title: Functionality predictors in acquired brain damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most individuals who have survived an acquired brain injury present consequences affecting the sensorimotor, cognitive, affective or behavioural components. These deficits affect the proper performance of daily living activities. The aim of this study is to identify functional differences between individuals with unilateral acquired brain injury using functional independence, capacity, and performance of daily activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive cross-sectional design with a sample of 58 people, with right-sided injury (n=14 TBI; n=15 stroke) or left-sided injury (n = 14 TBI, n = 15 stroke), right handed, and with a mean age of 47 years and time since onset of 4 ± 3.65 years. The functional assessment/functional independence measure (FIM/FAM) and the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) were used for the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data showed significant differences (P<.000), and a large size effect (dr=0.78) in the cross-sectional estimates, and point to fewer restrictions for patients with a lesion on their right side. The major differences were in the variables 'speaking' and 'receiving spoken messages' (ICF variables), and 'Expression', 'Writing' and 'intelligible speech' (FIM/FAM variables). In the linear regression analysis, the results showed that only 4 FIM/FAM variables, taken together, predict 44% of the ICF variance, which measures the ability of the individual, and up to 52% of the ICF, which measures the individual's performance. Gait alone predicts a 28% of the variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that individuals with acquired brain injury in the left hemisphere display important differences regarding functional and communication variables. The motor aspects are an important prognostic factor in functional rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Alcorcón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: elisabet.huertas@urjc.es.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huertas Hoyas
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Adicciones de Madrid, Ayuntamiento de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Pedrero Pérez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitación y Medicina Física, Alcorcón, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Águila Maturana
authors.affiliation: Centro de Rehabilitación integral a personas con daño cerebral adquirido, POLIBEA, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García López-Alberca
authors.affiliation: Centro de Referencia Estatal de Atención al Daño Cerebral Adquirido, CEADAC, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González Alted
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Acquired brain injury; Daño cerebral adquirido; Especialización hemisférica; Funcionalidad; Functional independence; Functionality; Hemisferio derecho; Hemisferio izquierdo; Hemispheric specialisation; Independencia funcional; Left hemisphere; Right hemisphere