Tagged: disability
Clinical Trial Results the Focus of ENACT Presentations at ACR/ARHP & APTA-CSM Annual Meetings
Click here to view all stories from our Year End 2016 Newsletter
If you’ll be in San Antonio in February for APTA-CSM, Julie Keysor, PhD, PT, will be there presenting results from the “Work It Study” trial. Physical therapists delivered a novel intervention addressing work-related barriers and solutions among adults with chronic rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions who were at risk of work loss due to their health. This study could lead the way for therapists to intervene to prevent work disability for a population that is at high risk of work loss.
ENACT pre-doctoral fellow Aileen Ledingham, PT, MS will also be presenting her poster “Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: Perspectives on Telephone Technology to Support Adherence to Exercise”, an ancillary qualitative study to ENACT’s BOOST trial. With her study, Ms. Ledingham explores the BOOST participant’s thoughts and perspectives on the technology used in the BOOST adherence study. Ms. Ledingham’s work may lead to novel ways to promote adherence to physical therapy programs.
ENACT investigators also brought the results of both randomized controlled trials to the arthritis research community at the November 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
Dr. Keysor presented the main results from the “Work-it” employment outcomes study during a joint ACR/ARHP on November 15th and Kristin Baker, PhD, presented results from the “BOOST” trial on November 16th.
In addition, recent ENACT graduate Molly Vaughan, PhD, DPT, presented her dissertation research to the ACR/ARHP audience. Her work, which analyzed data from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) to examine, looked at the relationship between positive/negative affect and participation restriction among persons with knee osteoarthritis.
Did you miss these presentations? You can still find abstracts for all three talks here
Spotlight: Dr. Kristin Baker, Principle Investigator for the BOOST Study
Dr. Kristin Baker (right) with Associate Directer Saralynn Allaire staff the Arthritis Foundation Expo's "Expert's Corner"
ENACT’s spotlight for the March 2016 Newsletter features Dr. Kristin Baker, Principal Investigator for ENACT’s BOOST study. Dr. Baker’s background is in exercise physiology and nutritional science and her primary research interest lies in improving functional quality of life for people living with arthritis.
In her current position as a Research Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Department of Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Dr. Baker is leading ENACT’s BOOST trial, a five-year project investigating how best to support people with arthritis to adhere to physical activity using existing technologies and behavioral science theory.
In the BOOST study, ENACT recruited 104 people with knee osteoarthritis to participate in a group strength-training program with 3 primary focuses: body alignment and mechanics, achieving the proper exercise intensity to improve muscle strength, and learning to progress through the exercises for continued improvement in muscle strength over time. After the group strength training program, participants were randomized to receive one of 2 follow-up interventions, a non-interactive automated message to remind participants to exercise or an automated interactive telephone system providing coaching and counseling information to promote continued exercise.
Though the benefits of physical activity to improve arthritis pain and function have been established and are widely accepted, adherence to exercise programs remains low among people with arthritis. According to Dr. Baker, if a telephone-based supportive technology proves to be effective for people with arthritis, it could be a cost-effective way to reach a wide range of people with rheumatic conditions, even potentially, “improving quality of life, and maybe prolonging the time before they need a knee replacement or reducing the number of doctor visits for medication.” In the long term, says Dr. Baker, it could have implications for the practice of physical rehabilitation by enabling patients to better adhere to therapeutic physical activity recommendations.
As technology continues to advance, the field of rehabilitation is recognizing and acting on the potential for technology to serve as a resource that may be modifiable for use in different populations, including those with rheumatic conditions. Dr. Baker’s ultimate goal would be to widely disseminate the technology used in the BOOST study, thus adding another resource to the technology toolbox for rehabilitation practitioners and researchers.
Data collection for this study was completed in late 2015 and the efficacy of the interactive telephone system is now being assessed. In addition, research assistant and ENACT doctoral fellow Aileen Ledingham received an ancillary grant to assess participant satisfaction with the system. Look for results to be released in Spring 2016!
To read more from Dr. Baker on the use of technology in rehabilitation, access the ENACT Presentation page here
ENACT To Be Part of Boston University’s Free Virtual Conference HEALTH MATTERS on September 17th, 2015
Boston University's Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences will hold Health Matters - a Virtual Conference on September 17th, 2015 from 9 am - 5 pm EST. The conference focuses on innovative research and clinical approaches in health and rehabilitation. Registration is required, but the event is free.
Speakers represent Sargent College faculty's range of health and rehabilitation professions, with an agenda that covers topics like communication neuroscience, human movement, traumatic brain injury, intensive language intervention, child development, and more. A feature of the work and experience of ENACT's doctoral fellows in the rehabilitation sciences doctoral program is scheduled for the 4:00 pm hour, just preceding ENACT collaborator Dr. Alan Jette's closing statement. See the full agenda here
To learn more about the conference or to register, click here
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Celebrates its 25-Year Anniversary
Today marks the 25 anniversary of the day that President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark legislation guaranteed protection for people living with disabilities against discrimination in areas such as employment, public services, telecommunications, and transportation as well as provisions requiring reasonable accommodation in public and private settings.
The law is largely considered a civil rights victory for disabled Americans, enabling individuals with disabilities to assert his or her right to fully participate in and contribute to their communities. Learn more about how the ADA has affected the lives of Americans living with disabilities by exploring the ADA Legacy Project. Explore ENACT's arthritis-related resources to learn more about arthritis-related disability and work retention strategies.
Congratulations to ENACT fellow Rawan AlHeresh, PhD, OT
ENACT is proud to announce that doctoral fellow Rawan AlHeresh, PhD, OT has successfully defended her dissertation and completed her course of study with the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Science Doctor of Rehabilitation Science Program at Boston University.
Rawan first matriculated into ENACT's training program in July 2011. As our first doctoral fellow, it has been gratifying to watch her progress through the program and emerge as a competent scholar. We look forward to her upcoming contributions to the field of rheumatological rehabilitation.
Congratulations Dr. Rawan AlHeresh!
Full Presentation Slides from APTA-CSM Symposia Now Available
View Dr. Keysor's presentation "Epidemiology and Clinical Management", now available in ENACT's online Continuing Education resource area.
The presentation was given as part of Optimal Arthritis Management: Bridging Clinic to the Community, a 3-part symposia at February's American Physical Therapy Association-Combined Sections Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. The symposia was well-attended and feedback was enthusiastic. Fellow presenters included Mary Altpeter, MSW, PhD from the University of North Carolina's Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Lori Schrodt, PT, PhD from Western Carolina University
OA Action Alliance releases Physical Activity Implementation Guide
The Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (OAAA) has recently released a new Implementation Guide to help agencies and organizations implement environmental and policy strategies for increasing physical activity among adults with arthritis.
Dr. Julie Keysor, ENACT Director and Chair of the OAAA Physical Activity Workgroup, supports the group's initiative to take this important next step: nationwide involvement to help people with osteoarthritis be more active and healthy.
Please help by spreading the news and ensuring that this guide gets into the right hands and reaches as many people as possible! Share the guide with your friends or colleagues. You can get started by sharing the Facebook and Twitter posts below!
Find the full guide here
Seen the NEW guide from @oaactionallianc yet? Find strategies to help adults w/ #arthritis increase physical activity http://t.co/LWngEwG8VO
— ENACT (@BU_ENACT) March 12, 2015
Doctoral Fellow Rawan AlHeresh to be published in IJRR
ENACT doctoral fellow Rawan AlHeresh, MS OTR, will be published in the International Journal of Rehabilitation Research. Keep an eye out for her article, "The Work Activity and Participation Outcomes Framework: A New Look at Work Disability Outcomes through the Lens of the ICF", later in 2015.
Please join us in congratulating Rawan on her achievement!
A Look Back: Images from 2014
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- Fellow Rawan AlHeresh presents at the 2014 American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland
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- A roomful of up-and-coming New Investigators in rehabilitation research listen in as Dr. David Felson starts off ENACT’s New Investigator Workshop on April 6th, 2014
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- Dr. Mary Slavin introduces a block of speakers from the Boston Rehabilitation Outcomes Center (Boston ROC) at ENACT’s New Investigator Workshop
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- Dr. Michael LaValley presents on methods in biostatistics at ENACT’s New Investigator Workshop
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- Center Director Dr. Julie Keysor welcomes attendees to the poster session on April 6th, 2014
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- Dr. Kelley Fitzgerald listens as one of the accepted investigators presents his work as part of the poster session
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- Attendees listen as Dr. Nancy Baker leads a round table mentorship session during the New Investigator Workshop
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- Dr. Alan Jette listens during the New Investigator Workshop round table mentoring sessions
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- Dr. Christine McDonough looks closely at the poster of a fellow new investigator during the April 6th poster session
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- Dr. Nancy Baker talks shop with an accepted new investigator during ENACT’s April 6th poster session
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- ENACT fellows Aileen Ledingham and Molly Vaughan browse through the April 6th Poster Session
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- ENACT staff wait at the registration table to welcome attendees to the 2014 Arthritis State of the Science Meeting
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- Dr. David Felson talks with an attendee as the 2014 Arthritis State of the Science Meeting prepares to open
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- The sponsor table for the 2014 Arthritis State of the Science Meeting offered free information and resources
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- NIDRR’s Dr. Teresa San Agustin speaks with one of the new investigators between sessions
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- State of the Science 2014: Where is the Field of Arthritis Rehabilitation?
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- Keynote speaker Dr. Jan K. Richardson during her talk “Moving Together, Changing Lives!”
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- ENACT doctoral fellow Aileen Ledingham listens during one of the Arthritis State of the Science meeting sessions
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- Dr. Alan Jette prepares to moderate the session titled ‘Promoting Activity and Participation in the Community’
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- Dr. Jessica Maxwell answers a question from the audience following her talk on total knee replacement
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- Dr. James Rimmer during his Arthritis State of the Science Meeting presentation in April 2014
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- Janet Yale of the Arthritis Society discusses the Canadian approach to arthritis policy during the SOS 2014 Policy Panel
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- ENACT Director Julie Keysor moderates the final panel ‘Reflections and Next Steps’
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- Dr. Glenn Pransky bring the employer perspective to the table during his talk at ENACT’s Arthritis State of the Science Meeting
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- Members of the BOOST exercise class warm up with stretches
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- Strengthening the body using only a ball and a wall!
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- Kelly Pesanelli helps a BOOST participant perform an exercise properly
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- ENACT doctoral fellow Aileen Ledingham helps a BOOST participant practice a step exercise
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- BOOST participant using weights to focus on strengthening
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- BOOST exercise class participants practicing various exercises
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- Kelly Pesanelli demonstrates a stretch during the BOOST strength training class
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- The BOOST class poses together – all smiles after a great exercise session!
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- ENACT celebrated the retirement of Associate Director Dr. Saralynn Allaire
ENACT Featured in Recent Edition of Inside Sargent Magazine
ENACT's research program was the focus of a recent feature in the Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Science Inside Sargent Magazine, released each year.
The story provides a comprehensive review of ENACT's ambitous research agenda, which consists of two randomized trials with long-term follow-up and a third qualitative study conducted over the course of 5 years. This research is unique in the field of rehabilitation research, looking beyond pain and mobility limitations to investigate ways to support the participation of individuals with rheumatic conditions throughout various aspects of their everyday lives such as physical activity, leisure, and employment.
Read the story in full on Sargent College's website here, or keep an eye out for the Inside Sargent magazine at upcoming ENACT and Sargent College community events.
