Welcome Message from Margaret M. Biblis
Get a Head Start on Renewing Your License
With licensure renewal time just around the corner, staying abreast of the continuing-education offerings online at DavisPTnetwork is important. In the last month, we added two new courses - "Pharmacologic Management of Parkinson Disease" and "The Therapeutic Relationship: The Intentional Relationship and the Therapeutic Use of Self" - and we expect to add even more this month. Check back often to see what's new.
Don't forget to let your PT friends know about our courses and our dynamic website. Invite a friend to join. The more active members we have on DavisPTnetwork, the better a resource it becomes for you and your colleagues.
We hope you enjoy this month's issue of Connections.
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Happy reading! Margaret M. Biblis Publisher, Health Professions/Medicine |
Continuing Education Update:
State CE Requirements and Approvals
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Good news: DavisPTnetwork currently has 83.5 contact hours approved, and we're pleased to provide an update about our course approvals, which we continue to pursue in all states that require continuing education (or continuing competency). |
Currently, our courses are approved in all of the following states:
- AK, AL, AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, LA, KS, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NV, OH, OR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV
- In addition to the above, our applications are pending in the following states: ID, KY, MD, NJ, NM
In the news: Some states are starting to require continuing education (or continuing competency) this year:
- Utah - as of June 30, Utah requires 40 contact hours for PTs and 20 contact hours for PTAs every 2 years - all DavisPTnetwork courses are approved
- California - starting this fall, California proposes to require 30 contact hours for PTs and PTAs over a 3-year period - all DavisPTnetwork courses have been approved by California
- New York - starting September 1, New York will require 36 contact hours for PTs and PTAs over a 3-year period. Watch for updates next month.
Be sure to visit your state's web site to learn of any changes that affect you.
Clinical Feature Article:
Stop, Look, and Listen: Coping with Older Adults' Sensory Losses
If the aging process has taken a toll on your patient's vision or hearing, his response to therapy may be delayed or impaired. By understanding the processes - and knowing how to adapt your practice to compensate for them - you'll be better able to help your patient make the most of his treatment. Try these tips from an expert. Read more.
PT in the Spotlight:
Robert Gailey, PhD, PT
Helping Amputees Get the Most from Their Prosthetics
For more than 20 years, Dr. Robert Gailey has dedicated his career to assisting people with disabilities through clinical practice, research, education, and volunteerism. Specializing in the rehabilitation of the lower-limb amputee, Gailey has made it possible for countless individuals who have lost limbs to reach their rehabilitation potential and live their lives to the fullest.
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!
For Quick Assessment of Upper-Extremity Change after Stroke, Call on SIS
The "SIS" is a quick, five-question, patient-centered assessment that's sensitive to change. For these reasons, it's an excellent tool for evaluating upper-extremity clinical outcomes. In patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after stroke, Beebe and Lange administered six upper-extremity tests: grip strength, pinch strength, Action Research Arm, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function, Nine-Hole Peg, and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) Hand Domain. The SIS Hand Domain was the most responsive to change. Source: Beebe J, Lange C. Relationships and Responsiveness of Six Upper Extremity Function Tests During the First Six Months of Recovery After Stroke. JNPT. June 2009; 33(2):96-103.
Preterm Infants: Follow These Youngsters or Not?
At 5 years of age, 60% of preterm infants have normal developmental test results. Janssen et al. analyzed the test performance of 371 pre-term infants at 2.5 years and 5 years to develop a prediction model indicating whether performance at 2.5 years could be used to determine the need for longer-term follow-up and developmental testing. Using regressions, the authors found that five factors significantly contribute to motor performance scores at 5 years: Bayley Scales of Infant Motor Development Motor Scale PDI < 90 and Behavior Rating Scale 'motor quality' <26%, both measured at 2.5 years; gestational age <30 weeks; male gender; and history of interventricular hemorrhage. Their prediction model can improve the efficiency of follow-up practice for motor assessment at 5 years by 37%. Source: Janssen AJ, der Sanden MW, Akkermans RP, Tissingh J, Oostendorp RA, Kollée LA. A model to predict motor performance in preterm infants at 5years. Early Hum Dev 2009 Jul 28.
Protecting Kids' Joints from Extra Pounds
Overweight children are commonly encouraged to become more active, but they aren't always told how to do so safely. Extra weight can lead to changes in alignment, resulting in musculoskeletal dysfunction, injury, and pain. McMillan et al. assessed the frontal plane walking biomechanics of all three lower-extremity joints in boys aged 10 to 12 years and found that overweight children distribute more weight in the medial-lateral direction. A large body mass and weak proximal muscles force smaller distal muscles to compensate. To help these children manage their weight through activity, McMillan et al. recommend non-weight bearing, low-impact, targeted strengthening programs. Consideration should also be given to custom foot orthoses and external knee and ankle supports, especially for children participating in team sports. Source: McMillan AG, Auman NL, Collier DN, Blaise Williams DS. Frontal plane lower extremity biomechanics during walking in boys who are overweight versus healthy weight. Pediatr Phys Ther 2009 Summer;21(2):187-93.
Check Out These DavisPTnetwork Blogs!
Check out the latest blogs - and responses to them - 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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