Occupational Therapy News and Research

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NPF announces support for three new Parkinson's research projects

The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) is proud to announce support for three new research projects which fulfill NPF's mission of improving the quality of care in Parkinson's disease.

19 Sep 2011

NSU's iPad program treats spinal cord injuries

A little iPad can go a long way. At Nova Southeastern University (NSU), the tiny, flat screen, touch pad is being used by the Occupational Therapy Department researchers to treat disabled patients who suffer from spinal cord injuries and other disabilities.

31 Aug 2011

Roundup: Calif. adult day care plan?; R.I. shift to Medicare; Texas mental health coverage

State health officials are circulating a plan they say will help keep about 35,000 elderly and disabled Californians out of institutionalized care when Medi-Cal stops offering an adult day healthcare benefit in December.

9 Aug 2011

Falling may be an early sign of Alzheimer's

In a new study presented at the Alzheimer's Association's annual International Conference in Paris it was reported that older people whose brain scans showed signs of amyloid plaques - an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease - but who were otherwise healthy, had twice the risk of falls as people without brain amyloid.

20 Jul 2011

Falls, balance problems linked to early stages of Alzheimer's

Falls and balance problems may be early indicators of Alzheimer's disease, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reported July 17, 2011, at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Paris.

20 Jul 2011

Higher rates of falls can occur very early in Alzheimer's disease

Falls are more common among individuals with the earliest signs of Alzheimer's, according to a study presented at the Alzheimer's Association® International Conference 2011.

18 Jul 2011

USC researcher maps human brain that generates empathy

According to a new study from USC, even failing to possess a full complement of limbs will not stop your brain from understanding what it is like for someone else to experience pain in one of them. It may, however, change the way your brain does so.

16 Jul 2011

Virtual and physical reality exercises can increase movement speeds in Parkinson's patients

In people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), the inability to make quick movements limits basic functioning in daily life. Movement can be improved by various cueing techniques, such as providing visual or auditory stimuli when movements are started. In a study scheduled for publication in the August issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, researchers report that virtual reality (VR) and physical reality exercises can be used to provide effective stimuli to increase movement speeds in PD patients.

11 Jul 2011

Cultural, gender and ethnic stereotypes can distort treatment of Parkinson's

Cultural, ethnic and gender stereotypes can significantly distort clinical judgments about "facially masked" patients with Parkinson's disease, according to a newly published study from researchers at Tufts University, Brandeis University and the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan.

7 Jul 2011

West End Orthopaedic Clinic announces name change to OrthoVirginia

West End Orthopaedic Clinic has announced that they are changing the name of their practice to OrthoVirginia. Coinciding with the name change will be the opening of a new facility completely dedicated to orthopedic specialty care and sports medicine, at the Boulders near Chippenham Hospital.

27 Jun 2011

ACS designates Stanford as level-2 pediatric trauma center

Stanford's trauma center has been verified as a level-2 pediatric trauma center by the American College of Surgeons.

24 Jun 2011

Ankota introduces TherapEZ web-based, mobile tablet-based solution for home health therapy agencies

Ankota, the developer of the first Healthcare Delivery Management (HDM) solutions, introduced today its TherapEZ software as a solution for streamlining many of the operational issues faced by home health therapy agencies as they seek to provide services for patients at home and to coordinate care with home health agencies.

16 Jun 2011

Social, physical and spiritual activities can improve quality of life in older individuals

Small, healthy lifestyle changes and involvement in meaningful activities-going beyond just diet and exercise-are critical to healthy aging, according to a new USC study.

9 Jun 2011

Older veterans with stroke can benefit from yoga

An Indiana University study that exposed older veterans with stroke to yoga produced "exciting" results as researchers explore whether this popular mind-body practice can help stroke victims cope with their increased risk for painful and even deadly falls.

6 Jun 2011

MHA's annual awards recognize outstanding health care leaders, innovative programs

Innovative programs and outstanding leaders in health care were honored Friday, May 6 at the Minnesota Hospital Association's 27th annual awards ceremony at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Minneapolis.

10 May 2011

Progressive Physical Therapy, Doctors Care inaugurate new center in Newberry

Doctors Care and Progressive Physical Therapy, affiliates of UCI Medical Affiliates, Inc., today announced the opening of their newest center at 1410 Wilson Road in Newberry, South Carolina.

3 May 2011

Giffords' office: Close gap in traumatic brain-injury care

Staff members for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, R-Ariz., have become key advocates in a campaign to ensure that the health law guarantees high levels of care for people who suffer traumatic brain injuries.

22 Apr 2011

First UCLA patient with hand transplant doing well at six-and-a-half weeks

Six-and-a-half weeks after receiving the first hand transplant in the western United States, Emily Fennell is becoming so accustomed to her new right hand that she barely remembers when she didn't have one.

21 Apr 2011

Combination therapy restores skilled use of limb in rodent model

After the acute treatment window closes, the only effective treatment for stroke is physical/occupational therapy. Now scientists from Children's Hospital Boston report a two-pronged molecular therapy that leads to significant recovery of skilled motor function in a rat model of stroke.

20 Apr 2011