BACKGROUND Physical examination is a traditional outcome measure in epidemiological research. Its value as a reliable measure depends, in part, on the prevalence of positive findings. The purpose of this paper is to determine the empirical reliability of physical examination and anthropometry in a field study of upper extremity disorders among keyboard operators. METHODS Two experienced exami...

Healthy humans are able to place light and heavy objects in small and large target locations with remarkable accuracy. Here we examine how dexterity demand and physical demand affect flexibility in joint coordination and end-effector kinematics when healthy young adults perform an upper extremity reaching task. We manipulated dexterity demand by changing target size and physical demand by incre...

This study was conducted to determine the effect of body orientation on upper extremity function in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Thirteen children between ages 8 and 16 and diagnosed as having spastic or athetoid cerebral palsy were placed randomly in different seating orientations (30 degrees, 15 degrees, and 0 degrees of posterior inclination and 15 degrees of anterior inclin...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study examined the validity of the clinical tenet that poststroke recovery of the upper extremity is less rapid and complete than poststroke recovery of the lower extremity. Previous studies comparing upper and lower extremity recovery have evaluated disability rather than motor impairment. Individuals with lower extremity impairments may be more functional and appea...

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the upper extremity is uncommon compared with DVT of the lower extremity. Exertional DVT has been described in some athletes, especially in the dominant arm of baseball players. It is important for health care professionals to recognize the signs and symptoms of upper-extremity DVT, which can occur after exertion or after surgery of the upper extremity. Superfici...

BACKGROUND The mirror neuron network provides a neural mechanism to prime the motor system through action observation in stroke survivors. OBJECTIVE To examine whether action observation training with immediate physical practice improves upper-limb function in chronic stroke. METHODS In a within-subject design, 14 chronic stroke survivors were assessed at baseline, then participated in 2 we...

Following stroke, the disturbed motor control results in subsequent movement disorders. Recovery means gradual returning of the specific function, after a deficit caused by a central nervous system damage (Held, 2000). The recovery of upper extremity movement following a stroke is generally poor. Three months after stroke its function remains totally or partially impaired in as much as 80 % of ...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of purposeful action observation on upper extremity function in patients with stroke. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve subjects were randomly to either the experimental group or control group. The experimental group underwent occupational therapy and a purposeful action observation program. The control group underwent occupational ther...

Background: Dog bite injuries to the upper extremity can result in traumatic neurovascular and musculotendinous damage. Currently, there are no clear guidelines dictating which patients may benefit from early operative exploration. The purpose of this study was to identify clinical variables that were predictive of abnormal intraoperative findings in patients who sustained an upper extremity do...

OBJECTIVE To investigate factors within 3 days post-stroke that could predict severe impairment in motor function in the upper extremity at one month post-stroke. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 104 patients with first-ever stroke and impaired motor function in the upper extremity. Initial impairment in motor function, demographic data, type of stroke and stroke risk factors were ...