Foot impairments and related disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Dekker, J. [Promotor]Steultjens, M.P.M. [Copromotor

Decrease of muscle strength is associated with increase of activity limitations in early knee osteoarthritis: 3-year results from the check study

Objective To determine whether a decrease in muscle strength over 3 years is associated with an increase in activity limitations in persons with early symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA), and to examine whether the longitudinal association between muscle strength and activity limitations is moderated by knee joint proprioception and laxity

Moving instead of asking? performance-based tests and BASFI-questionnaire measure different aspects of physical function in ankylosing spondylitis

INTRODUCTION: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is characterised by limitations in physical function. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) is considered to be the gold-standard to assess physical function in AS patients. However, the BASFI questionnaire is a self-reported outcome measure and susceptible to subjective interpretation (under- or over-estimation). More objective outcome measures, like performance-based tests, could provide an objective outcome measurement for the evaluation of limitations in physical function. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to determine the association between performance-based measures and the BASFI questionnaire. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study 126 AS patients completed the BASFI questionnaire and eight performance-based tests based on BASFI-items. Each test received three scores: one for performance (time or points) and a score for exertion and pain experienced during performance (using modified Borg-scale and VAS 0-100 mm, respectively). Linear regression analyses were used to assess the associations between the BASFI questionnaire and performance-based tests. RESULTS: The univariable association between performance and BASFI-score was moderate with a R-square of 0.31 and Beta of 0.56 (p's < 0.05). In a multivariable analysis, the association between performance, exertion and pain on the one hand and BASFI-score on the other was assessed; R-square increased to 0.54: the Beta's for exertion and pain during performance were 0.38 and 0.26, respectively; the Beta for performance decreased to 0.19 (p's < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that alongside actual performance, patients seem to incorporate exertion and pain in their assessment of perceived physical function on the BASFI questionnaire. Performance-based tests could provide an objective outcome measurement for the evaluation of physical function and give relevant new information in addition to the BASFI questionnaire

Biomechanical mechanisms underlying treatment effects of exercise therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: data from a randomized controlled trial

The aim of this paper is to briefly show the importance of the spatial organisation and of the temporal evolution of road transport in Belgium (freight, passengers). Attention is particularly put on the negative externalities produced by this transportation mode type (pollution, road damages, road accidents).L'objectif de cet article est de montrer brièvement l'importance de l'organisation spatiale et de l'évolution temporelle du transport routier de marchandises et de passagers en Belgique. Une attention particulière est portée aux externalités négatives produites par ce mode de transport (pollution, dégradations routières, accidents de la route).Het opzet van deze bijdrage bestaat erin om op een beknopte wijze het belang aan te tonen van de ruimtelijke organisatie en evolutie doorheen de tijd van het wegtransport in België (perso-nen zowel als vracht). Er is ook aandacht besteed aan negatieve externaliteiten veroorzaakt door dit type van transportmodus.Thomas Isabelle, Verhetsel Ann. Transport routier et mobilité durable : un état de la question pour la Belgique. In: Hommes et Terres du Nord, 1999/3. La Belgique. pp. 198-204

Daily frustration, cognitive coping and coping effecacy in adolescent headache: A daily diary study.

Multivariate analysis of psychological data - ou

Prediction of Walking Disability by Disease-Related Factors in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: To investigate the relationship between diseaserelated factors and walking disability in different phases of rheumatoid arthritis; and to predict future walking disability in rheumatoid arthritis, using disease-related factors assessed 2 years after diagnosis. Methods: A cohort of 848 newly diagnosed patients with rheumatoid arthritis was followed up for a maximum of 8 years. Walking disability and several disease-related and demographic factors were recorded during follow-up. A logistic regression model was used to study associations between walking disability and these factors at different time points. A multilevel logistic regression model for longitudinal data was used to predict walking disability during follow-up from potential predictors at year 2. Results: Global pain and disease activity were consistently related to walking disability at almost every time point. Significant predictors of future walking disability were: walking disability, knee pain, global pain, the passage of time during follow-up, and age. Conclusion: Global pain and disease activity are related to walking disability during the first 8 years of RA. Walking disability, knee pain, and global pain at 2 years follow-up predict walking disability later in the disease. In addition, the risk for walking disability increases during the disease process and with higher age at diagnosis. © 2010 Foundation of Rehabilitation Information

Cognitive-behavioural intervention for self-harm: randomised controlled trial.

FSW - Self-regulation models for health behavior and Psychopathology - Ou