News
The latest news from across neurorehabilitation.
News31 OctThe Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has issued a statement reassuring members and patients that physiotherapy services across the UK can remain open no matter what level of lockdown restrictions their area is subject to. This includes private and independent sectors.
Rachael Wadlow, CSP professional adviser, said: "We advise that risk assessment must remain central to members decision making regarding the most appropriate form of patient contact. Please refer to our 7-factor guide on face to face consultations."
Stroke31 OctPeople with multiple depressive symptoms have an increased risk for stroke, according to findings recently published in Neurology: Clinical Practice.
The collaborative study led by investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabamashowed that individuals who scored higher on a test designed to measure depressive symptoms had a higher stroke risk than those with lower scores. The study involved 9,529 black and 14,516 white stroke-free participants, age 45 and older, enrolled in the UAB-led REGARDS study. REGARDS is a national, population-based longitudinal study designed to examine risk factors associated with racial and regional disparities in stroke incidence and mortality.
Research30 OctPeople with dementia are more likely to go missing in areas where road networks are dense, complicated and disordered – according to new research from the University of East Anglia.
Researchers studied hundreds of ‘missing person’ police reports for people with dementia and compared each case to the surrounding road network.
They hope their findings could help inform future safeguarding guidelines.
Prof Michael Hornberger, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “People with dementia getting lost or going missing is a problem worldwide. Around 70 percent of people with dementia may go missing at least once, with some at risk of going missing multiple times.
News30 OctAt Irwin Mitchell, we represent individuals who have sustained life-changing injuries, writes David Withers. Some of our clients have severe brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and / or amputations arising from poly-trauma. For these individuals and their families, their lives are turned upside down. There is a range of emotions after such trauma. Without doubt, what those individuals and their families in this situation want is the possibility that, with effective rehabilitation, their quality of life can improve...
In the longer term, financial security is also a vital consideration, particularly if they are no longer able to work and have a family to support. As has been widely reported, the criminal courts are experiencing significant delays. There has been long-term under-funding. With the Covid-19 pandemic, these delays only worsened.
Research30 OctA new study shows that the majority of people with musculoskeletal pain reported increased symptoms - as the nation adhered to new government restrictions designed to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
And those who experienced most social isolation and loneliness were less likely to access healthcare.
The findings are the result of a survey of more than 600 people across the UK to see how people with bone, joint and muscle pain coped in lockdown.
The study was led by Dr Toby Smith, from UEA’s School of Health Sciences, and Prof Alex MacGregor, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School.
Dr Toby Smith said: “Bone, joint and muscle pain is a major cause of disability for people across the UK. People with these problems often experience pain, joint stiffness, fatigue and muscle weaknesses.
Case management30 OctA UK-wide research project to look at the experiences of case managers and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been launched.
The initiative will gather personal accounts of people living with brain injuries and their support networks during the pandemic, from lockdown to the present day, reflecting on how people have changed and adapted during that time.
The study, spearheaded by BABICM, will assess how case managers and clients alike found the availability of support and access to services during the past few months, and how challenges were responded to and overcome.
News30 OctNew statistics from the Stroke Association reveal that almost one in three (29%) stroke survivors who had a stroke during the pandemic delayed seeking emergency medical attention due to Covid-19.
Dr David Hargroves, consultant stroke physician and clinical lead for stroke across East Kent Hospitals said: “A stroke is a life-threatening condition and a mini-stroke is a warning sign that a major stroke is likely. "By acting FAST you can save lives.Remember, Face – is their face drooping on one side? Arms – can they lift them? Speech – is their speech slurred? If you spot any one of these symptoms then it’s Time to call 999. The quicker your loved one receives the right specialist treatment the better their chances of avoiding long-term disability or death.
Tech & industry30 OctFourier Intelligence has completed its Series C financing round led by Vision Plus Capital, a venture capital fund focusing in digital healthcare and deep tech.
Qianhai FOF, one of Fourier Intelligence’s current shareholder, co-invested in this round too.
This new round of funds will be mainly invested to further expand Fourier Intelligence’s already impressive product line, to enhance its fully integrated intelligent rehabilitation robotic system, known as the Fourier Intelligence RehabHub Concept.
“The intelligent rehabilitation has been possible since the advent of the digital and intelligence era. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the developing trend of the rehabilitation field while the viability of Fourier’s business model has been verified,” says Fourier Intelligence’s founder, group CEO and executive chairman Alex Gu.
Multiple sclerosis30 OctThe drug siponimod (Mayzent) has been approved by NICE for active secondary progressive MS in England and Wales.
MS charity the MS Trust hailed the news a “significant advance in the treatment of progressive MS”. Siponimod (Mayzent), an oral treatment taken once daily, has been approved for people with secondary progressive MS who continue having relapses or show signs of MS activity on MRI scans. In clinical trials for secondary progressive MS, siponimod delayed disability progression by 26 per cent compared to placebo, the MS Trust reports.
News29 OctDr Graeme Flaherty-Jones is an associate clinical director and locality lead for psychology in The NHS and director of Clarity Psychology. In this interview, our resident curious case manager Vicki Gilman, and Graeme, discuss psychological safety, including; the features of psychological safety in teams, over preparing and modelling fallibility in new teams.
