PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation
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Observational Study
Association Between Exercise Therapy Dose and Functional Improvements in the Early Postoperative Phase After Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: An Observational Study.
To determine whether intensity and duration of standard exercise therapy are associated with changes in function after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). ⋯ The findings show a low dose-response relationship between early postoperative exercise therapy and the improvements in function or ROM after THA and TKA. Although the findings raise questions about the efficacy of existing rehabilitation programs, the small sample size, single setting, and geographic differences in postoperative treatment standards limit the generalizability of findings.
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To investigate the impact of knee pain and low back pain (LBP) on quality of life (QoL) in people ≥50 years of age. ⋯ These results suggest that knee pain and LBP are important factors affecting QoL in middle-aged and elderly people and that LBP may be relatively more important than knee pain in elderly people, especially men. Proper management and prevention of these conditions can help to improve QoL.
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Clinical Trial Observational Study
Modulation of Cervical Facet Joint Nociception and Pain Attenuates Physical and Psychological Features of Chronic Whiplash: A Prospective Study.
To investigate changes in clinical (physical and psychological) features of individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorder who had previously undergone cervical radiofrequency neurotomy at the time point when the effects of radiofrequency neurotomy had dissipated and pain returned. ⋯ Physical and psychological features of chronic whiplash-associated disorder are modulated dynamically with cervical radiofrequency neurotomy. These findings indicate that peripheral nociception is involved in the manifestations of chronic whiplash-associated disorder in this cohort of individuals.
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Comparative Study
Perceived Quality of Life With Spinal Cord Injury: A Comparison Between Emergency Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians.
To explore the attitudes of health care providers who treat patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and examine whether Emergency Medicine (EM) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians differ in their judgments about quality of life (QOL) after SCI. ⋯ Regardless of specialty, PM&R and EM physicians have their own personal perceptions of QOL with SCI. PM&R physicians tend to believe that they would have a higher QOL with an SCI compared with EM physicians and likely have a more optimistic view of SCI. Patient care may be improved by interdisciplinary discussion, as evidenced by the disparity exhibited by practitioners in these 2 specialties who care for the same patient population.
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As the baby boomer generation retires in growing numbers, the demand for occupational therapists specializing in geriatrics will be particularly strong. Currently, there is evidence that a workforce shortage exists in the field of occupational therapy (OT), and few studies have been published in this area to systematically examine the status of the OT workforce. ⋯ This study serves to provide health care professionals, policy makers, and stakeholders with a means of assessing current and future OT needs. Discussion of the issues surrounding OT shortages and ongoing assessment of supply and demand must ensue to mitigate the projected shortages.