Disability and rehabilitation
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The diagnosis of a life-threatening illness can be an extremely stressful, traumatic experience. However, many survivors report also various positive changes, referred in empirical literature as post-traumatic growth (PTG). Empirical studies that documented stress disorders and PTG in patients and survivors of life-threatening diseases are reviewed in three areas: Predictors of PTG, relationships between PTG and indicators of mental health and the impact of PTG on the process of convalescence. ⋯ The results point to the potential adaptive significance of PTG. More research is needed to investigate specific disease-related profiles of PTG and the complex mechanisms, which underlie the relationships between PTG and the process of convalescence. This knowledge may help to foster the overall positive adjustment of chronically ill patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Continuous passive motion as an adjunct to active exercises in early rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty - a randomized controlled trial.
Continuous passive motion is frequently used post-operatively to increase knee range of motion after total knee arthroplasty in spite of little conclusive evidence. The aim of this study was to examine whether continuous passive motion (CPM) as an adjunct to active exercises had any short time effects (after one week and three months) on pain, range of motion, timed walking and stair climbing. ⋯ CPM was not found to have an additional short-time effect compared with active physiotherapy. After three months considerable pain relief was obtained for the whole group, the patients preoperative ROM was not restored and the number of patients able to climb stairs had decreased.
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Few studies on disabilities relate to neurogenic chronic pain conditions and how pain influences the patient's ability to maintain life roles. Polyneuropathy is a condition with muscle weakness, sensory impairment and sometimes additional pain of neurogenic origin. The aim was to investigate disability reported in daily activities and quality of life in patients with polyneuropathy, with and without neurogenic pain. ⋯ Symptoms in polyneuropathy, especially when accompanied by pain, give rise to disability that affects daily activities and ought to be considered in planning a successful intervention programme.
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To examine the attributes of disability in end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA) by analyzing the relationships between self-reported disability and objectively measured physical function after controlling pain, personal characteristic factors, and pathophysiological factors. ⋯ Pain, BMI, and antero-posterior laxity of the knee joint were major attributes of self-reported disability. The negative effect of comorbid diseases and female gender on health-related quality of life was significant. The results of objectively measured physical performance tests correlated with self-reported disability.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Psychological determinants of quality of life in patients with whiplash associated disorders-a prospective study.
To evaluate whether psychological factors and personality traits influence recovery in terms of quality of life in patients with subacute whiplash associated disorders (WAD). ⋯ In order to improve health-related quality of life in patients with WAD, the present study stresses the importance of targeting self-efficacy. A special effort should be made to enhance these beliefs in the rehabilitation process.