Primary Care and Rehab

Continuity of care

Doctors warn Alberta’s pediatric hospitals in ‘chaos’ as more children face care delays

5 outpatient clinics at Alberta Children’s Hospital now postponing patient care as viral illnesses surge. Alberta Children’s Hospital is now delaying some outpatients as it redeploys 65 staff members. The Stollery … READ MORE

Wearable tech offers up-close look at infant development

Researchers at the Beckman Institute have developed a tool to measure stress regulation and parent-child bonding in young children. The device enables infants as young as one month to provide useful information from the comfort of … READ MORE

Alberta hospitals battle wave of sick children as viral illnesses surge

Posted wait times have spiked to 17 hours since late September as pediatric hospital admissions rise. Alberta’s pediatric hospitals are dealing with a wave of respiratory illnesses, including RSV, influenza and COVID-19. The … READ MORE

Alzheimer’s might not be primarily a brain disease. A new theory suggests it’s an autoimmune condition

The pursuit of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease is becoming an increasingly competitive and contentious quest with recent years witnessing several important controversies. A new theory of Alzheimer’s disease reassesses the role of … READ MORE

Lethbridge charity helps kids, young adults with special needs through horseback riding

Program helps people with various physical and mental disabilities, says executive director. The Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association provides adaptive riding programs for children and young adults with special needs. Saloni … READ MORE

Exercise that works for wheelchair users

Exercise is essential to preventing cardiovascular disease and living with a healthy heart, but finding exercise protocols and equipment that meet recommended criteria and work for wheelchair users can be very difficult. Paul Hopkins … READ MORE

B.C. teenager waited almost 2 years for scoliosis surgery

Solutions to shorten wait times include triaged referral system, incentives to reach timeline targets. Cael Perry (middle) with his parents Sharlene and Chris. Cael was diagnosed with severe thoracic scoliosis in November 2020. David … READ MORE

Student’s invention gives children with Cerebral palsy freedom in the pool

Sandra Saavedra (left), associate professor of physical therapy, and Josh Breighner ’20 with the Water Strider, which allows children with cerebral palsy to play in the pool independently. University of Hartford Mary DiLeo, … READ MORE

Users care about assistive devices’ look, feel and smell

A new study by North Carolina State University researchers found that people often considered the look, texture and, occasionally, the smell of two assistive devices – compression gloves and a knee brace – in online reviews of the … READ MORE

Brain implants and wearables let paralyzed people move again

A “neural bypass” routes signals around the damaged spinal cord, potentially restoring both movement and sensation. Motion Restored: Luke Tynan, who was paralyzed in 2017 by a spinal cord injury, demonstrates the wearable system … READ MORE

A smart jumpsuit tracks infants’ motor development

A smart jumpsuit measures the spontaneous and voluntary movement of infants. Details on their mobility help in assessing abnormal neurological development. Image: Sampsa Vanhatalo, University of Helsinki Miia Soininen, University of … READ MORE

‘Smart’ cartilage cells programmed to release drugs when stressed

New technology could lead to treatments for osteoarthritis. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have engineered cartilage cells to release an anti-inflammatory drug in response to stresses such cells … READ MORE

Using ergonomics to help reduce pain from technology use

Study indicates interventions are needed to prevent musculoskeletal disorders from using smartphones. Students across Europe learn Swift to unlock new opportunities. Apple photo Tim Schnettler, Texas A&M University School of … READ MORE

Canadians less satisfied in their access to health care than Americans: poll

15% of Canadians satisfied with access to care, while 29% of Americans satisfied with access, poll finds. A health-care worker pushes a patient across a connecting bridge at a hospital in Montreal, on Thursday, July 14. The findings … READ MORE

3D printing leads to light-weight knee brace for the elderly

A lighter, yet more robust knee brace for the elderly who suffer from knee problems has been developed locally by Singapore engineering firm Delsson, in a collaboration with 3D printing specialists from Nanyang Technological … READ MORE

Rehab device enables stroke survivors with arm disabilities to do more training

A rehabilitation device can increase the amount of arm exercises stroke patients do without professional supervision, according to a new study. Patient playing the Balloons Buddies video game which aims to boost rehabilitation of … READ MORE

Short take on AFO effectiveness

Meta-analysis demonstrates AFOs improve gait, balance in stroke. Henning with WalkOn Reaction AFO. Otto Bock. Lower Extremity Review November 2021 In a recently published systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers from Korea … READ MORE

Does physical activity impact risk of knee osteoarthritis?

In an analysis published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, investigators did not find any link between the amount and duration of physical activity with individuals’ risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. The Runner’s High Vol. 7: … READ MORE

Toronto boy whose parents raised $3M to treat his rare genetic disorder starts clinical trial

Michael Pirovolakis is the only participant in the groundbreaking clinical trial. Ioanna Roumeliotis, Perlita Stroh, CBC News Toronto August 15, 2022 After his parents desperately raised $3 million over three years trying to find a … READ MORE

AFO configuration can improve efficacy of the orthotic intervention on gait patterns in CP patients

Cerebral Palsy (CP) represents the most common cause of motor disability in childhood with dysfunctional gait being one of the main problems. Figure. The ankle-foot orthosis used in the study showing the 2 configurations: hinged AFO, … READ MORE

Prehabilitation may not improve knee replacement results

Exercises and education prescribed as prehabilitation before total knee replacements (TKR) may not significantly improve the outcomes of the surgery, researchers say. Communify Queensland Laird Harrison, Medscape Medical News March 9, … READ MORE

Passive exercise offers same brain health benefits as active movements

Western-led research shows potential for rehab, long-term care application. Cycle pedals pushed mechanically were used to determine effects of passive exercise on cognition. University of Western Ontario By Kim McCready, Special to … READ MORE

Despite a first-ever ‘Right-to-repair’ law, there’s no easy fix for wheelchair users

Patients for profit: How private equity hijacked health care. Bruce Goguen of Broomfield, Colorado, is paralyzed from multiple sclerosis. Without his wheelchair, he would be stuck in bed. But going through his wheelchair supplier to … READ MORE

‘Smart’ 3d-printed braces could improve scoliosis treatment

A new type of lightweight 3D-printed back brace capable of sensing how effectively it fits patients could lead to improved treatment for scoliosis, its developers say. Figure 3. Immediate correction of three-dimensional-printed brace. … READ MORE

Lubricant shots for knee OA: No, they really don’t help

Meta-analysis of hyaluronic acid trials throws serious shade on common practice. CCO Public Domain by John Gever, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today July 6, 2022 Researchers analyzing previous trials of hyaluronic acid injections for … READ MORE

Cionic unveils bionic clothing to assist patients with walking difficulties

For those with walking difficulties arising from neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and cerebral palsy — augmenting mobility in a manner that seamlessly blends with the human body has always been … READ MORE

Earlier intervention in Down syndrome may be possible

Study shows oxidative stress occurs in people with Down syndrome at the cellular level, leading to dysregulated neural differentiation. Nathan Anderson photo on Unsplash. CCO Public Domain Carie Behounek, Guest Contributor, University … READ MORE

Mobility is the most important measure of health

Cionic Neural Sleeve promises groundbreaking and innovative healthcare product for people who live with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke recovery, spinal cord injuries, or other neuromuscular diagnoses. CIONIC CIONIC Blog … READ MORE

Regrowing cartilage in a damaged knee gets closer to fixing arthritis

A new ’tissue scaffold’ that holds the potential for a bioengineering breakthrough. UConn researchers Thanh Nguyen, left, and Yang Liu, with the tissue scaffold made out of a biodegradable polymer that they say holds … READ MORE

How we walk could impact future arthritis

Identifying risk factors early can take the pressure off joints. A new study suggests a person’s walking style that places more pressure on the hips and knees can contribute to future osteoarthritis. Researchers say the key is … READ MORE

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