Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Apr 2008
Comparative StudyEffect of nasogastric tubes on incidence of aspiration.
To determine what effect, if any, a nasogastric (NG) tube has on occurrence of anterograde aspiration during objective evaluation of swallowing using both liquid and puree bolus consistencies. ⋯ No statistically significant differences were found regarding aspiration status for liquid or puree food consistencies between 2 separate but comparable groups, that is, one with and one without an NG tube, regardless of sex, age, or diagnostic category. Because objective swallowing evaluation, for example, FEES, can be performed with an NG tube in place, it is not necessary to remove an NG tube to evaluate dysphagia. Similarly, there is no contraindication to leaving an NG tube in place to supplement oral alimentation.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Apr 2008
Time course analysis of the effects of botulinum toxin type a on elbow spasticity based on biomechanic and electromyographic parameters.
To quantify changes of elbow spasticity over time after botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection in the upper extremity of stroke patients. ⋯ Early relapse of spasticity (within 9 weeks of the injection) can be detected from biomechanic and neurophysiologic assessments in a clinical setup. These quantitative indices provide valuable information for clinicians when making decisions to perform additional rehabilitation interventions or another BTX-A injection in the early stages of treatment.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Apr 2008
Outcomes after metal-on-metal hip resurfacing: could we achieve better function?
To report functional outcomes after metal-on-metal (MOM) hip resurfacing. ⋯ Information about outcomes is important for patients undergoing surgery. Hip resurfacing remains an emergent technology, with further follow-up and investigation warranted. One explanation for suboptimal recovery may be current rehabilitation, originally developed after total hip arthroplasty. Rehabilitation tailored to hip resurfacing, paced for this active population and progressed to higher demand activities, may improve outcomes.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Apr 2008
The impact of increasing paraspinal muscle activity on stature recovery in asymptomatic people.
To determine whether changes in stature recovery could be exhibited in an asymptomatic group through the use of functional electric stimulation (FES). ⋯ Use of FES correlated with significant reductions in stature recovery. Elevating paraspinal muscle activity may increase compression on the intervertebral disks and therefore diminish the ability to recover the reduction in height caused by the loaded walking task. This investigation offers further support to the theory that the raised paraspinal muscle activity exhibited by persons with chronic LBP leads to reduced stature recovery.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Apr 2008
ReviewTreatment disparities for disabled medicare beneficiaries with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.
Treatment disparities for disabled Medicare beneficiaries with stage I non-small cell lung cancer. ⋯ Persons with disabilities were much less likely than nondisabled Medicare beneficiaries to receive surgery; statistically significant cancer-specific mortality differences disappeared after accounting for these treatment differences. Future research must explore reasons for these findings and whether survival of disabled Medicare beneficiaries with early-stage, non-small cell lung cancer could improve if surgical treatment disparities were eliminated.