The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland is pleased to note the results of the British Medical Journal Medical Milestones Poll to find the most important medical advance since the BMJ started in 1840.


The most important advance was Sanitation, [clean water and sewage disposal] followed by Antibiotics, and then Anaesthesia in third position, within two percentage points of the winner.


Congratulations to Sanitation, in which John Snow (an anesthetist) was also involved, and the important advance of Antibiotics.


Dr David Whitaker, President of the Association comments, "for Anaesthesia to be ranked in the top three out of an original list of 70 is significant recognition for the importance of the work Anaesthetists do caring for patients through our particular specialty".


Such acknowledgement of Anaesthesia also provides a pleasing start to the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland's 75th Anniversary Year.


The AAGBI was originally set up in 1932, "to develop Anaesthesia" into what has successfully become the very important specialty further recognized today.


Association of Anaesthetists Anniversary strapline is "75 years, advancing patient safety", which underlines the improvements in patient care and mortality that have continued since the original milestone.
Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
March 7, 2007
Scientific, Medical Luminaries Gather At New York Symposium To Discuss The Science Of Electroceuticals
An impressive lineup of medical researchers and clinicians, including Nobel Laureate Louis Ignarro, PhD, gathered at a December 19 symposium in New York City to discuss the new and important scientific discipline of Electroceuticals. В В The next frontier in pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and electrotherapeutics, Electroceuticals are highly-refined electromagnetic fields that are now being used to non-invasively "jumpstart" the body's natural anti-inflammatory response to treat pain successfully and help soft tissue wounds heal faster.В
В Speakers discussed how advances in physics, biology and engineering have all begun to allow medical clinicians to directly affect the electrochemical processes that control all biological processes.В The complete proceedings, which are summarized below, can be accessed at http://www.ivivitechnologies.com.
В В "The science of Electroceuticals is so rich; it is always thrilling to bring such incredible minds together to discuss this exciting field," said Andre DiMino, founder and Co-CEO of Ivivi Technologies, Inc., a company dedicated to the field of electrotherapeutics and sponsor of the symposium.
В DiMino introduced the symposium line-up.В Some key presenters and panelists included:
В Arthur Pilla, PhD., the original developer of bone growth stimulation technology and a leading authority on bioelectromagnetic responses in therapeutic medical applications provided a "state of the science" and discussed the creation and identification of electrotherapeutic signals.В
В Pilla, a professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, said that applications for which Electroceuticals are already known to be effective include the healing of recalcitrant bone fractures, increasing the success rate of spinal fusion from 50% to 85%, healing chronic and acute soft tissue wounds, suppressing the body's inflammatory response, increasing local blood circulation, and perhaps most exciting, encouraging angiogenesis.
В Pilla also discussed the practical effects of electrotheraputic technologies вЂ" namely reducing costs of healthcare by reducing surgery and morbidity.В In 1980, bone growth stimulators reduced the cost of health care for delayed union fractures by tenfold. In fact, recent studies have shown Electroceuticals' tremendous promise to significantly reduce healing time, including 59% on surgical wounds, 69% on tendons and 70% on chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers. В
В Pilla then took attendees across the evolution of the technology to today's Electroceuticals which activate the Calcium(Ca)-Calmodulin(CaM)-Nitric Oxide(NO) pathways that are at the core of the body's healing cascade.
В Louis Ignarro, PhD., who received the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for his seminal work on the biological importance of nitric oxide, gave a presentation on the link between Nitric Oxide (NO) and the biological cascade stimulated by the application of Electroceuticals.
В Ignarro, a professor of pharmacology at UCLA, began by discussing the discovery of biological importance of NO, its pharmacological uses, and his discovery that arteries produce NO that maintains the health of the vasculature.В One well-known outcome is the discovery that NO was the neurotransmitter that stimulated male erections, leading to the development of Viagra.В
В Ignarro's research has discovered that NO has a multitude of functions in the body, helping to regulate processes that include angiogenesis, blood pressure control, digestion, respiration and promotion of learning and memory.В NO, found naturally in the human body, is potentially analgesic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, depending on the biological circumstances.
В Dr. Ignarro described how Ca/CaM activates the enzymes responsible for healthy NO production, the precise binding mechanism triggered by Electroceuticals.В
В Diana Casper, PhD., is a neurobiologist at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, specializing in neurodegeneration.В She runs the neurosurgery lab at the Montefiore Medical Center. В В
В Casper gave a short history of Parkinson's disease, including pathology and treatments.В She highlighted a 2003 study that determined Parkinson's may be related to inflammation of brain cells, which lasts until death.В Having learned about the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields, Casper became interested in the possibility that PEMF may help increase neuronal survival in response to inflammation.
В While Casper's research is ongoing, she showed preliminary data which demonstrated the promise of PEMF on neurodegenerative diseases.В Cultures treated with PEMF demonstrated improved neuronal survival.В She also presented data demonstrating decreases in acute inflammation after brain trauma, potentially promising work for problems of inflammation associate with brain trauma.В In a third study, Casper's lab demonstrated that PEMF increases NO levels, which, in turn, has neuroprotective properties.В
В Casper proposed next steps involve animal studies using models of neurodegenerative diseases.В Among the possible neuronal applications for PEMF treatments are Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease.
В In addition to the keynote speakers, attendees and panelists included several practicing clinicians who described their successful experiences using Electroceuticals to treat patients.В One clinician described his ongoing study of the effect of Electroceuticals on heart disease, based on the known effects of Electroceuticals in improving angiogenesis.
В To access the complete Symposium proceedings please log on to http://www.ivivitechnolgies.com.
В About Ivivi Technologies:
Ivivi Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: II) is a medical technology company focusing on designing, developing and commercializing its proprietary electrotherapeutic technology platform.В Ivivi's research and development activities are focused specifically on pulsed electromagnetic field, or PEMF, technology, which, by creating a therapeutic electrical current in injured soft tissue, stimulates biochemical and physiological healing processes to help repair the injured tissue and reduce related pain and inflammation.В Since the mid-1990's, the Company's Electroceuticals™ have been used for a wide array of conditions, including chronic wounds, pain and edema following plastic and reconstructive surgery and chronic inflammatory disorders.
В Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains "forward looking statements" that are subject to risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the Company's limited operating history, history of significant and continued operating losses and substantial accumulated earnings deficit, difficulties with its financial accounting controls, the failure of the market for the Company's products to continue to develop, the inability for customers to receive third party reimbursement, the inability to obtain additional capital, the inability to protect the Company's intellectual property, the loss of any executive officers or key personnel or consultants, competition, changes in the regulatory landscape or the imposition of regulations that affect the Company's products and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's registration statement on Form SB-2.В These risks could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company.В The Company assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.
В Speakers discussed how advances in physics, biology and engineering have all begun to allow medical clinicians to directly affect the electrochemical processes that control all biological processes.В The complete proceedings, which are summarized below, can be accessed at http://www.ivivitechnologies.com.
В В "The science of Electroceuticals is so rich; it is always thrilling to bring such incredible minds together to discuss this exciting field," said Andre DiMino, founder and Co-CEO of Ivivi Technologies, Inc., a company dedicated to the field of electrotherapeutics and sponsor of the symposium.
В DiMino introduced the symposium line-up.В Some key presenters and panelists included:
В Arthur Pilla, PhD., the original developer of bone growth stimulation technology and a leading authority on bioelectromagnetic responses in therapeutic medical applications provided a "state of the science" and discussed the creation and identification of electrotherapeutic signals.В
В Pilla, a professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, said that applications for which Electroceuticals are already known to be effective include the healing of recalcitrant bone fractures, increasing the success rate of spinal fusion from 50% to 85%, healing chronic and acute soft tissue wounds, suppressing the body's inflammatory response, increasing local blood circulation, and perhaps most exciting, encouraging angiogenesis.
В Pilla also discussed the practical effects of electrotheraputic technologies вЂ" namely reducing costs of healthcare by reducing surgery and morbidity.В In 1980, bone growth stimulators reduced the cost of health care for delayed union fractures by tenfold. In fact, recent studies have shown Electroceuticals' tremendous promise to significantly reduce healing time, including 59% on surgical wounds, 69% on tendons and 70% on chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers. В
В Pilla then took attendees across the evolution of the technology to today's Electroceuticals which activate the Calcium(Ca)-Calmodulin(CaM)-Nitric Oxide(NO) pathways that are at the core of the body's healing cascade.
В Louis Ignarro, PhD., who received the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology for his seminal work on the biological importance of nitric oxide, gave a presentation on the link between Nitric Oxide (NO) and the biological cascade stimulated by the application of Electroceuticals.
В Ignarro, a professor of pharmacology at UCLA, began by discussing the discovery of biological importance of NO, its pharmacological uses, and his discovery that arteries produce NO that maintains the health of the vasculature.В One well-known outcome is the discovery that NO was the neurotransmitter that stimulated male erections, leading to the development of Viagra.В
В Ignarro's research has discovered that NO has a multitude of functions in the body, helping to regulate processes that include angiogenesis, blood pressure control, digestion, respiration and promotion of learning and memory.В NO, found naturally in the human body, is potentially analgesic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, depending on the biological circumstances.
В Dr. Ignarro described how Ca/CaM activates the enzymes responsible for healthy NO production, the precise binding mechanism triggered by Electroceuticals.В
В Diana Casper, PhD., is a neurobiologist at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, specializing in neurodegeneration.В She runs the neurosurgery lab at the Montefiore Medical Center. В В
В Casper gave a short history of Parkinson's disease, including pathology and treatments.В She highlighted a 2003 study that determined Parkinson's may be related to inflammation of brain cells, which lasts until death.В Having learned about the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields, Casper became interested in the possibility that PEMF may help increase neuronal survival in response to inflammation.
В While Casper's research is ongoing, she showed preliminary data which demonstrated the promise of PEMF on neurodegenerative diseases.В Cultures treated with PEMF demonstrated improved neuronal survival.В She also presented data demonstrating decreases in acute inflammation after brain trauma, potentially promising work for problems of inflammation associate with brain trauma.В In a third study, Casper's lab demonstrated that PEMF increases NO levels, which, in turn, has neuroprotective properties.В
В Casper proposed next steps involve animal studies using models of neurodegenerative diseases.В Among the possible neuronal applications for PEMF treatments are Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease.
В In addition to the keynote speakers, attendees and panelists included several practicing clinicians who described their successful experiences using Electroceuticals to treat patients.В One clinician described his ongoing study of the effect of Electroceuticals on heart disease, based on the known effects of Electroceuticals in improving angiogenesis.
В To access the complete Symposium proceedings please log on to http://www.ivivitechnolgies.com.
В About Ivivi Technologies:
Ivivi Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: II) is a medical technology company focusing on designing, developing and commercializing its proprietary electrotherapeutic technology platform.В Ivivi's research and development activities are focused specifically on pulsed electromagnetic field, or PEMF, technology, which, by creating a therapeutic electrical current in injured soft tissue, stimulates biochemical and physiological healing processes to help repair the injured tissue and reduce related pain and inflammation.В Since the mid-1990's, the Company's Electroceuticals™ have been used for a wide array of conditions, including chronic wounds, pain and edema following plastic and reconstructive surgery and chronic inflammatory disorders.
В Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains "forward looking statements" that are subject to risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the Company's limited operating history, history of significant and continued operating losses and substantial accumulated earnings deficit, difficulties with its financial accounting controls, the failure of the market for the Company's products to continue to develop, the inability for customers to receive third party reimbursement, the inability to obtain additional capital, the inability to protect the Company's intellectual property, the loss of any executive officers or key personnel or consultants, competition, changes in the regulatory landscape or the imposition of regulations that affect the Company's products and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's registration statement on Form SB-2.В These risks could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company.В The Company assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.
Dental Researchers Test No-Needle Anesthesia, No-Drilling Cavity Care
Imagine having a decayed tooth repaired, painlessly, without drilling or shots of anesthesia to numb the area.
Wishful thinking? Not if two studies being conducted at the University at Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine show positive results.
In one study, funded by a $100,000 grant by Apollonia, LLC, researchers in the school's Center for Dental Studies are testing a nasal spray that numbs the upper teeth.
"If this study is successful," said Sebastian Ciancio, D.D.S., principal investigator on the study, "it may mean the end of dental injections when dentists are performing procedures on the upper arch."
The second study, set to begin in coming months, will test the use of ozone to kill bacteria in a decayed tooth and its potential to eliminate the need for the dreaded drill, at least to repair simple cavities. Researchers at UB and two other U.S. dental schools will conduct the research, which is funded by a $1.5 million grant from Curozone, Inc. and Kavo Dental Manufacturing Co. UB's portion is $400,000.
Ciancio, who also is the UB principal investigator on this study, said the ozone delivery device currently is being used in Europe. "If the U.S. studies are successful, it should be available in this country in about two years," he said.
The nasal spray study is testing the effectiveness in dental procedures of a topical anesthetic normally used by ear, nose and throat physicians when they operate on the nose. Patients who received this anesthetic for that purpose reported it also numbed their upper teeth, sparking interest in using it for dental procedures.
"We currently are testing to determine what the optimal dose is for this spray when used as an anesthetic agent for the maxillary (upper) teeth," said Ciancio. "The current study includes 85 patients and should be completed by the end of January and will be followed by a second study in March. Once we know the results, we'll then test it in a broader population."
Co-investigators, all from the UB dental school, are Eugene Pantera, D.D.S., Sandra Shostad, D.D.S., and Joseph Bonavilla, D.D.S.
The ozone study will evaluate the effectiveness of the ozone delivery device, which fits over a tooth and forms an airtight seal, in arresting tooth decay. The study will enroll 125 participants and will last 18 months.
"Following application of the ozone, patients will use a remineralizing solution, which strengthens the weakened tooth structure and, in many cases, eliminates the need for any dental drilling," said Ciancio.
Additional investigators on this study are Othman Shibly, D.D.S., Jude Fabiano, D.D.S., Benita Sobieroj, D.D.S., Maureen Donley, D.D.S., and Nina Kim, D.D.S., all from the UB dental school faculty.
Contact: Lois Baker
University at Buffalo
Wishful thinking? Not if two studies being conducted at the University at Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine show positive results.
In one study, funded by a $100,000 grant by Apollonia, LLC, researchers in the school's Center for Dental Studies are testing a nasal spray that numbs the upper teeth.
"If this study is successful," said Sebastian Ciancio, D.D.S., principal investigator on the study, "it may mean the end of dental injections when dentists are performing procedures on the upper arch."
The second study, set to begin in coming months, will test the use of ozone to kill bacteria in a decayed tooth and its potential to eliminate the need for the dreaded drill, at least to repair simple cavities. Researchers at UB and two other U.S. dental schools will conduct the research, which is funded by a $1.5 million grant from Curozone, Inc. and Kavo Dental Manufacturing Co. UB's portion is $400,000.
Ciancio, who also is the UB principal investigator on this study, said the ozone delivery device currently is being used in Europe. "If the U.S. studies are successful, it should be available in this country in about two years," he said.
The nasal spray study is testing the effectiveness in dental procedures of a topical anesthetic normally used by ear, nose and throat physicians when they operate on the nose. Patients who received this anesthetic for that purpose reported it also numbed their upper teeth, sparking interest in using it for dental procedures.
"We currently are testing to determine what the optimal dose is for this spray when used as an anesthetic agent for the maxillary (upper) teeth," said Ciancio. "The current study includes 85 patients and should be completed by the end of January and will be followed by a second study in March. Once we know the results, we'll then test it in a broader population."
Co-investigators, all from the UB dental school, are Eugene Pantera, D.D.S., Sandra Shostad, D.D.S., and Joseph Bonavilla, D.D.S.
The ozone study will evaluate the effectiveness of the ozone delivery device, which fits over a tooth and forms an airtight seal, in arresting tooth decay. The study will enroll 125 participants and will last 18 months.
"Following application of the ozone, patients will use a remineralizing solution, which strengthens the weakened tooth structure and, in many cases, eliminates the need for any dental drilling," said Ciancio.
Additional investigators on this study are Othman Shibly, D.D.S., Jude Fabiano, D.D.S., Benita Sobieroj, D.D.S., Maureen Donley, D.D.S., and Nina Kim, D.D.S., all from the UB dental school faculty.
Contact: Lois Baker
University at Buffalo
Low-Dose Steroids Reduce Joint Damage From Rheumatoid Arthritis
Low doses of steroids can inhibit joint damage when used in the early phase of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new review of evidence.
High-quality evidence supports combining the pills with standard medications in the first two years after diagnosis. "Such treatment should be made readily available to patients," say review authors led by John Kirwan of Liverpool Women's Hospital in England.
Concern exists about the side effects of steroid therapy, however. High doses can contribute to heart disease, osteoporosis and other complications. Questions remain about whether smaller doses lead to similar problems.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy joint tissue. The hands and feet are frequently affected, and as the disease progresses it can cause pain, swelling, deformity and disability.
The steroids studied in the review are known as glucocorticoids and include the well-known anti-inflammatory prednisone. This medication is often prescribed in the first few months after diagnosis to relieve the discomfort of RA until slower-acting drugs begin protecting the joints.
Until now, concerns about side effects caused most rheumatologists to "put people on the lowest possible dose of steroids and get them off it as soon as possible," said Scott Zashin, M.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. "Now, we have to give steroids a little more respect."
The review appears in the most recent issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
The systematic review is based on 15 studies including 1,414 patients. In most of the studies, patients received low doses of glucocorticoid pills along with so-called disease-modifying drugs for one to two years. Periodic X-rays revealed the extent of joint erosion and other signs of damage.
All studies except one showed reduced progression of joint damage in patients taking glucocorticoids. When reviewers used statistical methods to focus on only the highest-quality data, the benefits remained statistically significant.
"Even in the most conservative estimate, the evidence that glucocorticoids given in addition to standard therapy can substantially reduce the rate of erosion progression in rheumatoid arthritis is convincing," they say.
The authors say, however, that minimization of joint damage seen on X-rays may not equate to noticeable improvements for patients: "It does not necessarily follow that patients will gain long-term functional benefit." However, two related studies, including one by Kirwan, suggest "an important link" between the two.
Because of the known health risks associated with intensive steroid use, concern persists regarding long-term use at any level. The authors cite a 2006 systematic review covering the adverse effects of low-dose glucocorticoids, which concluded that "few of the commonly held beliefs about their incidence, prevalence and impact are supported by clear scientific evidence."
Moreover, safety data from recent randomized controlled clinical trials of low-dose steroids for RA suggest that negative side effects are "modest" and similar to those of sham treatments, say Kirwan and colleagues. Additionally, the most immediate concern -- reduced bone mineral density -- can now be readily treated.
Nevertheless, potential adverse reactions to glucocorticoid therapy merit further research, say the authors, as does usefulness of steroid treatment for patients who have had rheumatoid arthritis for 3 years or more.
Zashin urges patients recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis to see a rheumatologist without delay. Early and aggressive treatment can prevent severe joint damage and disability for most people, he says.
###
Kirwan JR, et al. Effects of glucocorticoids on radiological progression in rheumatoid arthritis (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 1.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit http://www.cochrane.org/ for more information.
Contact: Lisa Esposito
Center for the Advancement of Health
High-quality evidence supports combining the pills with standard medications in the first two years after diagnosis. "Such treatment should be made readily available to patients," say review authors led by John Kirwan of Liverpool Women's Hospital in England.
Concern exists about the side effects of steroid therapy, however. High doses can contribute to heart disease, osteoporosis and other complications. Questions remain about whether smaller doses lead to similar problems.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy joint tissue. The hands and feet are frequently affected, and as the disease progresses it can cause pain, swelling, deformity and disability.
The steroids studied in the review are known as glucocorticoids and include the well-known anti-inflammatory prednisone. This medication is often prescribed in the first few months after diagnosis to relieve the discomfort of RA until slower-acting drugs begin protecting the joints.
Until now, concerns about side effects caused most rheumatologists to "put people on the lowest possible dose of steroids and get them off it as soon as possible," said Scott Zashin, M.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. "Now, we have to give steroids a little more respect."
The review appears in the most recent issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.
The systematic review is based on 15 studies including 1,414 patients. In most of the studies, patients received low doses of glucocorticoid pills along with so-called disease-modifying drugs for one to two years. Periodic X-rays revealed the extent of joint erosion and other signs of damage.
All studies except one showed reduced progression of joint damage in patients taking glucocorticoids. When reviewers used statistical methods to focus on only the highest-quality data, the benefits remained statistically significant.
"Even in the most conservative estimate, the evidence that glucocorticoids given in addition to standard therapy can substantially reduce the rate of erosion progression in rheumatoid arthritis is convincing," they say.
The authors say, however, that minimization of joint damage seen on X-rays may not equate to noticeable improvements for patients: "It does not necessarily follow that patients will gain long-term functional benefit." However, two related studies, including one by Kirwan, suggest "an important link" between the two.
Because of the known health risks associated with intensive steroid use, concern persists regarding long-term use at any level. The authors cite a 2006 systematic review covering the adverse effects of low-dose glucocorticoids, which concluded that "few of the commonly held beliefs about their incidence, prevalence and impact are supported by clear scientific evidence."
Moreover, safety data from recent randomized controlled clinical trials of low-dose steroids for RA suggest that negative side effects are "modest" and similar to those of sham treatments, say Kirwan and colleagues. Additionally, the most immediate concern -- reduced bone mineral density -- can now be readily treated.
Nevertheless, potential adverse reactions to glucocorticoid therapy merit further research, say the authors, as does usefulness of steroid treatment for patients who have had rheumatoid arthritis for 3 years or more.
Zashin urges patients recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis to see a rheumatologist without delay. Early and aggressive treatment can prevent severe joint damage and disability for most people, he says.
###
Kirwan JR, et al. Effects of glucocorticoids on radiological progression in rheumatoid arthritis (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 1.
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international nonprofit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. Visit http://www.cochrane.org/ for more information.
Contact: Lisa Esposito
Center for the Advancement of Health
2 Minutes Conversation prevents RX - Wrong-Site Surgery
A study of Johns Hopkins surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses suggests that hospital policies requiring a brief preoperation "team meeting" to make sure surgery is performed on the right patient and the right part of the body could decrease errors.
In the study, which will appear in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Hopkins OR personnel were "very positive" about the briefings, according to surgeon Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Surgical Outcomes Research and lead author of the study.
"Although we lack systems for uniform reporting of wrong-site surgeries to understand the extent of the problem, we observed team meetings increase the awareness of OR personnel with regard to the site and procedure and their perceptions of operating rooms safety" says Makary. He stressed that wrong-site surgery is exceptionally rare but entirely preventable.
A study published last year in the Archives of Surgery that looked at 2.8 million operations in Massachusetts over a 20-year period suggests that the rate of "wrong-site" surgery anywhere other than the spine is 1 in every 112,994 operations. The study excluded the spine because researchers defined wrong-site surgeries as operations conducted on a different organ or body part than intended by the surgeon and patient. Since the spine is one body part, even though a surgeon may have operated on the wrong part of the spine, technically it is still the right part of the body.
The Joint Commission, which evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, requires hospitals to have a presurgical conversation in the OR before every surgery.
Although Makary says no national standard was set by the Joint Commission, he and others led efforts at Hopkins to enforce the mandate, developing a standardized OR briefing program that became Hopkins Hospital policy in June 2006. Since then, he has collaborated with Rochester University, Yale, Columbia and Cornell and the World Health Organization to broaden the use and reach of the Hopkins program.
The briefing consists of a two-minute meeting during which all members of the OR team state their name and role, and the lead surgeon identifies and verifies such critical components of the operation as the patient's identity, the surgical site and other patient safety concerns. The briefing is performed after anesthesia is administered and prior to incision.
A survey, among 147 surgeons, 59 anesthesiologists, 187 nurses and 29 other OR staff, was given twice - before implementing the policy and after it had been in effect for three-months.
After training, a 13.2 percent increase in those who believed the policy would be effective was recorded among the OR personnel. And more than 90 percent agreed that "a team discussion before a surgical procedure is important for patient safety."
"The Joint Commission identified communication breakdowns as the most common root cause of wrong-site surgeries," says Makary. "Our research indicates that OR personnel see presurgical briefings as a useful tool to help prevent such errors."
Before the new policy was implemented, Makary notes, many surgeons would walk into the OR and start working without a conversation of any kind and without even knowing the names of the nurses and other staff who were assisting them.
###
The survey is based on a similar questionnaire designed by the airline industry to assess programs designed to reduce safety errors.
Hopkins faculty members Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D., and Bryan Sexton, Ph.D., also contributed to the article.
Contact: Eric Vohr
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
In the study, which will appear in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Hopkins OR personnel were "very positive" about the briefings, according to surgeon Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Surgical Outcomes Research and lead author of the study.
"Although we lack systems for uniform reporting of wrong-site surgeries to understand the extent of the problem, we observed team meetings increase the awareness of OR personnel with regard to the site and procedure and their perceptions of operating rooms safety" says Makary. He stressed that wrong-site surgery is exceptionally rare but entirely preventable.
A study published last year in the Archives of Surgery that looked at 2.8 million operations in Massachusetts over a 20-year period suggests that the rate of "wrong-site" surgery anywhere other than the spine is 1 in every 112,994 operations. The study excluded the spine because researchers defined wrong-site surgeries as operations conducted on a different organ or body part than intended by the surgeon and patient. Since the spine is one body part, even though a surgeon may have operated on the wrong part of the spine, technically it is still the right part of the body.
The Joint Commission, which evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, requires hospitals to have a presurgical conversation in the OR before every surgery.
Although Makary says no national standard was set by the Joint Commission, he and others led efforts at Hopkins to enforce the mandate, developing a standardized OR briefing program that became Hopkins Hospital policy in June 2006. Since then, he has collaborated with Rochester University, Yale, Columbia and Cornell and the World Health Organization to broaden the use and reach of the Hopkins program.
The briefing consists of a two-minute meeting during which all members of the OR team state their name and role, and the lead surgeon identifies and verifies such critical components of the operation as the patient's identity, the surgical site and other patient safety concerns. The briefing is performed after anesthesia is administered and prior to incision.
A survey, among 147 surgeons, 59 anesthesiologists, 187 nurses and 29 other OR staff, was given twice - before implementing the policy and after it had been in effect for three-months.
After training, a 13.2 percent increase in those who believed the policy would be effective was recorded among the OR personnel. And more than 90 percent agreed that "a team discussion before a surgical procedure is important for patient safety."
"The Joint Commission identified communication breakdowns as the most common root cause of wrong-site surgeries," says Makary. "Our research indicates that OR personnel see presurgical briefings as a useful tool to help prevent such errors."
Before the new policy was implemented, Makary notes, many surgeons would walk into the OR and start working without a conversation of any kind and without even knowing the names of the nurses and other staff who were assisting them.
###
The survey is based on a similar questionnaire designed by the airline industry to assess programs designed to reduce safety errors.
Hopkins faculty members Peter J. Pronovost, M.D., Ph.D., and Bryan Sexton, Ph.D., also contributed to the article.
Contact: Eric Vohr
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Back Pain: When To Opt For Surgery, From The Harvard Health Letter
Low back pain is an extremely common condition: 80% of Americans experience at least one bout of it some time during their lives. Usually, rest, some pain relievers, and perhaps some exercises help it go away. But for many millions, the pain lingers and may become severe and debilitating. How do you know when back pain warrants surgery? The February 2007 issue of the Harvard Health Letter investigates.
Deciding to have surgery is never simple, but it's especially difficult when the back is involved. Many studies of back surgery have been small. Popular procedures have been questioned, and new ones get introduced before we really know how well they'll work over the long haul. It's hard enough for doctors to figure out what to do about surgery for back pain. Patients are often even more confused.
Back surgery is an option for people with long-lasting pain due to herniated disks, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disease. Studies have shown good results from spinal stenosis surgery, with any lingering pain controlled with medication. On the other hand, doctors are beginning to question whether too many surgeries are performed to treat degenerative disease. As for herniated disks, a recent study found that surgical and nonsurgical treatments worked equally well. An editorial accompanying the study said toss-up results show that the decision whether to have surgery is a matter of patient preference more than anything else.
Ideally, your primary care physician can walk you through your options- surgical and non-to get you to an effective treatment.
Harvard Health Publications
http://www.health.harvard.edu/health
Deciding to have surgery is never simple, but it's especially difficult when the back is involved. Many studies of back surgery have been small. Popular procedures have been questioned, and new ones get introduced before we really know how well they'll work over the long haul. It's hard enough for doctors to figure out what to do about surgery for back pain. Patients are often even more confused.
Back surgery is an option for people with long-lasting pain due to herniated disks, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disease. Studies have shown good results from spinal stenosis surgery, with any lingering pain controlled with medication. On the other hand, doctors are beginning to question whether too many surgeries are performed to treat degenerative disease. As for herniated disks, a recent study found that surgical and nonsurgical treatments worked equally well. An editorial accompanying the study said toss-up results show that the decision whether to have surgery is a matter of patient preference more than anything else.
Ideally, your primary care physician can walk you through your options- surgical and non-to get you to an effective treatment.
Harvard Health Publications
http://www.health.harvard.edu/health
Surgical Trauma In Back Surgery Lowered By Pretreating Spinal Cord With Local Anesthetic
Texas researchers believe that they have discovered how to prevent many cases of the most common problem encountered by patients undergoing spine surgery: failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).
FBSS occurs when surgery either fails to cure back pain or leads to additional chronic pain after a spinal operation.
In experiments using laboratory rats, neuroscientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) applied the local anesthetic Lidocaine to the animals' exposed spinal cords before subjecting the rats to simulated spinal surgery. They found the procedure prevented both the release of chemicals associated with FBSS and behavior typical of animals experiencing FBSS-caused pain.
A paper describing their investigation is in press at the journal Experimental Neurology, and will be available January 26 at the journal's Web site in the "Articles in Press" section.
"Our hypothesis is that the unintentional stretching and compression that can occur in the spinal cord during surgery causes the release of large quantities of chemicals called excitatory amino acids, which produce a toxic environment in the spine and cause long-term hyperexcitability in spinal neurons, generating chronic neuropathic pain - pain produced in the nerves themselves," said UTMB neuroscience and cell biology professor Claire Hulsebosch, a senior author of the paper along with UTMB neuroscience and cell biology professor David J. McAdoo. "When we applied Lidocaine to the surface of the spinal cord before conducting our surgery," Hulsebosch continued, "we found that those releases were completely blocked."
In addition, Hulsebosch noted, rats whose spines had been pretreated with the local anesthetic showed less sensitivity and scored much lower than non-treated rats on a standard test for symptoms of neuropathic pain. In the test, steadily increasing pressure is applied to a rat's hind paws with fishing-line-like filaments. Rats experiencing the hypersensitivity associated with chronic pain tend to withdraw their paws at very low pressures, while those without chronic nerve pain react only to much higher pressures.
Researchers involved in the experiment cautioned that FBSS is a somewhat loose diagnosis, one with multiple causes that also may include pre-existing conditions that spinal surgery does not successfully address. "It also has to be said that the model we used, in which we cut the nerves in the dorsal root on the surface of the spinal cord, involved a severe injury," said UTMB neuroscience graduate student and first author Brian Rooney "But we think it's a good representation of the sort of injury that can be produced by surgery."
###
Neuroscience postdoctoral fellow E.D. Crown also co-authored the paper. The research was supported by grants from the John S. Dunn Research Foundation and the West Endowment, as well as the Frank A. Liddell, Jr. Fund of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, TIRR Foundation's Mission Connect program and the National Institutes of Health.
Contact: Jim Kelly
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
FBSS occurs when surgery either fails to cure back pain or leads to additional chronic pain after a spinal operation.
In experiments using laboratory rats, neuroscientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) applied the local anesthetic Lidocaine to the animals' exposed spinal cords before subjecting the rats to simulated spinal surgery. They found the procedure prevented both the release of chemicals associated with FBSS and behavior typical of animals experiencing FBSS-caused pain.
A paper describing their investigation is in press at the journal Experimental Neurology, and will be available January 26 at the journal's Web site in the "Articles in Press" section.
"Our hypothesis is that the unintentional stretching and compression that can occur in the spinal cord during surgery causes the release of large quantities of chemicals called excitatory amino acids, which produce a toxic environment in the spine and cause long-term hyperexcitability in spinal neurons, generating chronic neuropathic pain - pain produced in the nerves themselves," said UTMB neuroscience and cell biology professor Claire Hulsebosch, a senior author of the paper along with UTMB neuroscience and cell biology professor David J. McAdoo. "When we applied Lidocaine to the surface of the spinal cord before conducting our surgery," Hulsebosch continued, "we found that those releases were completely blocked."
In addition, Hulsebosch noted, rats whose spines had been pretreated with the local anesthetic showed less sensitivity and scored much lower than non-treated rats on a standard test for symptoms of neuropathic pain. In the test, steadily increasing pressure is applied to a rat's hind paws with fishing-line-like filaments. Rats experiencing the hypersensitivity associated with chronic pain tend to withdraw their paws at very low pressures, while those without chronic nerve pain react only to much higher pressures.
Researchers involved in the experiment cautioned that FBSS is a somewhat loose diagnosis, one with multiple causes that also may include pre-existing conditions that spinal surgery does not successfully address. "It also has to be said that the model we used, in which we cut the nerves in the dorsal root on the surface of the spinal cord, involved a severe injury," said UTMB neuroscience graduate student and first author Brian Rooney "But we think it's a good representation of the sort of injury that can be produced by surgery."
###
Neuroscience postdoctoral fellow E.D. Crown also co-authored the paper. The research was supported by grants from the John S. Dunn Research Foundation and the West Endowment, as well as the Frank A. Liddell, Jr. Fund of the Greater Houston Community Foundation, TIRR Foundation's Mission Connect program and the National Institutes of Health.
Contact: Jim Kelly
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Role Of Anesthetics In Alzheimer's Disease
Inhaled anesthetics commonly used in surgery are more likely to cause the aggregation of Alzheimer's disease-related plaques in the brain than intravenous anesthetics say University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers in a journal article published in Biochemistry. This is the first report using state-of-the-art nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic technique to explain the detailed molecular mechanism behind the aggregation of amyloid B (AB) peptide due to various anesthetics.
AB plaques are found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Many believe that the uncontrolled clumping of AB is the cause of Alzheimer's disease and that the similar aggregation of peptides and proteins play a role in the development of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
"Many people know of or have heard of an elderly person who went into surgery where they received anesthesia and when they woke up they had noticeable memory loss or cognitive dysfunction," said Pravat K. Mandal, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and lead author of the study. Previous studies by the Pittsburgh researchers found that the inhaled anesthetics halothane and isoflurane and the intravenous anesthetic propofol encouraged the growth and clumping of AB in a test tube experiment.
"Our prior research had shown in molecular models that anesthetics may play a role by causing amyloid peptides to clump together - something that is thought to signal the advancement of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we set out to see why this was happening and to determine if any one form of anesthesia might be a safer option than another," said Dr. Mandal.
In this study the researchers used NMR spectroscopy to determine how the inhaled anesthetics halothane and isoflurane and the intravenous anesthetics propofol and thiopental interact with AB influencing the aggregation of AB in forms commonly found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The results were strikingly different between the inhaled and injected anesthetics. The inhaled halothane and isoflurane had the most potent interaction with AB peptides causing the highest levels of AB aggregation. The injected anesthetic propofol only interacted and caused aggregation at high concentrations - interaction was not evident at lower concentrations. The intravenous thiopental did not cause the clustering of AB peptides even at high concentrations. Additionally, the molecular details for the interaction of these anesthetics with AB peptide were revealed.
Dr. Mandal noted that if the same thing occurs in humans, anesthetics could lead to more amyloid plaques which may lead to earlier memory problems, warranting further studies of anesthetics with AB both in laboratory and clinical settings.
###
The study was partly funded through grants from the American Parkinson Disease Association and American Health Assistance Foundation.
Contact: Jocelyn Uhl Duffy
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
AB plaques are found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Many believe that the uncontrolled clumping of AB is the cause of Alzheimer's disease and that the similar aggregation of peptides and proteins play a role in the development of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.
"Many people know of or have heard of an elderly person who went into surgery where they received anesthesia and when they woke up they had noticeable memory loss or cognitive dysfunction," said Pravat K. Mandal, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and lead author of the study. Previous studies by the Pittsburgh researchers found that the inhaled anesthetics halothane and isoflurane and the intravenous anesthetic propofol encouraged the growth and clumping of AB in a test tube experiment.
"Our prior research had shown in molecular models that anesthetics may play a role by causing amyloid peptides to clump together - something that is thought to signal the advancement of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we set out to see why this was happening and to determine if any one form of anesthesia might be a safer option than another," said Dr. Mandal.
In this study the researchers used NMR spectroscopy to determine how the inhaled anesthetics halothane and isoflurane and the intravenous anesthetics propofol and thiopental interact with AB influencing the aggregation of AB in forms commonly found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The results were strikingly different between the inhaled and injected anesthetics. The inhaled halothane and isoflurane had the most potent interaction with AB peptides causing the highest levels of AB aggregation. The injected anesthetic propofol only interacted and caused aggregation at high concentrations - interaction was not evident at lower concentrations. The intravenous thiopental did not cause the clustering of AB peptides even at high concentrations. Additionally, the molecular details for the interaction of these anesthetics with AB peptide were revealed.
Dr. Mandal noted that if the same thing occurs in humans, anesthetics could lead to more amyloid plaques which may lead to earlier memory problems, warranting further studies of anesthetics with AB both in laboratory and clinical settings.
###
The study was partly funded through grants from the American Parkinson Disease Association and American Health Assistance Foundation.
Contact: Jocelyn Uhl Duffy
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Empi Announces FDA Clearance Of Select(TM) TENS Device
Empi, a global market leader in non-invasive, non-systemic pain management and physical rehabilitation for more than 30 years, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance to market the Empi Select(TM) TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) device.
The Select(TM) device is designed specifically for the relief of chronic, arthritic, and post-surgical pain. The portable device can be used at home or on-the-go, and integrates site specific, preset treatment programs that make it convenient and easy-to-use. This feature ensures that the patient receives the appropriate electrotherapy treatment, specific to their condition and treatment site.
John Velure, Empi's Senior Director of Marketing, said, "The Select(TM) product is the first in a new generation of pain-management devices that are so easy to use that we believe patients will be more compliant and achieve more predictable pain relief than any of its predecessors. We believe that healthcare providers will take great comfort in knowing that their patients are getting the most appropriate treatment for their specific conditions."
The Select(TM) device also includes a patented SMP waveform that delivers maximum pain relief through the use of both endorphin release and gate control pathways. "Empi's primary focus is to offer healthcare providers non-invasive, non-systemic solutions for managing pain, usually as a complement to standard pharmacotherapies," said Peter Baird, Group President - Therapeutic Devices of Encore Medical Corporation, parent company of Empi.
The Select(TM) device represents the cornerstone of Empi's brand revitalization efforts and is the first new electrotherapy device to be developed by Empi following its 2006 merger with Compex Technologies, Inc., which operated under the name Rehabilicare. The jointly developed product draws on the best of the engineering and legacy devices of both predecessor companies.
The Select(TM) device will be available from Family Practice, Pain Management, Orthopedic and other physicians in mid-February, 2007.
About Empi
Empi is a global medical technology leader in designing and manufacturing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) devices, iontophoretic drug delivery systems, and splinting products used for pain management, rehabilitation and edema reduction in clinic, home healthcare, sports and occupational medicine settings. Empi is the largest operating division of Encore Medical Corporation, which is wholly owned by the Blackstone Group.
Further information is available at http://www.empi.com.
About Encore Medical Corporation
Encore Medical Corporation is a diversified orthopedic device company with leading positions in many of the markets in which it competes. Encore develops, manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of high-quality orthopedic devices used for rehabilitation, pain management and physical therapy. It also develops, manufactures and distributes a comprehensive suite of surgical reconstructive implant products. Encore believes that it is one of a few orthopedic device companies that offer healthcare professionals and patients a diverse range of orthopedic rehabilitation and surgical reconstructive implant products addressing the complete spectrum of pre- operative, post-operative, clinical and home rehabilitation care.
Further information is available at http://www.encoremed.com.
About The Blackstone Group
The Blackstone Group, a global private investment and advisory firm, was founded in 1985. The firm has raised a total of approximately $59 billion for alternative asset investing since its formation, of which roughly $27 billion has been for private equity investing. The healthcare sector is one of Blackstone's core areas of focus, with current investments in pharmaceuticals, hospitals, nursing homes, healthcare services and health insurance. Blackstone's other core businesses include Private Real Estate Investing, Corporate Debt Investing, Hedge Funds, Mutual Fund Management, Private Placement, Marketable Alternative Asset Management, and Investment Banking Advisory Services.
Further information is available at http://www.blackstone.com.
Encore Medical Corporation
http://www.encoremed.com
The Select(TM) device is designed specifically for the relief of chronic, arthritic, and post-surgical pain. The portable device can be used at home or on-the-go, and integrates site specific, preset treatment programs that make it convenient and easy-to-use. This feature ensures that the patient receives the appropriate electrotherapy treatment, specific to their condition and treatment site.
John Velure, Empi's Senior Director of Marketing, said, "The Select(TM) product is the first in a new generation of pain-management devices that are so easy to use that we believe patients will be more compliant and achieve more predictable pain relief than any of its predecessors. We believe that healthcare providers will take great comfort in knowing that their patients are getting the most appropriate treatment for their specific conditions."
The Select(TM) device also includes a patented SMP waveform that delivers maximum pain relief through the use of both endorphin release and gate control pathways. "Empi's primary focus is to offer healthcare providers non-invasive, non-systemic solutions for managing pain, usually as a complement to standard pharmacotherapies," said Peter Baird, Group President - Therapeutic Devices of Encore Medical Corporation, parent company of Empi.
The Select(TM) device represents the cornerstone of Empi's brand revitalization efforts and is the first new electrotherapy device to be developed by Empi following its 2006 merger with Compex Technologies, Inc., which operated under the name Rehabilicare. The jointly developed product draws on the best of the engineering and legacy devices of both predecessor companies.
The Select(TM) device will be available from Family Practice, Pain Management, Orthopedic and other physicians in mid-February, 2007.
About Empi
Empi is a global medical technology leader in designing and manufacturing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) devices, iontophoretic drug delivery systems, and splinting products used for pain management, rehabilitation and edema reduction in clinic, home healthcare, sports and occupational medicine settings. Empi is the largest operating division of Encore Medical Corporation, which is wholly owned by the Blackstone Group.
Further information is available at http://www.empi.com.
About Encore Medical Corporation
Encore Medical Corporation is a diversified orthopedic device company with leading positions in many of the markets in which it competes. Encore develops, manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of high-quality orthopedic devices used for rehabilitation, pain management and physical therapy. It also develops, manufactures and distributes a comprehensive suite of surgical reconstructive implant products. Encore believes that it is one of a few orthopedic device companies that offer healthcare professionals and patients a diverse range of orthopedic rehabilitation and surgical reconstructive implant products addressing the complete spectrum of pre- operative, post-operative, clinical and home rehabilitation care.
Further information is available at http://www.encoremed.com.
About The Blackstone Group
The Blackstone Group, a global private investment and advisory firm, was founded in 1985. The firm has raised a total of approximately $59 billion for alternative asset investing since its formation, of which roughly $27 billion has been for private equity investing. The healthcare sector is one of Blackstone's core areas of focus, with current investments in pharmaceuticals, hospitals, nursing homes, healthcare services and health insurance. Blackstone's other core businesses include Private Real Estate Investing, Corporate Debt Investing, Hedge Funds, Mutual Fund Management, Private Placement, Marketable Alternative Asset Management, and Investment Banking Advisory Services.
Further information is available at http://www.blackstone.com.
Encore Medical Corporation
http://www.encoremed.com
Physical Therapy Can Help Relieve Boomers' Back Pain
Because of increasingly demanding jobs, hectic daily schedules, participating in recreational activities, and caring for children, grandchildren, and elderly parents, back pain is becoming a common thread among baby boomers. However, this generation is less resigned to simply accept the changes brought about by aging, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964 and who now make up one fourth of the U.S. population, are leading more active lifestyles than previous generations. "Baby boomers are as active as they were when they were younger, but now they're living with chronic low back pain or osteoarthritis," says Jennifer Gamboa, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, owner of Body Dynamics, a physical therapy private practice in Arlington, VA. "These conditions as well as others can benefit greatly from physical therapy intervention."
Back pain among baby boomers will be the subject of a toll-free national hotline on Thursday, February 15, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time, sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association's Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy Sections. Physical therapists will be on hand to answer questions about injury prevention, exercise, and ways to prevent back pain. The hotline is offered as a public service to help people learn how to minimize back pain and is not a substitute for a visit to a physical therapist or other health care professional.
"Frequently, patients may unknowingly exacerbate their pain by exercising improperly or by having poor posture," Gamboa said. Physical therapists can help to identify and correct those behaviors. Physical therapists work on increasing muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance, restoring and improving range of motion in joints, and decreasing muscle and joint pain.
Physical therapy interventions may include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and functional training, as well as exercises for strength, flexibility, and range of motion, and devices designed to rest or support the joint, such as orthotics or splints. "The goal of a physical therapist is to get you back to doing what you enjoy on a daily basis with as little discomfort as possible."
For those patients who either are just starting an exercise regime, or for injured weekend warriors just getting back in the game, Gamboa recommends starting off slowly and not doing too much too fast. She notes that physical therapists devise step-wise plans in order for patients to gain strength and mobility.
Gamboa also suggests investing in an ergonomically correct chair for work, taking frequent breaks from computers, and participating in stress-relieving activities, such as yoga or meditation, to offset back pain.
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan of care using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability.
The American Physical Therapy Association (http://www.apta.org) is a national organization representing nearly 70,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students nationwide. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapist education, practice, and research. Consumers can access "Find a PT" to find a physical therapist in their area, as well as physical therapy news and information at http://www.apta.org/consumer.
American Physical Therapy Association
http://www.apta.org/
Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964 and who now make up one fourth of the U.S. population, are leading more active lifestyles than previous generations. "Baby boomers are as active as they were when they were younger, but now they're living with chronic low back pain or osteoarthritis," says Jennifer Gamboa, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC, owner of Body Dynamics, a physical therapy private practice in Arlington, VA. "These conditions as well as others can benefit greatly from physical therapy intervention."
Back pain among baby boomers will be the subject of a toll-free national hotline on Thursday, February 15, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time, sponsored by the American Physical Therapy Association's Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy Sections. Physical therapists will be on hand to answer questions about injury prevention, exercise, and ways to prevent back pain. The hotline is offered as a public service to help people learn how to minimize back pain and is not a substitute for a visit to a physical therapist or other health care professional.
"Frequently, patients may unknowingly exacerbate their pain by exercising improperly or by having poor posture," Gamboa said. Physical therapists can help to identify and correct those behaviors. Physical therapists work on increasing muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance, restoring and improving range of motion in joints, and decreasing muscle and joint pain.
Physical therapy interventions may include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and functional training, as well as exercises for strength, flexibility, and range of motion, and devices designed to rest or support the joint, such as orthotics or splints. "The goal of a physical therapist is to get you back to doing what you enjoy on a daily basis with as little discomfort as possible."
For those patients who either are just starting an exercise regime, or for injured weekend warriors just getting back in the game, Gamboa recommends starting off slowly and not doing too much too fast. She notes that physical therapists devise step-wise plans in order for patients to gain strength and mobility.
Gamboa also suggests investing in an ergonomically correct chair for work, taking frequent breaks from computers, and participating in stress-relieving activities, such as yoga or meditation, to offset back pain.
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan of care using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability.
The American Physical Therapy Association (http://www.apta.org) is a national organization representing nearly 70,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students nationwide. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapist education, practice, and research. Consumers can access "Find a PT" to find a physical therapist in their area, as well as physical therapy news and information at http://www.apta.org/consumer.
American Physical Therapy Association
http://www.apta.org/
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