Every 40 ticks, an individual in the USA suffers a stroke. As per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this adds up to roughly 795,000 strokes annually. Over 80% of stroke survivors confront difficulties in walking, frequently due to a decline in managing ankle motion. As survivors advance into the long-term phase of stroke, the majority tend to walk at a reduced pace and with diminished efficiency. A portable, flexible, and user-friendly ankle exosuit has the potential to change this situation. Specifically designed for autonomous usage in local environments, this innovative e ..read more

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has traditionally been considered a condition that predominantly affects white people of European ancestry. However, a new analysis conducted by a North American team led by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers suggests that the debilitating neurological condition MS is more prevalent in Black Americans than once thought. It is also far more prevalent in Northern regions of the country including New England, the Dakotas, and the Pacific Northwest. Findings from the new study were recently published in the journal JAMA Neurology. “We found a ..read more

Low-load blood flow-restricted resistance exercise (BFRRE), a form of strength training during which a pressure cuff partially restricts blood flow to the target muscle group, has been growing in popularity. New research out of Aarhus University in Denmark suggests that this exercise technique could reduce age-related muscle loss. The study is published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology. It was chosen as an APSselect article for May. The ability to maintain muscle mass and function as we age is associated with improved quality of life, metabolic health, and lon ..read more

A white coat symbolizes a significant moment for aspiring physical therapists: A strenuous year of memorizing minuscule functions of the human body that is commemorated with the donning of a jacket packed with meaning for any healthcare professional. And for this year’s recipients, it also carries with it the prospect of a growing job market. The coat, decorated with the Rutgers School of Health Professions (SHP) logo, lets the world know that these students are preparing for meaningful service in a physical therapy career. On May 22 on the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) campus ..read more

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has at long last issued a national coverage decision establishing power seat elevation equipment for power wheelchairs as durable medical equipment (DME) eligible for coverage by Medicare.  People with Medicare who perform transfers from power wheelchairs, or reach from their chair for mobility-related activities of daily living, such as dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding and bathing, can receive Medicare-covered seat elevation equipment effective immediately. This decision is expected to directly impact the quality of life for th ..read more

Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center is now offering Persona IQ, reportedly the world’s first and only smart knee implant for total knee replacement surgery. Persona IQ combines the Zimmer Biomet knee implant Persona The Personalized Knee, with implantable sensor technology that measures range of motion, step count, walking speed, and other gait metrics. “We’re excited to now offer Persona IQ to our patients considering knee replacement surgery,” says James C. Wittig, MD, chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Morristown Medical Center and medical director of Or ..read more

Invacare Holdings Corporation, a leading manufacturer and distributor of medical equipment used in non-acute care settings, announced that Invacare Corporation and its two U.S. subsidiaries, Freedom Designs Inc and Adaptive Switch Laboratories Inc, successfully emerged from Chapter 11 on May 5, 2023. Related: Invacare Files for Chapter 11 To Reorganize Finances “This marks the start of a new era for Invacare. With Chapter 11 behind us, we look to renew our commitment to operational excellence and drive profitable long-term growth in our core lifestyle and mobility and seating product categorie ..read more

Rehab Medical, a leader in complex rehab technology (CRT), announced the opening of its first customized mobility equipment location in Louisiana with the launch of its Baton Rouge office. Claire Murphy, a certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) who has worked in the Gulf Coast area for Rehab Medical over the previous five years, has recently been promoted and will lead the charge in delivering specialized mobility equipment to all those facing complex mobility challenges. Murphy is joined by a full office staff of eight employees to help improve the lives of those facing mobility ch ..read more

In a study published in Nature Communications, a team led by Krembil Brain Institute at UHN Senior Scientists, Drs Lorraine Kalia and Suneil Kalia, and University of Toronto (U of T) Professor, Dr Philip M. Kim, identified a protein-protein interaction that contributes to Parkinson’s disease. This research could lead to a new therapeutic target for Parkinson’s disease treatment. In the disease, a protein called α-synuclein (a-syn) accumulates in the brain and leads to cell death. Much research is currently focused on clearing a-syn with antibodies or using small molecu ..read more

BioGenCell, a leading personalized cell therapy solution provider, has partnered with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) as part of the company’s phase II clinical trials. The partnership will focus on the impact of BioGenCell’s treatment on those with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI also known as CLI), a debilitating condition commonly associated with diabetes. This is part of a worldwide multi-site placebo controlled trial in dozens of patients across North America, Europe, and Asia. In the United States alone, around two million patients suffer from CLTI, with costs r ..read more