjustment and recovery over 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to determine whether the difficulties, if present, are due to neurologic insult. ⋯ These results raise questions about commonly held beliefs that those with mild TBI report greater distress, and clarify some misconceptions regarding change in emotional and behavioral functioning over time.