RNEL Studies Effects of Stimulus Pulse Rate on Somatosensory Adaptation in the Human Cortex | UPMC Physician Resources
Robert Gaunt, PhD, associate professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation collaborated with colleagues from the Rehab Neural Engineering Labs to publish “Effects of stimulus pulse rate on somatosensory adaptation in the human cortex” in Brain Stimulation.
Rehab Neural Engineering Labs Study Measures of Balance and Gait in People with Lower-limb Amputation | UPMC Physician Resources
Lee Fisher, PhD, associate professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, collaborated with colleagues from the Departments of Bioengineering and Physical Therapy, as well as the Rehab Neural Engineering Labs, to publish “Clinical measures of balance and gait cannot differentiate somatosensory impairments in people with lower-limb amputation” in Gait & Posture.
Using Machine Learning to Examine Suicidal Ideation After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database Study | UPMC Physician Resources
Amy Wagner, MD, professor and director of the brain injury medicine fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – along with a team of experts from across the country – published “Using Machine Learning to Examine Suicidal Ideation After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database Study” in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
University of Pittsburgh Departments of PM&R, Bioengineering, and Psychiatry Study Menopause, Osteoarthritis, and Mathematical Modeling of Estrogen Treatment | UPMC Physician Resources
Allison Bean, MD, PhD, assistant professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – along with colleagues from the Pitt Departments of Bioengineering and Psychiatry – published “Uncovering the ‘riddle of femininity’ in osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of menopausal animal models and mathematical modeling of estrogen treatment” in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.
Pitt PM&R and Rehab Tech Teams Study Efficacy of Using Remote Learning to Teach Clinicians Manual Wheelchair Skills | UPMC Physician Resources
Michael Boninger, MD, professor, and Lynn Worobey, PhD, assistant professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – along with Rachel Hibbs, DPT, assistant professor, Pitt Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology – published “Using remote learning to teach clinicians manual wheelchair skills: a cohort study with pre- vs post-training comparisons” in Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology.
University of Pittsburgh Studies Contribute to Crucial CMS Decision to Fund Seat Elevation Devices in Power Wheelchairs | UPMC Physician Resources
In May 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced national coverage for seat elevation devices as an accessory to power wheelchairs. Seat elevating devices allow the wheelchair user to raise and lower the seat. After significant review, CMS determined that the equipment serves a medical purpose in assisting with transfers in and out of a power wheelchair and with performing reaching activities.
A substantial contributing factor to this decision, one that will positively impact many wheelchair users’ lives, was the research conducted at the University of Pittsburgh, which was a collaborative effort amongst the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Human Engineering Research Laboratories, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and UPMC Center for Assistive Technology.
University of Pittsburgh Study Determines That Enriching Adult Male Rats Prior to TBI Does Not Attenuate Neurobehavioral or Histological Deficits | UPMC Physician Resources
The goal of this study from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was to determine whether enriching rats prior to a controlled cortical impact exerts protection as evidenced by attenuated injury-induced neurobehavioral and histological deficits relative to rats without prior EE. The hypothesis was that enrichment prior to TBI would be protective.
Max Hurwitz, DO, and Seattle Team Utilize VA Corporate Data Warehouse to Study Effects of Depression on Prosthesis Prescription in Men and Women Who Have Undergone Lower Limb Amputation | UPMC Physician Resources
Max Hurwitz, DO, University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – along with colleagues from VA Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington in Seattle – published “The effect of depression on prosthesis prescription in men and women who have undergone a lower limb amputation” in Disability and Rehabilitation.
Physical Therapists Study Clinical Utility During Inpatient Rehabilitation of a CPR for Ambulation Prognosis Following SCI | UPMC Physician Resources
A team of physical therapists from the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Duquesne University published a study to prospectively evaluate the clinical utility of the van Middendorp clinical prediction rule. Mobility prognosis is a key focus during rehabilitation following spinal cord injury.
Pitt Research Team Proposes MicroRNA-29a as a Novel Target for Non-operative Management of Symptomatic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis | UPMC Physician Resources
In this study out of the Ferguson Laboratory for Orthopaedic Spine Research, a research team from the University of Pittsburgh Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Surgery discovered the role of a novel target, microRNA-29a (miR-29a), in modulating LFH and investigated the potential for using miR-29a as a therapeutic means to combat LSS.
UPMC Adult Spina Bifida Clinic Leverages Xealth to Make Complex Self-care and Monitoring Simpler | UPMC Physician Resources
The UPMC Adult Spina Bifida Clinic is making it easier to enroll people with chronic conditions like spina bifida into mobile health systems that support them in their care by leveraging the electronic health record (EHR) workflow integration through Xealth.
UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Celebrates Recent Milestones | UPMC Physician Resources
With a staff of award-winning physicians, researchers, and faculty, the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) treats patients at UPMC Rehabilitation Institute inpatient units, as well as on an outpatient basis. The Department's reputation for the science and practice of rehabilitation attracts top doctors and investigators who continue to make advances in both clinical and research environments. Read about recent milestones, including staff awards and research breakthroughs.
Amy J. Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH, and University of Utah Research Team Study Perceived Disability-Based Discrimination in Health Care for Children with Medical Complexity | UPMC Physician Resources
Amy J. Houtrow, MD, PhD, MPH, professor and vice chair, UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and chief, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Services, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, published a recent study in Pediatrics, along with several colleagues from the University of Utah School of Medicine.
RNEL Team Publishes “A systematic review of computational models for the design of spinal cord stimulation therapies: from neural circuits to patient-specific simulations” | UPMC Physician Resources
Lee Fisher, PhD, Robert Gaunt, PhD, and Elvira Pirondini, PhD, UPMC/Pitt Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pitt Rehab Neural Engineering Labs (RNEL) – along with colleagues from the University of Michigan – published “A systematic review of computational models for the design of spinal cord stimulation therapies: from neural circuits to patient-specific simulations” in The Journal of Physiology.
Researchers from Across UPMC Publish “Prediction of Gastrointestinal Functional State Based on Myoelectric Recordings Utilizing a Deep Neural Network Architecture” | UPMC Physician Resources
Lee Fisher, PhD, is an associate professor in the UPMC/Pitt Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and researcher in the Pitt Rehab Neural Engineering Labs. Dr. Fisher, along with colleagues from several other UPMC and Pitt departments, published “Prediction of gastrointestinal functional state based on myoelectric recordings utilizing a deep neural network architecture” in PLOS ONE.
Amy Wagner, MD, and Research Team Findings Suggest Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein May Be Useful to Monitor Serially in Moderate-Severe TBI Patients | UPMC Physician Resources
Amy Wagner, MD, UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – along with colleagues from university hospitals across the country – published “Serial Measurements of Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Potential Utility in Providing Insights into Secondary Insults and Long-term Outcome” in the Journal of Neurotrauma.
Amrita Sahu, PhD, and Team Studies How Aging Affects the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment for Osteoarthritis | UPMC Physician Resources
Amrita Sahu, PhD, assistant professor, UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, along with several colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Research Institute, published “Aging Affects the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment for Osteoarthritis” in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Dr. Sahu was a co-first author on this study. Kuntal Chowdhary, MD, another co-first author, was a UPMC Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation resident in training when the manuscript was published.
Ferguson Lab Trainee Spotlight: Valerio Tonelli Enrico, PT, MSCE | UPMC Physician Resources
Valerio Tonelli Enrico, PT, MSCE, is a Rehabilitation Science PhD candidate and graduate research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and research trainee in the Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research.
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