Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Dysphagia affects the majority of individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and is not typically diagnosed until later in disease progression. This review will cover the current understanding of PD pathophysiology, and provides an overview of dysphagia in PD including diagnostic practices, gaps in knowledge, and future directions. RECENT FINDINGS: Many non-motor and other motor signs of PD appear in the prodrome prior to the manifestation of hall- mark signs and diagnosis...

ABSTRACT: External beam ionizing radiation is a fundamental component of cancer treatment and is incorporated into approximately 50% of cancer treatments. Radiation therapy causes cell death directly by apoptosis and indirectly by disruption of mitosis. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This study aims to inform rehabilitation clinicians of the visceral toxicities of radiation fibrosis syndrome and how to detect and diagnose these complications. RECENT FINDINGS: Latest research indicates that radiation toxicity is primarily related to radiation dose, patient co-morbidity, and concomitant use of chemotherapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite more than 6 decades of growth and transformation, the field of cancer rehabilitation has considerable room to evolve if it is to live up to its full potential. This article will discuss the importance of this evolution in the context of radiation late effects and serve as a call for the clinical and operational expansion of the field so that it can become a key component of comprehensive cancer care. RECENT FINDINGS: The clinical and operational challenges inherent in cancer survivors with radiation late effects necessitate different thinking with respect to how rehabilitation professionals evaluate and manage patients as well as how our institutions equip these professionals to practice at the highest possible level...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at a much greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the general population. This review discusses dietary patterns as a means of addressing modifiable risk factors following TBI exposure. Evidence-based resources for practicing Physiatrists and Brain Injury Medicine specialists pertaining to nutrition education and counseling are also provided. RECENT FINDINGS: We examined Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, plant-based, ketogenic, and intermittent fasting dietary patterns through publications of clinical trials and systematic reviews...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Spinal cord injury (SCI) creates unique needs that if not recognized and addressed timely can have detrimental effects on the health and quality of life (QOL) of people living with a SCI. Primary preventive health care is shown to decrease morbidity and mortality, yet the SCI population reportedly faces challenges getting access to this care. This area in SCI health care is still largely understudied with no consensus on the ideal way or which health care provider is best to provide primary care for this population...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The increased use of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) in clinical practice warrants achieving competency earlier in physiatrists' careers. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency programs have started incorporating formal MSKUS training in their curricula; however, significant heterogeneity remains in MSKUS education. RECENT FINDINGS: Numerous barriers contribute to the lack of consensus for MSKUS training during residency, but the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted in-person learning...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Our aim is to provide a historical review of the implementation of a cancer rehabilitation center in Brazil, active since 2008. We expect this data to support the implementation of other centers both in Brazil and worldwide. RECENT FINDINGS: Cancer rehabilitation delivery is fragmented and punctuated in most cases, and cancer rehabilitation centers are rare. Data on how to establish rehabilitation centers could facilitate the implementation of new centers...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To describe the various uses of telehealth as it applies to cancer rehabilitation and to review recent findings since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS: Telehealth has numerous applications in cancer rehabilitation including physiatry services, skilled therapies, exercise interventions, symptom management, and support groups. Numerous studies have shown that regular physician and skilled therapy services can be provided through telehealth platforms, though certain clinical situations may require in-person visits...

Purpose of Review: Adaptive sports (AdS), sports modified or created to accommodate persons with disabilities, have been gaining popularity over the last decade. The benefits of exercise in the able-bodied population are well-established. Literature in adaptive sport and the para-athlete continues to improve but is not yet as comprehensive as their able-bodied peers, in part due to the heterogeneity of participants. In this review, we appraise the recent literature pertaining to AdS and identify developing areas within the field...

Purpose of Review: Assessing and addressing the mental and behavioral health concerns of individuals with SCI during rehabilitation is crucial, as untreated mental health distress can lead to reduced gains in rehabilitation and poor overall health. This review provides an overview of the latest research on prevalence rates of common mental and behavioral health concerns in the SCI population, highlighting disability-specific factors that may impact traditional assessment and treatment of mental health concerns...

Purpose of Review: This review seeks to explore blood-based biomarkers with the potential for clinical implementation. Recent Findings: Emerging non-proteomic biomarkers hold promise for more accurate diagnostic and prognostic capabilities, especially in the subacute to chronic phase of TBI recovery. Further, there is a growing understanding of the overlap between TBI-related and Dementia-related blood biomarkers. Summary: Given the significant heterogeneity inherent in the clinical diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), there has been an exponential increase in TBI-related biomarker research over the past two decades...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Both traumatic and acquired brain injury can result in diffuse multifocal injury affecting both the pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts. Thus, these patients may exhibit signs of both upper motor neuron syndrome and movement disorder simultaneously which can further complicate diagnosis and management. We will be discussing movement disorders following acquired and traumatic brain injury. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple functions including speech, swallowing, posture, mobility, and activities of daily living can all be affected...

Purpose of Review: Extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 are abundant, including after recovery of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review seeks to explore the cognitive and neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19 and post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), including Long COVID syndromes. Furthermore, the review will discuss rehabilitation strategies for the emerging neurological consequences of COVID-19 to help those experiencing long-term effects of COVID-19. Recent Findings: There is emerging evidence depicting the neural involvement of COVID-19...

Purpose of Review: Telehealth and telerehabilitation in spinal cord injury (teleSCI) is a growing field that can improve access to care and improve health outcomes in the spinal cord injury population. This review provides an overview of the recent literature on the topic of teleSCI and provides insights on current evidence, future directions, and considerations when using teleSCI for clinical care. Recent Findings: TeleSCI is used most often for preventive health; management of chronic pain, anxiety, and depression; and rehabilitation-related interventions...

Purpose of Review: The aim of this paper is to explore current trends and advancements that lead to improved practitioner knowledge and patient care resulting in better outcomes. It is common for the physiatrist to lead the team of interprofessional practitioners in the care of individuals with upper limb absence. The focus of the care is to understand and access prosthetic options, but there are often other health factors and relevant issues to consider. Recent Findings: Some of the latest updates offer solutions to pain management, prosthetic control, access to relevant evidence, and outcomes-related data...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review article analyzes current evidence on the neurophysiology of swallowing during development and offers expert opinion on clinical implications and future research directions. RECENT FINDINGS: In the past five years, basic and clinical research has offered advances in our understanding of pediatric swallowing neurophysiology. Animal models have elucidated the role of brainstem circuits and the peripheral and central nervous system in neonatal swallowing...

Purpose of review: Currently, a lack of guidelines exists regarding best practices for occupational therapists (OTs) in the treatment and evaluation of oculomotor dysfunction following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Furthermore, individuals with TBI would benefit significantly from collaboration between OTs and optometrists during inpatient rehab. Recent findings: Although few articles examine interdisciplinary models of inpatient rehab care that include optometry, a recent pilot study is explored...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Providing rehabilitation to patients with cancer can be challenging due to the medical complexity associated with the illness and its treatments. This article provides the reader with a summary of frequently encountered medical conditions in the cancer population and associated safety considerations and precautions. An update on treatment modalities commonly used for symptom management is also presented. RECENT FINDINGS: Cancer and cancer treatments can cause changes in multiple organ systems...

Purpose: We review recent literature regarding aphasia therapy in the elderly. Relevant articles from the last 5 years were identified to determine whether or not there is evidence to support that various therapeutic approaches can have a positive effect on post-stroke aphasia in the elderly. Recent findings: There were no studies examining the effects of aphasia therapy specifically in the elderly within the timeframe searched. Therefore, we briefly summarize findings from 50 relevant studies that included large proportions of participants with post-stroke aphasia above the age of 65...

Purpose of review: to evaluate recent scientific research studies related to the changes in skeletal muscle after stroke and the presence of sarcopenia in stroke survivors to establish its incidence and effects on function. Recent Findings: Recently published findings on stroke-related sarcopenia are limited. This might be due to changes in the consensus definition of sarcopenia. Sarcopenia in stroke patients is estimated at 14 to 54%. The presence of sarcopenia at the time of a stroke can lead to worse recovery and functional outcomes...