JRRD Releases Volume 49, Issue 1 with New Value-Added Content in the Table of Contents Page, as Well as Color-Coded Content Pages!

JRRD RELEASES VOLUME 49, ISSUE 1 with NEW VALUE-ADDED content in the Table of Contents page, as well as color-coded content pages!

Full-text articles available at http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/2012/491/contents491.html.

Newswise — This issue comprises two single-topic sections. The first includes six articles on wheelchair engineering. The second discusses findings from the outcomes measures in rehabilitation state-of-the-art (SOTA) conference. Articles featured in this issue include—

Guest Editorial: Wheelchair research progress, perspectives, and transformation, pg. 1

Dynamic stiffness and transmissibility of commercially available wheelchair cushions using a laboratory test method, pg. 7

Multiple factors are associated with back and neck pain, such as inadequate postural support, stress, and vibration exposure. Substantial evidence links vibration exposure with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study evaluates the ability of commercial wheelchair cushions to mitigate vibration exposure of wheelchair users. Among the cushions tested, the air-bladder cushions had lower vibration transmissibility than the foam- or gel-based cushions.

Changes in surface electromyography signals and kinetics associated with progression of fatigue at two speeds during wheelchair propulsion, pg. 23

Manual wheelchair users are likely to experience chronic shoulder pain and loss of independence. Biomechanical analysis of wheelchair propulsion can determine the conditions likely to result in upper-limb damage and guide wheelchair design, propulsion technique, and exercises to strengthen musculature around the shoulder joint. This study describes a method for identifying the onset of fatigue in shoulder muscles during wheelchair propulsion. This research helps identify ways to reduce muscle fatigue and overexertion, which in turn will help reduce the conditions that contribute to degenerative changes in the shoulders of long-term wheelchair users.

Clinical evaluation of semiautonomous smart wheelchair architecture (Drive-Safe System) with visually impaired individuals, pg. 35

The Drive-Safe System (DSS) is a smart wheelchair system developed to provide independent mobility for individuals with visual and mobility impairments. This study is a clinical evaluation of the DSS with visually impaired individuals. Study participants successfully navigated using the DSS, which suggests that the system may be a viable mobility solution for wheelchair users with visual impairments.

Test method for empirically determining inertial properties of manual wheelchairs, pg. 51

Researchers present a method to accurately determine wheelchair mass and moment of inertia using a spring-loaded rotating turntable. This research will directly benefit researchers interested in wheelchair inertia experiments and indirectly benefit manual wheelchair users by informing the wheelchair design process.

Assessment of field rolling resistance of manual wheelchairs, pg. 63

This article proposes a simple and convenient model for quantifying the rolling resistance acting on a manual wheelchair during propulsion on hard smooth and carpeted surfaces. The results validate the predictive model for the rolling resistance on both surfaces.

Pilot study for quantifying driving characteristics during power wheelchair soccer, pg. 75This study measures the mobility patterns of power wheelchair soccer players during the National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Using custom-designed data-logging devices, researchers captured the average distance, speed, and amount of time power soccer players used their wheelchairs during the event. Results of this study show that the mobility characteristics vary between power soccer participants and are not consistent with the activity measured during wheelchair basketball and rugby. Participants in wheelchair rugby and basketball games tend to travel farther and faster than power soccer players.

Guest Editorial: Rehabilitation Research and Development state-of-the-art conference on outcome measures in rehabilitation, pg. 83

Issues in defining and measuring veteran community reintegration: Proceedings of the Working Group on Community Reintegration, VA Rehabilitation Outcomes Conference, Miami, Florida, pg. 87

This article reports the proceedings of the SOTA conference to advance the field of outcome measurement for rehabilitation-related studies. The SOTA was sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Rehabilitation Research and Development service in January 2010. The successful implementation of these recommendations will foster strategies and tools that will enhance the community reintegration of veterans.

Vocational services research: Recommendations for the next stage of work, pg. 101Researchers provide recommendations for improving vocational rehabilitation research. The five recommendations discussed by the authors include ways to increase consistency in measurement of employment outcomes, emerging patterns and lingering gaps in the range of variables and measures commonly used in vocational services research, broader methodological patterns and needs in the area of study design and sampling, interventions that warrant additional study, and broad strategies to increase the overall amount and quality of research on vocational services.

Mental health assessment in rehabilitation research, pg. 121

This article describes how mental health is measured in research and makes recommendations on how to improve this measurement. The researchers suggest that while symptoms and diagnosis are important, more consideration should be given to how people with mental disorders function in daily living. These recommendations can help researchers better understand how mental health affects patients and the efficacy of prescribed treatments.

Measurement of social participation outcomes in rehabilitation of veterans with traumatic brain injury, pg. 139

This article explores the concept of community participation as a rehabilitation outcome for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Researchers provide recommendations to facilitate use of participation measurements in TBI clinical practice and rehabilitation research. Researchers also discuss conceptual models of participation and identify current research issues and needs.

Activity and participation after spinal cord injury: State-of-the-art report, pg. 155This article presents recommendations on how to measure activity and community participation among individuals with SCI. These recommendations grew out of the SOTA Conference on Outcome Measures in Rehabilitation held in January 2010. This article also provides suggestions for future research.

Small N designs for rehabilitation research, pg. 175

This article presents a discussion of strategies for dealing with challenges involving studies with small sample sizes. Single-case designs are generally appropriate for studies where understanding and changing patient behavior is important and sample sizes are less than 30. Researchers present the theoretical, methodological, and clinical reasons for employing experimental and quasi-experimental single-case study designs.

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JRRD is a peer-reviewed, scientifically indexed journal providing coverage of 31 areas of rehabilitation research for almost 50 years. The journal provides researchers and other rehabilitation professionals with the ideal venue for publishing original research papers for exposure to a global audience. In 2011, JRRD had 15 million Web site hits and 6.4 million downloads of cutting edge rehabilitation research content! And according to the most recent 2010 JCR data, JRRD was ranked 2nd for the Immediacy Index for publishing topical and urgent content. Learn more about JRRD at http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jrrd, “Like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jrrdjournal to view the JRRD news stream, or sign up for RSS feeds or e-Alerts delivered right to your inbox.