Background

Objective: Measurement of activity and participation related outcomes play an important role in rehabilitation of low back pain. Therefore the „Patient Specific Functional Scale»(PSFS) was developed to assess individual, patient related activities. The aim of this study is the cultural adaptation and validation of the PSFS for German speaking countries.Method: A cultural translation and adaptation process was carried out in accordance with standardized guidelines. The internal and external responsiveness and the construct validity adjustment to the German version pertaining to patients with lumbar back pain was examined in comparison to the «Oswestry Disability Index»(ODI).Results: In both groups the PSFS proved itself to be more sensitive in comparison to the ODI. The internal responsiveness of ODI improved ES= -0.75), (non-improved ES= -0.38). PSFS (improved ES= 1.96), (non-improved ES 0.77). The external responsiveness of ODI (AUC= 0.59), of PSFS (AUC= 0.83) (P= 0.0068). Constructs of both measurement instruments have a weak and a moderate correlation on measuring point 1 (r= -0.28) and 2 (r= -0.58).Conclusion: The German version of PSFS proves itself to be a feasible model and a method of high sensitivity in evaluating changes in the functional ability of patients with lumbar back pain. The instrument can be recommended to be used in clinical practice.

Background: The flexion-rotation test (FRT) is widely used to detect movement dysfunction in the spinal segment C1/C2, especially in patients with cervicogenic headache. The current published literature indicates that range recorded during the FRT is not age dependent. This is questionable, considering the well documented relationship between aging and degeneration in the cervical spine and loss of cervical movement in older people. The present study therefore aims to examine the influence of age on FRT mobility, and to provide normative values for different age groups. An additional aim is to examine the influence of age on the ratio between lower and upper cervical rotation mobility. Methods: For this cross-sectional, observational study, healthy subjects aged from 18 to 90 years were recruited. The upper cervical range of rotation during the FRT was measured using a digital goniometer. Personal data including age, weight, height, and lifestyle factors were also assessed. Results: A total of 230 (124 male) healthy, asymptomatic subjects, aged between 18 and 87 years were included. Regression analysis showed that 27.91% ( p < 0.0001) of the variance in FRT mobility can be explained by age alone, while 41.28% ( p < 0.0001) of the variance in FRT mobility can be explained by age and total cervical range of motion (ROM). Normative values for different age decades were calculated using regression analysis. No significant influence of age on the ratio between ROM of lower and upper cervical rotation was found. There was no relevant impact of personal (gender, height, and weight) and lifestyle (smartphone and PC use) factors on ROM during the FRT. Conclusion: Upper cervical rotation mobility determined by the FRT correlates strongly with age; hence, the results of the FRT have to be interpreted taking into account the individual age of the tested subject. The ratio between lower and upper cervical rotation mobility is maintained in all age groups.

The aim of this study was to validate the German Version of the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale and to investigate the impact of rater experience and training. The English original scale was translated into German language using a forward-backward method. For the validation, 30 images of different pharyngeal residue amounts have been selected and assigned to the scales' severity levels by two experts. 28 raters rated the images in randomized order in two passes. To investigate the impact of experience and training, raters were grouped into subgroups. Statistical analysis was carried out using kappa statistics. The results demonstrate excellent residue ratings for construct validity, inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability regarding overall group and all subgroups (Kappa > 0.90). No significant differences were found between groups by experience and inconstant differences were found between groups by training. The German version of the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale is a valid, reliable instrument for scoring location and severity of pharyngeal residue in the context of flexible endoscopic evaluations of swallowing.

(1) Background: Dance teachers (DT) are dependent on their functional body. Pain can hardly be avoided during the professional practice of dance. Pain can become so intense that it impairs, or even prevents, the professional practice. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of pain intensity of the most severely affected body regions of DT in pain during the three-month period prior to the survey. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by an online survey. A total of 166 DT participated in the study; 143 of the DT were in pain during the three-month period and were included in the analysis. Using multiple linear regression, the determinants of pain intensity were identified from population parameters, occupational data, pain localisation, and temporal pain course. (3) Results: Regions of the lower extremity and head/trunk regions were most frequently indicated as the body regions with the most severe pain. The multiple regression model generated with the factors “functional impairment,” “biomechanical exposure,” and “pain at rest” explains a statistically significant, moderate proportion of the variance in pain intensity (R2 = 0.22, F (3, 106) = 10.04, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Intensity of pain in DT seems to be related to the physical demands of professional practice.