30th September - 5th October, 2012, Quebec City, Canada
Closing date for submission proposals: January 15th, 2012.

April 26 - 27, 2012, Alexandria, Virginia, United States.
Paper Submission Deadline: January 20, 2012

January 27, 2012, Toronto, Canada

January 27 - 29, 2012, Chicago, IL, USA

31 janvier 2012, Montréal, Québec

8 février 2012, Montréal, Québec

February 10, 2012, Toronto, Ontario

16 février 2012, Québec, Québec

16 février 2012, Montréal, Québec

21 février 2012, Montréal, Québec

La Dre Jolanda Cibere de l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique a étudié de nombreuses méthodes d'examen du genou et a mis au point un examen normalisé. La méthode nouvelle et éprouvée pour l'examen normalisé du genou permet de déceler la maladie beaucoup plus tôt – avant que les signes paraissent à la radiographie. Cette nouvelle méthode est utilisée dans de nombreuses études internationales importantes.

Researchers from Queen’s University have identified the area of the brain that controls our ability to correct our movement after we’ve been hit or bumped— a finding that may have implications for understanding why subjects with stroke often have severe difficulties moving.

New medical research from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center finds brain oxygenation is key indicator for recovery of patients suffering traumatic brain injury. When a patient is admitted to the hospital for a traumatic brain injury, medical staff members monitor intracranial pressure (pressure which builds up in the brain from trauma infarction, swelling or bleeding into the brain) and blood flow to the brain. Too much pressure or too little blood flow may be a sign that additional treatment is needed or that the patient is in danger. Swelling can prevent normal oxygenation by restricting blood flow. As a result, the volume of well-oxygenated blood is decreased. Now researchers have published new findings related to brain oxygenation that call into question old treatment assumptions.

Treating “brain tsunamis” or “killer waves” could stop many victims of major head injury from suffering additional brain damage, a study published in Lancet Neurology has found. For decades, scientists have investigated this phenomenon. The Lancet Neurology study, led by Professor Anthony Strong at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, supports the original clinical evidence that brain tsunamis are common in patients with major brain injuries, and now shows – for the first time – that they contribute to worse outcomes in these patients. Longer-term, it is hoped the results of this study will be used to help guide how brain injuries are treated and managed, leading to better outcomes for patients.

Des études récentes suggèrent que les symptômes de dépression associés à des lésions musculo-squelettiques pourraient nuire à la réussite de la démarche de réadaptation des travailleurs atteints et donc, à leur capacité à retourner en emploi. Les connaissances scientifiques actuelles ne permettant pas de dépister ceux chez qui ce problème de santé risque de devenir chronique, les chercheurs ont voulu examiner la valeur prédictive d’un état dépressif sur les résultats des programmes de réadaptation d’individus ayant subi une telle lésion depuis peu de temps.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a four-week primary prevention programme on change in perceived health among employees at increased risk of incapacity for work. No beneficial effects on perceived health were observed for a four-week primary prevention
programme widely used in Finland to reduce early retirement on health grounds.

After the acute hospital stay, most cardiac patients in Germany are transferred for a 3–4-week period of inpatient cardiac rehabilitation. This study aims to describe patient characteristics and risk factor management of cardiac rehabilitation patients with a focus on drug treatment and control status, differentiated by education level (low level, elementary school; intermediate level, secondary modern school; high level, grammar school/university). Patients with different levels of education treated in cardiac rehabilitation did not differ relevantly in terms of demographics, but did differ in some clinical aspects. With respect to the ultimate goal of cardiac rehabilitation, ie, optimal control of risk factors, education level does not play an important role.

The objective of this study is to explore the influence of level of functioning and cognitive status on outcome after rehabilitation for older people with different types of impairment. Results show that functional status on admission to a rehabilitation facility has stronger predictive value than type of impairment for rehabilitation outcome for older people. Cognitive impairment may have a small adverse effect on rehabilitation outcome.

The aim of this study was to discuss from an epidemiological and sociological perspective whether the early clinical management of whiplash-associated disorders can lead to iatrogenic disability. The current evidence suggests that too much health care too early after the injury is associated with delayed recovery. Clinicians need to be educated about the risk of iatrogenic disability.

This study aimed to investigate the reliability and construct validity of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Comprehensive Core Set for osteoarthritis (OA) in order to test its possible use as a measuring tool for functioning.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy management in patients experiencing whiplash associated disorder II, on clinically relevant outcomes in the short and longer term. Results show that inconclusive evidence exists for the effectiveness of physiotherapy management for whiplash associated disorder II. There is potential benefit for improving range of movement and pain short term through active physiotherapy, and for improving pain through a specific physiotherapy intervention.

The objective of this study is to analyze muscle strength and exercise intensity adaptation to resistance training in older women with knee osteoarthritis and total knee arthroplasty. Results suggest that resistance training is an effective method to counteract the lower-extremity strength deficits reported in older women with knee osteoarthritis and total knee arthroplasty.

Cognitive rehabilitation has potential as a treatment option to improve and maintain cognitive skills and increase quality of life for those with Parkinson's disease-related cognitive dysfunction. Four cognitive rehabilitation programs in individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) are identified from the literature. Characteristics of the programs and outcomes are reviewed and critiqued. Because PD involves progressive heterogeneous physical, neurological, and affective difficulties, future cognitive rehabilitation programs should aim for flexibility and individualization, according to each patient's strengths and deficits.

The goal of this paper is to illustrate how the lessons learned in over 20 years of randomized clinical trials have advanced cognitive rehabilitation beyond traditional approaches to problem solving by more explicitly integrating subjective self-appraisal factors in routine clinical practice. Contemporary evidence-based treatment recommendations now typically include incorporating interventions to address motivational, attitudinal, and affective factors in cognitive remediation. Further research is needed to directly compare the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitative interventions that systematically address subjective factors with those that do not.

This report describes the extent to which group physical therapy is being used in inpatient rehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), identifies group physical therapy interventions being delivered, and examines patterns in the types of activities being used for people with different levels and completeness of injury (ie, injury groups). The majority of physical therapy was provided in individual sessions, but results show that group physical therapy contributed significantly to total physical therapy time. Group physical therapy time and activities differed among the injury groups in patterns consistent with clinical goals.

This study argues that interaction between patients, front-line clinicians, and clinical and basic scientists is essential so that they can explore their different priorities, skills, and concerns. These interactions can be facilitated by funding research consortia that include basic and clinical scientists, clinicians and patient/carer representatives with funds targeted at those impairments that are major determinants of patient and carer outcomes. Interactions of this sort would create a research-friendly, rather than only target-led, culture in front-line stroke rehabilitation services.

Compensatory and restorative treatments have been developed to improve visual field defects after stroke. However, no controlled trials have compared these interventions with standard occupational therapy (OT). Results show compensatory therapy (CT) improved functional deficits after visual field loss compared with standard OT and may be the intervention of choice during inpatient rehabilitation. A larger trial that includes lesion location in the analysis is recommended.

The aim of this review was to evaluate the parameters of exercise programs reported in primary research, to provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations for exercise prescription for patellofemoral pain. Currently, the primary research on this topic supports the use of closed kinetic chain, strengthening exercises for musculature of the lower limb, combined with flexibility options.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of neuroscience education (NE) for pain, disability, anxiety, and stress in chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. For chronic MSK pain disorders, there is compelling evidence that an educational strategy addressing neurophysiology and neurobiology of pain can have a positive effect on pain, disability, catastrophization, and physical performance.

Pre- and post-injury language performance scores following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) were investigated through a replication and subsequent extension of a previous case study where a trend for declining language scores was described based on pre- and post-injury data. While supporting the earlier identified trends in language decline following mTBI, subsequent statistical analysis undertaken to extend the earlier findings failed to detect statistically significant changes in language outcomes following mild injury. The need for monitoring of yet-to-emerge higher-level adolescent language skills, however, is highlighted.

The goal of this study was to perform a systematic review of the burn literature to ascertain a comprehensive view of the literature and identify return to work (RTW) factors where possible. A search was conducted and peer-reviewed studies that investigated predictors and barriers of returning to work of those with burn injuries, published since 1970 and written in English, were examined.

The aim of this study is to describe the proportion of people with spinal cord injury who returned to work 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, and to investigate whether return to work is related to wheelchair capacity at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Results show than more than 40% of the participants were able to return to paid work within 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Return to work was related to wheelchair capacity at discharge. It is recommended to train wheelchair capacity during rehabilitation in the context of return to work, since the association with return to work is another benefit of the training of wheelchair capacity in addition to the improvement of mobility and functional independency.

The aim of this study was to investigate pain intensity, posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, disability, and life satisfaction in patients with injury-related chronic pain and to analyze differences in these variables regarding gender.

Language and lifestyle changes experienced following the onset of aphasia extend beyond the individual to impact family members of persons with aphasia. Research exploring the meaning of living successfully with aphasia has explored the perspectives of individuals with aphasia and speech-language pathologists. Family members’ views of living successfully with aphasia may also contribute valuable insights into positive adaptive processes and factors that may influence clinical interventions and community-based services for individuals with aphasia and their families. The purpose of this study is to explore, from the perspectives of family members of individuals with aphasia, the meaning of living successfully with aphasia.

Cette page présente une vidéo qui traites du lancement d’un nouvel ouvrage en ergonomie intitulé « L'intervention en ergonomie ». Le collectif d’auteurs a voulu que ce livre soit un guide pour accompagner les acteurs des entreprises dans le processus d’amélioration du travail, en vue de préserver la santé des personnes, tout en optimisant la production. Des praticiens ont alimenté le contenu et les auteurs ont bénéficié du soutien de 15 relecteurs.

L'Équipe de traumatologie de l'Institut national d'excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS) vous présente les versions électroniques (Décembre 2011) des algorithmes décisionnels pour la gestion du risque de complications neurologiques graves à la suite d'un TCCL, clientèles adulte et pédiatrique. Cette publication constitue une mise à jour du contenu des algorithmes basée sur une révision récente de la littérature scientifique, incluant la publication de nouvelles règles de décision clinique, ainsi que sur la prise en compte de divers commentaires formulés par des cliniciens québécois disposant d'une expertise dans le domaine.

This is a video presentation of Dr. Michael Clark, Director of the Chronic Pain Treatment Programs in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Maryland done in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology about some of the recent discoveries and updates in the treatment of fibromyalgia.