PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation

INTRODUCTION: Routinely assessing exercise levels during clinical visits may be a starting point for clinicians to support physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). This is the first study to assess the feasibility of routine clinical use of a self-reported physical activity vital sign in an academic MS center. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and findings of routinely implementing a self-reported physical activity vital sign during clinical visits...

INTRODUCTION: As we see the proportion of women and individuals who are underrepresented in medicine slowly rising, disparities persist in numerous arenas and specialties. In Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), there is a continued need to focus on diversity amongst trainees. This study aims to evaluate diversity amongst PM&R applicants and residents over the past six years. OBJECTIVE: Describe the demographic trends in PM&R over the last six years and compare those trends to other specialties...

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections represent a growing interest in the use of biologic therapies for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. One possible application of PRP is in the management of overuse injuries commonly experienced by athletes. The aim of this review is to evaluate and summarize existing evidence regarding the efficacy of PRP in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis in athletes. Although many lower-quality single-armed studies have demonstrated clinical improvement in athletes treated for Achilles tendinopathy with PRP, higher-quality RCTs have shown no clear benefit in athletes...

INTRODUCTION: Women are either disproportionately or uniquely affected by certain musculoskeletal conditions but have limited access to providers of sex-specific musculoskeletal care. Few Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) residencies offer women's musculoskeletal health training, and it is unknown whether PM&R residents feel prepared to care for women's musculoskeletal health concerns. OBJECTIVE: To examine PM&R residents' perspectives and experiences in women's musculoskeletal health...

OBJECTIVES: To describe a proximal to distal approach for ultrasound (US) guided intra-articular elbow injection. DESIGN: Cadaveric study. SETTINGS: Academic institution. SUBJECTS: Single cadaveric specimen. METHODS: Both elbows of a single cadaver were injected with green-colored water-diluted latex dye using the US-guided proximal to distal approach. In the left elbow, the needle was kept in situ; in the right elbow, the needle was removed...

INTRODUCTION: Multiple national studies suggest that, among physicians, physiatrists are at increased risk for occupational burnout. OBJECTIVE: Identify characteristics of the work environment associated with professional fulfillment and burnout among U.S. physiatrists. DESIGN: Between May and December 2021, a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach was used to identify factors contributing to professional fulfillment and burnout in physiatrists...

BACKGROUND: Brain injury caused by stroke may lead to spasticity and sensory impairment, which adversely affects the individual's functionality and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To review and synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness of mirror therapy (MT), when compared to active exercise-based interventions (i.e. cross-training and conventional exercise) for reducing spasticity and sensory impairment in stroke survivors. METHODS: Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, Embase, CINALH and PEDro, were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated MT effectiveness in improving spasticity and sensory impairment in stroke survivors compared to a control group...

INTRODUCTION: Achieving mobility with a prosthesis is a common post-amputation rehabilitation goal and primary outcome in prosthetic research studies. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) available to measure prosthetic mobility have practical and psychometric limitations that inhibit their use in clinical care and research. OBJECTIVE: To develop a brief, clinically-meaningful, and psychometrically-robust PROM to measure prosthetic mobility. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to administer previously-developed candidate items to a national sample of lower limb prosthesis users...

INTRODUCTION: Task-specific motor training and repetitive practice are essential components of clinical rehabilitation. Emerging evidence suggests that incorporating gaming interfaces (also referred to as 'exergames'), including virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR)-based interfaces for motor training, can enhance the engagement and efficacy of post-stroke rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate perceptions of individuals with stroke regarding technology and exergames for rehabilitation...

INTRODUCTION: Exercise-related lower leg pain (ERLLP) is one of the most common injuries among adolescent runners, however there is limited information available on lower extremity musculotendinous characteristics in relationship to injury. Ultrasound imaging has previously been used to evaluate musculotendinous structures among adults with chronic lower limb injuries. Similar measurement approaches may be adopted to assess young runners with ERLLP. OBJECTIVE: To compare ultrasound-derived lower extremity musculotendinous thickness, echogenicity, and muscle fiber pennation angles between adolescent runners with and without ERLLP...

We aimed to identify and describe the current interventions used in preoperative programs ("prehabilitation") for spine surgery. Knowledge gaps in approaches, feasibility, timing, patient experience, clinical outcomes, and health care costs were explored while describing their potential benefits on physical and psychological outcomes. An electronic search was conducted from January 2004 to February 2022 in Ovid Medline, Embase, EBSCO CINAHL, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and PEDro to identify studies in English evaluating adults enrolled in prehabilitation prior to undergoing elective spine surgeries...

BACKGROUND: Golf is a moderate-intensity physical activity that provides positive physical and mental health benefits. However, the inclusiveness of the sport for individuals with disabilities globally is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the demographics and disability characteristics of individuals engaging in disability golf globally. It was hypothesized that the majority of participants would be middle-aged, male, and from countries with higher gross domestic product, similar to the nondisabled population...

INTRODUCTION: To determine whether rates of all-cause and cause-specific mortality are elevated for active duty US service members who sustained traumatic limb injuries in service, compared to the broader population of deploying service members. To assess differences in mortality rates between service members with traumatic limb injuries that did versus did not result in amputation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study; archival Department of Defense deployment, personnel, medical, and death records were combined and analyzed...

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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the association between preoperative electrodiagnostic studies (EDX) and postoperative pain and functional outcomes following ulnar nerve decompression and/or transposition for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). LITERATURE SURVEY: Protocol was submitted, and database search conducted by an experienced librarian of all available studies in the English language from 1990 to June 8, 2022. Databases included Ovid MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, and Daily, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus...

OBJECTIVE: To expand access to comprehensive rehabilitation services among Veterans with cancer by increasing cancer rehabilitation referrals in a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. DESIGN: A rapid cycle improvement approach based on the Institute of Healthcare Improvement's Model for Improvement was used to assess and optimize the cancer rehabilitation referral process. In this quality improvement project, our cancer rehabilitation workgroup developed an electronic screening tool within the VA electronic patient record system to streamline cancer rehabilitation referrals...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in addition to pharmacological treatment in patients with fibromyalgia. DESIGN: A single-center, randomized and placebo-controlled trial with three parallel arms SETTING: Outpatient clinics at a tertiary health care facility. PARTICIPANTS: Female patients aged 18-55 years receiving pharmacological treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Spinal manipulation, sham manipulation, and control groups...

BACKGROUND: The scheduling of clinical rehabilitative exercise should combine best possible delivery of exercise with the most efficient use of time, facilities, equipment, and personnel. However, it is not clear whether distribution of a fixed amount of exercise volume is more efficient over a longer time period in a week (distributed manner) than over a shorter time period in a week (massed manner). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of distributed vs. massed within- and between- sessions exercise scheduling on balance, exercise performance and pain perception in middle-aged women with knee pain...

INTRODUCTION: There is a need for innovation to improve the engagement and compliance of rehabilitation programs for children with upper extremity (UE) motor impairments due to Cerebral Palsy (CP); a computer games-based rehabilitation platform (GRP) was developed to address this need. The GRP provides engaging task-specific exercises targeting manual dexterity (object handling and manipulation). OBJECTIVE: An exploratory randomized clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic value and treatment effect size of an exercise program using the GRP in children with CP...

INTRODUCTION: Following traumatic lower-limb amputation (LLA), humans are predisposed to numerous unfavourable changes in health, including the development of secondary chronic health conditions, including metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine within and between group differences in cardiometabolic component risks, body composition and physical activity (PA) in individuals with traumatic unilateral and bilateral LLA, compared to non-injured controls...