Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2012
Multicenter StudyDynamic longitudinal evaluation of the utility of the Berg Balance Scale in individuals with motor incomplete spinal cord injury.
To examine the utility of the Berg Balance Scale among patients with motor incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCIs), to determine how the utility of the Berg Balance Scale changes over time with activity-based therapy, and to identify differences in scale utility across patient groups defined by status of recovery. ⋯ The utility of the Berg Balance Scale in patients with motor incomplete SCI in early and advanced phases of recovery is limited. Specific item utility changes as patients recover. Thus, a more comprehensive and dynamic instrument is necessary to adequately measure balance across the spectrum of patients with motor incomplete SCI.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2012
The symptom inventory disability-specific short forms for multiple sclerosis: construct validity, responsiveness, and interpretation.
To test the cross-sectional and longitudinal construct validity of the disability-specific short forms of the Symptom Inventory for multiple sclerosis, to compare its internal consistency reliability and construct validity with those of the original (1999) 29-item short form of the Symptom Inventory, and to provide for the new disability-specific short forms interpretation metrics for use in sample size calculation for future research. ⋯ The Symptom Inventory can be useful for elucidating the patient's experience, but it varies considerably across and within disability groupings. Directions for future research are discussed.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Sep 2012
Cardiovascular status of individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury from 7 NeuroRecovery Network rehabilitation centers.
To examine cardiovascular (CV) health in a large cohort of individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). The CV health parameters of patients were compared based on American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), neurologic level, sex, central cord syndrome, age, time since injury, Neuromuscular Recovery Scale, and total AIS motor score. ⋯ Resting CV parameters of blood pressure and heart rate are affected by position, age, and neurologic level. OH is more prevalent in cervical injuries, those with lower resting blood pressures and who are lower functioning. Results from this study provide reference for CV parameters for individuals with incomplete SCI. Future research is needed on the impact of exercise on CV parameters.