Health News for June 2008
Health News for June 2008 from The People's Press, Wallingford and Meridens Community News and Newspaper brought to you by MidState Medical Center
American Heart Association rapid access journal report:
Stroke survivors walk better after human-assisted rehab
Walking therapy for stroke survivors is significantly more effective when conducted by a physical therapist instead of a robot, according a small study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Research suggests that, for a patient who has neurological damage from stroke or spinal cord injury, moving the legs in a way that mimics walking on a treadmill can facilitate walking recovery.
Physical therapists often assist stroke patients too weak to walk on their own by fitting them in a harness, putting them on a treadmill and helping them move as they would when walking. But this can be physically demanding on a therapist, and robotic devices have been developed as an alterative to relieve the therapist.
Some research has shown that robotic devices could improve walking ability, but recent animal studies have indicated that providing strict guidance during training could reduce the recovery achieved.
“We wanted to know whether using a robotic device that guides the limb in a symmetrical walking pattern would facilitate greater improvements in walking speed and symmetry than more traditional walking interventions with a physical therapist,” said T. George Hornby, Ph.D., M.P.T., the study’s lead author.
Hornby and colleagues studied 48 stroke survivors who had suffered strokes at least six months earlier and still had moderate to severe trouble walking because of weakness on one side of their bodies. Patients were randomly divided between robotic-assisted locomotor training, or traditional physical therapist-assisted locomotor therapy. During locomotor training, patients are fitted with a harness and suspended from a frame over the treadmill. All patients received 12 30-minute therapy sessions during the four to five weeks of the study.
“We found that stroke patients improved their walking whether they had the robotic device or the therapist helping them,” said Hornby, an assistant professor in the physical therapy department at the University of Illinois in Chicago. “However, the amount of improvement was greater in the therapist-assisted group.”
The researchers noted greater improvements in the therapist-assisted group in walking speed and patients’ amount of time spent on the weak leg during walking. Patients in the therapist-assisted group who had severe walking deficits also perceived that their quality of life improved after therapy because they had fewer physical limitations. The same was not true for the robotic therapy group.
The researchers hypothesize that the greater improvement in the therapist-assisted group was because physical therapists allow for human error, while the robotic device used in this study restricted movement and minimized errors.
“When learning to walk again, if people can make mistakes and realize their errors and change their behavior based on those errors, they may learn better,” Hornby said. “We also think that patients work harder and therefore improve more with therapists because the robotic device moved patients’ legs for them throughout the therapy. Therapists only help as needed.”
The results of the study are limited by the small size and because researchers and patients were aware of which therapy patients received (non-blinded).
The researchers suggest that the effectiveness of robotic devices may be best reserved for acute stroke patients who have no ability to walk on their own, while those who can walk independently — even at very slow speeds — may be better served by human-assisted therapy.
The National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Department of Education funded this research.
Improving Stroke Care Across Connecticut
MidState Medical Center Achieves Primary Stroke Center Designation
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that MidState Medical Center achieved the department’s Primary Stroke Center (PSC) Designation by demonstrating the necessary infrastructure, staffing and services to stabilize and treat most acute stroke patients.
“Connecticut is committed to reducing the devastating impact of stroke by designating these centers across the state that meets standards to improve the health outcomes for people who experience a stroke,” stated Governor M. Jodi Rell.
“Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Connecticut and a major cause of disability,” stated DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. “A concentrated approach to treating stroke victims and working to educate the public about stroke symptoms, is important because treating victims as quickly as possible is essential in preventing damage to brain function” he said.
Eleven criteria were assessed by DPH to assure that a PSC has the necessary infrastructure, staffing and services to stabilize and treat most acute stroke patients. The criteria for primary stroke center designation was developed by consensus with Connecticut clinicians and stakeholders invested in improving stroke related illnesses and deaths in the state.
“We are extremely proud of this accomplishment. Our certification by the Department of Public Health means that we have a high quality stroke program that is patient-focused, with clear cut guidelines for evaluation and treatment,” said Lori Nohilly, RN, MidState Medical Center Director of Inpatient Medicine.
All Connecticut licensed acute care hospitals may apply to DPH for primary care stroke center designation status. The program is voluntary and there is no fee to apply. To learn more about Primary Stroke Centers and stroke prevention visit the DPH website at www.ct.gov/dph and click “Programs and Services” and then click “Stroke Prevention.”
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state. To contact the department, please visit its website at www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-7270.
WALLINGFORD YMCA & WALLINGFORD PARKS AND REC HOSTING WATER SAFETY DAY AT COMMUNITY POOL
Sat. June 28 1-3PM. FREE to Wallingford residents. Demonstrations, information, fun, prizes.
MidState Medical Center's Cancer Center will be hosting its free annual skin screenings.
The comprehensive assessment will evaluate damage done to your skin.Monday, June 2 Tuesday, June 24 Paula Bevilaqua, MD Philip Shapiro, MD 5 – 6:30 p.m. 5:30 – 7 p.m.Screenings are located in Radiation Oncology. Call 694-8353 to register.
Sleep and The Older Adult – June 24, 2008
The Center for Successful Aging and MidState’s LaPlanche Clinic will be jointly sponsoring a presentation titled “Sleep and the Older Adult” on June 24, 2008. The presentation will be held from 10:30-11:30am in the mezzanine of the Max E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Center, located at 22 West Main Street in Meriden.
Rob McArthur, RRT, from the Sleep Care Center at MidState Medical Center, will be the presenter. He will discuss symptoms and treatment for common sleep disorders, what is involved in a sleep study, and what changes we need to make in our sleep patterns as we get older.
This presentation is free and open to the public. For more information please call Rita Kowalchik at the Meriden Health Department, 630-4222.
Controlling High Blood Pressure and High Blood Cholesterol:
What you Need to Know
As part of a new cardiovascular health program called W.I.S.H.H. (Women Interested in Staying Heart Healthy), the Meriden Health Department will be hosting a presentation on controlling high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol on July 8, 2008. The presentation will be held at the Meriden Public Library, located at 105 Miller Street, from 6:00-7:00pm.
Dr. Robert Golub, from Midstate Medical Center, will be the presenter. Heart healthy snacks will be served, and educational information will be available.
This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, please call Lea Crown, Community Health Educator, at 630-4238.
Take a Hike - National Trails Day is June 7, 2008
Come celebrate National Trails Day on June 7 from 10:00-11:30am at Dossin Beach Park, directly across the street from the Quinnipiac River Linear Walking Trail (Red Bridge) in Meriden. Meriden’s National Trail Partners will showcase educational exhibits, informational handouts and be on hand to answer your questions on Meriden’s natural resources and environmental issues.
Meriden’s National Trail Partners include the Meriden Conservation Commission, Meriden Land Trust, Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, and the Meriden Linear Trails Committee. In addition, the Meriden Health Department’s Meriden Movers community walking program will be giving out 50 free pedometers and walking logs to attendees (first come, first serve).
Wear your walking shoes and enjoy a morning walk down the trail. Light refreshments will be served, including nature bars courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods. Bring the family and enjoy a great day outside!
Mark Your Calendars – Health Fair August 9
Save the Date - the Meriden-Wallingford Branch of the NAACP, in partnership with the Community Health Center of Meriden and the Meriden Health Department, will be hosting its annual health and wellness fair on Saturday, August 9, from 11:00am-2:00pm at the Meriden HUB location.
Health information and screenings will be offered from over 50 vendors; raffle items will be available as well as fun entertainment, Double Dutch jump rope demonstrations, and Step performers. This family event is free, and all are welcome!
For more information on the event, please contact Angela Simpson at 630-4237. This is guaranteed to be a fun, informational event for everyone!
American Heart Association rapid access journal report:
Stroke survivors walk better after human-assisted rehab
Walking therapy for stroke survivors is significantly more effective when conducted by a physical therapist instead of a robot, according a small study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Research suggests that, for a patient who has neurological damage from stroke or spinal cord injury, moving the legs in a way that mimics walking on a treadmill can facilitate walking recovery.
Physical therapists often assist stroke patients too weak to walk on their own by fitting them in a harness, putting them on a treadmill and helping them move as they would when walking. But this can be physically demanding on a therapist, and robotic devices have been developed as an alterative to relieve the therapist.
Some research has shown that robotic devices could improve walking ability, but recent animal studies have indicated that providing strict guidance during training could reduce the recovery achieved.
“We wanted to know whether using a robotic device that guides the limb in a symmetrical walking pattern would facilitate greater improvements in walking speed and symmetry than more traditional walking interventions with a physical therapist,” said T. George Hornby, Ph.D., M.P.T., the study’s lead author.
Hornby and colleagues studied 48 stroke survivors who had suffered strokes at least six months earlier and still had moderate to severe trouble walking because of weakness on one side of their bodies. Patients were randomly divided between robotic-assisted locomotor training, or traditional physical therapist-assisted locomotor therapy. During locomotor training, patients are fitted with a harness and suspended from a frame over the treadmill. All patients received 12 30-minute therapy sessions during the four to five weeks of the study.
“We found that stroke patients improved their walking whether they had the robotic device or the therapist helping them,” said Hornby, an assistant professor in the physical therapy department at the University of Illinois in Chicago. “However, the amount of improvement was greater in the therapist-assisted group.”
The researchers noted greater improvements in the therapist-assisted group in walking speed and patients’ amount of time spent on the weak leg during walking. Patients in the therapist-assisted group who had severe walking deficits also perceived that their quality of life improved after therapy because they had fewer physical limitations. The same was not true for the robotic therapy group.
The researchers hypothesize that the greater improvement in the therapist-assisted group was because physical therapists allow for human error, while the robotic device used in this study restricted movement and minimized errors.
“When learning to walk again, if people can make mistakes and realize their errors and change their behavior based on those errors, they may learn better,” Hornby said. “We also think that patients work harder and therefore improve more with therapists because the robotic device moved patients’ legs for them throughout the therapy. Therapists only help as needed.”
The results of the study are limited by the small size and because researchers and patients were aware of which therapy patients received (non-blinded).
The researchers suggest that the effectiveness of robotic devices may be best reserved for acute stroke patients who have no ability to walk on their own, while those who can walk independently — even at very slow speeds — may be better served by human-assisted therapy.
The National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Department of Education funded this research.
Improving Stroke Care Across Connecticut
MidState Medical Center Achieves Primary Stroke Center Designation
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that MidState Medical Center achieved the department’s Primary Stroke Center (PSC) Designation by demonstrating the necessary infrastructure, staffing and services to stabilize and treat most acute stroke patients.
“Connecticut is committed to reducing the devastating impact of stroke by designating these centers across the state that meets standards to improve the health outcomes for people who experience a stroke,” stated Governor M. Jodi Rell.
“Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Connecticut and a major cause of disability,” stated DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. “A concentrated approach to treating stroke victims and working to educate the public about stroke symptoms, is important because treating victims as quickly as possible is essential in preventing damage to brain function” he said.
Eleven criteria were assessed by DPH to assure that a PSC has the necessary infrastructure, staffing and services to stabilize and treat most acute stroke patients. The criteria for primary stroke center designation was developed by consensus with Connecticut clinicians and stakeholders invested in improving stroke related illnesses and deaths in the state.
“We are extremely proud of this accomplishment. Our certification by the Department of Public Health means that we have a high quality stroke program that is patient-focused, with clear cut guidelines for evaluation and treatment,” said Lori Nohilly, RN, MidState Medical Center Director of Inpatient Medicine.
All Connecticut licensed acute care hospitals may apply to DPH for primary care stroke center designation status. The program is voluntary and there is no fee to apply. To learn more about Primary Stroke Centers and stroke prevention visit the DPH website at www.ct.gov/dph and click “Programs and Services” and then click “Stroke Prevention.”
The Connecticut Department of Public Health is the state’s leader in public health policy and advocacy with a mission to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of our state. To contact the department, please visit its website at www.ct.gov/dph or call (860) 509-7270.
WALLINGFORD YMCA & WALLINGFORD PARKS AND REC HOSTING WATER SAFETY DAY AT COMMUNITY POOL
Sat. June 28 1-3PM. FREE to Wallingford residents. Demonstrations, information, fun, prizes.
MidState Medical Center's Cancer Center will be hosting its free annual skin screenings.
The comprehensive assessment will evaluate damage done to your skin.Monday, June 2 Tuesday, June 24 Paula Bevilaqua, MD Philip Shapiro, MD 5 – 6:30 p.m. 5:30 – 7 p.m.Screenings are located in Radiation Oncology. Call 694-8353 to register.
Sleep and The Older Adult – June 24, 2008
The Center for Successful Aging and MidState’s LaPlanche Clinic will be jointly sponsoring a presentation titled “Sleep and the Older Adult” on June 24, 2008. The presentation will be held from 10:30-11:30am in the mezzanine of the Max E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Center, located at 22 West Main Street in Meriden.
Rob McArthur, RRT, from the Sleep Care Center at MidState Medical Center, will be the presenter. He will discuss symptoms and treatment for common sleep disorders, what is involved in a sleep study, and what changes we need to make in our sleep patterns as we get older.
This presentation is free and open to the public. For more information please call Rita Kowalchik at the Meriden Health Department, 630-4222.
Controlling High Blood Pressure and High Blood Cholesterol:
What you Need to Know
As part of a new cardiovascular health program called W.I.S.H.H. (Women Interested in Staying Heart Healthy), the Meriden Health Department will be hosting a presentation on controlling high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol on July 8, 2008. The presentation will be held at the Meriden Public Library, located at 105 Miller Street, from 6:00-7:00pm.
Dr. Robert Golub, from Midstate Medical Center, will be the presenter. Heart healthy snacks will be served, and educational information will be available.
This event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, please call Lea Crown, Community Health Educator, at 630-4238.
Take a Hike - National Trails Day is June 7, 2008
Come celebrate National Trails Day on June 7 from 10:00-11:30am at Dossin Beach Park, directly across the street from the Quinnipiac River Linear Walking Trail (Red Bridge) in Meriden. Meriden’s National Trail Partners will showcase educational exhibits, informational handouts and be on hand to answer your questions on Meriden’s natural resources and environmental issues.
Meriden’s National Trail Partners include the Meriden Conservation Commission, Meriden Land Trust, Quinnipiac River Watershed Association, and the Meriden Linear Trails Committee. In addition, the Meriden Health Department’s Meriden Movers community walking program will be giving out 50 free pedometers and walking logs to attendees (first come, first serve).
Wear your walking shoes and enjoy a morning walk down the trail. Light refreshments will be served, including nature bars courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods. Bring the family and enjoy a great day outside!
Mark Your Calendars – Health Fair August 9
Save the Date - the Meriden-Wallingford Branch of the NAACP, in partnership with the Community Health Center of Meriden and the Meriden Health Department, will be hosting its annual health and wellness fair on Saturday, August 9, from 11:00am-2:00pm at the Meriden HUB location.
Health information and screenings will be offered from over 50 vendors; raffle items will be available as well as fun entertainment, Double Dutch jump rope demonstrations, and Step performers. This family event is free, and all are welcome!
For more information on the event, please contact Angela Simpson at 630-4237. This is guaranteed to be a fun, informational event for everyone!
Labels: meriden wallingford newspaper, meriden wallingford newspaper news connecticut
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