JRRD Releases Volume 48, Issue 1
Full-text articles available at rehab.research.va.gov/jour/11/481/contents.html
Manuscripts featured in this issue include—
Heterotopic ossification in combat amputees from Afghanistan and Iraq wars: five case histories andresults from a small series of patients, pg. 1
This article describes selected case histories of combat amputees with heterotopic ossification, or excess bone growth in soft tissues that frequently occurs in residual limbs. Heterotopic ossification is a significant postinjury complication that may impair the rehabilitation of amputees. It can cause skin breakdown and pain and interfere with a patient’s ability to walk. these case histories illustrate how the location of the heterotopic ossification relative to the pressure-sensitive areas of the residual limb may determine whether patients experience symptoms.
Falls requiring medical attention among veterans with multiple sclerosis: a cohort study, pg. 13
Approximately 16,000 veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) receive healthcare services from the Veterans Health Administration each year. This study furthers existing research on falls in the veteran population by estimating the relative risk of an injurious fall requiring medical attention in veterans with MS versus those without MS, after adjusting for sex, age, and healthcare use. The study findings show that the risk of an injurious fall was three times higher for female veterans with MS than for female veterans without MS. The risk of an injurious fall was also higher for men with MS than for men without MS, but this difference was not statistically significant.
Validity of PTSD diagnoses in VA administrative data: Comparison of VA administrative PTSD diagnoses to self-reported PTSD Checklist scores, pg. 21
This article compares the results of two algorithms used to identify populations of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The first algorithm selected individuals with at least one PTSD diagnosis documented in Department of Veterans Affairs’ administrative data. The second algorithm selected individuals with at least two PTSD diagnoses documented in administrative data. To evaluate the validity of the algorithms, the researchers compared them with self-reported PTSD Checklist scores collected through a national survey. The results indicate that to compile a sample of veterans with more definitive PTSD, researchers should select those veterans with at least two diagnoses in administrative data.
Dimensional accuracy of ankle-foot orthoses constructed by rapid customization and manufacturingframework, pg. 31
Passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthoses (PDAFOs) are ankle braces that rely on material properties and physical features to establish functional characteristics such as bending or rotational stiffness. Prescribed PDAFOs are often generic, having standardized fit and functional characteristics. The described study evaluates the dimensional accuracy of customized PDAFOs fashioned from a computer-aided design model.
Pain neurophysiology education improves cognitions, pain thresholds, and movement performance inpeople with chronic whiplash: a pilot study, pg. 43
Between 10 and 42 percent of patients who sustain a whiplash injury develop chronic pain. This article examines whether one-on-one education sessions can alter pain beliefs and behavior, symptom severity, daily functioning, and pain threshold. The results of the described pilot study suggest that education about the neurophysiology of pain positively influences patients negative thoughts and pain behavior.
Stability of handwriting performance following injury-induced hand-dominance transfer in adults: a pilot study, pg. 59
This study quantifies the stability of nondominant handwriting kinematics and legibility in participants with functional loss of the previously dominant hand. Researchers analyzed writing samples of 12 adult volunteers by using a digitizer to record various kinematic and kinetic variables (e.g., velocity, force, and displacement) to identify which variables remained stable across time and functional writing tasks. Results showed marked variability between subjects and tasks but minimal variability within subjects.
Development of finger-motion capturing device based on optical linear encoder, pg. 69
Data gloves for hand-motion capture are a promising tool for objectively assessing finger movements and rehabilitation strategies. This article describes the design and validation of the SmartGlove, a wearable multifinger sensing device that uses 10 optical linear encoders to capture the motion of the 14 finger joints. Study results show high repeatability and reliability in both the gripped and flathand positions for the SmartGlove.
Measurement of lower-limb muscle spasticity: Intrarater reliability of Modified Modified Ashworth Scale, pg. 83
Muscle spasticity is a complex and disabling motor disorder that occurs following conditions such as stroke, MS, spinal cord injury, and cerebral palsy. The Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) is a clinical tool for measuring spasticity. This article describes how consistently the MMAS measures spasticity when performed by one rater across two occasions (intrarater reliability). Three muscle groups in the lower limb were assessed: hip adductors, knee extensors, and ankle plantar flexors. The results indicate reliability was moderate for the hip adductors, good for the knee extensors, and very good for the ankle plantar flexors.
JRRD is a peer-reviewed, scientifically indexed journal providing comprehensive coverage of all rehabilitation disciplines. It provides researchers and other rehabilitation professionals with the ideal venue for publishing original research papers for exposure to a global audience. for more information about JRRD, please visit rehab.research.va.gov/jrrd.
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