Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Feb 2010
Discharge destination's effect on bounce-back risk in Black, White, and Hispanic acute ischemic stroke patients.
To determine whether racial and ethnic effects on bounce-back risk (ie, movement to settings of higher care intensity within 30 d of hospital discharge) in acute stroke patients vary depending on initial posthospital discharge destination. ⋯ Racial/ethnic bounce-back risk differs depending on initial discharge destination. Additional research is needed to fully understand this variation in effect.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Feb 2010
Controlled Clinical TrialUpdating the minimal important difference for six-minute walk distance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
To establish the minimal important difference (MID) for the six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ The MID for 6MWD in COPD is 25 meters. Absolute change in 6MWD is a more sensitive indicator than percentage change from baseline. These data support the use of 6MWD as a patient-important outcome in research and clinical practice.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Feb 2010
Case ReportsHerpes zoster-induced trunk muscle paresis presenting with abdominal wall pseudohernia, scoliosis, and gait disturbance and its rehabilitation: a case report.
Herpes zoster (HZ)-induced abdominal wall pseudohernia has been frequently reported, but there has been no report describing HZ-induced trunk muscle paresis leading to functional problems. We describe a 73-year-old man with T12 and L1 segmental paresis caused by HZ presenting with abdominal wall pseudohernia, scoliosis, and standing and gait disturbance who responded well to a systematic rehabilitation approach. He first noticed a right abdominal bulge in the 6th postherpetic week, which was gradually accompanied by right convex thoracolumbar scoliosis, pain, and standing and gait disturbance in the 12th week. ⋯ Based on electromyographic findings, we instructed him in an effective method of muscle reeducation. After 4 months of rehabilitation, he showed marked improvement and became an outdoor ambulator. We suggest that electromyography is a useful tool to evaluate clinical status and devise an effective rehabilitation program in patients with HZ trunk paresis.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Feb 2010
Power wheelchair prescription, utilization, satisfaction, and cost for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: preliminary data for evidence-based guidelines.
To determine the features most frequently selected in a power wheelchair (PWC), level of satisfaction with the selections, and how often the PWC features are used by patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND). ⋯ We obtained first-hand knowledge from 32 patients with ALS/MND who are current PWC users on their use and satisfaction with their PWCs from initial to current use. Based on this survey, patients with ALS/MND seen for their wheelchair evaluation with experienced clinicians exhibit high use and satisfaction with their PWCs.