Gender-related differences in psychometric properties of WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 Objective of this study was to investigate the gender-related differential item function of 12-item WHODAS 2.0 amongst patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This was a cross-sectional survey study among 1,988 patients at a university Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine outpatient clinic. To assess DIF, WHODAS 2.0 items were dichotomized as `none’ rated by respondents as `0’ versus `any limitation’ rated as `1,2,3 or 4’. The item response theory analysis was used to define discrimination and difficulty parameters of a questionnaire. The probit logistic regression was used to test uniformity of DIF between gender groups. The results of DIF analysis were presented and evaluated graphically as item characteristic curves based on 2-parameter IRT analysis of dichotomized responses. High to perfect discrimination ability was observed for all the items except one. Difficulty levels of eight items were shifted towards the elevated disability level, four items demonstrated a perfect difficulty property. Significant DIF between genders was observed in seven of 12 items. The detected DIFs were uniform. For item `household’, `emotional affection’ and `work’, men had to experience slightly worse disability than women to achieve the same score. A reverse effect was observed for items `concentration’, `washing’, `dressing’ and dealing with strangers. In this study, significant DIF between genders was found in seven of twelve items of 12-item WHODAS 2.0. amongst 1988 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. All the detected DIFs were uniform. Regardless gender-related DIF shown in seven out of 12 items, we recommend using and studying 12-item WHODAS 2.0 in different populations. Received 5 June 2019 Accepted 20 June 2019 Correspondence to Niina Katajapuu, MSc, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Joukahaisenkatu 3, 20540 Turku, Finland, Tel: +358503550516; e-mail: niina.katajapuu@turkuamk.fi Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

The effect of motor imagery and mirror therapy on upper extremity function according to the level of cognition in stroke patients This study was conducted to investigate the effects of motor imagery (MI) and mirror therapy (MT) on upper extremity function according to the level of cognition in stroke patients. Twenty-four participants who were diagnosed with stroke were divided into a mild cognitive group (n = 12) and a severe cognitive group (n = 12). Then, the two groups were again divided into MI group (n = 6) and MT group (n = 6). The participants were evaluated for function of upper extremity using the Box and Block Test (BBT), the Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), and Manual Function Test (MFT). There were significant differences between the two groups of cognitive function of mild level in the post-test of JTHFT (p < 0.05). In the MI group, significant differences were found in the pre- and post-test scores for all variance (p < 0.05). In the MT group, significant differences were found in the pre- and post-test scores for JTHFT and MFT (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between the two groups of cognitive function of severe level in the post-test of all variances (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in the MT group, significant differences were found in the pre- and post-test scores for all variances (P < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that applying MI to the mild cognitive group is effective and that applying MT to the severe cognitive group is effective. Received 20 May 2019 Accepted 27 June 2019 Corresponding: Hyun Gyu Cha, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy, Joongbu University, Geumsan 32713, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82 41 750 6748; fax: +82 41 750 6166; e-mail: guychk@naver.com Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Early body weight-supported overground walking training in patients with stroke in subacute phase compared to conventional physiotherapy: a randomized controlled pilot study Among the new rehabilitation strategies aimed at improving independent walking after stroke, the body weight-support training allows an early and controlled ambulatory training. To date, most available studies are based on treadmill body weight-support (BWS) training and involve patients with chronic stroke sequelae. In contrast, the effects of a BWS training performed on the ground in patients with subacute hemiparesis (stroke within 4 weeks), with significant gait deficiencies, is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a rehabilitative program that combines conventional approach with an early overground body weight-support training, in terms of recovery of independent walking focussing on patients with subacute stroke. The secondary aim was to evaluate the impact of body weight-support also on functional mobility, overall disability, and gait endurance. A total of 37 participants were enrolled and randomized to experimental group or control group for the baseline evaluations. In the experimental group, body weight-supported overground walking was added to conventional physiotherapy for 4 weeks. The outcome measurements used were: Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC), Rivermead Mobility Index, Barthel Index, and the 6-minute Walk Test. At the evaluation 1 week after the end of the intervention period, experimental group reached a statistically significant increase of independent walking as detected by FAC (experimental group: 3 vs. control group: 2, P < 0.01). No differences were observed by the other evaluation outcome measures. We conclude that BWS training may be more effective than conventional therapy alone in improving walking autonomy in persons with subacute stroke. Received 13 March 2019 Accepted 20 June 2019 Correspondence to Stefano Brunelli, MD, Operative Unit 4, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Scientific Institute for Research and Healthcare, Rome 00179, Italy, Tel: +390651501844; fax: +39065032097; e-mail: s.brunelli@santalucia.it Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.