Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Dec 2012
Psychometric properties and administration of the wrist/hand subscales of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment in minimally impaired upper extremity hemiparesis in stroke.
There is a need for time-efficient, valid measures of distal paretic upper extremity (UE) movement. The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the psychometric properties of the wrist stability and mobility and wrist/hand scale of the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer (w/h UE FM) as a "stand-alone" measure of distal UE movement; and (2) provide detailed instructions on w/h UE FM administration and scoring. The upper extremity Fugl Meyer (UE FM) and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) were administered on 2 separate occasions to each of 29 subjects exhibiting stable, mild UE hemiparesis (23 men; mean age ± SD, 60.8±12.3 y; mean time since stroke onset for subjects in the sample, 36.0 mo). ⋯ From these data, it appears that the w/h UE FM is a promising tool to measure distal UE movement in minimally impaired stroke, although more research with a larger sample is needed. A standardized approach to UE test administration is critical to accurate score interpretation across patients and trials. Thus, the article also provides instructions and pictures for w/h UE FM administration and scoring.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Dec 2012
Balance confidence was associated with mobility and balance performance in older people with fall-related hip fracture: a cross-sectional study.
To study the relationship between balance confidence, a concept closely related to fear of falling, mobility and balance performance, and perceived mobility limitation in older people after a fall-related hip fracture. ⋯ In people who have had a fall-related hip fracture, an independent relationship exists between balance confidence and mobility and balance performance as well as perceived mobility function. Since lack of balance confidence may compromise rehabilitation and recovery, the ABC scale may help to identify older hip fracture patients with mobility and balance limitation.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Dec 2012
Fingertip-to-floor test and straight leg raising test: validity, responsiveness, and predictive value in patients with acute/subacute low back pain.
To investigate the validity over time of the fingertip-to-floor test (FTF) and the straight leg raising test (SLR) using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and correlation coefficient (r), and to assess the predictive value of factors related to the change in RMDQ over 12 months using multivariate regression analysis. ⋯ Our results suggest that the FTF has good validity in patients with acute/subacute low back pain and even better validity in those with radicular pain. The change in FTF results over the first month was a valid predictor of the change in self-reported disability over 1 year. In contrast, the validity of SLR can be questioned in the present group of patients.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Nov 2012
Current pain and fear of pain contribute to reduced maximum voluntary contraction of neck muscles in patients with chronic neck pain.
To assess a range of physical and psychological factors and determine which factors contribute the most to reduced strength in patients with neck pain. ⋯ The average maximum voluntary force produced in neck flexion, extension, and lateral flexion is inversely and moderately correlated with the pain experienced during maximal contraction, fear of movement, and aspects of neck disability in patients with chronic neck pain.