Validity of Chinese Version of Action Research Arm Test in Patients with Early Cerebral Infarction / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective:To evaluate the concurrent validity of Chinese version of Action Research Arm Test (C-ARAT) in patients with first early cerebral infarction. Methods:From August, 2015 to December, 2018, 90 inpatients with first early cerebral infarction in the department of rehabilitation medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were enrolled. They were evaluated with C-ARAT and Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE). Concurrent validity was determined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (ρ). Results:C-ARAT and subscales generally exhibited good-to-excellent correlations with FMA-UE (ρ > 0.75, P ˂ 0.001). Conclusion:At early stage of first cerebral infarction, C-ARAT demonstrated good-to-excellent concurrent validity.

Association between improved trunk stability and walking capacity using ankle-foot orthosis in hemiparetic patients with stroke: evidence from three-dimensional gait analysis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Restoration of both normal movement of the pelvis and centre of mass is a primary goal of walking rehabilitation in post-stroke patients because these movements are essential components of effective gait. The aim of this study is to quantitatively analyze the effect of ankle-foot orthosis on walking ability, and to investigate the correlation between improvements in trunk motion and walking capacity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Walking speed, centre of mass displacement, and pelvic movements were examined in 20 post-stroke hemiparetic patients with and without ankle-foot orthosis using three-dimensional motion analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Using ankle-foot orthosis improved walking speed, pelvic rotation and tilt, and lateral and vertical displacements of the centre of mass (P < 0.01). Moreover, the gait asymmetry index was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and the Functional Ambulation Categories score improved significantly when patients used an ankle-foot orthosis (P < 0.05). There was significant correlation between improvements in the walking capacity and the displacement of the centre of mass in both vertical and lateral directions (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Using ankle-foot orthosis improves the walking capacity by improving the stability and concordant of the trunk in hemiplegic patients. The improvement in the walking capacity from using an ankle-foot orthosis may be attributed to its prevention of foot drop and compensation for the instability of the ankle joint.</p>

Social participation and needs for rehabilitation services of the disabled in Guangdong Province HUANG / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between social participation and needs for rehabilitation of the disabled in Guangdong Province and to make a proposal for developing the rehabilitation strategies. Meth-ods The data of the Second National Sample Survey of Disabled Persons in Guangdong Province was used in this study. Ranked data analysis was made with the sub-items of the social participation assessment and the main needs of the disabled individuals. Results Significantly statistical differences were revealed with regard to the constitu-ent ratio of needs for rehabilitation services among people with different degrees of difficulties in social participation caused by hearing and visual impairments as well as physical and mental disabilities. No significant difference was found in terms of the constituent ratio of rehabilitation needs among those with difficulties in speech and those with psychiatric diseases. The major rehabilitation needs focused on medical service, assistive apparatus support and functional trainings. Conclusions The rehabilitation needs were different among different categories of disabled persons. Rehabilitation services should be provided accordingly.