Virtual rehab “effective” for stroke recovery, research shows
Since the beginning of the pandemic in March, therapists have adapted face-to-face services to comply with social distancing measures. While many patients and practitioners alike seemed to adapt well, now research has confirmed that it can be a practical way of delivering rehab for stroke patients.
A new paper, co-authored by Brodie Sakakibara, assistant professor at the Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management has found that remote, virtual rehab works for people recovering from a stroke. Six clinical trials were launched across Canada as part of a Heart and Stroke Foundation initiative, where people recovering from a stroke were given interventions including memory, speech and physical exercise training.
Campaigners call on health secretary to stop closure of Kent stroke units
At a Hilton Hotel in Maidstone on Valentine's Day last year, protestors interrupted a group of GPs as they voted unanimously to stop commissioning acute stroke services in four hospital across Kent and Medway, where there are around 3,000 cases of stroke treated every year.
Under the Joint Committee of Clinical Commissioning Groups for the Review of Urgent Stroke Services in Kent and Medway’s new plans to adopt three hyper-acute stroke services, there will instead be a 34-bed unit at Darent Valley Hospital, a 38-bed unit at Maidstone Hospital and a 52-bed unit at William Harvey Hospital, along with a two-bed outflow at Eastbourne General Hospital. This means acute services at Margate’s Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM), Medway Hospital, Tunbridge Wells Hospital, and Kent and Canterbury Hospital will stop.
Blood pressure meds more effective at stroke prevention than previously thought
Blood pressure medication can prevent heart attacks and strokes, even in people with normal blood pressure, according to new research.
It has previously been contested whether blood pressure medication is equally beneficial in heart attack and stroke patients compared to those who haven’t had a stroke or heart attack, and when blood pressure is normal. But new research, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2020, has found that it can. "Greater drops in blood pressure with medication lead to greater reductions in the risk of heart attacks and strokes," said principal investigator Kazem Rahimi of the University of Oxford.
Brain and spine conference postponed to 2021
The European Neuro Convention, Europe’s only trade event for brain and spine experts, has been postponed until next year.
The event will now be taking place on 9 and 10 March 2021 at NEC, Birmingham. ROAR B2B, the organisers of the event, said: “After extensive consultation with our partners, exhibitors and visitors, we have taken the extremely difficult decision to postpone the event until Spring 2021.
Fewer people visited hospital for stroke in lockdown – study
There were almost a third fewer cases of stroke and [...]
