Catharina Sjödahl Hammarlund

GAIT IMPROVEMENT IN UNILATERAL TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEES BY A COMBINED PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT

A conscious therapeutic approach was used combining methods in physiotherapy with psychological awareness to re-educate nine transfemoral amputees during 10 months in outdoor environments. All were rehabilitated trauma or tumour cases, mean age 33 years, and had worn their prostheses for more than 18 months. The method aimed at integrating the prosthesis in normal movements and increasing body awareness. Gait was measured with a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Self-selected comfortable and brisk gait speed increased from mean 0.95 m/s and 1.29 m/s before to 1.40 m/s and 1.65 m/s after treatment, respectively. The results remained at a 6-month follow-up. Before treatment three participants used walking-aids and all had problems with low-back pain. After treatment none needed walking-aids and almost all low-back pain had disappeared. Seven participants learnt to jog. Results indicate that this new approach may add skills, mostly on participation level, to lead a relatively normal life.

Prevalence of back pain, its effect on functional ability and health-related quality of life in lower limb amputees secondary to trauma or tumour: a comparison across three levels of amputation.

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of back pain and its effect on function and health-related quality of life across three levels of lower limb amputation secondary to trauma or tumour was studied. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Forty-six lower limb amputees, aged 19–78 years, participated. The Roland Morris disability questionnaire (RMDQ) and the short form 36 health survey (SF-36) were used. Results: Participants reported more back pain after amputation than before (p < 0.001). There was a significant association between back pain daily or several times/week and severe or moderate disability reporting on the RMDQ (p = 0.003). On the SF-36, the group as a whole scored significantly lower in health-related quality of life with regard to physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, social functioning and the physical component summary (PCS), and significantly higher in the mental component summary (MCS) compared to normative Swedish data. When all three levels of amputation were compared, no statistically significant differences were found in the RMDQ or SF-36 results. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of back pain after amputation. Almost all participants having back pain daily or several times per week reported severe or moderate disability on the RMDQ. The group as a whole scored significantly lower for health-related quality of life in the PCS and significantly higher in the MCS compared to normative Swedish data. Clinical relevance The high prevalence of back pain, and the significant association between back pain daily or several times per week and severe or moderate disability on the RMDQ, and the negative correlation between RMDQ and SF-36, may have clinical relevance with regard to rehabilitation and follow-up of lower limb amputation.

Motor and non-motor predictors of illness-related distress in Parkinson’s disease

OBJECTIVE To identify motor and non-motor symptoms independently associated with distress in Parkinsons disease (PD). METHOD Clinical and patient-reported data from 118 people with PD (mean age and PD-duration, 64 and 8 years) were analyzed regarding associations with patient-reported distress using multiple regressions (controlling for age). RESULTS Non-motor symptoms independently associated with distress were pain, fatigue, sleep, depression and anxiety (R(2), 0.81). The only significant motor aspect was mobility (R(2), 0.31). When considering both motor and non-motor symptoms, fatigue, pain, depression and sleep showed independent associations with distress (R(2), 0.76). CONCLUSION Distress in PD is primarily associated with non-motor features.

Malnutrition and risk of falling among elderly without home-help service — A cross sectional study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore the frequency of malnutrition risk and associated risk of falling, social and mental factors among elderly without home-help service. The aim was also to explore factors associated with risk of falling.DesignA cross-sectional design was used.SettingElderly persons own homes.ParticipantsData were collected during preventive home visits to 565 elderly (age range 73–90 years) without home-help service. Those with complete SCREEN II forms were included in the study (n=465).MeasurementsMeasurements included rating scales regarding malnutrition risk (SCREEN II) and risk of falling (Downton). In addition, single-items: general health, satisfaction with life, tiredness, low-spiritedness, worries/anxiety and sleeping were used.ResultsAccording to the SCREEN II, 35% of the sample had no malnutrition risk, 35% had moderate risk and 30% had high malnutrition risk. In an ordinal regression analysis, increased malnutrition risk was associated with being a woman living alone (OR 4.63), male living alone (OR 6.23), lower age (OR 0.86), poorer general health (OR 2.03–5.01), often/always feeling tired (OR 2.38), and an increased risk of falling (OR 1.21). In a linear regression analysis, risk of falling was associated with higher age (B 0.020), not shopping independently (B 0.162), and low meat consumption (B 0.138).ConclusionThere are complex associations between malnutrition risk and the gender-cohabitation interaction, age, general health, tiredness, and risk of falling. In clinical practice comprehensive assessments to identify those at risk of malnutrition including associated factors are needed. These have to be followed by individual nutritional interventions using a holistic perspective which may also contribute to reducing the risk of falling.

Level of physical activity, well-being, stress and self-rated health in persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain

BackgroundThe prevalence of migraine with co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain is high in the general population. However, there is very little literature on the characteristics of these combined conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate a) the prevalence of migraine with co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain in a clinic-based sample, b) the level of physical activity, psychological well-being, perceived stress and self-rated health in persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain compared to healthy controls, c) the perceived ability of persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain to perform physical activity, and d) which among the three conditions (migraine, tension-type headache or neck pain) is rated as the most burdensome condition.MethodsThe study was conducted at a tertiary referral specialised headache centre where questionnaires on physical activity, psychological well-being, perceived stress and self-rated health were completed by 148 persons with migraine and 100 healthy controls matched by sex and average age. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess characteristics of migraine, tension-type headache and neck pain.ResultsOut of 148 persons with migraine, 100 (67%) suffered from co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain. Only 11% suffered from migraine only. Persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain had lower level of physical activity and psychological well-being, higher level of perceived stress and poorer self-rated health compared to healthy controls. They reported reduced ability to perform physical activity owing to migraine (high degree), tension-type headache (moderate degree) and neck pain (low degree). The most burdensome condition was migraine, followed by tension-type headache and neck pain.ConclusionsMigraine with co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain was highly prevalent in a clinic-based sample. Persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain may require more individually tailored interventions to increase the level of physical activity, and to improve psychological well-being, perceived stress and self-rated health.

The effects of aerobic exercise for persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain. A randomized, controlled, clinical trial:

Aim To evaluate aerobic exercise in migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain. Methods Consecutively recruited persons with migraine and co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain were randomized into an exercise group or control group. Aerobic exercise consisted of bike/cross-trainer/brisk walking for 45 minutes, three times/week. Controls continued usual daily activities. Pain frequency, intensity, and duration; physical fitness, level of physical activity, well-being and ability to engage in daily activities were assessed at baseline, after treatment and at follow-up. Results Fifty-two persons completed the study. Significant between-group improvements for the exercise group were found for physical fitness, level of physical activity, migraine burden and the ability to engage in physical activity because of reduced impact of tension-type headache and neck pain. Within the exercise group, significant reduction was found for migraine frequency, pain intensity and duration, neck pain intensity, and burden of migraine; an increase in physical fitness and well-being. Conclusions Exercise significantly reduced the burden of migraine and the ability to engage in physical activity because of reduced impact of tension-type headache and neck pain. Exercise also reduced migraine frequency, pain intensity and duration, although this was not significant compared to controls. These results emphasize the importance of regular aerobic exercise for reduction of migraine burden.

Migraine co-existing tension-type headache and neck pain: Validation of questionnaires

Aabstract Background and aim Migraine often includes co-existing tension-type headache (TTH) and neck pain (NP). Multiple headache questionnaires assessing headache impact have beendescribed previously; however, none of the existing questionnaires have been designed to cover migraine with co-existing TTH and NP. Therefore a new questionnaire was developed to measure these co-morbidities. The aim was to determine face and content validity of the newly developed questionnaire, “Impact of Migraine, Tension-Type Headache and Neck Pain” (impact M-TTH-NP) and to determine face and content validity of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ short form), Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ v. 2.1), WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Major Depression Inventory (MDI) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) not yet validated in this target population. Material and methods The new multi-dimensional questionnaire “Impact M-TTH-NP” cover pain, triggers, psychosocial, socioeconomic and work related aspects, based on a four-week recall period. The items are rated on an 11-point numeric rating scale with the end points 0 = no impact and 10 = most imaginable impact. Face validity was assessed by migraine patients with co-existing TTH and NP. They were recruited between September 2012 and March 2013 from a tertiary referral headache centre. Nine women with a mean age of 38 years participated in group interviews. The questionnaires were reviewed for relevance and meaningfulness. Content validity was assessed by 13 headache experts. They had worked with headache diseases for an average of 9 (range, 2–38) years. Experts were recruited between August 2012 and October 2012. Nine medical doctors, two physical therapists, one headache nurse and one psychologist (eight women and five men, mean age of 42 years) participated. The experts rated each item of the questionnaires using a four-point Likert scale with the end points 1 = not relevant and 4 = highly relevant. The quantitative measurement of content validity was calculated by the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) and the scale-level content validity average method (S-CVI/Ave). The average deviation (AD) index was used as a measure of interrater agreement. Results Impact M-TTH-NP showed acceptable face validity. Of 78 items twelve were revised and one was added based on group interviews and expert review. Seventy-two items (92%) obtained I-CVI≥0.78 (range 0.78–1.00) indicating excellent content validity, 71 items (91%) obtained acceptable AD index. Nine items did not meet either the limit for excellent I-CVI and/or acceptable AD index. The overall S-CVI/Ave was 0.92 indicating an excellent content validity. In addition, four of the five additional questionnaires showed acceptable face validity (MSQ, WHO-5, MDI and NDI) and three showed excellent content validity (WHO-5, MDI and NDI) for patients suffering from migraine and co-existing TTH and NP. Conclusions and implications The impact M-TTH-NP questionnaire showed acceptable face validity and excellent content validity and may be useful when evaluating treatment effect in this target group. The new impact M-TTH-NP questionnaire in combination with the additional questionnaires that together assess pain, triggers, psychosocial and socioeconomic aspects may provide a deeper understanding of the complexity of migraine with co-existing TTH and NP

Therapeutically efficient components of Basic Body Awareness Therapy as perceived by experienced therapists : A qualitative study

BACKGROUND Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) is a physiotherapeutic method used in rehabilitation to increase physical and emotional balance. The aim was to identify and describe perceived therapeutically efficient components of BBAT. METHODS Twenty-four experienced BBAT therapists participated in focus group interviews. The data were analysed with content analysis. RESULTS One central theme, the therapeutic space consisted of two categories; the therapeutic encounter and the therapeutic tools, which emerged as the core of the perceived therapeutically efficient components. The therapeutic encounter entailed the therapeutic approach, affect attunement, continuous interaction during treatment, affect mirroring and communicating by use of a person-centred approach. The therapeutic tools included adjustment and adaptation, the use of manual, verbal and non-verbal guiding, and creating an atmosphere of safety and sanctuary. CONCLUSION The significance of interaction by use of a person-centred approach combined with the ability to continuously adjust the treatment constituted useful guidelines when designing rehabilitation using BBAT treatment.

Integrating theory and practice by self-directed inquiry-based learning? A pilot study.

Abstract Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is a research-based model promoting self-directed learning. The aim was to describe how five physiotherapists experienced their learning during their participation in two inquiry-based online courses. Primary data was their written self-reflections. Triangulation was done based on the self-reflections and the free text comments from three course evaluation surveys. Data analyses were done by qualitative content analysis. Autonomy emerged as the main theme, which was structured into three categories: (i) learning processes; (ii) perceiving increased self-efficacy; and (iii) transfer and implementation of theories and skills to practice. Being able to choose the research topic according to professional interest increased motivation and perceived meaning. Interacting with peers brought new perspectives and deeper understanding. The data triangulation revealed partially new aspects. Retrospectively, the participants expressed having gained new skills, which was augmented by their perception of professional relevance and the integration of theory in the clinical practice. Expressions of increased self-efficacy and the transfer of knowledge, understanding and skills to clinical practice, was interpreted as important parts of autonomy. In conclusion, courses with a research-based design may promote motivation and self-efficacy. Forum for peer support and collaboration was perceived to augment the creativity and broaden the understanding.

The Impact of Living with Parkinson’s Disease: Balancing within a Web of Needs and Demands

This study explores the impact of living with Parkinsons disease (PD). Nineteen persons (11 women) aged 55–84 diagnosed with PD 3–27 years ago participated. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed by qualitative content analysis. Four categories represented the impact of living with PD: “Changed prerequisites for managing day-to-day demands,” “Loss of identity and dignity,” “Compromised social participation,” and “The use of practical and psychological strategies.” There was a shift from an internal to an external locus of control in managing, control, competence, relatedness, and autonomy. According to self-determination theory, a shift towards extrinsically motivated behaviours may occur when these basic needs are thwarted, leading to compensatory strategies or needs substitutes with negative consequences on health and well-being. We suggest a needs-based approach as an important starting point to better understand the consequences of living with PD and to explore the means for people with PD to acquire an improved quality of life on their own terms. In conclusion, our findings suggest for a shift in focus, from a biomedical to a needs-based approach to understand the impact of living with PD and facilitate more person-centred care and person-centred outcome measurement.