Rehabilitation
Australian Study Investigates Shockingly Low Level Of Concern In Elderly Regarding Falls - Despite aggressive efforts to raise awareness in elders of the dangers of falling, a study conducted on Australians 60 and older reported that most did not consider themselves at any great risk, nor did they regard prevention information as relevant to them.
Illegal Painkiller Overdoses Kill More Than 1,000 Americans - More than 1,000 Americans died in 6 cities between 2005 and 2007 from overdosing on nonpharmaceutical fentanyl (NPF), in the biggest ever epidemic of overdoses involving illegally produced versions of the painkiller. Health officials predict there will be further outbreaks of NPF overdose because the illegal narcotic is easier and cheaper to produce than heroin.
Interdisciplinary Research Transcends Boundaries - From understanding climate change to predicting infectious disease outbreaks to engineering solutions to address disability, scientific research is increasingly crossing the boundaries between disciplines. Fostering interdisciplinary research, education and training as a means of developing the next generation of scientists is a key goal of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship (IGERT) program.
MIT Identifies Cells For Spinal-Cord Repair - Could Lead To Non-Surgical Treatment For Injuries - A researcher at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory has pinpointed stem cells within the spinal cord that, if persuaded to differentiate into more healing cells and fewer scarring cells following an injury, may lead to a new, non-surgical treatment for debilitating spinal-cord injuries.
Identifcation Of Cells For Spinal-Cord Repair Could Lead To Nonsurgical Treatment For Injuries - A researcher at MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory has pinpointed stem cells within the spinal cord that, if persuaded to differentiate into more healing cells and fewer scarring cells following an injury, may lead to a new, non-surgical treatment for debilitating spinal-cord injuries.
Tongue Drive Technology - Researchers have developed an experimental tongue-based system that may allow individuals with debilitating disabilities to control wheelchairs, computers and other devices with relative ease and no sophistication. Because the tongue is directly connected to the brain via cranial nerves, it usually remains mobile when other body parts lose function to disease or accidents.
Heart Attack Rehab Patients Walking With Mini ECG - Dr Charles Worringham of Queensland University of Technology’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation said the unique ‘Cardiomobile’ monitoring system, developed by Gold Coast company Alive Technologies, was being further developed and trialled together with QUT under an ARC Linkage Grant.
Mobilize With Care Following Ankle Surgery - People recover faster after surgery for ankle fracture if they are given a cast or splint that can be removed to let them exercise the ankle, than if their foot is placed in an immobilising plaster cast. If the fracture is stable, then encouraging them to walk soon after surgery is also beneficial. However, increased activity does increase the chance of experiencing problems with the surgical wound.
Wii-habilitation: Using Video Games To Heal Burns Also Using “Guitar Hero” Game - Video games -- often regarded as nothing more than mindless entertainment for lethargic kids and teens -- are proving to be an effective, new tool to motivate patients to perform rehabilitation exercises. Rehabilitation therapists from the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center are using the motion-sensitive Nintendo Wii video game console, along with traditional methods, to help patients recover from life-changing injuries.
Regular Walking Nearly Halves Elderly Disability Risk, Study Finds - Older adults can decrease their risk of disability and increase their likelihood of maintaining independence by 41 percent by participating in a walking exercise program, according to a new University of Georgia study.
Foundation Announces Ya-Weng Tseng Recipient Of The 2008 New Investigator Training Initiative Fellowship - The Foundation for Physical Therapy has announced that Ya-weng Tseng, PT, PhD, of Temple University, is the recipient of the 2008 New Investigator Fellowship Training Initiative (NIFTI) fellowship. Tseng received the $78,000 award for her research project, “Utilizing Visual Feedback to Optimize Arm Reaching Adaptation.
Foundation Awards $292,500 In Doctoral Scholarships To 25 Physical Therapists - The Foundation for Physical Therapy Board of Trustees recently awarded a total of $292,500 in Promotion of Doctoral Scholarships (PODS I & II) to 25 physical therapists. “The level of excellence of the applications submitted for consideration increases each year,” said Foundation President Richard Shields, PT, PhD, FAPTA. “The Foundation is pleased to continue fulfilling its mission by providing support for such promising young researchers as they begin their careers.
UCSF Receives Five-Year Grant To Research Personal Assistance Services For People With Disabilities - The UCSF School of Nursing has received its second $4.25 million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to continue the work of the Center for Personal Assistance Services (PAS). The funding, for which the school competed with other institutions nationwide, will enable UCSF to continue its research and training activities related to personal care services provided to people with disabilities.
The Spirit Of The Horse: Timberline Knolls Recovery Center Launches Equine Therapy - Timberline Knolls, one of the nation’s leading residential treatment centers for women, has added equine assisted psychotherapy to its recovery program under the banner of “TK Ranch.” At TK Ranch, which is located on the 43-acre Timberline Knolls campus, residents have the opportunity to work with and care for horses as a way to practice skills and address issues necessary for their recovery.
APTA Endorses World Health Organization ICF Model - The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has joined the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, and other international organizations in endorsing the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model.
Recovery Of Wartime Limb Injuries May Be Improved By Myostatin Inhibitors - Inhibiting a growth factor that keeps muscles from getting too big may optimize recovery of injured soldiers, researchers say. They are studying two myostatin inhibitors in mice with limb injuries, first to see which works best and then to identify the best delivery mechanism, says Dr. Mark Hamrick, bone biologist in the Medical College of Georgia Schools of Graduate Studies and Medicine.
Motor Neurone Disease Association Launches Pioneering Tool For Health Care Commissioners In Westminster, UK - The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association has just launched a pioneering tool for health care commissioners in Westminster. It has already been cited as a very important document for patient care and aims to help achieve Lord Darzi’s vision of quality care for people living with the complex, and often rapidly progressive neurological condition, MND.
American Physical Therapy Association Applauds Sen Baucus For Standing Up Against Therapy Cap - The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) applauds Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) for urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to maintain the exceptions process to Medicare Part B therapy caps in a letter sent yesterday to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt.
Tongue Powered Wheelchairs, Computers - A new assistive technology developed by engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology could help individuals with severe disabilities lead more independent lives. The novel system allows individuals with disabilities to operate a computer, control a powered wheelchair and interact with their environments simply by moving their tongues.
Physical Therapist To The Pros Offers Tips For Golfers On Getting Back On The Green After ACL Surgery - With the announcement that Tiger Woods will take the remainder of the year off to undergo ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) offers consumers information on what to expect regarding recovery from this major knee surgery.
Physical Therapists Applaud House Passage Of Medicare Package - The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) hailed passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (HR 6331) by the US House of Representatives as a significant step forward for seniors and persons with disabilities and encouraged the US Senate to quickly follow suit. HR 6331 includes provisions for physical therapists and their patients, including legislation to avoid the pending 10.
American Lung Association Commends U.S. House Of Representatives For Passage Of Pulmonary And Cardiac Rehabilitation Act - The American Lung Association commends and thanks the U.S. House of Representatives for its passage of the Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Act.
Minister Moloney Launches MS Ireland’s National Activity, Exercise And Physiotherapy Research Programme - The Minister for Equality, Disability and Mental Health, John Moloney T.D., officially launched Multiple Sclerosis Ireland’s National Activity, Exercise and Physiotherapy Research Programme - Getting the Balance Right. “I welcome this innovative project which will see people with MS of various abilities participate in an array of exercise and physio classes and sessions over the course of two years.
Cardiac Rehab Help And Hope - Tim Russert’s tragic death put heart disease back into the forefront. In many cases, fortunately, treatment and lifestyle changes can help people fight and win their struggle. Success stories include David Letterman and Regis Philbin. In Baltimore, Maryland, Northwest Hospital’s new Cardiac Rehabilitation Program offers help for individuals, like Letterman and Philbin, with stimulating, do-able plans.
MS Society Co-Funding Physio Posts To Meet Demand, UK - The MS Society is funding specialist MS physiotherapist posts to meet a need demonstrated by people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to combat NHS cuts. In an interview on the BBC Radio 4 You and Yours programme, MS Society chief executive, Simon Gillespie, said that the charity was increasingly having to fund physiotherapy posts at a cost of £40,000 each due to a shortage.
