British Association of Occupational Therapists and the College of Occupational Therapists:
Annual Conference 2010: call for papers – submission deadline 28th September 2009.
BAOT website 08/09.
Apprenticeship fund may encourage new support workers:
It is hoped a new £25 million fund to create over 5,000 more NHS apprenticeships will attract younger people to become physiotherapy support workers.
Health secretary Andy Burnham announced the fund on July 27, as part of the government's commitment to increase the number of public sector apprenticeships by 21,000.
CSP website 08/09.
Corticosteroid injection for trigger finger in adults:
Trigger finger is a disease of the tendons of the hand leading to triggering (locking) of affected fingers, dysfunction and pain. Available treatments include local injection with corticosteroids, surgery, or splinting.
Peters-Veluthamaningal C, van der Windt DAWM, Winters JC, Meyboom- de Jong B. Corticosteroid injection for trigger finger in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1.
Cochrane Library 08/09.
Rehabilitation interventions for foot drop in neuromuscular disease
Foot drop is the term commonly used to describe weakness or contracture of the muscles at the ankle joint. It may arise from many neuromuscular diseases. Interventions might include a 'wait and see' approach, physiotherapy, orthotics (appliances), surgery or drug therapy. The review update identified four randomised controlled trials that met the criteria for inclusion, including 152 participants in total. In one trial strength training had a significant beneficial effect on walking ability in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy), but no significant effect on walking ability in people with myotonic dystrophy. In another study strength training had no significant effect on ankle strength in people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Night splinting of the ankle had no significant effect on flexibility or muscle strength around the ankle in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and surgery on the Achilles tendon in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy had no significant effect on their walking ability. Further randomised controlled trials are needed.
Sackley C, Disler PB, Turner-Stokes L, Wade DT, Brittle N, Hoppitt T. Rehabilitation interventions for foot drop in neuromuscular disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 3.
Cochrane Library 08/09.
Bracing in external rotation for traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder.
Finestone A, Milgrom C, Radeva-Petrova DR, Rath E, Barchilon V, Beyth S, Jaber S, Safran O
Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, British Volume, 01 July 2009, vol./is. 91/7(918-921)
We undertook a prospective study in 51 male patients aged between 17 and 27 years to ascertain whether immobilisation after primary traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder in external rotation was more effective than immobilisation in internal rotation in preventing recurrent dislocation in a physically active population. Of the 51 patients, 24 were randomised to be treated by a traditional brace in internal rotation and 27 were immobilised in external rotation of 15 degrees to 20 degrees. After immobilisation, the patients undertook a standard regime of physiotherapy and were then assessed clinically for evidence of instability. When reviewed at a mean of 33.4 months (24 to 48) ten from the external rotation group (37%) and ten from the internal rotation group (41.7%) had sustained a further dislocation. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.74) between the groups. Our findings show that external rotation bracing may not be as effective as previously reported in preventing recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder.
(Athens username required for full text access).
CINAHL database 08/09.
Electropalatography for articulation disorders associated with cleft palate
Cleft palate is the most common congenital deformity of the face. It could affect speech acquisition, resulting in articulation errors that could persist into adulthood. Electropalatography (EPG) has been used in speech therapy with individuals who have articulation problems that are unresponsive to "standard treatment" procedures.
Lee ASY, Law J, Gibbon FE. Electropalatography for articulation disorders associated with cleft palate. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 3
Cochrane Library 08/09.
Research news:
Preparation for MHRA inspection course: Tuesday 6th October, 9.00 – 12.30 in the Postgraduate Medical Education Centre, Lincoln County Hospital.
Newslinc 24/08/09.
NIHR Research Design Service East Midlands Training Programme 2009/10
RDS East Midlands runs a series of courses for NHS and related social care professionals wishing to acquire or improve their research design skills. The courses are available FREE to anyone employed within the NHS, social care and voluntary organisations.
NIHR RDS for the East Midlands
Take Five featuring training events, research funding and the latest health news, and websites in neat little sets of five.
This bulletin is brought to you by the Library and Knowledge Services. It aims to keep you up-to-date with Allied Health Professional issues. At the beginning of each month, a librarian will update the bulletin with relevant information published in the preceding month. If there are areas you think we also need to cover, please let us know.
This bulletin is brought to you by Library and Knowledge Services. It aims to keep you up-to-date with therapeutic issues. At the beginning of each month, a librarian will update the bulletin with relevant information published in the preceding month. If there are areas you think we also need to cover, please let us know.
