Welcome Message from Margaret M. Biblis
APTA spurs continuing growth of DavisPTnetwork
What a pleasure it was to meet our charter members of DavisPTnetwork at the APTA Convention in Baltimore, MD, last week. We now have well over 1,000 members in our social network, many of whom are posting clinically relevant blogs and making new friends with other members!
In fact, several PTs and PTAs who stopped by our booth told us stories about how being a part of DavisPTnetwork these past 4 months already has benefitted them. Here are some of my favorites:
- One PT got a job offer through a contact she made on DavisPTnetwork.
- Another PT connected with former classmates from her school.
- A PTA was thrilled that she could access CE courses after she put her kids to bed that would satisfy her professional interests.
We're finding that the more people who are on the network, the more value the site brings to everyone. So thanks to all of you who are joining and checking in to DavisPTnetwork. Keep on blogging and spreading the word that DavisPTnetwork offers PTs and PTAs a single source for networking, continuing education, and career development.
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Happy connecting! Margaret M. Biblis Publisher, Health Professions/Medicine |
Clinical Feature Article:
Dueling with Diabetes and Complications of Therapy
Helping patients manage long-term complications of diabetes is one challenge you'll face when working with these patients in rehabilitation. But other forces--including the nature of the disease, the medications used to manage it, and the effects of therapy itself--pose additional challenges. Are you fully prepared to meet them? Read more.
PT in the Spotlight:
Beth Ennis, PT, EdD, PCS, ATP
Testing the Effects of Aquatic Therapy on Children with Autism
Can aquatic physical therapy help young children with autism? That's the focus of research led by Beth Ennis, assistant professor of physical therapy at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY. In this month's feature, Ennis discusses the promising results of a recent pilot study.
Read more.We're looking for more great stories! Please contact us if you - or someone you know - have accomplished something interesting in physical therapy and would like to be featured in one of our next stories. It could be related to your career, a volunteer activity, an especially touching story, or anything else PT-related.
 Research Roundup  |
Darlene K. Sekerak, PT, PhD, is a Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a longstanding commitment to the translation of research into practice.
Every newsletter will include highlights of hot-off-the press articles from the professional literature of interest to practicing clinicians. Be the first to have the latest info guiding practice – Read it here!
Rehab During the "Golden Period" Hastens Functional Recovery after Stroke
Have you ever pondered the perfect dose and timing of rehabilitation to result in long-term functional recovery after CVA? Research by Hsiu-Chen Huang et al. of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Chiayi Christian Hospital in Taiwan has confirmed that a dose-dependent effect relationship does exist for the "golden period," the first 6 months following CVA. In this study, earlier delivery of rehabilitation had lasting effects on the stroke patients' functional recovery.Full Article: Huang HC, Chung KC, Lai DC, Sung SF. The Impact of Timing and Dose of Rehabilitation Delivery on Functional Recovery of Stroke Patients. J Chinese Med Assoc. 2009, May 72(5):257-264.
Predicting Response to Therapy Helps Target Treatment Options
Making good decisions about who's likely to benefit from physical therapy is an essential part of cost containment in health care. Recent research conducted at Duke University and Brooke Army Medical Center suggests that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help clinicians determine prognosis and treatment options for patients with anterior knee pain. Wittstein et al. report that individuals with evidence of chondromalacia and a tibial tubercle lateral deviation >14.6 mm on MRI are less likely to respond to nonsurgical intervention. Good decisions call for collaboration among orthopedists, radiologists, and PTs. Full Article: Wittstein JR, O'Brien SD, Vinson EN, Garrett Jr WE. MRI Evaluation of Anterior Knee Pain: Predicting Response to Nonoperative Treatment. Skeletal Radiol. 2009 April 21.
Strength Training a Quick Fix for Walking Efficiency in CAD
Strength training may be a quick way to significantly impact the oxygen cost of walking in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Karlsen et al. found that patients with CAD reduced their oxygen cost during walking by 35% with 8 weeks of maximal strength leg-press training. Control subjects without CAD following a similar training program didn't achieve significant changes in strength or walking efficiency.
Full Article: Karlsen T, Helgerud J, Stoylen A, Lauritsen N, Hoff J. Maximal Strength Training Restores Walking Mechanical Efficiency in Heart Patients. Int J Sports Med. 2009; 30(5):337-342.
Check Out These DavisPTnetwork Blogs!
Check out the latest blogs on DavisPTnetwork. Each month, we'll highlight a few blogs covering new, interesting, and relevant topics in physical therapy. You're always invited to join the discussion!
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