Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Focused Shock Waves in the Treatment of Jumper’s Knee in Athletes.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Focused Shock Waves in the Treatment of Jumper’s Knee in Athletes.
Filed under: Rehab Centers
Am J Sports Med. 2013 Feb 13;
Vetrano M, Castorina A, Vulpiani MC, Baldini R, Pavan A, Ferretti A
BACKGROUND:Tendinopathies represent a serious challenge for orthopaedic surgeons involved in treatment of athletes. PURPOSE:To compare the effectiveness and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in athletes with jumper’s knee. STUDY DESIGN:Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS:Forty-six consecutive athletes with jumper’s knee were selected for this study and randomized into 2 treatment groups: 2 autologous PRP injections over 2 weeks under ultrasound guidance (PRP group; n = 23), and 3 sessions of focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (2.400 impulses at 0.17-0.25 mJ/mm(2) per session) (ESWT group; n = 23). The outcome measures were Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) questionnaire, pain visual analog scale (VAS), and modified Blazina scale. A reviewer who was blinded as to the group allocation of participants performed outcome assessments before treatment and at 2, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Nonparametric tests were used for within-group (Friedman/Wilcoxon test) and between-group (Kruskal-Wallis/Fisher test) testing, and the significance level was set at .05. RESULTS:The 2 groups were homogeneous in terms of age, sex, level of sports participation, and pretreatment clinical status. Patients in both groups showed statistically significant improvement of symptoms at all follow-up assessments. The VISA-P, VAS, and modified Blazina scale scores showed no significant differences between groups at 2-month follow-up (P = .635, .360, and .339, respectively). The PRP group showed significantly better improvement than the ESWT group in VISA-P, VAS scores at 6- and 12-month follow-up, and modified Blazina scale score at 12-month follow-up (P < .05 for all). CONCLUSION:Therapeutic injections of PRP lead to better midterm clinical results compared with focused ESWT in the treatment of jumper's knee in athletes. HubMed – rehab
Exploring the effects of ecological activities during exposure to optical prisms in healthy individuals.
Filed under: Rehab Centers
Front Hum Neurosci. 2013; 7: 29
Fortis P, Ronchi R, Calzolari E, Gallucci M, Vallar G
Prism adaptation improves a wide range of manifestations of left spatial neglect in right-brain-damaged patients. The typical paradigm consists in repeated pointing movements to visual targets, while patients wear prism goggles that displace the visual scene rightwards. Recently, we demonstrated the efficacy of a novel adaptation procedure, involving a variety of every-day visuo-motor activities. This “ecological” procedure proved to be as effective as the repetitive pointing adaptation task in ameliorating symptoms of spatial neglect, and was better tolerated by patients. However, the absence of adaptation and aftereffects measures for the ecological treatment did not allow for a full comparison of the two procedures. This is important in the light of recent findings showing that the magnitude of prism-induced aftereffects may predict recovery from spatial neglect. Here, we investigated prism-induced adaptation and aftereffects after ecological and pointing adaptation procedures. Forty-eight neurologically healthy participants (young and aged groups) were exposed to rightward shifting prisms while they performed the ecological or the pointing procedures, in separate days. Before and after prism exposure, participants performed proprioceptive, visual, and visual-proprioceptive tasks to assess prism-induced aftereffects. Participants adapted to the prisms during both procedures. Importantly, the ecological procedure induced greater aftereffects in the proprioceptive task (for both the young and the aged groups) and in the visual-proprioceptive task (young group). A similar trend was found for the visual task in both groups. Finally, participants rated the ecological procedure as more pleasant, less monotonous, and more sustainable than the pointing procedure. These results qualify ecological visuo-motor activities as an effective prism-adaptation procedure, suitable for the rehabilitation of spatial neglect.
HubMed – rehab
Linking RN workgroup job satisfaction to pressure ulcers among older adults on acute care hospital units.
Filed under: Rehab Centers
Res Nurs Health. 2013 Feb 13;
Choi J, Bergquist-Beringer S, Staggs VS
We examined the relationship between registered nurse (RN) workgroup job satisfaction and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) among older adults on six types of acute care units. Random-intercept logistic regression analyses were performed using 2009 unit-level data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®) and the NDNQI RN Survey. Overall, RN workgroup job satisfaction was negatively associated with HAPU rates, although the relationship varied by unit type. RN workgroup satisfaction was significantly associated with HAPU rates on critical care, medical, and rehabilitation units. No significant association was found on step-down, surgical, and medical-surgical units. Findings provide evidence that higher RN workgroup job satisfaction is related to lower HAPU rates among older adult patients in acute care hospitals. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health.
HubMed – rehab
Head-pelvis coupling is increased during turning in patients with Parkinson’s disease and freezing of gait.
Filed under: Rehab Centers
Mov Disord. 2013 Feb 13;
Spildooren J, Vercruysse S, Heremans E, Galna B, Vandenbossche J, Desloovere K, Vandenberghe W, Nieuwboer A
Turning is the most important trigger for freezing of gait (FOG). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between impaired head-pelvis rotation during turning and FOG. Head, trunk, and pelvic rotation were measured at onset and throughout a 180-degree turn in 13 freezers and 14 nonfreezers (OFF medication). We also studied 14 controls at preferred and slow speed to investigate the influence of turn velocity on axial rotation. Location and duration of FOG episodes were defined during the turn. At turning onset, head rotation preceded thorax and pelvic rotation in all groups, but this craniocaudal sequence disappeared when FOG occurred. Maximum head-pelvis separation was significantly greater in controls, compared to freezers and nonfreezers (35.4 versus 25.7 and 27.3 degrees; P < 0.01), but this finding was speed dependent. Timing of maximum head-pelvis separation was delayed in freezers, compared to nonfreezers and controls, irrespective of turn velocity. This delay was correlated with increased neck rigidity (R = 0.62; P = 0.02) and worsened during FOG trials. FOG occurred more often at the end of the turn, when difference in rotation velocity between head and pelvis was greatest. Even after controlling for speed and disease severity, turning in freezers was characterized by delayed head rotation and a closer coupling between head and pelvis, especially in turns where FOG occurred. These changes may be attributed to delayed preparation for the change in walking direction and, as such, contribute to FOG. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society. HubMed – rehab
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