Decreased Muscle Strength Predicts Functional Impairments In Older Adults
Decreased muscle strength is associated with difficulty in performing functional activities such as stooping, crouching, or kneeling (SCK) in older adults, according to an observational study published in the January issue of Physical Therapy, (PTJ) the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). These researchers found that adults with SCK difficulty had significant decreases in adjusted strength measurements of trunk extensor, knee extensor, and ankle flexion muscles.
Most Patients Gain Weight After Getting A New Knee
You'd think folks who've had knee replacement surgery -- finally able to walk and exercise without pain -- would lose weight instead of put on pounds, but surprisingly that's not the case, according to a University of Delaware study. Researchers Joseph Zeni and Lynn Snyder-Mackler in the Department of Physical Therapy in UD's College of Health Sciences found that patients typically drop weight in the first few weeks after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but then the number on the scale starts creeping upward, with an average weight gain of 14 pounds in two years.
Spacial Awareness Affected By Hands
We know exactly where an object is when we say it is "within the reach of our hand." But if we don't have a hand, can we still see the object just where it is? Apparently not, say researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Hospital-Mount Scopus. The space within reach of our hands -- where actions such as grasping and touching occur -- is known as the "action space." Research has shown that visual information in this area is organized in hand-centered coordinates -- in other words, the representation of objects in the human brain depends on their spatial position with respect to the hand.
G7 Forgives Haiti's Bilateral Loans To Support Aid Effort
At a press conference on Saturday, "Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he and his G-7 colleagues would forgive bilateral loans extended to poverty-stricken Haiti, which estimates it could have lost 200, 000 residents in the major earthquake that hit last month, " Dow Jones Newswires reports. Flaherty also said Haiti's multilateral debt should be nullified as soon as possible (Thiruvengadam, 2/6). Ahead of the G7 announcement, the Obama administration on Friday declared its support for "international debt relief for Haiti to aid rebuilding efforts, " The Hill's " Blog Briefing Room " reports.
Phone App To Improved Stroke Rehab
A UQ study will employ a unique mobile phone application to improve the "communicative fitness" and lifestyle of brain-injured patients. Led by Professor Linda Worrall from UQ's Clinical Centre for Research Excellence (CCRE) in Aphasia Rehabilitation, the study will be the first of its kind to use the technology in combining two complementary approaches to aphasia rehabilitation into one optimal treatment outcome. Aphasia, a language difficulty attributed to injury of the brain, usually from stroke, is estimated to affect 80, 000 Australians.
What Is Paget's Disease Of Bone? What Causes Paget's Disease?
Paget's disease of bone, often just called Paget's disease or osteitis deformans, is a condition in which the normal cycle of bone growth is disrupted. The condition affects bone metabolism that allows for old bone to be recycled into new bone throughout life. This can cause bones to become weakened and deformed. In Paget's disease of bone, the rate at which old bone is broken down and new bone is formed is altered. Over time, it may result in bones becoming fragile. Common symptoms of Paget's disease include bone pain and deformity.
Physical Therapists Offer Snow Shovelers Advice To Avoid Injuries
As the Mid-Atlantic states brace for another bout of winter weather expected to produce a heavy amount of snowfall, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is offering tips on how to properly shovel snow to minimize the risk of injury. "Snow shoveling is a repetitive activity that can cause muscle strain to the lower back and shoulders, especially if a person is out of condition, " says APTA spokesperson Margot Miller, PT, of Cloquet, Minnesota. "Snow shoveling is also heavy work, so it's important to pay attention to how you lift.
NHS Confederation Statement On National Audit Office Major Trauma Care Report
NHS Confederation director of policy Nigel Edwards responds to the National Audit 'Major Trauma Care' report. "The progress made to increase the co-ordination of urgent and emergency care means that trauma care has improved and the number of lives being saved is rising. "All local hospitals will ensure patients with the most urgent needs are treated as quickly as possible but there is more to do to make sure systems are joined up the best they can. While direct transfer to specialist services may be beneficial in a number of cases, it may not always be an option, especially in rural areas where immediate treatment and care may be required locally.
Help Hospitalized Veterans HHV Reports Benefits Of Craft Kit Therapy
Nearly 90 percent of HHV craft kit users report physical and mental improvements as a direct result of craft-kit therapy. Craft kits are an important rehabilitative tool used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to restore coordination and impaired motor skills, improve attention spans and concentration, and relax frayed nerves in patients. Craft kits also provide a diversion and entertainment for those facing extended hospitalization and/or confinement. Patients with a good mental attitude and outlook toward treatment have better chances for improvement.
Barefoot Running May Be Better For Feet, Joints By Avoiding Heel-Strike
An international team of researchers suggests that running barefoot may be better for the feet and joints of the lower limbs because they found people who run barefoot or in minimal shoes strike their foot on the ground in such a way that they have almost no impact collision due to "heel-strike", unlike people who run in modern running shoes where the impact of the more prevalent heel-strike can be the equivalent of landing with two to three times of one's body weight. Dr Daniel E. Lieberman, a professor in Harvard University's new department of human evolutionary biology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, and colleagues, have written a paper about their findings the 28 January online issue of Nature.