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Studies aim to identify adolescent girls who are at risk of developing migraine headaches

A migraine is not just a bad headache. It is a much-dreaded part of a neurologic disorder that has an array of possible symptoms, including pulsating cranial pain, waves of queasiness, bouts of vomiting, and hypersensitivity to light and sound.

22 Jul 2024

Study finds limited evidence for massage therapy's effectiveness in pain relief

A study in JAMA Network Open reviews evidence on massage therapy's effectiveness in relieving pain, finding moderate certainty for some conditions but overall low certainty for most.

21 Jul 2024

Study reveals how inflammation weakens muscles during illness

Infections and neurodegenerative diseases cause inflammation in the brain. But for unknown reasons, patients with brain inflammation often develop muscle problems that seem to be independent of the central nervous system. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have revealed how brain inflammation releases a specific protein that travels from the brain to the muscles and causes a loss of muscle function.

13 Jul 2024

How to find a good, well-staffed nursing home

Few people want to go into a nursing home, but doing so can be the right choice if you or a loved one is physically or cognitively disabled or recovering from surgery.

12 Jul 2024

‘A bottomless pit’: How out-of-pocket TMJ costs drive patients into debt

Over three decades of relentless pain, Jonna Tallant has tried about every TMJ treatment: mouthguards, six sets of braces, dental crowns and appliances, drugs, physical therapy, Botox, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and surgery.

11 Jul 2024

Study finds increased risk of lumbar spinal fusion failure in diabetic patients

A new study from orthopedic researchers at The University of Toledo has found lumbar spinal fusion procedures are far more likely to fail in individuals with diabetes.

9 Jul 2024

New techniques revolutionize muscle strength assessment

Understanding individual muscle strength is crucial for optimizing physical therapy and enhancing athletic performance. Traditional methods, however, often fall short in precision. The newly introduced technique by Zuming Xiao and colleagues from the Beijing Institute of Technology and Shenyang Sport University bridges this gap by integrating direct muscle strength measurements with dynamic simulations.

28 Jun 2024

Improving stroke survivor health outcomes through home safety interventions

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that safety interventions - such as walkers, grab bars, ramps and other home modifications - allow many stroke survivors to keep living independently in their homes and may reduce their risk of death.

19 Jun 2024

New therapeutic approach for Duchenne muscular dystrophy combines LED therapy with idebenone

In an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Brazilian researchers tested a therapy that combines photobiomodulation using laser light or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with idebenone, an antioxidant compound investigated for application in neurodegenerative diseases.

14 Jun 2024

New psychotherapy shows promise in reducing chronic pain for older veterans

A new study led by UCLA Health and the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office found chronic pain among older adults could be significantly reduced through a newly developed psychotherapy that works by confronting past trauma and stress-related emotions that can exacerbate pain symptoms.

13 Jun 2024

SPLIT program: Stratified care for enhanced outcomes in low back pain management

Low back pain, or LBP, challenges health systems worldwide. To mitigate persistent disabling LBP, the implementation of a stratified approach in primary care has been suggested.

28 May 2024

Study reveals positive impact of repeat COVID-19 vaccinations

Health-care workers received the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020.

17 May 2024

They were shot at the super bowl parade — and might have bullets in their bodies forever

James Lemons, 39, wants the bullet removed from his thigh so he can go back to work.

8 May 2024

Washington University expands STI testing and treatment services in St. Louis County

In a bid to improve sexual health and reduce health disparities in the St. Louis area, Washington University infectious diseases physicians are expanding testing and treatment services for sexually transmitted infections in north St. Louis County.

7 May 2024

Keck Medicine of USC expands to Las Vegas for transplant care

More than 660 Nevadans need an organ transplant, according to Nevada Organ Network, a federally designated organ procurement organization; but many currently struggle to access care because of limited transplant services available in Nevada.

26 Apr 2024

Study reveals financial impact of cancer diagnosis on working-age adults in the U.S.

A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) highlights the lasting financial impact of a cancer diagnosis for many working-age adults and their families in the United States.

23 Apr 2024

Researchers receive NIH grant to help develop gene therapy for HIV

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received a $6.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a gene therapy that would modify the immune system's B cells to spur them to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV.

18 Apr 2024

Online video therapy comparable to in-person visits after thumb CMC arthroplasty

For patients undergoing carpometacarpal (CMC) joint surgery for treatment of thumb osteoarthritis, the use of online video instruction for postoperative hand therapy is associated with outcomes similar to in-person therapy visits – while substantially reducing travel time and distance, reports a clinical trial in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

17 Apr 2024

BMI influences efficacy of nerve-stimulation treatment for sleep apnea, study finds

A nerve-stimulation treatment for obstructive sleep apnea that originally was approved only for people with body mass indexes (BMIs) in the healthy range recently was extended to patients with BMIs up to 40, a weight range generally described as severely obese.

4 Apr 2024

End of internet subsidies for low-income households threatens telehealth access

For Cindy Westman, $30 buys a week's worth of gas to drive to medical appointments and run errands.