Disability and rehabilitation
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Neurogenic bladder and bowel (NBB) is a chronic condition hindering the functioning and quality of life (QOL) of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). NBB research has focused on men with SCI leaving unanswered questions about women's experiences of living with NBB. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe women's experiences of living with SCI and NBB. ⋯ Women with spinal cord injury (SCI) reported gender specific challenges to living with neurogenic bladder and bowel (NBB). Interventions designed for women with SCI can address these problems and provide recommendations for prevention and treatment. Women described the detrimental impact of NBB on life course expectations, emotional, social, physical health, and quality of life domains. Psychosocial and educational programs can be developed to address these challenges and improve overall quality of life. Recommendations for special treatment and policy considerations are needed to maximize women's independence and health while living with NBB after SCI.
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People with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently complain of chronic or fluctuating fatigue, sometimes accompanied by pain. From a phenomenological point of view, both fatigue and pain are seen as aspects of suffering which adversely affect the physical, psychological, social and even existential dimensions of the individual life. ⋯ Participating in Machu Picchu expedition appeared to have a deep and profound effect on body awareness and identity. Participants experienced their body once again as theirs, owning it and above all, allowing it to be a source of strength, joy and meaningfulness. While MS determined their lives prior to the journey, they now could look at MS as a part of what they are, without totally being absorbed in it. So being a patient with MS before, resulted in merely having MS after the climb. Implications for Rehabilitation Patients experience illness as a disruption of their previous life. A phenomenological approach deals with the lived experience and the concept of body awareness, the meaningful experience of living in the world through the body. This approach complements biomedical viewpoints as providing different. Suffering from a chronic and unpredictable disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) can disturb the implicit and harmonious relation between the body, the mind and the world, already at an early stage. Factors including physical training, professional guidance, social support, becoming a role model and completing a unique expedition outside of national and natural comfort borders may contribute to changes in body and identity experience.
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This study aims to adapt culturally a Turkish version of the Lower Limb Functional Index (LLFI) and to determine its validity, reliability, internal consistency, measurement sensitivity and factor structure in lower limb problems. ⋯ Turkish version of LLFI was found to be valid and reliable for the measurement of lower limb function in a Turkish population. Implications for Rehabilitation Lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders are common and greatly impact activities among the affected individuals pertaining to daily living, work, leisure and quality of life. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures have advantages as they are practical, cost-effective and clinically convenient for use in patient-centered care. The Lower Limb Functional Index is a recently validated PRO measure shown to have strong clinimetric properties.
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Bottom-up-based sensory stimulation has been useful in promoting recovery from post-stroke neglect. Light and color are salient stimuli for guiding our orienting behaviors and influence the degree of spatial bias. This study evaluated the effects of lateralized light flash and color on spatial bias in unilateral neglect (UN). ⋯ This evidence confirms the use of sensory stimulation to complement post-stroke UN remediation. Lateralized light flash to the contralesional space and red-colored lenses have beneficial effects on amelioration of UN, whereas ipsilesional light flash and the color blue may exacerbate ipsilesional spatial bias in stroke survivors with UN. Implications for Rehabilitation Contralesional light flash and the color red may ameliorate ipsilesional spatial bias in stroke survivors with unilateral neglect (UN). Ipsilesional flash of light and the color blue may worsen ipsilesional spatial bias in stroke survivors with UN.
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This study examined the factorial and construct validity of the Multiple Sclerosis Self-Efficacy (MSSE) Scale in two samples of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). ⋯ Scores from the modified, 10-item version of the MSSE provide a valid and reliable measure of MS-specific self-efficacy among persons with MS. Implications for Rehabilitation The importance of self-efficacy in managing the consequences of multiple sclerosis (MS) has increased. The Multiple Sclerosis Self-Efficacy (MSSE) Scale was developed and validated for measuring self-efficacy in function maintenance and control over MS from patients' perspectives. In the past almost 20 years, this scale has not undergone additional validation of its factor structure and construct validity in large-scale samples of persons with MS. The original two-factor construct did not provide a good fit for the 18 items on the MSSE in two independent samples. We modified the MSSE and found the 10 items fitted by the two-factor construct well with one sample and demonstrated cross-validity of the 10 items in the second sample. The 10-item version of the MSSE has good reliability and construct validity in both independent samples. Researchers and clinicians should adopt these 10 items when examining MS self-efficacy of patients.