Disability and rehabilitation
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The aim was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) into Arabic language and to examine its measurement properties in patients with musculoskeletal disorders of the lower extremity. ⋯ The Arabic Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS-Ar) is a reliable and valid measure of activity limitation due to lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders with relatively small measurement error. LEFS-Ar can be used in daily clinical practice and for research purposes to quantify activity limitation in Arabic-speaking individuals with lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders.
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The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life (QOL) of Finnish children with cerebral palsy (CP) in different parts of Finland from the children's and caregivers' perspectives. The acceptability of the Finnish version of the CP QOL-Child questionnaire for clinical use is also evaluated. ⋯ The used questionnaire provides an effective tool to identify areas for targeting support actions and to set goals for rehabilitation plans. The study brings forward the voices of children. It was found that pain has a great role in QOL, which should be taken into account when making rehabilitation plans. The participation of children with CP should be strengthened in every possible ways.
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The aim of the present study was translation, cultural adaption and validation of the extended version 12 of the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale (RCS-E) in a sample of patients with stroke and total hip replacement. ⋯ Admittance at an Intensive Rehabilitation care setting in Italy requires to evaluate the complexity of rehabilitation needs. The Rehabilitation Complexity Scale (RCS-E) has proved to be reliable for assessing clinical complexity and consequently for planning rehabilitation needs. The Italian version of RCS-E has been successfully validated, showing good psychometric properties, which reproduce the results obtained for the original version. The items included in the therapy intensity subscale do not fit the Italian health system rules for intensity of rehabilitation care and needs adaptation.
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Third-party disability pertains to the consequences of a person's impairment which impacts on the functioning and ability of their family members or significant others. With the emergence of research demonstrating the pervasive effects of dysphagia following head and neck cancer (HNC) on the carer, the aim of this study was to identify the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains and categories that describe the third-party disability of carers of people with dysphagia following HNC. ⋯ Clinical levels of distress and reduced quality of life have been associated with caring for a person with dysphagia following head and neck cancer. The flow-on effects of dysphagia experienced by a carer or close family member can be understood as a third-party disability, which impacts on their functioning, activities and participation in the context of the environment and personal factors. Using the ICF to describe the indirect effects of dysphagia on the carer may help to guide the assessment and support of this population, and advocate for the inclusion of the concerns of the carer in dysphagia management.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The impact of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) on upper limb function in chronic stroke: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
This pilot double-blind sham-controlled randomized trial aimed to determine if the addition of anodal tDCS on the affected hemisphere or cathodal tDCS on unaffected hemisphere to modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) would be superior to constraints therapy alone in improving upper limb function in chronic stroke patients. ⋯ The association of mCIMT with brain stimulation improves clinical gains in rehabilitation after stroke. The improvement in motor recovery (assessed by Fugl-Meyer scale) was only observed after anodal tDCS. The modulation of damaged hemisphere demonstrated greater improvements than the modulation of unaffected hemispheres.