Slipping on ice or tripping over a curb can result in broken bones or more serious injuries. To avoid taking an unexpected tumble, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and watch where you’re walking, a UT Southwestern Medical Center orthopedist advises.
Tag: Rehabilitation
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.
New FDA-Approved Device for Stroke Rehabilitation Now Available for Patients at Jefferson Health
The device improves upper limb function for patients with disability after stroke by stimulating the vagus nerve during rehab training.
Fewer patients sent to hospital rehabilitation facilities for recovery after colorectal operations early in the COVID pandemic
The first months of the COVID pandemic had a profound effect on hospital discharge practices and use patterns for patients with colorectal disease.
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.
What to Look For in a Physical Therapy Facility
After an injury or surgery, physical therapy often plays an essential role in recovery. It can also improve fitness and function for people dealing with chronic pain. Experts from Hospital for Special Surgery offer tips on what to look for in a PT facility.
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.

Rush University Medical Center, Select Medical Break Ground on New Rehabilitation Hospital
The combined critical illness recovery and inpatient rehabilitation hospital is being built on the RUSH University Medical Center campus. The hospital is slated to open in 2024 and will feature 44 critical illness recovery and 56 inpatient rehabilitation beds.
Comedian Tracy Morgan Presents Annual Award to Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Specialized Brain Injury Nurse
“For me to be a part of presenting this award every year, it’s a blessing. It’s a blessing to me,” Morgan said after he presented the award to Ogarek. “I know the recipients of this award are people helping others. They are in service to others. That is the way to heaven.”
Study Finds Surprising Way to Make Walking Easier
A robotic waist tether pulls at a wearer’s center of mass to reduce the energy needed to walk, offering a new potential approach for assistive rehabilitation.
Older Persons and Nursing Staff’s Perspectives on Continence Care in Rehabilitation
Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to understand continence care in geriatric rehabilitation from the perspectives of older persons and nursing staff. Design This is a qualitative descriptive study. Methods Ten patients and 10 nursing staff participated in semistructured interviews. Observations…
For the First Time, Stroke Study Reveals Optimal Timing and Intensity for Arm and Hand Rehabilitation
A phase II, randomized clinical trial found that the optimal period for intensive rehabilitation of arm and hand use after a stroke should begin 60 to 90 days after the event. The study, conducted by Georgetown University and MedStar National Rehabilitation Network (NRH) researchers, published September 20, 2021, in PNAS.
Neurally controlled prosthetic ankle allows for intuitive balance correction
NIBIB-funded researchers are working on an ankle prosthetic that relies on the user’s residual muscles—and the electrical signals that they generate—to help amputees control their posture continuously.
Supported Communication Video Training for the Nursing Department in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital
Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to develop a valid educational intervention to improve knowledge and confidence using communication strategies when interacting with a person with aphasia. Design A quantitative, nonrandomized pretest/posttest research study was performed. Methods Pre-…
Robot-assisted therapy can help treat stroke survivors, study finds
Exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation can be beneficial in treating stroke survivors, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
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.
Mount Sinai Named Official Medical Service Provider for USA Fencing Team
Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance prepares athletes for Tokyo Olympic Games
Palisades Medical Center Opens New Physical Rehabilitation Center for Outpatient Services
State-of-the-art 7,500-square-foot facility opens on North Bergen campus.
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.
Surgical procedure may help restore hand and arm function after stroke
Patients who received a novel treatment that combines vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and rehabilitation showed two to three times the improvement in upper body motor impairment compared to those who received sham (inactive form of) stimulation and rehabilitation.
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.
Educating Nurses on Supported Mirror Viewing for Patients After Amputation and Other Visible Disfigurements
One intervention that may affect the psychological well-being of patients who have suffered a visible body disfigurement due to surgery or trauma is supported mirror viewing. Although this is a first step in helping patients accept a new image, nurses…
Using the Preparedness Assessment for the Transition Home After Stroke Instrument to Identify Stroke Caregiver Concerns Predischarge: Uncertainty, Anticipation, and Cues to Action
Stroke survivors and their caregivers face enormous challenges as they transition from the IRF to home. As rehab nurses, we make every effort to educate caregivers about what to expect at home, but often they are unprepared to the role…

New treatment allows some people with spinal cord injury to regain hand and arm function
University of Washington researchers helped six Seattle-area people with spinal cord injuries regain some hand and arm mobility.
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.
Trio-Rounding: Perception of Benefits and Challenges by Rehabilitation Nurses and Physicians
Trio rounding connecting the nurse, physician and patient at the bedside is a key strategy to measurably improve patient care outcomes and communication (Breger, 2015; Cleveland Clinic, 2015) as well as coordination and efficiency (Gonzalo, Kuperman, Lehman & Haidet, 2014).
Falls: Explore and Connect QI, EBP, and Research
Rehabilitation nurses can discover best practices from three perspectives: quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and research.
ARN Research Symposium – Nursing Students with Disabilities: An integrative review
Background: The prevalence of nursing students with disabilities is increasing.
What Types of Physical Function Predict Program Adherence in Older Adults?
Patient adherence to an exercise program is a long-standing issue. What do you know about adherence? How can we, as nurses, influence adherence in older adults? Are there indicators that might predict adherence? Liu and Miyawaki describe the nationwide EnhanceFitness…
Development of an Instrument to Assess Stroke Caregivers’ Readiness for the Transition Home
You are getting ready to discharge a stroke survivor home after a stay in your IRF. However, you’re concerned that the family caregiver might not be prepared for the responsibility. Camicia and colleagues have developed a stroke specific instrument to…
Constructing Recovery Narratives: Experiences and Expectations Following Spinal Cord Injury
The narratives of patients and families with spinal cord injury tell the story of how people make sense of the injury and the rehab experience. Reading these stories provides insight for the rehabilitation nurse to better understand the illness experience…

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.
Using Volume-Based Tube Feeding to Increase Nutrient Delivery in Patients on a Rehabilitation Unit
Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether volume-based tube feeding (VBTF) increased nutrient delivery to patients in a rehabilitation unit. Design A cohort study with a prospective group and a historical control group was used as the study…
Review report outlines rehabilitation strategies for COVID-19 patients
Early rehabilitation of COVID-19 survivors is important to reduce long-term complications, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

Rehabilitation Care is Needed for Many COVID-19 Patients
Providers find patients hospitalized from COVID-19 need physical and cognitive rehabilitation care to aid in their recovery from the virus’ damaging effects on the body and mind.

Virginia Tech, partners launch nation’s first pediatric rehabilitation resource center
Research partners across three institutions are opening the nation’s first and only resource center dedicated to promoting clinical trials research in the rapidly expanding field of pediatric rehabilitation. It will be one of a network six centers under the umbrella of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health, with direct oversight from the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research.

When is the Optimal Time for Knee Surgery and Rehabilitation After Knee Dislocation?
A new clinical trial aims to discover the optimal time for surgery after a knee dislocation, and when to begin rehabilitation post-surgery.

COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas From Johns Hopkins
The following are story ideas regarding the COVID-19 illness. To interview experts cited in these tips or others at Johns Hopkins, please contact [email protected]
Two Weeks After Sports-Related Concussion, Most Patients Have Not Recovered
Less than half of patients with sports-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) achieve clinical recovery within two weeks after injury, reports a study in Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Study Finds Association Between Patient Therapy Time, Length of Stay After Hip Fracture Surgery
Researchers in the George Washington University Advanced Metrics Lab found that a hip fracture patient’s length of stay in a rehabilitation facility has a greater impact on functional independence than therapy time per day

UTEP Students Find $100 Solutions to Address Challenges
Students in The University of Texas at El Paso’s Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences program participated in a global service-learning program in which students receive $100 to create projects that generate sustainable changes in local communities.
Virtual Reality Would Make Attending Therapy Easier For Stroke Survivors
Researchers have created a virtual reality clinic to make it easier for stroke survivors to attend physical and occupational therapy sessions. Results from a proof-of-concept study suggest the technology – and the social connection it facilitates – are effective at encouraging therapy participation.
Study: “Pre-habilitation” by Peer Coaches Before Knee Replacement May Improve Outcomes
HSS researchers launched a study to find out if a “pre-habilitation” program – counseling by a peer coach who has already had a knee replacement – could empower and inform patients scheduled for the surgery, leading to better outcomes. The study found that such a program could be helpful.

As ‘Orange is the New Black’ Ends, UNLV Professor Explores How Conditions Have Changed for Incarcerated Women
The Litchfield Correctional Facility in upstate New York might be the fictitious background of Netflix’s hit series “Orange is the New Black.” But the stories of the inmates — portrayed by Hollywood actresses — could be easily found throughout real…