Functional Limitations In Patients Research Articles

Influence of timing of chest tube removal on early outcome of patients underwent lung resection

ObjectiveThe presence of a chest tube is a factor significantly associated with postoperative pain and functional limitation in patients submitted to pulmonary resection. Our aim was to study if early removal of the chest tube is the better way that can effectively release pain, and improve pulmonary functions without increasing the risk of postoperative complications. MethodsA prospective observational study was carried out on 88 patients who underwent lung resection by posterolateral thoracotomy. A single chest tube was inserted. Criteria for chest tubes removal were when air leak resolved and the fluid drainage was 350 ml/day or less provided that the drained fluid was macroscopically non-chylous and non-hemorrhagic. Static and dynamic pain scores and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were assessed 2 h before and after the chest tube removal. The pain level was assessed by the numeric rating scale (NRS). Two measurements for FEV1 were performed both before and after the chest tube removal, and the best value measured at each time was recorded and used for the analysis. Postoperative complications were reported. ResultsThe mean static and dynamic pain scores were decreased significantly after chest tube removal. The mean value of FEV1/Liters and FEV1% of predicted also showed statistically significant improvement after chest tube removal. 8 (9%) of patients developed pleural effusion. 5 (5.7%) of patients developed pneumothorax. Empyema was reported in 3 (3.4%) of patients. ConclusionEarly removal of chest tube may have beneficial effect on control of post-thoracotomy pain, improvement of pulmonary functions and decreasing the risk of complications after lung resection.

Pain and Functional Limitations in Patients with Fibromyalgia

Pain and Functional Limitations in Patients with Fibromyalgia

Proximal Gastrocnemius Release in the Treatment of Mechanical Metatarsalgia.

Gastrocnemius shortening causes an equinus deformity that may clinically manifest in foot disorders, including metatarsalgia. We use this term to describe pain localized to the metatarsal heads. The purposes of this prospective study were to review the effect of medial gastrocnemius proximal release on ankle dorsiflexion and assess the outcome of this technique on pain and functional limitations in patients who have mechanical metatarsalgia and isolated gastrocnemius shortening. We prospectively followed a consecutive series of 78 feet in 52 patients with metatarsalgia who had an isolated gastrocnemius contracture assessed with the Silfverskiöld test. Surgical release was evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scales. Ankle dorsiflexion was measured at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Preoperative values of VAS and AOFAS were 7.4 and 46.8, respectively. After 3 months postoperatively, the values were 3.0 and 81.7, and 6 months after surgery these values were 3.5 and 83.6. No patient worsened clinically. There were no major complications. Thirty-six patients (69.2%) were completely satisfied with the results of the surgery. Preoperatively, ankle dorsiflexion with the knee straight was -17.5 degrees, which improved to 2.5 degrees at 6 months postoperatively. We believe proximal medial gastrocnemius recession is an alternate procedure to treat selected patients with mechanical metatarsalgia and gastrocnemius shortening. It had acceptable morbidity and cosmetic results. Level IV, case series.

Short-term effects of kinesio tape on joint position sense, isokinetic measurements, and clinical parameters in patellofemoral pain syndrome.

[Purpose] To evaluate the short-term effects of kinesio tape on joint position sense, isokinetic measurements, kinesiophobia, symptoms, and functional limitations in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 90 patients (112 knees) with patellofemoral pain syndrome were randomized into a kinesio tape group (n=45) or placebo kinesio tape group (n=45). Baseline isokinetic quadriceps muscle tests and measurements of joint position sense were performed in both groups. Pain was measured with a Visual Analog Scale, kinesiophobia with the Tampa kinesiophobia scale, and symptoms and functional limitations with the Kujala pain scale. Measurements were repeated 2 days after kinesio tape application. [Results] No differences were found between baseline isokinetic muscle measurements and those taken 2 days after application. However, significant improvements were observed in the kinesio tape group, with regard to joint position sense, pain, kinesiophobia, symptoms, and functional limitations after treatment. Examination of the differences between pre- and post-treatment values in both groups revealed that the kinesio tape group demonstrated greater improvements compared to the placebo kinesio tape group. [Conclusion] Although short-term kinesio tape application did not increase hamstring muscle strength, it may have improved joint position sense, pain, kinesiophobia, symptoms, and daily limitations.

Functional limitations due to foot involvement in spondyloarthritis.

[Purpose] Spondyloarthritis is a major inflammatory disease followed-up in the rheumatology clinics, foot involvement in spodyloarthritis is common. The functional states of patients with spondyloarthritis are usually evaluated globally. The aim of this study was to assess the foot involvement-related functional limitations in patients with spondyloarthritis. [Subjects and Methods] Patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis with foot pain more than 4 weeks who underwent anteroposterior and lateral feet radiography were enrolled into the study. A “clinical findings score” was calculated by assigning 1 point for every finding of swelling, redness, and tenderness. C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were used as serum markers for disease activity. Foot radiograms were evaluated using the spondyloarthropathy tarsal radiographic index and the foot-related functional state of patients was determined by the Turkish version of the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score. [Results] There were no relationships between Foot and Ankle Outcome Score subscales and clinical findings score, serum markers, or radiologic score. Pain and symptoms subscale scores were result positively correlated with activity of daily living, sport and recreation, and quality of life subscale scores. [Conclusion] Pain and symptoms are the main determinants of foot-related functional limitations in spondyloarthritis.

Neuropsychological assessment of cognitively impaired Indian elderly: Challenges and implications

Cognitive impairment in elderly is a challenging issue which needs proper attention, care and management. Neuropsychological assessments (NA) are those authentic measures that help not only in narrowing down the differential diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction, but also assist in choosing treatment modalities, evaluating the efficacy of an intervention and to assess outcome. NA may also define the patient's functional limitations or cognitive strengths. Therefore, appropriate application of NA can improve the quality of care and management of an elderly with cognitive impairment. NA has many applications as it provides full understanding about the individual and his environment. However, in India there are many challenging issues regarding Na, which are discussed in the present article.

Pain, Physical Function, and Health in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between pain and physical functional limitation and health status in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). A correlational study. In a convenience sample of 73 patients with knee OA, pain and physical function were assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index. Health status was evaluated using multiple instruments under the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health framework. In the study of patients with knee OA, pain and physical functional limitation exhibited mild to strong associations with health status, including body function and structure (r = .26-.71), activities and participation (r = .24-.88), and personal and environmental factors (r = .24-.62). In patients with knee OA, health status is mildly to strongly associated with pain and physical functional limitation. Reducing pain and physical functional limitation in patients with knee OA might improve their health status.

Joint impact of clinical and behavioral variables on the risk of unplanned readmission and death after a heart failure hospitalization.

Most current methods for modeling rehospitalization events in heart failure patients make use of only clinical and medications data that is available in the electronic health records. However, information about patient-reported functional limitations, behavioral variables and socio-economic background of patients may also play an important role in predicting the risk of readmission in heart failure patients. We developed methods for predicting the risk of rehospitalization in heart failure patients using models that integrate clinical characteristics with patient-reported functional limitations, behavioral and socio-economic characteristics. Our goal was to estimate the predictive accuracy of the joint model and compare it with models that make use of clinical data alone or behavioral and socio-economic characteristics alone, using real patient data. We collected data about the occurrence of hospital readmissions from a cohort of 789 heart failure patients for whom a range of clinical and behavioral characteristics data is also available. We applied the Cox model, four different variants of the Cox proportional hazards framework as well as an alternative non-parametric approach and determined the predictive accuracy for different categories of variables. The concordance index obtained from the joint prediction model including all types of variables was significantly higher than the accuracy obtained from using only clinical factors or using only behavioral, socioeconomic background and functional limitations in patients as predictors. Collecting information on behavior, patient-reported estimates of physical limitations and frailty and socio-economic data has significant value in the predicting the risk of readmissions with regards to heart failure events and can lead to substantially more accurate events prediction models.

Assessing outcomes following arthroscopic labral debridement-what can the IHOT-33 reveal?

As the complexity of arthroscopic procedures continues to increase, assessing the success of these procedures is of utmost importance to determine appropriate treatment plans for patients. This study compares outcome scores on the International Hip Outcome Tool (IHOT-33) using an analysis of its four subscales to scores on the Modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS) in patients following hip arthroscopy. Patients who had undergone hip arthroscopy between 1 and 5 years ago were assessed using both the IHOT-33 and MHHS at their most recent follow-up visit. Total scores for each outcome measure were calculated. A composite score for each of the IHOT subscales was calculated by averaging the total points in each section. Total score on the MHHS was compared with total score on the IHOT-33 and its four subscales using separate wilcoxin signed ranks tests. In total, 44 patients met our inclusion criteria with an average follow-up of 24.8 ± 18.8 months. MHHS total score was greater than IHOT-33 total score (P = 0.04). Comparisons between MHHS total score and the IHOT-33 subscales revealed reductions in sport (P = 0.001) and social (P = 0.004), but no difference in symptoms (P = 0.74) and job (P = 0.84). Our findings demonstrated that scores on the MHHS are inflated when compared with scores on the IHOT-33 for patients following hip arthroscopy. Subscale analysis revealed that the reductions in IHOT-33 scores exist in the sport and recreational domain and social, emotional, lifestyle domain compared with the MHHS. Our results suggest that analysing the subscales of the IHOT-33 would provide a more thorough understanding of functional limitations in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy.

Physical examination and imaging of the lateral collateral ligament and posterolateral corner of the knee.

The initial assessment of injury to the lateral collateral ligament and posterolateral corner is often challenging, particularly in the context of a multiligamentous injury. Although advanced imaging techniques have enhanced the evaluation of knee injuries, the significant, and often unique, contribution of clinical examination should not be overlooked. Clinical examination starts with a thorough history, which is instrumental in elucidating not only the patient's symptomatology but also the mechanism of injury. Differentiating between acute and chronic injury and teasing out the patient's functional limitations are instructive in defining the appropriate treatment plan. The treating physician needs patience, vigilance, and a variety of diagnostic tools to reach a precise diagnosis. Each injury should be approached in a methodical and systematic manner to ensure an accurate initial assessment. This review provides a step-wise approach to the clinical assessment of the lateral collateral ligament and posterolateral corner injured knee. Adjunctive imaging modalities and investigations are also discussed.

Métodos de avaliação da capacidade funcional em pacientes com DPOC

Objetivos: Realizar uma revisão não sistemática da literatura a fim de explorar os principais instrumentos utilizados para avaliar a limitação funcional de pacientes com DPOC. Métodos: Pesquisou-se nas bases de dados Medline, PubMed e SciELO, usando-se os termos: atividades de vida diária, atividades cotidianas, atividades físicas na vida diária, capacidade funcional e doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica. Resultados: Os principais instrumentos foram classificados, conforme suas características, em: questionários e escalas, testes clínicos e sensores de movimento. Descreveram-se a escala LCADL e o questionário PFSDQ. Quanto aos testes clínicos são apresentados: TC6min, AVD-Glittre (TGlittre), Sentar e Levantar, Step Chester e GST, além dos sensores de movimento. Conclusões: Na seleção dos instrumentos de avaliação ideais, devem-se considerar ferramentas que possibilitem atingir os aspectos importantes relacionados à doença e ao impacto que esta causa nesses indivíduos. Dentre os instrumentos apresentados, destacam-se LCADL, TC6min, TGlittre e acelerômetros triaxiais.

Clinical and etiological associations in chronic cerebral ischemia

Objective: to study the clinical features of chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) in relation to the leading etiological factor. Patients and methods. Examinations were made in 515 non-stroke CCI patients: 306 men and 209 women aged 58 to 75 years with hypertension and no obvious atherosclerosis of head and neck vessels (n=197); with obvious atherosclerosis of head and neck vessels and no hypertension (n=157); with obvious atherosclerosis of head and neck vessels and hypertension (n=161). In all cases, the investigators performed standard neurological examination and evaluated cognitive, affective symptoms with a set of neuropsychological scales and equilibrium and gait abnormalities with the Tinetti scale. Results and discussion. The development of extrapyramidal syndrome was more related to hypertension or its concurrence with the atherosclerotic process. The patients with atherosclerosis and no hypertension showed a more distinct differentiation of clinical syndromes, which was associated with stenosis in the specific vascular bed; this was probably due to decreased local perfusion. A relationship was established between hypertension and the development of severe cognitive impairments (CIs) that had predominantly a dysregulation neuropsychological profile. In the patients with atherosclerosis and no hypertension, emotional disorders were more common than CI and the latter resembled Alzheimer’s disease. A differentiated prophylactic and therapeutic strategy accounting for the leading etiological factor will be able to prevent or significantly reduce functional limitations in patients with CCI.

Validity of the lower extremity functional movement screen in patients with chronic ankle instability.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to provide evidence of construct validity for the lower extremity functional movement screen (LE-FMS) based on hypothesis testing in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). [Subjects] The subjects were 20 healthy subjects and 20 patients with CAI who had a history of ankle sprain with pain for more than 1 day. [Methods] All participants were measured using the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) and evaluated with the LE-FMS. The screen included the deep squat, the hurdle step (HS) and the in-line lunge (ILL). The symmetry ratios (RS) were accurately measured during the deep squat trial. [Results] Between the two groups, there were significant differences in scores on the LE-FMS, HS, ILL, RS, FADI, and FADI-sport. The FADI was strongly correlated with both LE-FMS score (r=0.807) and ILL score (r=0.896). There was a strong relationship (r=0.818) between LE-FMS score and FADI-sport. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the LE-FMS may be used to detect deficits related to CAI. Additionally, this instrument is reliable in detecting functional limitations in patients with CAI.

Double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover trial of pregabalin for neurogenic claudication.

Objectives:To test the effects of pregabalin on the induction of neurogenic claudication.Methods:This study was a randomized, double-blind, active placebo-controlled, 2-period, crossover trial. Twenty-nine subjects were randomized to receive pregabalin followed by active placebo (i.e., diphenhydramine) or active placebo followed by pregabalin. Each treatment period lasted 10 days, including a 2-step titration. Periods were separated by a 10-day washout period, including a 3-day taper phase after the first period. The primary outcome variable was the time to first moderate pain symptom (Numeric Rating Scale score ≥4) during a 15-minute treadmill test (Tfirst). Secondary outcome measures included pain intensity at rest, pain intensity at the end of the treadmill test, distance walked, and validated self-report measures of pain and functional limitation including the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, modified Brief Pain Inventory–Short Form, Oswestry Disability Index, and Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire.Results:No significant difference was found between pregabalin and active placebo for the time to first moderate pain symptom (difference in median Tfirst = −1.08 [95% confidence interval −2.25 to 0.08], p = 0.61). In addition, none of the secondary outcome measures of pain or functional limitation were significantly improved by pregabalin compared with active placebo.Conclusions:Pregabalin was not more effective than active placebo in reducing painful symptoms or functional limitations in patients with neurogenic claudication associated with lumbar spinal stenosis.Classification of evidence:This study provides Class I evidence that for patients with neurogenic claudication, compared with diphenhydramine, pregabalin does not increase the time to moderate pain during a treadmill test.

Simeprevir added to peginterferon and ribavirin lessens time with fatigue, depressive symptoms and functional limitations in patients with chronic hepatitis C compared with peginterferon and ribavirin: results from 1161 patients in the QUEST-1, QUEST-2 and PROMISE studies.

The value of adding simeprevir (SMV) vs placebo (PBO) to peginterferon and ribavirin (PR) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection was examined using patient-reported outcomes (PROs); further, concordance of PROs with virology endpoints and adverse events (AEs) was explored. Patients (n = 768 SMV/PR, n = 393 PBO/PR) rated fatigue (FSS), depressive symptoms (CES-D) and functional impairment (WPAI: Hepatitis C Productivity, Daily Activity and Absenteeism) at baseline and throughout treatment in three randomised, double-blind trials comparing the addition of SMV or PBO during initial 12 weeks of PR. PR was administered for 48 weeks (PBO group) and 24/48 weeks (SMV group) using a response-guided therapy (RGT) approach. Mean PRO scores (except Absenteeism) worsened from baseline to Week 4 to the same extent in both groups but reverted after Week 24 for SMV/PR and only after Week 48 for PBO/PR. Accordingly, there was a significantly lower area under the curve (baseline-Week 60, AUC60 ) and fewer weeks with clinically important worsening of scores in the SMV/PR group at any time point. Incidences of patients with fatigue and anaemia AEs were similar in both groups, but FSS scores showed that clinically important increases in fatigue lasted a mean of 6.9 weeks longer with PBO/PR (P < 0.001). PRO score subgroup analysis indicated better outcomes for patients who met the criteria for RGT or achieved sustained virological response 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12); differences in mean PRO scores associated with fibrosis level were only observed with PBO/PR. Greater efficacy of SMV/PR enabled reduced treatment duration and reduced time with PR-related AEs without adding to AE severity.

Daily Walking Might Delay Functional Limitations in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Although patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) can benefit from exercise programs (NEJM JW Gen Med Mar 18 2014), fewer than one third of primary care

Effects of exercise on disablement process model outcomes in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.

Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) results in adverse physiologic, metabolic, and functional side effects that may accelerate functional limitations in patients with prostate cancer (PC). Although exercise improves muscular strength and functional performance, the extent to which exercise yields similar improvements in other disablement process outcomes in men on ADT has yet to be systematically evaluated. To explore whether exercise results in comparable improvements in physiologic and structural body system impairment, functional limitation (relating to basic physical or mental actions), and physical disability domain outcomes identifed in the Disablement Process Model (DPM) in PC patients who are receiving ADT. Data from studies of exercise interventions in men on ADT were extracted on impairment, functional limitation, and physical disability domain outcomes. The average of weighted, bias-corrected effect sizes were calculated for each outcome and compared across domains. A total of 9 studies (6 randomized controlled trials, 3 uncontrolled trials) conducted with 684 PC patients met the inclusion criteria. Exercise yielded heterogeneous effect-size improvements in physical impairments, ranging from large improvements in muscular strength (d = .74; 95% CI, .14-1.47) and endurance (d = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.08-2.84), to small improvements in body composition measures (d = .12; 95% CI, -.52-.68). Whereas exercise resulted in meaningful effect-size improvements in functional limitation domain outcomes (d = .39; 95% CI, -.42-1.01), fndings from the 4 studies that assessed a physical disability, domain outcomes revealed only small improvements (d = .10; 95% CI, -.44-.43) in these outcomes. Collectively, exercise consistently results in meaningful improvements in physical impairments and functional limitations in basic physical tasks. However, to date, few studies have evaluated the effects of exercise on physical disability domain outcomes, and the results suggest that the effects of exercise on physical disability measures are of a smaller magnitude relative to those observed for impairment and functional limitation domain outcomes.

Validation of a new questionnaire to assess the impact of Whiplash Associated Disorders: The Whiplash Activity and participation List (WAL)

Valid questionnaires for measuring functional limitations in patients with Whiplash Associated Disorders (WAD) are lacking, since existing measures are not suitable for addressing the specific limitations of these patients and because of cross contamination between theoretical constructs.The objective of this study was to evaluate dimensionality, test-retest reliability, measurement error, construct validity, and responsiveness of a new condition-specific questionnaire for WAD as well as to estimate the minimally important change score.Patients with WAD grade I or II were recruited from physical therapy practices and rehabilitation centers. Dimensionality was examined by internal consistency analysis (Cronbach's alpha) and factor analysis. Test-retest reliability was estimated by intraclass correlations and measurement error was calculated by the minimal detectable change (MDC) scores. Construct validity was investigated by testing predefined hypotheses on correlations of the WAL scores with generic health measures and by using the known group method. Responsiveness was expressed as the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) score.73 patients (53 women) were included. Cronbach's alpha was high (0.95) and unidimensionality was plausible because factor analysis showed 40.3% variance explained by one dominant factor, which was more than 4.5 times larger than the second largest factor. Test-retest reliability was excellent (0.92, 95% CI 0.87–0.95). Construct validity was supported by 14 out of 15 confirmed hypotheses and the WAL showed statistically significant differences between known groups. MDC was 16 points while the MCIC was 18 points.In conclusion, the present study suggests that the WAL has adequate measurement properties, but additional research is needed.

THU0192 Subclinical Baker's Cysts and Functional Limitation in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: Ultrasonographic and Power Doppler Study

BackgroundBaker's cysts have a significant functional impact in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), which in turn made its detection an important issue. Despite the impact of these cysts, clinical diagnosis...

Use of the Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living Scale to describe functional limitations in patients with vestibular disorders1

The Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living Scale (VADL) is one of several self-rated scales in the literature that may be useful for determining level of functional limitation or disability in people with vestibular disorders. The VADL was designed by an occupational therapist for use in treatment planning during vestibular rehabilitation. Unlike many other scales the VADL is specifically focused on essential functional skills and important mobility and instrumental skills. This paper reviews the findings about the VADL, including the original research about its development and more recent papers using it. The scale is most useful for assessing the patient's perception about independence in personal, self care and basic mobility skills. It provides an outline for discussing instrumental activities of daily living.