Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, including details on myalgic encephalomyelitis (me), diagnosis, gradual and sudden onset. | ||||||||
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The relation between walking capacity and clinical correlates in survivors of chronic spinal poliomyelitis.Gylfadottir S, Dallimore M, Dean E Reykjalundur Rehabilitation Center, Mosfellsbaer, Iceland. OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) common clinical measures that may influence walking performance in the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in people with chronic poliomyelitis and (2) the test-retest reliability of the 6MWT distance, lower-extremity muscle strength, balance, and balance confidence on separate trials. DESIGN: A prospective quasi-experimental study. SETTING: University-based postpolio clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen survivors of poliomyelitis (mean age, 62.2+/-1.9y; time since polio onset, 54.4+/-8.79y). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 6MWT distance, rate-pressure product (RPP), Physiological Cost Index (PCI), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), pain, fatigue, strength, standing balance, balance confidence, limb-length discrepancy, and lung function. RESULTS: The 6MWT distance correlated with PCI, pretest pain, lower-extremity muscle strength, balance, balance confidence, corrected leg-length discrepancy, and lung function but not with RPP, RPE, posttest pain, or pretest and posttest fatigue. The PCI correlated with balance confidence and lung function. About 68% of the variance in 6MWT distance was accounted for by balance and pretest pain. The P value was set at .05. CONCLUSIONS: With stringent standardization of the 6MWT applied to survivors of poliomyelitis (a neuromuscular condition with a musculoskeletal component), reproducibility was high; hence, test validity and interpretation were enhanced. The 6MWT distance was useful in elucidating the relation between impairment and a functional activity-namely, walking-in survivors of poliomyelitis. Published 3 July 2006 in Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 87(7): 944-52.
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