Disability News and Research

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Low-level heat wrap therapy reduces acute low back pain

The use of continuous low-level heat wrap therapy (CLHT) significantly reduces acute low back pain and related disability and improves occupational performance of employees in physically demanding jobs suffering from acute low back pain

23 Jan 2006

Major grant to study institutional care of disabled people in Europe

The Tizard Centre at the University of Kent has been awarded a 350,000 euro grant by the European Commission to find out how many disabled people are still cared for in institutions across Europe and what would be the costs of replacing institutions with services in the community.

11 Jan 2006

New disability website launched

Med Services Europe has announced the launch of " New Disability", a website dedicated to products for the disabled community. According to Dr. Gene Emmer, President of Med Services Europe, the goal of New Disability is to be a platform to advance the commercialization of assistive technology.

11 Jan 2006

Lives will be saved as early signs of meningitis now identified

Scientists in the UK say they have identified the early signs of meningitis and blood poisoning which should improve detection of the disease and save lives.

11 Jan 2006

Traditional neck muscle resistance training may not protect athletes from head injuries

"We did see a change in the player's neck muscle strength but these changes made absolutely no difference in their ability to stabilize their heads when force was applied," said Tierney.

10 Jan 2006

Erectile dysfunction may be sign of coming heart disease

Most wives would say their husbands are notoriously bad about avoiding the doctor’s office. Erectile dysfunction (ED) might be the only problem that prompts some men to go to a physician. According to a new study, it could be their best chance at finding out they have underlying cardiovascular disease.

10 Jan 2006

Sydney researchers explain how stress makes you sick

Garvan Institute scientists have discovered how a hormone, known as neuropeptide Y (NPY), can prevent our immune system functioning properly, paving the way for two new major opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

10 Jan 2006

Evidence supports combination therapy for achieving remission of early rheumatoid arthritis

A chronic and potentially crippling inflammatory disorder, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progressively wears away the cartilage and bone.

8 Jan 2006

Scientists develop prototype drug to prevent osteoporosis based on cannabinoids produced by body

Substances produced in the body that act like those found in the cannabis plant help preserve bone density, according to researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

6 Jan 2006

Vertebroplasty reduces back pain and increases activity levels

A Mayo Clinic study has found patients report less back pain at rest and while active following vertebroplasty, a procedure in which medical cement is injected into painful compression fractures in the spinal vertebrae due to osteoporosis. Patients also reported improved function in their daily activities, such as walking, housework and getting dressed. The findings are published in the November/December issue of American Journal of Neuroradiology.

30 Dec 2005

Ultra-light weight wheelchair manufacturer advances its international presence

Colours N Motion, a leading US manufacturer of active, ultra-light wheelchairs and Med Services Europe announced its progress one year after creating a strategic initiative to develop Colours presence in Europe.

22 Dec 2005

Study reveals treatment and screening inequalities for patients with mental health problems

Patients with mental health problems may not be receiving the appropriate screening or treatments for illnesses including heart disease and stroke, a report from The University of Nottingham has shown.

7 Dec 2005

Garvan scientists explain stress and sickness

7 Dec 2005

Sleep-disorders related to breathing suggest increase risk of stroke

Individuals who experience moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing are four times more likely to have a stroke during the next four years than those who do not suffer from the problem.

5 Dec 2005

Re-opening of carotid arteries in stroke has high success rate with stenting

University of Pittsburgh researchers report a high level of effectiveness in re-opening completely blocked internal carotid arteries (ICA) as late as two to three days after acute stroke symptoms by using stents.

21 Nov 2005

Students with disabilities encourage others to educate those with similar disabilities to themselves

Students with disabilities and learning difficulties are taking part in a unique University of Liverpool training scheme that enables them to educate those with similar disabilities to themselves.

21 Nov 2005

UK's poor dietary habits are costing its health service an annual £6 billion

...three times as much as the financial toll from smoking - reveals research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

21 Nov 2005

Trichostatin A may fight lupus and atherosclerosis simultaneously

People with lupus are prone to premature accelerated atherosclerosis. Now scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine think they have a way to prevent or decrease this atherosclerosis and prevent heart attacks.

16 Nov 2005

It's true! study confirms that Glucosamine and Chondroitin relieve arthritis pain

The millions of Osteoarthritis sufferers in the world will welcome the good news that a new study has confirmed that the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin provide pain relief.

15 Nov 2005

Speed of PSA increase matters more than PSA level

In the largest study of its kind to date, Mayo Clinic researchers report that prostate specific antigen (PSA) kinetics, both velocity and doubling time, can be used to predict disease progression and likelihood of death after radical prostatectomy surgery, suggesting that this could be used to guide treatment decisions.

14 Nov 2005