Disability and rehabilitation
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The objective was to determine whether the abnormal finding of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) associated with the development of type I complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after stroke. ⋯ In conclusion, GHS and the absent median SEP at sub-acute phase of stroke were primary predictors of the onset of post-stoke CRPS. Implications for Rehabilitation Recent investigations have suggested that autonomic, motor and somatosensory abnormalities of CRPS are impairments involving the central nervous system (CNS) as well as the peripheral neurogenic inflammatory process. However, the understanding of the pathophysiology of CRPS is still far from complete. The absence of SEP at the sub-acute stage of stroke correlated with the onset of post-stroke CRPS type I. The SEP evaluation at the sub-acute period after stroke might be generally used for predicting the concomitant development of post-stroke CRPS type I as well as functional recovery after stroke.
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Participation throughout one's life plays a significant role for development and emotional well-being. For this reason, there is a need to identify ways to facilitate participation in family activities for children and adolescents with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). ⋯ Participation-facilitating strategies related to the child/adolescent and his or her proximal environments are identified to improve participation in children and adolescents with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). Examples of strategies for the child's/adolescents' proximal environment include "good knowledge about the child/adolescent", and, for the child/adolescent, include creating "sense of belonging" and "opportunities to influence". Identifying and making these strategies explicit may assist in enhancing the participation of children and adolescents with PIMD in family activities. People in the child's/adolescent's proximal environment need to set the scene for participation.
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The aim of this study was to explore how older women living alone with chronic musculoskeletal pain, describe their ability in performing activities in everyday life and what could promote their ability in activities in everyday life as well as their perceived meaning of a changed ability to perform activities in everyday life. ⋯ This paper concludes that it is important to be sensitive of individual needs regarding the daily rhythm of activities when health-care professionals intervene in the activities in everyday life of older women living alone, promote the women's independency, and enable them to participate in the community. Implications for Rehabilitation A daily rhythm of activities is important for older women who live alone with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The importance of health-care professionals being sensitive to individual needs to promote ability in activities in everyday life and to encourage the everyday activities into a daily rhythm. Facilitate the women's desire and will of independency, despite their needs of help from their environment to manage their everyday life.
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To investigate the attitudes and beliefs held by referrers and service providers of an Australian Early Supported Discharge (ESD) service called "Rehabilitation in the Home" (RITH); with particular consideration of factors that may influence referral to RITH. ⋯ Differences in views held by referrers and ESD service providers were identified in this study that could lead to inconsistencies in patient selection for, and under-utilization of, ESD services. Improved communication between referrers and ESD service providers, for instance attendance of RITH staff at inpatient team meetings, could ameliorate some of these misconceptions. On-going education of referrers about service capability is essential to ensure timely transfer of appropriate clients to ESD services.
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Sexual disorders after stroke are thought to be due to multiple etiologies, including both organic and psychosocial causes. Sexual function in post-stroke patients is often disregarded by healthcare professionals although sexuality is a fundamental part of quality of life. Beside pharmacological treatment, one of the most important, but underestimated, success factors of SD therapy is undeniably a proper counseling, which is mandatory to provide correct information on post-stroke sexuality helping the patients and their partners to regain intimacy.