Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/rehabilitation/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172297.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172297.php GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), announced the installation of Russia's first high-definition computed tomography (CT) scanner, GE Healthcare's flagship Discovery CT750HD, at the Center of Medical Rehabilitation by the Russian Ministry of Health in Moscow led by Professor Konstantin V. Lyadov. MRI / PET / Ultrasound Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172200.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172200.php Patients who have undergone a single-level lumbar microdiskectomy for lumbar disk herniation experienced significant improvement in physical function following an intensive, progressive physical therapist guided exercise and education program, according to a Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172103.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172103.php Patients who have undergone a single-level lumbar microdiskectomy for lumbar disk herniation experienced significant improvement in physical function following an intensive, progressive physical therapist guided exercise and education program, according to a research report published in the November issue of Physical Therapy (PTJ), the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Back Pain Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172115.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172115.php Statement by APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) applauds the US House of Representatives for taking recent action to ensure that America's seniors and people with disabilities have access to high quality care rehabilitative services. The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (HR 3961), which passed by a vote of 243 to 183, would stop a 21. Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172056.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172056.php Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) , also known as Chacot-Marie-Tooth hereditary neuropathy, peroneal muscular atrophy, and hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy, is a genetic disease of nerves, typically with progressive muscle weakness, particularly the arms and legs. The hallmark feature of CMT is a clear wasting of the distal extremities, especially the peroneal muscle groups in the calves - the patient develops stork legs. Neurology / Neuroscience Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171937.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171937.php Rom Houben, a Belgian man whom doctors believed to have been in a coma for 23 years following a car crash in 1983, was conscious all the time: we know because Houben himself has told us, in several media interviews conducted over the last few days. Doctors in Zolder, Belgium, had repeatedly diagnosed Houben using the internationally accepted Glasgow Coma Scale to assess his eye, verbal and motor responses. Neurology / Neuroscience Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171780.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171780.php Cartilage structures and functions can relatively easily be harmed, often resulting in damage. Cartilage is a tough, flexible connective tissue that is found in many areas of the body. This fine, rubbery tissue mainly functions as a cushion for bones at joints. The English word "cartilage" comes from the Latin word cartilage, which means "cartilage" or "gristle". Bones / Orthopaedics Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171547.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171547.php IOS Press announces the November 2009 publication of a special issue of NeuroRehabilitation: An International Journal devoted to residential design for persons with neurodisability. Neurology / Neuroscience Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171395.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171395.php Until recently, scientists believed that, following a stroke, a patient had about six months to regain any lost function. After that, patients would be forced to compensate for the lost function by focusing on their remaining abilities. Stroke Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171400.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171400.php The artificial lower limbs of double-amputee Olympic hopeful Oscar Pistorius give him a clear and major advantage over his competition, taking 10 seconds or more off what his 400-meter race time would be if his prosthesis behaved like intact limbs. That's the conclusion - released to the public for the first time - of human performance experts Peter Weyand of Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Matthew Bundle of the University of Wyoming. Sports Medicine / Fitness Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171301.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171301.php Depressive symptoms improved among women with coronary heart disease who participated in a motivationally-enhanced cardiac rehabilitation program exclusively for women, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2009. Depression often co-occurs with heart disease and is found more often in women with heart disease than in men. Heart Disease Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171354.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171354.php Dystonia is a general term which describes involuntary movements and extended muscle contractions - a range of movement disorders. The patient has twisting body movements, tremor and unusual or awkward postures. For some patients the whole body may be involved in the movements, while for others only certain parts of the body are affected. Dystonia symptoms may be linked to specific tasks, such as writing, as in writer's cramp. Neurology / Neuroscience Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170974.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170974.php Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC (November 12, 2009) The saying "more pain, more gain" may be true for those already in terrible pain due to a chronic and debilitating condition, contrary to received wisdom. For those with Type I Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), working through the pain of an aggressive physiotherapy program often leads to far better results than a more cautious pain-free approach. Pain / Anesthetics Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170953.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170953.php Preliminary research on college students in the US suggests that too much texting can lead to neck and shoulder pain, similar to that found in older adults who develop injuries from prolonged and repeated use of computers. Judith Gold, an ergonomics researcher at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, presented the preliminary findings of her study at this year's annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, that took place this week in Philadelphia. Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170917.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170917.php The saying "more pain, more gain" may be true for those already in terrible pain due to a chronic and debilitating condition, contrary to received wisdom. For those with Type I Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), working through the pain of an aggressive physiotherapy program often leads to far better results than a more cautious pain-free approach. That was the result of a new study in Clinical Rehabilitation, published this week by SAGE. Pain / Anesthetics Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169966.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169966.php In a special guest editorial, Bass and colleagues discuss the limitations of current estimates of the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans. Since these estimates often determine the allocation of resources, the authors urge decision makers to understand the limitations of these prevalence estimates. Veterans / Ex-Servicemen Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169158.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169158.php This past week in Washington, DC, physical therapists from around the world heard that direct access and patient self-referral to a physical therapist is proven to be safe, and results in improved health outcomes, more timely care, higher patient satisfaction, and lower costs, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), co-host of the International Summit on Direct Access and Advanced Scope of Practice. "We were very pleased to host this event," says APTA President R. Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168980.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168980.php Face and Hand Transplants - Ready to Become Mainstream Medicine? Though once inconceivable, face and hand transplants are quickly making themselves more present, both in the operating room and in the media. The world's first hand transplant was performed more than a decade ago, and the first partial-face transplant performed in the United States (and most extensive procedure to date) was completed this year. Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168846.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168846.php Regularly playing a musical instrument changes the anatomy and function of the brain and may be used in therapy to improve cognitive skills. There is growing evidence that musicians have structurally and functionally different brains compared with non-musicians. In particular, the areas of the brain used to process music are larger or more active in musicians. Even just starting to learn a musical instrument can changes the neurophysiology of the brain. Neurology / Neuroscience Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168608.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168608.php Most people have a gap under the arch of their foot when they are in a standing position. The arch, the inner part of the foot is slightly raised off the ground. People with flat feet or fallen arches either have no arch, or it is very low. The feet of people with flat feet may roll over to the inner side when they are standing or walking, and the feet may point outwards as a result. Bones / Orthopaedics Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168402.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168402.php Statement by APTA President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is disappointed by the Senate's actions yesterday to block S. 1776, the Medicare Physicians Fairness Act of 2009, legislation that would have protected the ability of physical therapists to serve the rehabilitation needs of seniors and people with disabilities. S. Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168331.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168331.php New research suggests a tailored approach to physical therapy after a neurological injury such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury could help restore a wider variety of functions. Clinical physical therapy is a widely used treatment approach to help restore the motor function of patients following neurological injuries. Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168173.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168173.php A groundbreaking international collaboration among the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA), and the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) will bring together thought leaders in physical therapy and policymakers October 22-24, in Washington, DC, to share their knowledge about access and practice issues facing the physical therapy profession. Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168169.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168169.php Physical therapists from Nevada will be offering free balance tests and speaking with attendees on various health-related issues at the AARP "VEGAS@50+" Expo at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct. 22-24, 2009. The physical therapists will offer these services at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) booth, #833. Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167495.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167495.php National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE Amex: NHC)(NYSE Amex: NHC.PR.A), one of the nation's leading operators of long-term health care and assisted living facilities, announced today that the NHC Geriatric Clinical Residency Program (GCRP) for Physical Therapists has successfully received accreditation through the American Physical Therapy Association. The NHC GCRP will be the fourth in the nation and the first within a senior care corporation. Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy