physical therapy

11 Stories

Paul Ryan on GOP Call With Steve Scalise: 'Very Emotional'

House speaker says congressman must 'relearn' how to walk after shooting

(Newser) - Steve Scalise has had a rough go of it since he was shot during a baseball game in June, but the congressman has been slowly making headway in his recuperation, and Paul Ryan offered more insight Monday night into Scalise's condition, CBS News reports. The House speaker appeared at...

How One Therapist Billed Medicare for $4M

Wael Bakry says he just has a successful practice

(Newser) - How can more than $4 million in Medicare money flow through a small doctor's office in Brooklyn? Seeking answers, the New York Times reports on the world of physical therapy—where demand is on the rise, treatments vary wildly by region, and authorities are cracking down on doctors who...

Gabby Giffords: What I've Gained
 Gabby Giffords: 
 What I've Gained 

OPINION

Gabby Giffords: What I've Gained

Physical recovery gives hope against odds

(Newser) - On the third anniversary of Gabrielle Giffords' shooting, the former congresswoman writes that "many may look at me and see mostly what I have lost": the ease of speaking, strong eyesight, a right arm and leg that move. But in an op-ed for the New York Times , Giffords for...

Doctor Who? MDs Fend Off Rising PhDs

A doctorate does not a doctor make, say many MDs

(Newser) - As more and more nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists are earning PhD degrees, a battle is raging over which health care professionals can use the prestigious title "doctor," reports the New York Times . Nurses especially are pursuing doctorates, eager to increase their pay and promotional opportunities—last year,...

How to Beat Bad Ankles
 How to Beat 
 Bad Ankles 

How to Beat Bad Ankles

Ankle injuries can impair one's balance long after they heal

(Newser) - People who’ve sprained an ankle are likely to sprain it again, writes Gretchen Reynolds for the New York Times, but there may be a "supremely low-tech" fix: balance training. An ankle sprain interferes with the neural receptors in the ligaments that transmit balance information to the brain. Even...

As Memory Slips Away, Music Lingers

(Newser) - The Alzheimer’s patient had forgotten nearly everything, including his own name, but the sound of Frank Sinatra moved him to grab his wife and dance. The phenomenon demonstrates how deep-seated music is in the human brain, Sara Davidson writes for the New York Times’ New Old Age blog. “...

Popular Surgery 'Useless' For Knee Arthritis

Arthroscopy no more effective than meds, physical therapy: study

(Newser) - Arthroscopic surgery, performed on almost a million Americans every year, is a useless treatment for arthritis of the knee, a new study reports. Researchers found that 178 arthritic patients who had surgery, physical therapy, and medication fared no better than patients who had medication and therapy alone. The procedure, which...

Back Pain's Insidious Cost Rises
Back Pain's Insidious Cost Rises

Back Pain's Insidious Cost Rises

US spends ever more on treatment—without much to show for it

(Newser) - Back pain is one of the US' most persistent health problems, but despite new treatment possibilities, Newsweek reports, cures remain elusive. Americans spent $85.9 billion in 2005 on medical costs relating to back pain, up from $52.1 billion in 1997. "We seem to be doing more and...

Physical Therapy, Wii Style
Physical Therapy,
Wii Style

Physical Therapy, Wii Style

Try half an hour of boxing and call me in the morning

(Newser) - Some physical therapists have been prescribing the Wii for patients recovering from strokes or injuries. Doctors and patients say it's more rewarding to play the game system than go through tedious exercises. "This is more fun. It makes it more exciting. It gets me to work harder," a...

Norway Royal Talks to Angels
Norway Royal Talks to Angels

Norway Royal Talks to Angels

Peculiar princess speaks of miracles, psychic powers, claims she'll teach disciples

(Newser) - Princess Martha Louise of Norway says she can talk to angels—and teach other people how to strike up a chat as well. The 35-year-old princess claims to have psychic powers that she plans to use in her new alternative therapy center: For about $4,150 a year she'll teach...

Recovery Docs Mount Equine Campaign
Recovery Docs Mount Equine Campaign

Recovery Docs Mount Equine Campaign

Physical therapists say riding works muscles, triggers psychological benefits

(Newser) - Physical therapists are increasingly turning to horses to help patients with serious injuries, cerebral palsy, muscle disorders and developmental delays.  The complex act of maintaining balance on a moving horse bolsters damaged or underdeveloped muscle groups and can have psychological benefits. Horses' movements mimic a human gait, making the...

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