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The authors of a recent study published in Stroke Research and Treatment evaluated “the cross-sectional association between stroke and arthritis and examined whether the relationship differed in physically active and inactive older adults.” The authors found that “individuals with arthritis were 4 times more likely to report a history of stroke where as those who were engaged in at least moderate physical activity were less than half as likely.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy evaluated the effectiveness of a Tai Chi exercise program in improving health and relieving pain symptoms among ethnically diverse older adults.  The authors developed a 16-week Tai Chi program that was implemented in community centers serving community dwelling older adults residing in specific low income neighborhoods in Canada. The authors conclude that “participating in TC for 16 weeks led to significant improvements in functional fitness and components of physical and mental health among older adults with self-reported arthritis.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of Transcultural Nursing examined the "behavioral and clinical indicators of sleep difficulty among older African Americans diagnosed with arthritis." The authors enrolled 193 African American older adults who completed a questionnaire that assessed their health, pain symptoms, and sleep patterns. The authors found a significant relationship between increased pain reports and decreased sleep among older adults with arthritis, and a need for sleep awareness resources to provide "caregivers and health care professionals with the skills to better meet the needs of this population." Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing examined the “presence of uncontrolled and untreated pain in patients with cognitive impairments such as delirium and dementia” among older adults in the hospital setting. The authors reviewed the effectiveness of the Pain Assessment In Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) scale as an evaluation tool for older adults with pain. The authors conclude that the “proper use of the PAINAD scale as part of a comprehensive pain management plan can help reduce the likelihood of a patient experiencing unrecognized and untreated pain.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society evaluated “the effects of chronic pain on the development of disability and decline in physical performance over time in older adults.” The authors enrolled 634 community-dwelling older adults age 65 and older with arthritis. The authors found that “older community-dwelling adults living with chronic pain in multiple musculoskeletal locations have a substantially greater risk for developing disability over time and for clinically meaningful decline in mobility performance than those without pain.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of Transcultural Nursing examined the “behavioral and clinical indicators of sleep difficulty among older African Americans diagnosed with arthritis.” The authors enrolled 193 African American older adults who completed a questionnaire that assessed their health, pain symptoms, and sleep patterns. The authors found a significant relationship between increased pain reports and decreased sleep among older adults with arthritis. Full Story

The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) recently featured a series that focused on the use of meditation for pain management among older adults. Click here to view the video presentation.

The authors of a recent study published in Spine reviewed studies that “demonstrated the unreliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based parameters to identify pathological pain generators of chronic low back pain.” The authors’ aim was to determine whether “advancements in computer image analysis provide objective measurements of lumbar disc features and pain conditions among older adults.” The authors enrolled 39 older adults age 65 and older who reported mild to severe back pain.  The results indicate that the “study presents a potential new application of MR imaging in identifying pain generators of patients with chronic low back pain.” Full Story

The authors of a recent study published in the Journal of the American Directors Association aimed to promote quality end-of-life (EOL) care for nursing home residents, through the establishment of advance care plan (ACP) and introduction of a new care pathway” for new comorbidities, including pain. The authors enrolled 76 older nursing home residents and monitored the ratio of clinical to emergency admissions, ACP compliance rate, average length of stay (ALOS) in both acute hospital and an extended-care facility, and chronic pain conditions. The study results indicate that “nearly 40% of EOL patients could be managed entirely in an extended-care setting [...]

The authors of a recent study published in Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine evaluate the evidence of whether massage therapy (MT) is effective for neck pain in older adults. The authors conducted a randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through searches of 5 literature databases using the following search terms: “neck pain, neck disorders, cervical vertebrae, massage.” The authors conclude that “there were no valid lines of evidence of massage therapy on improving dysfunction,” and that “high quality RCTs are urgently needed to confirm these results and continue to compare massage therapy with other active therapies for neck pain.” Full [...]