College in Prison Changed Them. Now They Want to Change Minds

While the Massachusetts Department of Correction offers vocational education in fields like barber training and culinary arts, its partnership with the Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT) is dedicated to the idea that higher education in the liberal arts can transform people in ways that other rehabilitation programs can’t.

RUDN doctors named surgery that reduces the risk of recurrent disc herniation

RUDN University doctors compared the classic approach to surgical treatment of recurrent intervertebral hernia with a modified one. The traditional technique is the simple removal of the intervertebral disc; in the modified surgery, the vertebrae are united together afterward. The first option is cheaper, but the second eliminates the risk of relapse.

Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Centers Ranked Among the Best in the United States by Newsweek

Top rankings include Mount Sinai Morningside and The Mount Sinai Hospital, with stroke rehabilitation a standout program

Baylor Scott & White Health Again the Most-Awarded Health System in Texas for Clinical Care and Patient Experience

Baylor Scott & White Health once again leads the state of Texas in the number of accolades earned in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 Best Hospitals, released today. A total of 26 Baylor Scott & White hospitals were recognized, including four facilities with a nationally ranked specialty – more than any other health system in Texas.

Baylor Scott & White Health Again the Most-Awarded Not-for-Profit Health System in Texas for Clinical Care and Patient Experience

Baylor Scott & White Health once again leads the state of Texas in the number of accolades earned in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 Best Hospitals, released today. A total of 26 Baylor Scott & White hospitals were recognized, including four facilities with a nationally ranked specialty – more than any other health system in Texas.

Robotic Glove that ‘Feels’ Lends a ‘Hand’ to Relearn Playing Piano After a Stroke

A soft robotic glove is lending a “hand” and providing hope to piano players who have suffered a disabling stroke. Combining flexible tactile sensors, soft actuators and AI, this robotic glove is the first to “feel” the difference between correct and incorrect versions of the same song and to combine these features into a single hand exoskeleton. Unlike prior exoskeletons, this new technology provides precise force and guidance in recovering the fine finger movements required for piano playing and other complex tasks.

Prompt Treatment for Functional Neurological Disorder in Children Is Highly Effective

Treatment is scarce for functional neurological disorder (FND), which requires a multidisciplinary approach. A special report published in the March/April issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry (HRP) aims to show clinicians and institutions around the world what is needed to establish effective community treatment programs for FND, as well as hospital inpatient and outpatient interventions, in their own health care settings. HRP is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

UT Southwestern researchers identify risk factors for unsuccessful bunion surgery

A study by UT Southwestern researchers has identified three factors that increase the risk that bunion surgery will fail to fix this painful foot condition. The findings, published in The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, provide information that surgeons can use to counsel patients considering this elective procedure.

2022 Class of Fellows of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses Inducted

The Fellow designation (FARN) is the most distinguished level of membership within the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses and a hallmark of professional esteem within rehabilitation nursing. It is awarded to nurses who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the profession and have provided notable contributions, service, and commitment to the specialty and to ARN.

Michigan Medicine receives grant recognizing it as a top U.S. program for spinal cord injury

Michigan Medicine’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation received a federal research grant for spinal cord injury – reflecting its comprehensive care for patients with SCI and signifying the program as a national leader in the field. Michigan Medicine rejoins the Spinal Cord Injury Model System program, a network of health systems supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research.

JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies | Study on Voice-Assisted Technology

JMIR Publications recently published “Speech and Language Practitioners’ Experiences of Commercially Available Voice-Assisted Technology: Web-Based Survey Study” in JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies which reported the professional experiences of UK speech and language therapists using voice-assisted technology (VAT) (e.g. Alexa, Siri) with their clients to identify the potential applications and barriers to VAT adoption and thereby inform future directions of research.

Mount Sinai Receives $2.9 Million to Study First-of-its-kind Brain Implant for Restoring Function in Paralyzed Patients

Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance will lead Mount Sinai in national clinical trial

Second Breath: Region’s First Double Lung Transplant for COVID-19 Patient

After more than 50 days on advanced life support, a multi-disciplinary team at UC San Diego Health helps a patient who contracted COVID-19 become a candidate for a successful double lung transplant. The transplant surgery was the first in the region performed on a COVID-19 patient.

New device helps restore penile length and sexual function after prostate cancer surgery

A new type of penile traction therapy (PTT) device can increase penile length and preserve erectile function in men who have undergone prostate cancer surgery (prostatectomy), reports a clinical trial in The Journal of Urology®, Official Journal of the American Urological Association (AUA). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida Leads to Better Mobility in School-Age Children

Adding to a growing body of research affirming the benefits of fetal surgery for spina bifida, new findings show prenatal repair of the spinal column confers physical gains that extend into childhood. The researchers found that children who had undergone fetal surgery for myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida, were more likely than those who received postnatal repair to walk independently, go up and down stairs, and perform self-care tasks like using a fork, washing hands and brushing teeth. They also had stronger leg muscles and walked faster than children who had their spina bifida surgery after birth.

Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit Awarded $39.5 Million USAID Grant to Lead Global Initiative on Strengthening Health Systems for Rehabilitation

The Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has received a $39.5 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to strengthen rehabilitation services in low- and middle-income countries.

Robotic Trunk Support Trainer Improves Upper Body Control of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Columbia Engineering researchers report their innovative robotic Trunk Support Trainer, when combined with active practice of postural movements, improves trunk and reaching control in CP children with impaired sitting control. TruST helps physical therapists to not only support the children in the region of the trunk where they suffer from weakness and incoordination but also challenge them to perform rehabilitation tasks outside their base of support to improve their movement and coordination.

Missing rehab due to COVID-19 increased distress in women with breast cancer

Beyond the tragic surges in hospitalizations and deaths, the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare for people with a wide range of medical conditions – including cancer. For women recovering after breast cancer treatment, COVID-19-related interruptions in rehabilitation care led to emotional distress and other effects on health and well-being, reports a study in the October issue of Rehabilitation Oncology, official journal of the APTA Oncology, an Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Dolphin Calf Entangled in Fishing Line Only Lived Two Years Following Rescue

Researchers examined the outcome of an entangled bottlenose dolphin calf with monofilament fishing line wrapped tightly around its upper jaw. It was successfully disentangled and immediately released it back into its natural habitat. Surviving only two years, results showed long-term severe damage due to this entanglement including emaciation. There are about 1,000 bottlenose dolphins that live in the Indian River Lagoon, which also is a very popular location for recreational fishing.