BACKGROUND The de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) is a new mobility instrument that overcomes the limitations of existing instruments. It is the first mobility instrument that accurately measures the mobility of all older adults. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed report of investigations of the validity, responsiveness to change and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of ...

BACKGROUND Studies have shown the detrimental effect of increased temperature on brain injury. Fever is common after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The term 'central fever' is often used when no cause is identified. AIM The aim of the study was to determine the correlation of fever with third ventricular shift in 61 patients with ICH and hypothesize about the mechanism of fever. SETTING Ne...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study compared the ability of 2 stroke impairment scales, Orpington Prognostic Scale and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Stroke Scale, to predict disability as measured by the Barthel activities of daily living (ADL) Index and higher level of self-reported physical functioning as measured by the SF-36 physical functioning index (PFI) at 1, 3, and 6 months after s...

OBJECTIVE to evaluate the associations of 18 activities of daily living with self-rated health in older people. DESIGN AND SETTING cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 781 people aged 65 or over (response rate: 89.9%). METHODS self-rated health was assessed by the question: "Overall, how would you rate your current health status-very good, good, fair, poor or very poor?" We u...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Safety and efficacy concerns toward thrombolysis for ischemic stroke prevail among many neurologists because of the risks of hemorrhage and the small proportion of suitable patients. We therefore prospectively assessed feasibility, safety, efficacy, and team performance in a single center to prove whether thrombolytic treatment is practical in daily clinical routine. ME...

BACKGROUND The Barthel Index (BI) assesses actual performance of activities of daily living (ADL). However, comprehensive assessment of ADL functions should include two other constructs: self-perceived difficulty and ability. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to develop two BI-based Supplementary Scales (BI-SS), namely, the Self-perceived Difficulty Scale and the Ability Scale, and to exa...

Outcome measures are becoming increasingly important in health care. Functional outcome measures are of particular importance for lower limb amputees since much of the rehabilitation process is concerned with increasing mobility and personal independence. The Scottish Physiotherapy Amputee Research Group (SPARG) has used three measures of functional outcome: the Barthel Index, Russek's classifi...

Although visual neglect is a predictor of poor outcome after stroke, some patients regain independence, whilst others take up considerable rehabilitation resources. Intensive treatment of visual neglect is available and a knowledge of the predictive features in the recovery of these patients would be helpful in the early selection of patients for treatment. A study was therefore carried out to ...