Evidence Based Rehab

Labels: health care reform, You Tube

My colleague presented a wonderful collection of rehab Haikus at our last staff meeting. I work at a Planetree hospital and the start of our staff meetings always have a reminder of how we can help beyond PT/OT/ST and treat the person as a whole. My colleague has generously allowed be to reprint these for you all here. They are about - in order - OT, ancillary staff, PT, and ST.

OT with sock aid
ADLs begin the day
Patient dressed,
refreshed

Crisp morn, charts askew
Efficient fingers, phone
shrill
Calm restored . . . coffee

PT smiles, enters
Strenuous
protests occur
Patient ambulates

Teary eyes, cough,
gag
Silent aspiration beware
Mechanical soft

Labels: friday fun, Haiku

Dear Orthopaedic Section Member,

The Orthopaedic Section mourns the loss of Richard Erhard, PT, DC, who
passed away Sunday, October 3, 2009 after a long battle with cancer. Dr.
Erhard was a colleague, a teacher, a researcher, a mentor, and a friend to many
in the Orthopaedic Section. Dr. Erhard was a world-renown manual physical
therapist and he taught and lectured extensively throughout the United States
and internationally. His work has been instrumental in development
clinical prediction rules and clinical practice guidelines for low back
pain.

Dr. Erhard's contributions to the clinical practice of orthopaedic physical
therapy were recognized by the Orthopaedic Section with the establishment of the
Bowling-Erhard Clinical Practice Award. Dr. Erhard and Richard Bowling
were honored as the first recipients of this award during the 2007 Combined
Sections Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Erhard elevated the
physical therapy profession through his work, his mentorship and his friendship
and he will be greatly missed.

A viewing will be held Thursday, October 8 from 2-4 pm and 6-9 pm and
Friday October 9 at 10:00 AM with funeral to follow at the John S. Maykuth Jr.
Funeral Home, 7 River Ave, Masontown, PA 15461-1959.

A memorial service will also be held at Heinz Chapel at the University of
Pittsburgh on October 16th from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. A reception will follow
at the Holiday Inn in Oakland. Please contact Tina Fuller at tfuller@pitt.edu or call 412-383-6579 to
RSVP.

Cards and condolences may be sent to Natalie Erhard, PO Box 424, 145
Messick Lane, Lottsburg, VA 22511

Labels: APTA, Richard Erhard

Early on for this blog I was doing a "Friday Fun" post on a mostly weekly basis. Usually something humorous in nature. I realized it's been almost 2 years since I've done this and would like to resurrect it for at least this week.

Today Lewis Black brings us some much needed wacking over the head regarding health care reform. It would be even funnier if Lewis Black didn't make so much sense. See for yourself:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Back in Black - Health Care Reform
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

Labels: friday fun, health care reform

ALEXANDRIA, VA, July 13, 2009 — The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is urging elderly adults who use canes and walkers as walking aids to be properly assessed and fitted by a physical therapist to avoid fall-related injuries. This advice comes in response to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (June 2009), which found that 47,000 senior citizens end up in emergency rooms each year due to falls from improper use and fit of walkers and canes.

The study, conducted by government researchers, examined six years of emergency room records and found that the walker was associated seven times more with injury-related falls than was the cane. Physical therapists advise that these results indicate a strong need for proper fit and assessment.

According to physical therapist and APTA member Cathy Ciolek, PT, DPT, GCS, many patients often borrow walking aids from friends and family, which can result in injuries. "We see many patients use borrowed canes, walkers, and crutches without adjusting the fit and height appropriately, which can cause discomfort and result in further injury," she said.

In addition to providing a proper fit, your physical therapist can assess your individual needs to ensure you are using the proper walking aid and that it is in proper working condition. "In some instances a cane may not be the safest option, and it would be best to use a walker. Your physical therapist can help make that decision," says Ciolek. She provides some general tips for those using a cane or walker as a walking aid:

• The walker or cane should be about the height of your wrists when your arms are at your sides.
• When using a walker, your arms should be slightly bent when holding on, but you shouldn't have to bend forward at the waist to reach it.
• Periodically check the rubber tips at the bottom of the cane or walker. Be sure to replace them if they are uneven or worn through.

As experts in restoring motion and mobility in people's lives, physical therapists work collaboratively with physicians to ensure safe recoveries from illness or injury. Ciolek recommends seeing a physical therapist for an assessment and proper fit or asking for a referral to a physical therapist from your physician. Visit www.moveforwardpt.com to find a physical therapist near you.

Labels: APTA, physical therapist, Press Release