rehabilitation Tag

25 Jun

Posted at 19:21h in PT-Rehabilitation
In the world of clinical rehabilitation and therapeutic exercise, the equipment you choose can make the difference between a patient's successful recovery and prolonged weakness. Over the past decade, cable-based resistance training has emerged as a cornerstone of evidence-based rehabilitation protocols, particularly for patients recovering from injury, surgery, or neurological conditions. The science behind cable training is solid. Unlike free weights, which require significant stabilizer muscle engagement and can be risky for compromised patients, cable systems provide variable resistance that adapts to movement throughout the entire range of motion. This makes them invaluable in both outpatient therapy settings and clinical rehabilitation centers. The precision and safety they offer has transformed how rehabilitation specialists approach recovery protocols.

19 Jun

Posted at 11:48h in Stroke
[caption id="attachment_74377" align="aligncenter" width="500"]life-after-stroke.png Image Source[/caption]

What Stroke Recovery Really Looks Like for Older Adults

For many older adults, a stroke marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with uncertainty. One day, routine activities such as walking around the house, preparing a meal, or chatting with family may feel effortless. The next day, those same tasks can require patience, support, and practice. While emergency treatment often receives the most attention, stroke recovery continues long after a person leaves the hospital.

Families frequently expect a clear timeline for improvement, but stroke recovery rarely follows a predictable path. Some older adults regain skills quickly, while others face ongoing challenges that affect movement, thinking, swallowing, or communication. Understanding what recovery truly looks like can help survivors and caregivers prepare for the road ahead and recognize progress when it happens.

25 May

Posted at 23:26h in Addiction, addiction-treatment
Picture this: a 68-year-old with heart failure leaves the hospital with a new water pill, a changed medication list, and loose advice to see her primary care doctor. Two weeks later, she is back in the emergency department, overloaded with fluid and unsure which pills to take. This gap shows up every day. More hospital days will not fix it. Skilled nursing and rehabilitation need to start at home, with clear follow-up in the first week. Teams need a practical checklist, clear ownership at each handoff, and a short scorecard to track results. The details below work across health systems, with local notes for Australia and New Zealand.

05 May

Posted at 10:39h in Speech
[caption id="attachment_73584" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Communication Support in Healthcare source[/caption] Hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers are quietly shifting how they think about patient care. For years, the focus leaned heavily on medical procedures and recovery timelines, with communication treated as something that would eventually sort itself out. That mindset has changed. More patients are arriving with conditions that affect how they speak, swallow, or express themselves, and providers are realizing that clinical outcomes suffer when those needs go unaddressed. The result is a noticeable pull toward professionals who can bridge that gap and keep patients connected to their care teams.

07 Feb

Posted at 11:35h in Pain Research, PT-Rehabilitation
[caption id="attachment_66432" align="aligncenter" width="500"]physiotherapy-in-sydney.jpg Photo courtesy of Pexels[/caption] An important aspect of medicine a variety of physiotherapy treatments put to use in today’s world. It has historically been proven to help restore movement and function while reducing pain in targeted areas. When it comes to the realm of rehabilitation for the body, physiotherapy is essentially always a part of the process. Another reason why it’s so popular is that it’s non-invasive, and can take a diverse approach to treatment options. This article discusses the different types of physiotherapy treatments and what makes them so useful.

The Range of Physiotherapy Treatments

In most cases, physiotherapy encompasses a broad range of unique medical specialties. This can include orthopedics or cardiopulmonary and neurological treatment options. A focus on musculoskeletal care is also really important here. Physiotherapy is also something that can be applied to essentially any age group. Whether it’s an everyday accident or something stemming from sports, there are numerous types of physiotherapy treatments.

02 Dec

Posted at 14:02h in Brain Injury
When leaving the hospital after a brain injury, you may feel uncertain about what comes next. The road to independent living is unique for everyone, but with the right support and guidance, you can create a fulfilling new chapter in your life.  From accessing practical resources to connecting with professional services, rebuilding your life is about taking manageable steps. [caption id="attachment_65235" align="aligncenter" width="500"]brain-injuries-rehabilitation Photo by Anna Shvets[/caption]

Understanding Your Needs

Every journey after a brain injury begins with understanding what you need to thrive. Whether it’s assistance with mobility, help managing daily tasks, or emotional support, identifying these requirements early can make the transition smoother.  Many people find it helpful to consult specialists, such as occupational therapists, to create a personalised plan that addresses both short- and long-term goals.

21 Oct

Posted at 17:42h in Addiction, addiction-treatment
[caption id="attachment_64184" align="aligncenter" width="333"]addiction-rehab Source[/caption] Breaking the chains of addiction is no small feat. But once you’ve made the decision to overcome it, the next step is finding the right rehab center to guide you through the process. With so many options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but don’t sweat it. Here’s what you should focus on when picking the right place to help you regain control of your life. What Types of Treatment Do They Offer? Not all rehab centers are the same, and that’s a good thing. You want options. The best facilities offer a range of treatments because one size doesn’t fit all. Look for centers that offer both inpatient and outpatient programs so you can choose what fits your lifestyle and current situation. Inpatient programs offer a more structured environment where you live on-site and can fully focus on recovery without distractions. Meanwhile, outpatient programs allow you to continue living at home while attending treatment during the day. This might work better if you have a family or job that you can’t step away from entirely. You’ll also want to check if they offer specialized care, like dual-diagnosis treatment, which addresses both addiction and mental health issues. Many people dealing with addiction also struggle with conditions like anxiety or depression, so finding a place that tackles both can be a game-changer. When searching for effective recovery options, consider comprehensive drug addiction rehab treatment in Texas to receive personalized care and support on your journey to sobriety

17 Sep

Posted at 10:49h in Addiction, addiction-treatment, Alcohol
Overcoming alcohol addiction is both a triumph and a beginning—a launchpad for a new narrative in one’s life. The journey through recovery is often fraught with challenges, but it is also filled with opportunities for personal growth and transformation. Crafting a post-addiction life can be a profound experience that fosters strength, resilience, and joy. Below, we'll explore the key elements that contribute to a successful and fulfilling life beyond alcohol dependency. Keep reading to learn how to embrace this new chapter with confidence and hope.

Embracing a New Chapter: The Journey Beyond Alcohol Dependency

addiction-recovery.png   Breaking free from alcohol’s hold brings a new sense of freedom, allowing individuals to rediscover old passions and interests. Celebrating every small victory is crucial, as is recognizing the immense effort required to stay sober. Support from loved ones and professionals plays a significant role in this journey, providing essential encouragement and guidance. Transitioning from a luxury alcohol rehab to daily life involves building a stable routine that supports sobriety. Engaging in regular exercise, exploring creative activities, and maintaining good sleep habits help create a sense of normalcy. As life changes, developing effective coping mechanisms for stress and being patient with oneself are vital for navigating this ongoing journey toward lasting recovery.

22 Aug

Posted at 15:29h in PT-Rehabilitation, Social Issues, Telemedicine
Recovering from surgery or a significant injury is a journey that’s increasingly taking place in the comfort of home. The idea is simple but powerful: familiar surroundings, combined with the right tools and support, can significantly enhance the recovery process. Recent advancements in rehabilitation have made home care more effective than ever. From innovative mobility equipment to telehealth services that bring therapists into the living room, these trends are reshaping how we approach recovery. This post explores how these trends are making home care a more viable and often preferable option for those on the road to recovery.

The Rise of Home-Based Rehabilitation

Why Home Care is Gaining Popularity

The appeal of home-based recovery goes beyond comfort - it is also about the psychological benefits. Home is where people feel most relaxed and supported, which can accelerate the healing process. Studies have shown that lower stress levels, often experienced at home, contribute to faster recovery. The ability to maintain daily routines in a familiar environment provides both physical and emotional comfort, motivating patients to stick with their recovery plans.   [caption id="attachment_62920" align="aligncenter" width="936"]rehabilitation pixabay Image by Alexas_Fotos on Pixabay[/caption]

Impact of COVID-19 on Home Rehabilitation

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards home-based care. With hospitals under strain and concerns about exposure to the virus, many turned to home care as a safer option. This shift highlighted that with the right support and equipment, such as a rotating bed is a lifesaver for those with limited mobility, effective rehabilitation can indeed happen at home. Telehealth services have played a crucial role in this transition, allowing patients to consult with healthcare providers remotely. This not only reduces the risk of infection but also offers the flexibility to receive care at convenient times, making home recovery more accessible.

31 Jul

Posted at 13:15h in Orthopedics, PT-Rehabilitation
Orthopedic conditions, affecting bones, joints, muscles, and tendons, can significantly disrupt daily life and hinder physical function. While orthopedic surgery often plays a crucial role in addressing these issues, physiotherapy is equally vital in restoring mobility, reducing pain, and preventing future injuries. The combined expertise of orthopedic surgeons and physiotherapists is essential for optimal patient outcomes.

Orthopedic Treatment

Modern orthopedic care encompasses a wide range of surgical and non-surgical interventions tailored to specific conditions. From minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures to complex joint replacements, orthopedic surgeons employ advanced techniques to address musculoskeletal problems. For less severe cases, non-surgical options such as medications, injections, and physical therapy may be sufficient. Facilities like Modern Orthopaedics offer comprehensive orthopedic care, combining surgical expertise with rehabilitation services to provide patients with a seamless treatment journey.

07 Jun

Posted at 11:11h in Addiction, PT-Rehabilitation
Rehab is an important part of recovery for many people and a major part of how you can overcome addiction comfortably. However, with so many different rehab centers to choose from, it can actually be quite stressful trying to pick out the right one for your situation and needs. With so many different rehab centers to consider, as well as specific kinds of rehab that they may or may not offer, it can be difficult to work out which one might be best for you. What should you look for when hunting down a potential rehabilitation center?

Cost and Budgeting

Naturally, the first thing you will want to take into consideration when deciding which rehab center to go to is the price. You will have to take a careful look at your budget and try to work out whether you can afford a rehab center based on its cost - there is no point pursuing a rehab center that you outright can't afford, after all. In addition, it is worth taking into account how long you might be spending at the rehabilitation center, and if the price is being paid in lump sums or monthly payments. While a high up-front cost might not seem ideal, you will often find that rehab is more affordable this way if it is being offered, but this depends entirely on your situation.

17 Apr

Posted at 12:15h in Orthopedics
knee-rehabilitationImagine life without the freedom of movement. A simple task like climbing stairs or walking could become a daunting challenge. Unfortunately, this reality faces millions of Americans due to knee pain. Classic Rehabilitation reports that approximately 100 million Americans endure chronic pain, with knee pain emerging as the second most prevalent source. This statistic indicates that one-third of the American population encounters knee discomfort at some stage in their lives. But fear not. Here's where the power of staying agile comes in. In this article, we'll discuss the key techniques that can significantly enhance knee health and mobility. By incorporating these techniques, you can prevent future issues and keep your knees feeling strong and supported for years.

23 Jul

Posted at 20:12h in Author Interviews, Frailty, Heart Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_43412" align="alignleft" width="138"]Rakesh Arora MD Department of Surgery, Max Rady College of Medicine University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada Cardiac Sciences Program St Boniface Hospital Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Dr. Rakesh Arora[/caption] Rakesh Arora MD PhD Department of Surgery, Max Rady College of Medicine University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada Cardiac Sciences Program St Boniface Hospital Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: It is increasingly understood that patients with heart disease are getting older and sicker. In Canada, over 5.7 million people are estimated to be aged over 65 years and as a result a greater number of older adults often complex other health issues are now require cardiac procedures.  This places some patients, particular those who are more frail at a higher vulnerability to poorer postoperative outcomes and a complicated recovery process after cardiac surgery.  In addition, such patients experience a reduced quality of life as a result of loss of the ability to independently perform activities of daily living (i.e. as cooking, cleaning, bathing activities, toileting etc). During the preoperative waiting period, the cardiac symptoms and anxiety induces inactivity that in turn compounds the physical and mental deconditioning. In order to improve the functional capacity and enhance postoperative recovery, prehabilitation (“prehab”), a component of the Enhanced Recovery Protocols (ERPs), may be of particular importance. Prehabilitation (a.k.a. “prehab”) has been described as a preoperative cardiac rehabilitation intervention, a combination of exercise training, education, and social support, affecting patients’ physical and psychological readiness for surgery with the overarching goal to reduce postoperative complications and hospital length of stay as well as ideally improving the transition from the hospital to the community.  

14 Feb

Posted at 21:42h in Author Interviews, Stroke, Technology
MedicalResearch.com Interview with [caption id="attachment_40063" align="alignleft" width="200"]Paul Zehr PhD Professor & Director Centre for Biomedical Research, Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, McKinnon Division of Medical Sciences Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD)| Affiliate, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, UBC Dr. Zehr[/caption] E. Paul Zehr PhD Professor & Director Centre for Biomedical Research, Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, McKinnon Division of Medical Sciences Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD)| Affiliate, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, UBC MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: For many years we explored the role of the spinal cord in regulating rhythmic arm and leg movements like we do during walking, running and swimming.  Although we humans tend to move and locomote around on our two legs as bipeds, we are basically quadrupeds in terms of how our nervous system controls our limbs during walking. We have an extensive network of brain and spinal cord connections that help coordinate our limbs while we move. A lot of our work showed that using the arms rhythmically, like during arm cycling, strongly affected the activity of the spinal cord controlling leg muscles. Getting the spinal cord for leg muscles more coordinated and activated is a major goal of rehabilitation  of walking after neurotrauma so we wanted to see if training the arms could help with this. This is particularly important because a lot of the time, the arms are not engaged at all in rehabilitation training for the legs. We found that after only 5 weeks of arm cycling (3 x 30 minutes each week), neural excitability, strength, and leg function were increased along with enhanced clinical tests of balance and walking ability.

15 Dec

Posted at 19:05h in Author Interviews, Primary Care, Pulmonary Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_38964" align="alignleft" width="107"]Dr Jennifer K Quint MSc PhD FHEA FRCP Clinical Senior Lecturer Respiratory Epidemiology Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health National Heart and Lung Institute Imperial College London Dr. Quint[/caption] Dr Jennifer K Quint MSc PhD FHEA FRCP Clinical Senior Lecturer Respiratory Epidemiology Respiratory Epidemiology, Occupational Medicine and Public Health National Heart and Lung Institute Imperial College London  MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: We were commissioned by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in the UK to undertake a piece of work to show the value of pulmonary rehabilitation in reducing exacerbations in COPD patients so that they could create a web based tool that would show cost savings if GPs actually referred people for pulmonary rehabilitation. Previous systematic reviews have found that pulmonary rehab can reduce hospital admissions but those groups are often small and not very generalizable so we decided to look at what happens in a primary care COPD population. Our main finding is that people who are eligible for referral are not being referred  - less than 10% eligible were actually referred.

24 Oct

Posted at 11:38h in Abuse and Neglect
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_37698" align="alignleft" width="262"]Ben-Gurion University of the Negev student researcher Shir Kashi interacts with robotic arm as part of her research in personalizing human-robot interactions to develop an interactive movement protocol for rehabilitation. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev student researcher Shir Kashi interacts with robotic arm as part of her research in personalizing human-robot interactions to develop an interactive movement protocol for rehabilitation.[/caption] Shelly Levy-Tzedek, PhD Head of the Cognition, Aging and Rehabilitation Lab Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept. of Physical Therapy & The Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience The Ben Gurion University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Following brain injury, patients who need to practice their physical therapy exercises at home. Many don’t practice enough or at all at home, and so we are designing robot companions to encourage them to practice and to track their progress. This study is a first step towards this goal. Here, we studied how people played a leader-follower mirror game with a robotic arm, where a person and robot took turns following each other's joint movements patterns. When the robotic arm was leading, it performed movements that were either sharp, like dribbling a ball, or smooth, like tracing a circle.

04 Oct

Posted at 12:07h in Author Interviews, Exercise - Fitness, NEJM, Orthopedics
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_37336" align="alignleft" width="116"]Monika Bayer PhD. Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen Bispebjerg Hospital Denmark Dr. Bayer[/caption] Monika Bayer PhD. Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen Bispebjerg Hospital Denmark MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Acute muscle strain injuries display a major clinical problem with a high incidence rate for both professional and amateur athletes and are associated with substantial risk for recurrence. Common clinical practice advices to follow the RICE (Rest – Ice – Compression – Elevation) principle after strain injuries but it has not been investigated whether patients really benefit from a period of rest or whether an early of loading following the injury would improve recovery. In this study, amateur athletes were divided into two groups: one group started rehabilitation two days after the trauma, the other group waited for one week and began rehabilitation after nine days. All athletes had a clear structural defect of the muscle-connective tissue unit following explosive movements. We found that protraction of rehabilitation onset caused a three-week delay in pain-free recovery. In all athletes included, only one suffered from a re-injury.

06 Mar

Posted at 20:54h in Author Interviews, Stroke
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_32677" align="alignleft" width="280"]Jesse Dawson MD, BSc (Hons), FRCP, FESO Clinical Reader / Honorary Consultant Clinical Lead Scottish Stroke Research Network / NRS Stroke Research Champion Chair MVLS Research Ethics Committee Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences University of Glasgow Dr. Jesse Dawson[/caption] Jesse Dawson MD, BSc (Hons), FRCP, FESO Clinical Reader / Honorary Consultant Clinical Lead Scottish Stroke Research Network / NRS Stroke Research Champion Chair MVLS Research Ethics Committee Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences University of Glasgow MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response:    Many patients suffer long term arm weakness after stroke and there are few effective treatments. We are assessing whether stimulation of the vagus nerve can improve recovery after stroke. Stimulation of the vagus nerve, called VNS for short, triggers the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are important for learning and memory. Pre-clinical studies have shown that combining vagus nerve stimulation with movement or rehabilitation tasks enhances brain plasticity, improves motor learning and leads to better recovery after stroke. Based on this, we performed a clinical trial in patients with arm weakness after stroke and found promising changes in the patients treated with VNS paired with rehabilitation compared to rehabilitation alone. In this study we performed a double blind sham stimulation controlled study of VNS paired with rehabilitation vs sham stimulation in patients with long term arm weakness due to ischaemic stroke. All participants were implanted with a VNS device and underwent a course of therapy. We didn’t see a statistically significant difference after 6 weeks of intensive in-clinic therapy but saw a large and significant difference after a further 60 days home exercise treatment with VNS.  There were differences on several measures, including the clinical response rate which was 88% with VNS and 33% with controls.

21 Feb

Posted at 11:49h in Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews, Pain Research, Telemedicine
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Rachel Nelligan, BPhysio Physiotherapist & Research Physiotherapist Department of Physiotherapy | Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine The University of Melbourne Victoria Australia MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: This novel study investigated the efficacy of an internet delivered model of service delivery that combined online education, Skype delivered exercise physiotherapy and an Internet-based interactive pain coping skills training program for people with persistent knee pain. Osteoarthritis, the leading cause of chronic knee pain and disability globally, has a significant individual, societal and economic burden. On an individual level knee osteoarthritis causes loss of function, reduced quality of life, and psychological distress. Clinical guidelines recommend adoption of a biopsychosocial approach to management which should include nondrug, nonsurgical treatments. Specifically exercise, education and psychological interventions (including pain coping skills training (PCST)) that foster self-management are recommended. Evidence identifies that many knee OA sufferers are not receiving adequate management due in part to challenges of accessing these effective treatments. There is an urgent need for new models of health service delivery to rectify this. Tele-rehabilitation is growing in acceptance as an effective, time efficient and convenient means for people to access effective health interventions. In knee OA internet delivered interventions specifically remotely delivered physiotherapy exercise using specialised tele-rehabilitation equipment and an Internet-based interactive PCST program (PainCOACH), designed to translate key therapeutic elements of clinician-delivered face-to-face PCST, have shown improved patient outcomes. Prior to this study the combination of these two internet-based treatments has not been investigated.

06 Oct

Posted at 02:08h in Author Interviews, Imperial College, Stroke, Technology
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_28589" align="alignleft" width="149"]Dr Paul Bentley MA MRCP PhD Clinical Senior Lecturer in Clinical Neuroscience Honorary Consultant Neurologist Neurology Dept Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust Charing Cross Hospital London Dr Paul Bentley[/caption] Dr Paul Bentley MA MRCP PhD Clinical Senior Lecturer in Clinical Neuroscience Honorary Consultant Neurologist Neurology Dept Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust Charing Cross Hospital London MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: gripAble was designed to help people with arm disability practise physiotherapy when a physiotherapist is not available, or in between physiotherapy sessions. We know that the amount of physiotherapy provision in the UK, after stroke or arm injury, is typically below that which is recommended by professional bodies. Furthermore, increasing research suggests that higher-intensity training can boost functional outcomes. The innovation was designed to help people with a range of disabilities including severe paralysis engage with computer games with their weak arm. At the same time its designed to be portable for use at home or in bed, and low-cost. gripAble also enables remote measurement and monitoring of arm function, by setting users a series of calibrated tasks played out on the tablet screen. This way doctors and physiotherapists can assess the needs of a patient, and gain an idea of how well a patient is responding to home physiotherapy.

28 Jun

Posted at 15:52h in Author Interviews, Critical Care - Intensive Care - ICUs, JAMA, Pulmonary Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_25567" align="alignleft" width="149"]Peter E. Morris, MD, FACP, FCCP Chief, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Dr. Peter Morris[/caption] Peter E. Morris, MD, FACP, FCCP Chief, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine University of Kentucky Lexington, KY MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: ICU survivors demonstrate weakness. It has been postulated that interventions to promote early rehabilitation strategies might be linked to improved functional outcomes for ICU survivors. This study was based upon findings from a quality improvement endeavor that linked early rehabilitation with indications of shortened hospital stays for ICU survivors.

10 Dec

Posted at 22:16h in Author Interviews, Exercise - Fitness, Heart Disease, Women's Heart Health
[caption id="attachment_19992" align="alignleft" width="181"]Sherry L. Grace, PhD Senior Scientist, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (TRI) Affiliate Scientist, Toronto General Research Institute (TGRI) Dr. Sherry Grace[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Sherry L. Grace, PhD Professor, York University Senior Scientist, University Health Network University of Toronto MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Grace: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for women world-wide. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an outpatient secondary prevention program composed of structured exercise and comprehensive education and counseling.Cardiac rehabilitation participation results in lower morbidity and mortality, among other benefits. Unfortunately, women are significantly less likely to adhere to these programs than men. While the traditional model of Cardiac rehabilitation care is a hospital-based mixed-sex program, women are the minority in such programs, and state that these programs do not meet their care preferences. Two other models of CR care have been developed: hospital-based women-only (sex-specific) and monitored home-based programs. Women’s adherence to these program models is not well known. Cardiac Rehabilitation for her Heart Event Recovery (CR4HER) was a 3 parallel arm pragmatic randomized controlled trial‎ (RCT) designed to compare women’s program adherence to traditional hospital-based CR with males and females attending (mixed-sex), home-based CR (bi-weekly phone calls), and women-only hospital-based CR. The primary outcome was program adherence operationalized as  Cardiac rehabilitation site-reported percentage of prescribed sessions completed by phone or on-site, as reported by a staff member who was blind to study objectives. The secondary outcomes included functional capacity. It was hoped that by identifying the CR program model which resulted in the greatest adherence for women, their participation and potentially their cardiac outcomes could be optimized. MedicalResearch: What are the main findings? Dr. Grace: Similar to previous research, we found that women did not adhere very highly to the  Cardiac rehabilitation programs. Half of the women dropped out of CR, and this occurred regardless of the type of program they went to. Some women did not even start Cardiac rehabilitation at all, even though we had referred them. On average, the women went to just over half the sessions (at the CR centre or on the phone; they were prescribed a median of 24 sessions). If we consider only the women who actually started CR, they attended almost 2/3rds of prescribed CR sessions. Women experienced gains in their exercise capacity over the course of CR participation. Attending the traditional co-ed program was associated with the greatest exercise capacity. This could be due to the fact that the staff push them to exercise at their target levels when they are in a supervised program.

14 Nov

Posted at 21:46h in AHA Journals, Author Interviews, Heart Disease
[caption id="attachment_19398" align="alignleft" width="148"]Susan Marzolini, R.Kin, PhD Scientific Associate, TRI-REPS Supervisor Toronto Rehab/UHN Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program Dr. Marzolini[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Susan Marzolini, R.Kin, PhD Scientific Associate, TRI-REPS Supervisor Toronto Rehab/UHN Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr. Marzolini: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is a leading revascularization procedure for treating coronary artery disease. Despite effective revascularization, cardiovascular risk factor control through intensive lifestyle and pharmacological treatment is essential to prevent graft deterioration and progression of atherosclerosis following surgery. Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs offer structured exercise, education, interdisciplinary support, counselling, and risk reduction to promote secondary prevention. These programs have been shown to improve fitness, psychosocial well-being, and significantly reduce morbidity and mortality after CABG surgery. However, while Canadian and international guidelines endorse “early” referral to CR post-cardiac event, actual practice is variable and delays are common_ENREF_9_ENREF_9_ENREF_7. Delayed entry is of concern, as there is emerging evidence that later referral and initiation of cardiac rehabilitation is associated with negative consequences on cardiovascular fitness, however this has not been examined in the post-CABG population. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 6497 consecutively enrolled post CABG participants in a single cardiac rehabilitation program in Toronto, Canada from January 1995 to October 2012. Our objective was to examine the effects of later entry on CR outcomes (i.e., CR use, anthropometrics, and functional capacity) while accounting for demographic, environmental, and physiological correlates of longer wait-time. We found that longer wait-time to start a cardiac rehabilitation program was associated with poorer outcomes including less improvement in cardiopulmonary fitness and lower program attendance, which have been shown to confer a mortality disadvantage. Longer wait time was also associated with less improvement in body fat percentage as well as poorer completion rates. We identified that bypass patients predisposed to longer wait times, and subsequently poorer participation and outcomes, are women, those who are older, from a lower socioeconomic neighborhood, people with a more complex medical history, who are employed, have a longer drive-time to cardiac rehabilitation, and people with less social support.

30 Jun

Posted at 18:59h in Aging, Author Interviews, Exercise - Fitness
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Andreas Vigelsø PhD, research assistant University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health Sciences Center for Healthy Aging Dept. of Biomedical Sciences Copenhagen Denmark Medical Research: What is the background for this study? Response: According to the UN, the number of individuals more than 60 years old is expected to more than double, from 841 million worldwide today to more than 2 billion in 2050. Furthermore, the aging process is associated with a reduction in muscle mass, strength and fitness level. Collectively, this may contribute to frailty and may limit independent living. In addition, disease or injuries that can cause short-term immobilization are a further threat to independent living for older individuals. Despite its clinical importance for an increasing population of older individuals, few studies have examined older individuals after immobilization. Thus, our aim was to determine the effect of aerobic retraining as rehabilitation after short-term leg immobilization on leg strength, leg work capacity, and leg muscle mass in young and older men. Medical Research: What are the main findings? Response: Interestingly, our study reveals that inactivity affects the muscular strength in young and older men equally. Having had one leg immobilized for two weeks, young people lose up to a third of their muscular strength, while older people lose approx. one fourth. A young man who is immobilized for two weeks loses muscular strength in his leg equivalent to ageing by 40 or 50 years. Moreover, short-term leg immobilization had marked effects on leg strength, and work capacity and 6 weeks’ retraining was sufficient to increase, but not completely rehabilitate, muscle strength, and to rehabilitate aerobic work capacity and leg muscle mass.

19 Jun

Posted at 15:07h in Author Interviews, BMC, Cost of Health Care
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Natasha K Brusco Manager of Physiotherapy Services, Cabrini Health PhD Candidate, Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Health Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia MedicalResearch: What are the main findings of the study? Answer: This economic evaluation reports that providing additional Saturday rehabilitation, compared to Monday to Friday rehabilitation alone, is likely to be cost saving per quality adjusted life year gained and for a minimal clinically important difference in functional independence. This builds on previous literature that reports that additional Saturday rehabilitation can improve functional independence and health related quality of life at discharge and may reduce patient length of stay.