Physical Therapy News and Research

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Foam rollers help patients to recover from injuries

Foam rollers have become more prevalent in gyms, exercise classes and therapy clinics over the last 10 years.

7 Jun 2018

Outsiders swoop in vowing to rescue rural hospitals short on hope — and money

Beau Gertz faced a crowd of worried locals at this town's senior center, hoping to sell them on his vision for their long-beloved — but now bankrupt — hospital.

4 Jun 2018

Home-based telehealth therapy program effective for stroke rehabilitation, shows study

In-home rehabilitation, using a telehealth system and supervised by licensed occupational/physical therapists, is an effective means of improving arm motor status in stroke survivors, according to findings presented by University of California, Irvine neurologist Steven C. Cramer, MD, at the recent 2018 European Stroke Organisation Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.

24 May 2018

Patients with low-back pain benefit from early physical therapy

Patients with low-back pain are better off seeing a physical therapist first, according to a study of 150,000 insurance claims.

23 May 2018

Novel drug prevents memory impairment in mice exposed to simulated deep space radiation

Planning a trip to Mars? You'll want to remember your anti-radiation pills. NASA and private space companies like SpaceX plan to send humans to the red planet within the next 15 years--but among the major challenges facing future crewed space missions is how to protect astronauts from the dangerous cosmic radiation of deep space.

22 May 2018

Clinical study supports usual medical care plus chiropractic care for low back pain

U.S military personnel with low back pain who received usual medical care plus chiropractic care reported moderate improvement in their pain intensity and disability compared with patients who received usual medical care alone.

18 May 2018

Musician Huey Lewis's struggle shines spotlight on Ménière's disease

The recent news revealing musician Huey Lewis's struggles with Ménière's disease has shined a spotlight on the neurological disorder. The symptoms, which include unpredictable bouts of dizziness, hearing loss and ringing in the ears, may get progressively worse over time and can greatly interfere with work, driving and daily activities.

16 May 2018

New robotic system interacts with rehabilitation patients to improve task performance

Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beer-Sheva, Israel have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of a robotic system that plays Tic Tac Toe with rehabilitation patients to improve real-life task performance.

4 May 2018

Sprained your knee? The cost of a brace could sprain your wallet.

One July evening, Carol Harnett was in a crosswalk in downtown Portland, Ore., when a driver made an illegal turn and hit her. Transported by ambulance to a hospital, she was diagnosed with a severely sprained right ankle and left wrist, as well as a concussion.

3 May 2018

Obesity associated with more rapid progression of disability in rheumatoid arthritis patients

In a study of adults with rheumatoid arthritis, those who were severely obese experienced more rapidly progressing disability than patients who were overweight.

30 Apr 2018

Researchers devise new approach for measuring tendon tension

For athletes and weekend warriors alike, returning from a tendon injury too soon often ensures a trip right back to physical therapy.

25 Apr 2018

Meditation could help reduce anxiety levels and some heart health risk factors

It sounds like a late-night commercial: In just one hour you can reduce your anxiety levels and some heart health risk factors. But a recent study with 14 participants shows preliminary data that even a single session of meditation can have cardiovascular and psychological benefits for adults with mild to moderate anxiety.

20 Apr 2018

UD professor wins $2.3 million grant from NIH for research on Achilles tendinopathy

University of Delaware assistant professor Karin Gravare Silbernagel received a five-year, $2.3 million Research Project Grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to study Achilles tendinopathy.

18 Apr 2018

Study on arthritis prevalence and trends reveals unexpected findings

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability and pain in the United States and the impact on individuals is quite significant. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA), which often affects the knees, hips and lower back.

17 Apr 2018

Japanese researchers develop new compound to enhance recovery of stroke patients

A team of Japanese researchers have developed a new compound that enhanced motor function recovery after brain damage in animal tests, according to a study published in the journal Science.

10 Apr 2018

Newly expanded program at Rush offers relief from pelvic floor problems

Trouble with urine or bowel control, bladder pain, recurring urinary tract infections, constipation and other sexual function issues frequently can be traced to a dysfunctional pelvic floor -- the layer of muscles that support the bladder and bowel in men, and bladder, bowel and vagina in women.

6 Apr 2018

Scrutinizing Medicare coverage for physical, occupational and speech therapy

For years, confusion has surrounded the conditions under which older adults can receive physical, occupational and speech therapy covered by Medicare.

29 Mar 2018

Vagus nerve stimulation accelerates motor skill recovery after stroke

Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have demonstrated a method to accelerate motor skill recovery after a stroke by helping the brain reorganize itself more quickly.

28 Mar 2018

Study finds alarming frequency of bench press injuries among military service members

While deployed in combat zones, U.S. armed forces prepare for the rigors of combat and stay in peak condition by lifting weights during intense and demanding workouts.

22 Mar 2018

Lifting therapy caps proves a load off Medicare patients’ shoulders

Physical therapy helps Leon Beers, 73, get out of bed in the morning and maneuver around his home using his walker. Other treatment strengthens his throat muscles so that he can communicate and swallow food, said his sister Karen Morse. But in mid-January, his home health care agency told Morse it could no longer provide these services because he had used all his therapy benefits allowed under Medicare for the year.

14 Mar 2018