Proving what works
Scientists have shown how light therapy delivered transcranially (though the skull) can aid tissue repair after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Their research indicates that this novel method could result in a new treatment option in an area of medicine that currently has few, if any, treatment options. Mild TBI results when the initial trauma of [...]
Improving clinical outcomes in stroke patients by closing a gap between successful re-opening of a blocked vessel through endovascular surgery and a reduction of disability is the focus of a $2.5 million grant awarded to UTHealth Houston researchers. The five-year study, funded by an award (1R01NS138765-01) from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, [...]
By Sarah Lake, research assistant, Charlotte Giblin, assistant psychologist and Dr Penny Trayner, clinical neuropsychologist and founder and CEO of Goal Manager. Through advancements in technology, quantitative data in rehabilitation is becoming increasingly available. Considering this, it is important to reflect on the literature around quantitative data in rehabilitation to outline the benefits of these [...]
Researchers around the world are transforming outcomes for neuro and spinal injury rehab patients everywhere with innovative research. NR Times and OML will be celebrating examples of game-changing research at the second annual NR Times Awards. Here, we round up some of the most exciting research stories from the past year. Find out more about [...]
A personalised brain-computer interface therapy, RehabSwift, significantly enhances hand mobility for stroke survivors, new research has shown. Strokes often lead to impaired hand function, presenting substantial challenges in daily activities. Sam Darvishi and colleagues developed and tested a brain-computer interface therapy that translates imagined hand movements into real actions using a personalised algorithm and bionic [...]
NR Times is once again on the lookout for an individual or organisation to be honoured with a Rehab Outcome of the Year award. The award is one of 14 up for grabs at the second annual NR Times Awards, with winners announced in October. NR Times is looking for cases in which patients have [...]
The world of rehab medicine has been reminded that seemingly small improvements to interventions can make significant differences to goal attainment and outcomes.
New findings about how a long-trusted treatment for spasticity should be delivered have highlighted the importance of attention to detail in the pharmacological side of neuro-rehab.
Spasticity is experienced by around 34 per cent of stroke survivors within 18 months following a stroke. It can also be a result of spinal cord injury, MS, cerebral palsy, brain or head trauma and metabolic diseases.
It is usually caused by damage to parts of the brain or spinal cord that control voluntary movement. This leads to a change in the balance of signals between the nervous system and the muscles which leads to increased activity in the muscles. As a result, certain muscles are continuously contracted causing stiffness or tightness of the muscles which can interfere with normal movement, gait and speech.
Among treatment options for spasticity, is Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), an injectable form of botulinum neurotoxin type A product. It inhibits the effective transmission of nerve impulses, therefore reducing muscular contractions; and has more than 30 years of clinical experience and six million treatment years of patient experience.
But a major new study has highlighted widespread gaps in how such treatments are administered which have been found to have a detrimental on patients with neurological conditions.
In this article we interview lead researcher on the study, Dr Alberto Esquenazi, director of the Gait & Motion Analysis Laboratory at Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation in Philadelphia.
Find out about the inconsistencies he has discovered in the delivery of spasticity treatment, their impact on rehab outcomes and the reasons behind them; plus what he believes are the changes that need to happen in rehab medicine to address them.
Biopharma firm Ipsen has identified links between injection guidance techniques and improved rehab outcomes in people with lower-limb spasticity.
Ipsen’s AboLiSh study evaluated the use and effectiveness of Dysport®(abobotulinumtoxinA) in people living with lower-limb spasticity. It found that injection guidance techniques significantly help to improve outcomes and goal attainment in patients.
A multicomponent exercise program was found to be cost-effective and improved cognitive in older adults with chronic stroke, according to a recent study. The program, which included strength, aerobic, agility, and balance training exercises, was considered to be the most cost-effective post-stroke intervention to improve cognitive function, when compared to a control group. Researchers in [...]
The brain injury rehab journey presents huge challenges, not just to survivors themselves but also to the numerous stakeholders working to deliver the best outcomes for their clients. In this exclusive webinar, four experts from across the rehab pathway came together to discuss what can and should be done for the brain injury community in [...]
