The effectiveness of functional task exercise and physical therapy as prevention of functional decline in community dwelling older people with complex

Background: A physically active lifestyle in older people contributes to the preservation of good health. We assessed the influence of physiotherapy on daily functioning among community dwelling older people (75+) with complex health problems identified with screening, versus usual care. We also compared functional task exercise (FTE), with...

Reproducibility and validity of the Dutch translation of the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) used by physiotherapists in older patients with knee or Hip osteoarthritis

Objective: To examine the reproducibility, construct validity, and unidimensionality of the Dutch translation of the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI), a performance-based measure of mobility for older patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Rehabilitation center (reproducibility study) and hospital (validity study). Participants:...

Implementation of a shared care guideline for back pain: Effect on unnecessary referrals

Objective: To determine the effect of the implementation of a shared care guideline for the lumbosacral radicular syndrome (LRS) on unnecessary early referrals and the duration of the total diagnostic procedure. Design: Introduction of shared care guideline in November 2005. Pre-test in 2005 (April to October), a first post-test in 2006 (April...

Promoting the use of outcome measures by an educational programme for physiotherapists in stroke rehabilitation: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Objective: To determine the influence of tutor expertise on the uptake of a physiotherapists' educational programme intended to promote the use of outcome measures in the management of patients with stroke. Design: Pilot randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty physiotherapists involved in stroke management were randomized into two groups...

Patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders. Relationship between clinical and psychological factors and functional health status

Schmitt MA, van Meeteren NL, de Wijer A, van Genderen FR, van der Graaf Y, Helders PJ: Patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders: Relationship between clinical and psychological factors and functional health status. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2009;88:231-238. Objectives: To examine the relative contribution of cervical impairments and...

Therapeutic approaches to fibromyalgia in the Netherlands: A comparison between 1998 and 2005

Rationale: In this study, information was gathered from five disciplines on their usual management methods for fibromyalgia (FM) in order to asses whether treatment regimens have changed in the Netherlands during a period of 6 years. In addition, insight was gained into the therapeutic motives of the professionals. Method: A questionnaire was...

The effects of physical therapists' guidance on improvement in a strength-training program for the frail elderly

Elderly participants experiencing difficulty in chair rising and with a maximum knee-extensor torque below 87.5 N · m were randomized to different versions of a strength-training program for the knee-extensors: to a high-guidance group (HG; two group sessions supervised by a physical therapist and one unsupervised home session per week, n = 17),...

Self-management in osteoarthritis of hip or knee: A randomized clinical trial in a primary healthcare setting

Objective. To assess in a primary healthcare setting the efficacy of a self-management program in middle-aged patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. This was a 2-group randomized controlled trial, with 273 patients aged 40 to 60 years with OA of the hip(s) and/or knee(s). The experimental intervention was compared with care-as-usual....

Compliance with external hip protectors in nursing homes in Norway

Objectives: To investigate compliance with hip protector use. Design: Observational prospective study. Setting: 19 nursing homes (1040 beds). Subjects: All residents during an 18 month period were included in this study. Intervention: Hip protectors were introduced as a regular part of health care service for all residents. Residents at high...