The Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI). Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the italian version

SUMMARY Introduction. The Italian version of the Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) may help assess shoulder function in patients with shoulder problems, especially athletes. Objective. Translate and cross-culturally adapt UEFI into Italian; verify UEFI validity and reliability in professional and amateur athletes with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders, shoulder, in particular. Methods. This study was conducted with 150 participants with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. UEFI, the short version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scale (Quick DASH), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) were administered. Acceptability was assessed in terms of refusal rate, rates of missing responses, and administration time; test-retest reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and validity was assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the UEFI on test and retest were α = 0.979 and α = 0.985, respectively. The average measure ICC was 0.917. The UEFI score demonstrated strong negative correlations with SPADI total score (-0.636), Quick DASH score (-0.685), and SF-36 score (-0.327). Conclusions. The Italian version of UEFI is acceptable, valid, and reliable

Cross-cultural adaptation, validity and reliability study of the italian version of the back pain functional scale

SUMMARY Introduction. The Back Pain Functional Scale is a scale to assess disability in Low Back Pain patients. The purpose of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate the BPFS from the original English language into Italian. Materials and methods. Translation and cultural adaptation have been performed following international guidelines. 170 italian-speaking subjects with low back pain were recruited; 58 of them also performed the re-test. Internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s Alpha and test-retest reliability was assessed by calculat ing the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Exploratory factor analysis and was performed to assess the construct validity and the correlation with other clinical scales was observed through Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results. High internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.912) and very good test-re test reliability (ICC = 0.956) were found. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed statistically significant correlations (p < 0.01) with the BPFS, FRI and ODI. Conclusions. The Italian version of the BPFS showed with good reliability and construct validity. This scale can be considered for the assessment of functional disabil ity in subjects with LBP: short, intuitive and easy to understand. It can certainly be used for both clinical practice and research

The Shoulder Activity Level: an Italian Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation

Introduction. In this study we aimed to cross-culturally translate the Shoulder Activity Level (SAL) into Italian language and assess its clinimetric properties including reliability, validity, and responsiveness. The objective was to evaluate activity level in patients with shoulder disorders. Methods. Italian version of the SAL was obtained after forward-backward translation. Three questionnaires were completed by the participants: SAL, SST and SPADI. Fifty patients completed the SAL again, 1 week after the first administration to evaluate the test–retest reliability. Then was evaluated construct validity using Spearman’s rank correlation, test–retest reliability and internal consistency were assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha, respectively. Results. No language difficulties were reported during translation process. Test–retest reliability of the SAL was good with an ICC of 0.896 and a Cronbach’s alpha level of 0.739 was also obtained. The correlation between the SAL and the SPADI was moderate, proving divergent validity (rs = - 0.235), even the correlations between the SAL and the SST were moderate proving convergent validity (rs = 0.247). Conclusions. The study provides statistically significant results of test–retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness of the Italian version of the SAL in patients with shoulder disorders. Therefore, it seems that this instrument is a useful measure of shoulder activity level in research setting and clinical practice

Musculoskeletal health questionnaire: translation, cultural adaptation and validation of the italian version (MSK-HQ-I)

Background: Skeletal muscle disorder refers to a pathological condition and/or pathology, (e.g. osteoarthritis, inflammatory disorders, and muscular, articular or bone disorders) that involve all the skeletal muscle districts of the body. Musculoskeletal pain (MSD or MSK) is the biggest cause of disability.Objective: The purpose of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate an Italian version of the Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ-I) by administering the questionnaire to a sample of 250 individuals with musculoskeletal disorders through a cross-sectional study.Methods: Participants enrolled in this study were those aged 18 and older with pathological diagnoses reporting skeletal muscle disorders. International guidelines were used to translate and culturally adapt the MSK-HQ-I tool. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the scale have been evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), respectively. To assess concurrent and construct validity, the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12), the EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D-3L), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the MSK-HQ-I were administered together. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was also calculated.Results: All the MSK-HQ-I items were identical or similar to the original English version of the MSK-HQ developed in the United Kingdom. The mean MSK-HQ-I score in this study was 37.39 +/- 9.35. Cronbach's a was 0.871 (p < 0.01) and ICC was 0.963 (p < 0.01). The correlation with the SF-12 mental score was 0.319 (p < 0.01) and with the SF-12 physical score was 0.703 (p < 0.01). The correlation with the EQ-5D-3L score was 0.674. The correlation with the EQ-5D-3L VAS score was 0.537. Finally, the correlation with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was -0,656 (p < 0.01).Conclusions: The MSK-HQ-I has shown consistent results for reliability and validity. The scale will be useful for medical doctors, researchers and physiotherapists to evaluate and control musculoskeletal disorders among the Italian population

Italian version of the cornell musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire (CMDQ-I): Translation, cultural adaptation and validation

BACKGROUND: Almost 25%of workers in the European Union suffer from back pain, and 23%complain of muscle pain. Sixty-two percent of workers carry out repetitive operations with their hands or arms, 46%work in painful or tired positions and 35Êrry or handle loads. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt and validate the Italian version of the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ-I). METHODS: Translation and cultural adaptation procedures followed international guidelines. Participants were recruited from among the personnel components of the Italian Air Force, who were between 18 and 65 years old. Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated to assess internal consistency and stability, respectively. The CDMQ-I was administered together with the Visual Analogic Scale (VAS), and the validity was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: All CDMQ-I items were either identical or similar in meaning to the original version's items. The scale was administered twice with a retest after seven to 10 days to 66 participants. Cronbach's alpha was higher than 0.761, and the ICC ranged between 0.737 and 0.952. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed positive and significant correlations (p > 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The study produced an Italian version of the CMDQ with good reliability and validity. This scale is a useful tool to investigate the frequency and intensity of musculoskeletal disorders in various categories of workers

Pelvic obliquity as a compensatory mechanism leading to lower energy recovery: Characterization among the types of prostheses in subjects with transfemoral amputation

Background: Subjects with transfemoral amputation (TFA) show an asymmetric gait pattern associated with a decreased ability to recover mechanical energy and an increased metabolic cost of walking. Research question: This study aimed to identify the spatio-temporal and kinematic gait variables correlated with mechanical energy values in subjects with TFA and to observe the ability of the identified parameters to discriminate between TFA and controls according to the type of prosthesis. Methods: The gait of 40 subjects with TFA was evaluated with a motion 3-D optoelectronic system. Nine subjects wore a mechanical prosthesis (TFAm), seventeen a C-Leg prosthesis (TFAc), and fourteen a Genium prosthesis (TFAg). Spatio-temporal and pelvic kinematic parameters were measured. Energy recovery was measured relative to the whole-body center of mass (CoM) kinematics as the fraction of mechanical energy recovered during each walking step (R-step). Correlation tests and multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the correlation and association between kinematic and energy variables, respectively. Receiver operating characteristics curves were plotted to assess the ability of the correlated parameter to distinguish subjects with TFA from controls, and optimal cutoff point values were calculated according to the type of prosthesis. Results: Among the spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters correlated to R-step, only pelvic obliquity of the prosthetic side was significantly associated with R-step. It showed an excellent ability to discriminate between TFA and controls. Furthermore, pelvic obliquity showed an excellent discriminative ability in identifying TFAm and TFAc and a good discriminative ability in identifying TFAg from controls. Significance: Pelvic obliquity plays an important role in energy recovery during gait for subjects using prosthetics. This information might be exploited to monitor the adaptation of subjects with TFA to prosthetic devices, to lower the energetic cost of walking potentially, and to reduce the long-term risks of secondary physical complications in prosthetic users

Italian version of the Bournemouth Questionnaire for Low Back Pain: translation, cultural adaptation and validation

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common disease that leads to many disabilities; it affects 75-85% individuals at some point in their lives. The aim of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Bournemouth Questionnaire for Low Back Pain (BQ) into the Italian language and to verify the validity and reliability of this version. METHODS: International guidelines were followed. Eighty-three participants with low back pain were recruited among the Italian population between 18-65 years old. Cronbach’s α was calculated to assess the internal consistency and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was calculated to estimate the stability. In addition, Bland-Altman plot was used to estimate reliability. The BQ was administered together with the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ): with the Pearson’s correlation coefficient was evaluated the construct validity. The construct validity has been analyzed also with factorial analysis. RESULTS: All the items were similar in meaning to the originals. The scale was administered twice to 22 participants with a re-test after 48 hours. Cronbach’s α was 0.793 and the ICC ranges between 0.80-0.97. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed significant correlations (P<0.01) between BQ and SF-36, RMDQ items. CONCLUSIONS: The study produced an Italian version of the BQ with good reliability and construct validity. This scale can be considered a good tool for the multidimensional evaluation of the LBP. The questionnaire is really short, intuitive and easy-to-apply: it is really useful both for clinical practice and research

Ability of a set of trunk inertial indexes of gait to identify gait instability and recurrent fallers in parkinson’s disease

The aims of this study were to assess the ability of 16 gait indices to identify gait instability and recurrent fallers in persons with Parkinson’s disease (pwPD), regardless of age and gait speed, and to investigate their correlation with clinical and kinematic variables. The trunk acceleration patterns were acquired during the gait of 55 pwPD and 55 age-and-speed matched healthy subjects using an inertial measurement unit. We calculated the harmonic ratios (HR), percent recurrence, and percent determinism (RQAdet), coefficient of variation, normalized jerk score, and the largest Lyapunov exponent for each participant. A value of ≤1.50 for the HR in the antero-posterior direction discriminated between pwPD at Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage 3 and healthy subjects with a 67% probability, between pwPD at HY 3 and pwPD at lower HY stages with a 73% probability, and it characterized recurrent fallers with a 77% probability. Additionally, HR in the antero-posterior direction was correlated with pelvic obliquity and rotation. RQAdet in the antero-posterior direction discriminated between pwPD and healthy subjects with 67% probability, regardless of the HY stage, and was correlated with stride duration and cadence. Therefore, HR and RQAdet in the antero-posterior direction can both be used as age-and-speed-independent markers of gait instability