Physiospot - Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in the Spotlight

Mirror therapy for improving motor function after stroke: Cochrane Review

Rachael Lowe — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:09:26 +0000

Paralysis of the arm or leg is common after stroke and frequently causes problems with activities of daily living such as walking, dressing or eating. Mirror therapy is used to improve motor function after stroke. During mirror therapy, a mirror is placed in the patient’s midsagittal plane, thus reflecting movements of the non-paretic side as if it were the affected side. The objective of this Cochrane reviw was to summarise the effectiveness of mirror therapy for improving motor function, activities of daily living, pain and visuospatial neglect in patients after stroke. 14 studies with a total of 567 participants that compared mirror therapy with other interventions were compared.

At the end of treatment, mirror therapy improved movement of the affected limb and the ability to carry out daily activities. Mirror therapy reduced pain after stroke, but only in patients with a complex regional pain syndrome. The beneficial effects on movement were maintained for six months, but not in all study groups. No adverse side effects were reported. Further research is needed with larger studies in natural clinical settings, and with a comparison of mirror therapy with more routine treatments.

Thieme H, Mehrholz J, Pohl M, Behrens J, Dohle C. Mirror therapy for improving motor function after stroke. The Cochrane Library, 14 March 2012.

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Welcoming the University of Nottingham Division of Physiotherapy as a New Gold Sponsor.

Rachael Lowe — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:13:32 +0000

We would like to welcome the University of Nottingham Division of Physiotherapy as the latest Gold Sponsor to the Physiopedia team. Our readers know Physiopedia as an innovative project that supports the free dissemination of knowledge and collaboration within the global physiotherapy profession. Our sponsors know us as that too and as thanks to our sponsors we like to introduce them to our readers and let them know a little more about who they are and what they do.

University of Nottingham Division of Physiotherapy is not only one of the most popular courses at Nottingham, but Nottingham is possibly the most popular place to study physiotherapy in the UK. The Division of Physiotherapy believes that this popularity is based on their reputation for providing education within a supportive and nurturing environment, which not only develops the individual, but produces first class physiotherapists. The University of Nottingham is also a thriving research environment for students. In the Division of Physiotherapy Education their research aims to increase knowledge about the efficacy of physiotherapy interventions for people with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions and to increase understanding of the causes and characteristics of their movement deficits.

To find out more about University of Nottingham Division of Physiotherapy visit the University of Nottingham Division of Physiotherapy page in Physiopedia or visit their website.

Interested to see our other sponsors, the exceptional physiotherapy and physical therapy related companies and organisations that support our mission of “universal access to physiotherapy knowledge”? Have a look on our Sponsors page and thank them by following them using our Twitter list.

Interested in being a Physiopedia sponsor? As well as the general public, our readers are physiotherapists and physical therapists, and other health care workers from all over the world. To find out more about our sponsor packages, visit our sponsor page or email Rachael.

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May 11th-Final day to sign up for the Free Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Course from Evidence In Motion

Brooke McVeigh — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:15:05 +0000

If you want to be a great PT, shouldn’t you learn from great PTs? Evidence In Motion is continuing to offer FREE online courses that allow you to do just that! Sign up for EIM’s Lumbar Spinal Stenosis EBP Course to hear and see how an expert treats these conditions. If you missed the last course, be sure to sign up for this one to gain access to the high-quality online content. Registration closes midnight, May 11th so don’t wait.

All we need from you is your email address. Each part of the course will be delivered straight to your inbox so you can learn at a time and place that’s convenient for you. The course is viewable on your computer, iPad, or Smartphone!

Don’t miss this opportunity! Take 30 seconds to register by clicking here.

Efficacy of Directional Preference Management for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review

Rachael Lowe — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:58:52 +0000

Providing specific treatment based on symptom response for people with low back pain (LBP) and a directional preference (DP) is a widely used treatment approach. The efficacy of treatment using the principles of directional preference management (DPM) for LBP is unclear. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy of treatment using the principles of DPM for people with LBP and a DP. Only RCTs investigating DPM for people with LBP and a DP were included. Outcomes for pain, back specific function, and work participation were extracted. Six RCTs were included in this review. Five were considered high quality. Clinical heterogeneity of the included trials prevented meta-analysis. GRADE quality assessment revealed mixed results; however, moderate evidence was identified that DPM was significantly more effective than a number of comparison treatments for pain, function, and work participation at short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term follow-ups. No trials found that DPM was significantly less effective than comparison treatments.

Although this systematic review showed mixed results, some evidence was found supporting the effectiveness of DPM when applied to participants with a DP, particularly at short-term and intermediate-term follow-ups. Further high-quality RCTs are warranted to evaluate the effect of DPM applied to people with LBP and a DP.

Surkitt, L. D., Ford, J. J., Hahne, A. J., Pizzari, T., McMeeken, J. M.. Efficacy of Directional Preference Management for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review. Physical Therapy, May 2012 vol. 92 no. 5 652-665

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Anxiety and Depression Should be Adressed in Individuals with Arthritis.

Rachael Lowe — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:54:55 +0000

Are you doing enough to alleviate the fears of your patients with arthritis? A recent study published in Arthritis Care and Research found that anxiety is more common than depression among US adults with arthritis. The study sample comprised US adults aged ≥ 45 years with doctor-diagnosed arthritis (n=1,793) from Arthritis Condition and Health Effects Survey (a cross-sectional, population based, random digit dialed telephone interview survey). Anxiety and depression were measured using separate and validated subscales of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales. The results showed that anxiety was more common than depression (31% and 18% respectively); overall, a third of respondents reported at least one of the two conditions and most (84%) of those with depression also had anxiety.

Despite the clinical focus on depression among people with arthritis, anxiety was found to be almost twice as common as depression. Given their high prevalence, profound impact on quality of life, and range of effective treatments available, health care providers should be encouraged to screen all people with arthritis for both anxiety and depression.

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Welcoming Therabill as a New Gold Sponsor

Rachael Lowe — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:17:42 +0000

We would like to welcome Therabill as the latest Gold Sponsor to the Physiopedia team. Our readers know Physiopedia as an innovative project that supports the free dissemination of knowledge and collaboration within the global physiotherapy profession. Our sponsors know us as that too and as thanks to our sponsors we like to introduce them to our readers and let them know a little more about who they are and what they do.

Therabill is a web based electronic billing and practice management tool designed for independent and group therapists. Therabill allows you to manage and access your client information, manage your schedule, enter therapy notes, and submit electronic insurance claims to thousands of insurance companies. Because Therabill is web based, you can access your information and manage your practice from any computer with internet access, with nothing to install and no updates to worry about. To find out more about Therabill visit the Therabill page in Physiopedia or visit their website.

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Free webinar with Dr. Julie Whitman to learn about obtaining a Transitional DPT

Brooke McVeigh — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:46:16 +0000

Join Julie Whitman, PT, DSc Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at 7pm CT to learn about Evidence In Motion’s Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Management. She will be covering both the U.S. program and the NEW International program. This is a great opportunity to learn how you can bridge your Bachelors or Masters degree to the doctorate level and elevate your patient care.

The Objective
A 12-18-month program of post-professional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists designed to bridge a Bachelors or Masters degree to the doctorate level. Each student improves their clinical knowledge and practice while completing coursework built upon the current best-evidence for the management of musculoskeletal disorders.

The Experience
A comprehensive blend of didactic, collaborative, and clinical education experiences using a combination of distance learning, on-line courses, weekend intensive hands-on courses, and clinical practice hours. Courses are taught by EIM’s world class faculty, many of whom are internationally recognized for their contributions to education, research, and practice management. The extensive community that has formed around EIM provides a best practice environment for students to receive the highest caliber of training and to become distinguished leaders in evidence-based orthopaedic and manual physical therapy practice.

The Opportunity

The EIM Transition DPT Program is committed to developing evidence-based physical therapists that are prepared to function as independent practitioners of choice for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Students foster relationships with physical therapy leaders within EIM, opening doors for high-yielding, lifelong professional growth and development.

Click here to reserve your webinar seat!

Educational Institution for Physios Expands Doctoral Program to Canada and Caribbean

Brooke McVeigh — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:26:04 +0000

Evidence In Motion (EIM) is crossing borders to elevate the role of physiotherapy on a global scale. The Evidence In Motion Institute of Health Professions (EIM) a U.S. based educational institution for physical therapists has expanded their offerings into Canada and the Caribbean. EIM provides a Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Management for physiotherapists wishing to bridge their bachelors or masters degree to the doctoral level. The program is delivered using a dynamic blend of didactic, collaborative, and clinical education experiences through online courses, weekend intensive hands-on courses, and clinical practice hours.

“This degree program is an effective way for physiotherapists to keep up with their evolving clinical responsibilities,” says EIM’s Transition DPT Program Director Julie Whitman, PT, DSc. “We’ve developed the curriculum in such a way that the students are not required to commit significant time away from their practices. They can easily balance their education, practice, and personal lives while obtaining their education from leaders in physiotherapy research, clinical practice, education, and private practice management.”

The distance learning model used by EIM, which has proven effective for American physical therapists, has been tailored to meet Canadian and Caribbean physiotherapy requirements and is uniquely flexible. Because the majority of the program is delivered online, the geographic isolation of countries in the Caribbean and many Canadian cities does not encumber the professional development of physiotherapists. EIM’s Transition DPT Program provides an opportunity for practicing professionals to improve their patient care and advance the role of physiotherapy in health care delivery in each Canadian Province and all Caribbean islands.

“Our mission has always been to elevate and expand the role of physiotherapy in the modern health care environment,” states Larry Benz, DPT, MBA, EIM founder and principle. “It’s imperative for our industry to expand post-graduate education and assert ourselves as a doctoring profession on a global scale. EIM’s multinational doctorate program is aligned with our professional responsibility to bridge the gap between the academic setting and clinical practice.”

Questions about EIM’s Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Management can be directed to TDPT@eimpt.com.

Attend a free informational webinar on Wednesday, May 2 at 7pm CT. Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/566355433.

Physio wins £1.7 million award to fund physical activity and dementia research

Rachael Lowe — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:32:23 +0000

Sallie Lamb, professor of rehabilitation at the University of Warwick, received the funding through the National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) Health Technology Programme. Her award will help to finance research into gerontology and musculoskeletal innovations – including studies into the benefits of physical activity for people living in the community with mild to moderate dementia. As an NIHR senior investigator, Professor Lamb is considered to have made an outstanding contribution in the field of patient-centred research in the NHS. ‘I feel very pleased to have received this award and I look forward to the opportunity to shape and contribute to the research agenda of the NHS, and in particular the role of physiotherapists in that activity,’ said Professor Lamb. The two-and- a-half year study is being carried out by a research team from University of Nottingham’s school of nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy.

Read about the HEALTH project

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Australian and Singapore physiotherapy associations enter landmark agreement

Rachael Lowe — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:28:53 +0000

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and Singapore Physiotherapy Association (SPA) have formalised their commitment to strengthen collaboration between the two bodies and their respective physiotherapy workforces in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the APA’s annual general meeting over the weekend. ‘Both organisations have proud histories, strong membership bases and face similar challenges in providing a broad range of services to increasingly mobile stakeholders. This landmark agreement will help both associations to develop and deliver relevant, products and services within our jurisdictions,’ said APA President Melissa Locke. The three-year MOU centers around a shared belief that physical health and wellbeing of nationals is enhanced by access to quality physiotherapy, and a broader goal to improve population health by supporting members in the provision of world-class, evidence-based clinical practice though professional development and career success. ‘A strong physiotherapy association is the key to a strong physiotherapy profession. The MOU between APA and SPA recognises that together we can do better to achieve our missions. Members, and ultimately the general public, will benefit from economies and industry clout made possible through collaboration,’ continued Ms Locke. ‘Specifically, our agreement will see: enhanced information sharing on policy and advocacy matters; APA’s product endorsement program and selected publications expanded into the Singapore market; discussion of a Specialisation framework for Singapore’s health system; and preferential major event rates offered to members of each organisation. ‘There is a long history of partnership between the physiotherapy workforce in Australia and Singapore, which started with the training of Singaporean physiotherapists in Australia as part of the Colombo Plan and continues to this day with significant movement of individuals between each country for both education and work,’ concluded Ms Locke. A quorum of members witnessed the MOU signing by Ms Locke and visiting Vice-President of SPA, Ms Goh Ming Rong, during the APA’s annual general meeting on Sunday 22 April. Attendees were also treated to a presentation on the Australian Government’s National Lead Clinicians Group by Adjunct Professor Mr Russell Stitz. APA and SPA are both members of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), the sole international voice for physiotherapy, and belong to one of its largest and most populous geographical regions, the Asia Western Pacific region. In 2015, WCPT Congress, a quadrennial international event, will be hosted in Singapore.

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