Barthel scale

Abstract: Background and purpose The clinical forms of Wilson's disease (WD) neurological manifestations can be divided into three movement disorder syndromes: a) dystonic, b) ataxic, c) parkinsonian syndrome. These syndromes in WD seldom occur in isolation. Clinical rating scales such as the Unified Parkinson;s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and the Rating Scale for Dystonia (RSD), focusing on either parkinsonism or ataxia or dystonia alone, are not sufficient to reflect accurately the motor impairment of WD patients. The aim of the study was to develop a novel rating scale for WD, because as far as we know no scale for the clinical rating in WD has been designed before. Material and methods In 2004 the EuroWilson consortium was founded, to create a European WD database. Members of the consortium from Poland, Germany, and France prepared a new scale using clinical rating scales as the UPDRS, ICARS, and RSD. Prepared drafts were discussed several times in detail at the first international neurological EuroWilson meeting in September 2004 in Paris and in November in Warsaw. Results and conclusions The novel scale for WD consists of 3 parts, including: consciousness, a historical review based on the Barthel scale (2-11 items), and neurological examination (12-35, items). The maximum score for the first part is 3, for the second 39 points, and for the last 143 points. The initial reliability of the scale on the basis of 6 patients (on DVD) and 8 investigators was assessed. Inter-rater agreement was high. Now the scale is used by the EuroWilson and GeNeMove consortia.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the use of a number of tools in the evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with lower limb lymphedema, and to determine the consequences of cancer history and concurrent leg ulceration. Patients in one health trust having lower limb lymphedema were identified and interviewed at entry and after 24 weeks. The short form-36 (SF-36), modified Barthel scale, McGill short form pain questionnaire, and Euroqol were administered at both time points. Of the 164 (median age=76.9 years, 70.7% women) patients who comprised the study population, 15.2% had a history of cancer and 30.4% had coexisting current leg ulceration. Internal consistencies were high for all scales (Cronbach's alpha >0.80). There were high ceiling effects for a number of SF-36 scores, and high floor effects in these and the McGill short form pain questionnaire, scales. Despite these limitations, there was strong evidence that treatment led to significant improvements in six of eight scores of the SF-36, three of three scores of the McGill short form pain questionnaire and the modified Barthel scale (all p<0.05). The improvement in physical functioning was significantly greater for patients who entered the study with a leg ulcer (mean different=9.1, 95% confidence interval 2.1-16.1, p=0.011). Patients treated with compression bandaging had significantly greater improvements for physical functioning (10.2) than those treated with compression hosiery (-1.5) or no treatment (-2.0), p=0.001. Of the tools assessed, the SF-36, appears to be the most appropriate for use in this patient group.

Abstract: Objective: To describe the intervention protocols to using commercial video games as virtual reality (VR) in rehabilitation of patients with stroke. Methods: Integrative review using the descriptors “rehabilitation”, “virtual reality exposure therapy” and “videogames” in the LILACS and PUBMED databases. Articles published from 2011 to 2018 were selected. Results: We found 1,396 articles, 1,383 were excluded and 13 were selected. Most of the articles were randomized clinical trials published in 2014 or later. The sample size varied from 5–47 adults, or adults and elders, with chronic stroke. The Nintendo Wii® was the most used video game system. The intervention happened two or three times a week, each session lasting from 30 to 60 minutes, over 2–12 weeks. Balance, upper limb motor functions, quality of life and daily living activities were the most common evaluated outcomes. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test, Barthel Scale and SF-36 were the most common outcome measurement tools. Conclusions: The studies indicated improvement in dynamic balance, upper limb motor function and quality of life after rehabilitation using VR. The VR was more effective than conventional treatments for the outcome of dynamic balance. Two studies did not find any changes in static balance and daily living activities. Physical aspects and quality of life were the outcomes most evaluated by the researchers; as were the population with chronic strokes and protocols of long duration and low intensity. Few studies targeted immediate VR effects, performance in daily living activities and social participation.