News
TRIPLL Co-Director Discusses Pain in a Recent Media Session
Dr. Kathy Foley, Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander, and TRIPLL Co-Director Dr. Cary Reid were featured speakers at a recent American Federation of Aging Research (AFAR) and Mayday Fund sponsored seminar titled “Aging and Pain-Advances and Novel Techniques.” The speakers provided insight on the latest advancements in pain management for older adults, the evidence and effectiveness of alternative pain management, new non-invasive techniques to manage nerve pain, and updates on pain medication use in the United States. Dr. Reid spoke on the effectiveness of tai-chi and yoga as alternative pain management treatment methods, and the prevalence of pain medication use among older adults.
The impact of Tai-Chi on Post-Menopausal Osteopenic Women
An intervention involving Tai-Chi as a method for improving pain conditions among post-menopausal osteopenic women was evaluated in a recent study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Ostopenia (or low bone mineral density) is one of the leading causes of bone fractures among older adult women. The study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmocologic treatments in improving osteopenic symptoms as an alternative to drug therapy, “Since life-long drug therapy is expensive with uncertain consequences and potential toxicities, non-pharmacologic therapy offers an attractive alternative.” The authors used a randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of Tai-Chi combined with usual care. A total of 86 post-menopausal osteopenic women were either assigned to nine months of Tai-Chi training with usual care, or nine months of usual care alone. The authors observed significant statistically improvement in favor of Tai-Chi implementation, “we observed a clinically relevant trend of TC attenuating bone loss and improving quality of life in postmenopausal osteopenic women.”
A link to the article is provided below:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22289280
Increasing Number of Young Doctors Specializing in Palliative Care
A recent article in Mercury News discussed the growing contingent of young physicians specialized in palliative care. Recent conditions and restrictions within the medical field has led to an influx of young physicians specialized in pain management and palliative care, “Since medical boards only started recognizing the treatment of pain and end-of-life care as an official subspecialty four years ago…the cohort of doctors spearheading palliative-care departments across the country are increasingly in their early- to mid-30s.”This has caused unexpected challenges in which older adult patients express discomfort discussing their symptoms with younger physicians; “research showed that elderly patients were unlikely to disclose important medical information to young doctors, especially sensitive conditions like incontinence or depression.” However, not all patients are bothered by the age difference. As one patient reported, “I don’t care what their age is…they listen to me, and that’s all I need.”
A link to the article is provided below:
http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_19899121
An Intervention to Limit Inactivity Among Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis
A study published in Arthritis Care and Research addressed increased risk factors associated with physical inactivity among adults with rheumatoid arthritis. The study included baseline data from 176 adults with rheumatoid arthritis who participated in a randomized clinical trial that assessed the effectiveness of an intervention to promote physical activity. The authors found that 42% of participants were physically inactive and experienced increased co-morbidities. As stated in the article, “physical inactivity among adults with arthritis is a recognized public health concern.” The authors designed their study using federal definitions of physical activity and measured physical activity with accelerometer monitoring devices,” in the present study, our definition of physical activity is anchored on the federal DHHS definition and is assessed by objective accelerometer monitoring using methods validated in rheumatoid arthritis.” The study results indicate that, “the two factors significantly associated with excess inactivity were lack of strong motivation and lack of strong positive beliefs in physical activity.” This suggests that future interventions for arthritis should incorporate methods for improving the perception of exercise among participants.
A link to the article is provided below:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/acr.21582/pdf
Arthritis Report in Huffington Post
An article in Huffington Post provided information regarding arthritis, its causes, and methods for improving symptoms. The article featured two embed videos that described arthritis conditions and symptoms, provided tutorials for stretching exercises to help alleviate symptoms, and explained factors that influence arthritis development. The article also contained current population estimates and future arthritis projections, “In Western countries the majority of people have OA by the age of 65. About 80 percent of people who are 75 and older are affected. In the US around 27 million adults currently have OA. This number is expected to go up as life expectancy increases, with the first wave of baby boomers already reaching retirement.”
A link to the article is provided below:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopr/arthritis_b_1204566.html
VNSNY (A TRIPLL Collaborator) Receives NIH Grant Approval
A recent Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) comparative effectiveness study led by Dr. Chris Murtaugh (TRIPLL Co-Investigator), and Dr. Cary Reid (TRIPLL Director) was recently awarded NIH funding. The goal of the study is to “transform pain management in home health care and greatly reduce the burden of disability among the large numbers of racially and ethnically diverse older Americans admitted with pain to home health care annually.” The study will evaluate the effectiveness of a previously developed cognitive-behavioral pain self-management (CBPSM) protocol (found to be effective in reducing chronic back pain among individuals at senior centers) for use in home care targeting patients with activity-limiting pain.
TRIPLL Affiliate Joe Mikels is Quoted in the Seattle Times
TRIPLL Affiliate Joe Mikels’ work on decision making in later life was highlighted in a Seattle Times article on emotional health.
Mayday Fund Releases Palliative Care Grantmaking Snapshot Report
The report details the state of palliative care medicine, goals for palliative care development and opportunities for philanthropy in the field.
Cornell Human Ecology Magazine Profiles TRIPLL
The Cornell University Human Ecology Magazine edition on Translational Research profiled TRIPLL in its May 2010 issue. The magazine reported on TRIPLL’s translational efforts in areas like cognitive-behavioral therapy for pain management through community outreach and the pilot studies program. The article described how TRIPLL directly links research findings to real-world practice.
TRIPLL-Visiting Nurse Service Conduct Pilot Study
Dr. Kathy Beissner, a professor at Ithaca College and a TRIPLL pilot grantee, described her TRIPLL-Visiting Nurse Service of New York physical therapy pilot study in Ithaca Action News.
Dr. Beissner’s work connects older community members receiving physical therapy at home with cognitive behavioral therapies. Dr. Chris Murtaugh, a TRIPLL co-investigator spearheads the VNSNY arm of the project. VNSNY physical therapists enrolled in the program are taught cognitive-behavioral methods to help their patients deal with pain during physical therapy sessions. The research team is currently analyzing the results of their pilot study with the long term goal of helping older adults better manage their pain. Click on the following link for more info: https://ithacaactionnews.wordpress.com/2010/04/23/helping-the-elderly-get-past-their-pain/
Article by TRIPLL’s Principal Investigator Recently Published
06/30/2010
Outcomes Associated with Opioid Use in the Treatment of Chronic Noncancer Pain in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis was recently published in Drugs & Pharmacology.
Weill Cornell Medical College Biomedical Engineering Students Invent ‘Smart Walkers’ for Elderly
06/2010
Cornell biomedical engineering students working with Weill Cornell Medical College-affiliated psychiatrist Dr. Eli Einbinder have designed an electronic braking system for walkers, with buttons replacing bicycle-style squeeze brakes. Their walkers also have automatic braking that can prevent slips, slides and falls when a user grabs the handgrips.
To read more follow this link: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/June10/SmartWalkers.html
Mini-Ultrasound May Make Pain Treatment Less of a Pill
04/14/2010
Dr. Cary Reid appeared on local cable channel NY1 to discuss the use of a mini-ultrasound in order to treat pain. A video of the segment can be found by clicking on this link.
New National Campaign Launched to Fight Arthritis
04/14/2010
National Awareness Campaign launched by the Arthritis Foundation, the Ad Council and the American College of Rheumatology aims to empower people with (or at risk for) Osteoarthritis (OA) to take simple steps to reduce pain, increase mobility and help prevent disability caused by OA. To access the validated OA risk assessment tool, please visit this website: www.fightarthritspain.org
CDC Announces National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis
03/30/2010
Launched by the CDC and the Arthritis Foundation in February 2010, The National Public Health Agenda for Osteoarthritis (OA) is the first comprehensive national action plan that calls on health care providers, insurers, policy makers, public health agencies and the public to collectively take the steps necessary to reduce the burden of osteoarthritis which places severe limits on daily activity and quality of life for over 27 million Americans. To see the document that describes the action plan visit http://wwwtest.cdc.gov/arthritis/docs/OAagenda.pdf
The overall goals for the next three to five years include:
- Initiate needed research to better understand the burden of OA, its risk factors and effective strategies for intervention, including enhanced surveillance, exploration of early diagnosis and treatment, and the examination of emerging interventions.
- Ensure the availability of evidence-based intervention strategies for all Americans with OA.
- Establish supportive policies, communication initiatives and alliances for the prevention and management of OA.