Volume 52 Number 3, 2015
Pages 39 — 50
Reasons for job separations in a cohort of workers with psychiatric disabilities
Judith A. Cook, PhD; Jane K. Burke-Miller, PhD
Workers with disabling mental health conditions
have high rates of job termination, and this research
explored the reasons why this happens. Results indicated
that most people quit their jobs voluntarily
rather than being fired or laid off. However, few people
quit their jobs to take better positions. The most
important factors associated with quitting were not
liking the job and low pay. Married people, younger
workers, and members of racial and/or ethnic minority
groups were also more likely to quit. The study???s
findings suggest that employment services aimed at
avoiding job leaving should help people find jobs
with which they are satisfied and those that pay well.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.10.0260
Effects of prosthetic limb prescription on 3-year mortality among Veterans with lower-limb amputation
Jibby E. Kurichi, MPH, et al.
Lower-limb amputation (LLA) is a life-altering
event, affecting the patient???s quality of life and health
and their functional, economic, and psychosocial
status. This study found that Veterans with LLA who
received a prescription for a prosthetic limb within
1 yr after surgical amputation were less likely to die
within 3 yr of surgical amputation, after adjustment.
Moreover, our time-varying variable of receipt for
prescription for a prosthetic limb was associated
with lower hazards of mortality. Patient-centered
care, including patient???s choice, opinion, and acceptance
of prosthesis, can lead to higher prosthetic use
and longer survival.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.09.0209
Surface electrical stimulation to evoke referred sensation
Johanna C. Forst, et al.
Surface electrical stimulation is being investigated
as a noninvasive method to evoke sensations
in the phantom limb. Future work will involve development
of a treatment for phantom limb pain.
This research could significantly affect the quality of
life for individuals with amputations, many of whom
are veterans. Subjects tested with intact limbs experienced
sensation in their hand with stimulation at
the elbow. Strength-duration curves were calculated
for each subject to define the lower boundary of the
effective parameter space. Since most subjects reported
paresthesia-like sensations, future studies will
focus on obtaining more natural sensations.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.05.0128
Fifteen years of experience with Integral-Leg-Prosthesis: Cohort study of artificial limb attachment system
Dora-Lisa Juhnke, MD, et al.
The Department of Veterans Affairs cares for
more than 340,000 Veterans with limb loss, including
1,500 from current conflicts. Many have transfemoral
amputation, often with bilateral, short residual limbs.
Many are never able to walk again because they cannot
be successfully fitted with prostheses using the
currently available socket suspension technologies.
Because the Integral-Leg-Prosthesis system allows
direct skeletal attachment of the prosthesis into the
remaining residual limb bone, it solves the problem
of socket-induced skin breakdown. It provides the
ability to fit persons with multiple amputations and
short residual limbs with artificial limbs and vastly
improves patient lifestyles.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.11.0280
Immediate video feedback on ramp, wheelie, and curb wheelchair skill training for persons with spinal cord injury
Yong Tai Wang, PhD, et al.
This study investigated the effects of immediate video feedback (IVF) on training three manual wheelchair skills (ramping, wheelie, and curbing) for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Participants were matched and randomly assigned to the control or experimental group. The findings of this study suggest that IVF for training manual wheelchair skills may produce similar results as conventional training. Thus, IVF may be an alternative training method for advanced wheelchair skills in persons with SCI. Future study of wheelchair skill training may include video feedback models with verbal cues and computer graphic instructions. http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.11.0286
Endogenous pain inhibition is unrelated to autonomic responses in acute whiplashassociated disorders
Margot De Kooning, MSc, et al.
Patients with whiplash often experience persistent
pain and disability. Up to 50 percent of these
patients will not fully recover and continuously experience
multiple symptoms such as chronic neck
pain, fatigue, dizziness, concentration difficulties,
and headaches. In the search for effective treatments,
the understanding of the mechanisms involved in
this disorder is crucial. Therefore, we investigated
whether the response of the autonomic nervous system
is disturbed in patients with an acute whiplash.
There was no dysfunction at rest and the activity of
the autonomic nervous system was not related to
pain in these patients.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.06.0154
Cross-sectional study of alteration of phantom limb pain with visceral stimulation in military personnel with amputation
Michael Rafferty, MRCS, et al.
Phantom limb pain is a common finding in military
personnel with limb amputations. Less well recognized
is the phenomenon of phantom limb pain increasing
when the bowels or bladder are stimulated,
either by filling or emptying. In this study, 75 inpatients
at a military rehabilitation hospital were asked
whether they had phantom limb pain that increased
with bowel or bladder stimulation. In total, 42 of the
75 reported that they did. It is hoped that wider recognition
of this phenomenon may lead to further research
that will benefit those who experience it.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.04.0114
Novel postural control algorithm for control of multifunctional myoelectric prosthetic hands
Jacob L. Segil, PhD; Richard F. ƒƒ. Weir, PhD
This article presents a novel myoelectric control
algorithm to be used with state of the art prosthetic
hands. Various design parameters of the algorithm
were tested and determined empirically. The usefulness
of the algorithm in a clinical setting was tested.
This article will hopefully provide insight for engineers,
prosthetists, and users of prosthetic hands.
The likely benefits of this work include a broader
understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of myoelectric
control systems and a possible new control
system for myoelectric hand users.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.05.0134
Interrater reliability of mechanical tests for functional classification of transtibial prosthesis components distal to the socket
Matthew J. Major, PhD, et al.
The common standard of clinical practice for prosthesis
recommendation is to appropriately match prosthesis
design and patient needs. For this matching process
to be effective, accurate and reliable methods for
classifying prostheses by their function is necessary.
This study evaluated the differences in measurement
between two administrators who tested 10 prosthetic
components using the mechanical test procedures designed
by the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association.
The results of this study suggest high reliability
between administrators and support the use of these
tests for prosthesis classification. Such tests will help
improve the prosthesis-patient matching process for
ensuring successful rehabilitation.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.12.0300
Mixed methods study examining work reintegration experiences from perspectives of Veterans with mental health disorders
Marina Kukla, PhD, et al.
Veterans have difficulty reintegrating and having
success in the civilian workplace after returning from
deployment or separation from the military. This
study sought to explore this issue by examining the
experiences of 40 Veterans with mental health disorders.
Results indicated that Veterans who served in
combat experienced more work barriers, particularly
health barriers, compared with Veterans who did not
serve in combat. Veterans who served in combat had
subjective experiences that were consistent with this
finding; these Veterans experienced substantial difficulty
during the early transition after leaving the
military, which often negatively affected their success
at work and in their interpersonal lives.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.11.0289
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Last Reviewed or Updated Wednesday, August 19, 2015 9:49 AM
