Research Update: Physical therapy patients may improve faster without Opioids

            Physical therapy patients may improve faster without Opioids

Researchers suggest using a graded approach based on pain tolerance to slowly increase function, rather than using drugs to kill the pain.

Patients who have not been prescribed opioid painkillers benefit more from Physical therapy, according to researchers in Canada.A study at the University of Alberta found patients not taking the powerful drugs for pain while rebuilding physical ability regain function faster.

 In the study, published in the Journal Pain Medicine, researchers followed 789 patients in Canada being treated for neuropathic pain from nerve injuries being treated with either less than 200 milligrams of an opioid, more than 200 milligrams, or none.Patients who were not prescribed any type of opioid had statistically lower disabilities and higher physical function scores over the course of 12 months than those who received the drugs, after adjusting for the severity of individual conditions.

Bostick said opioids can be useful for managing pain, though they do not allow some people to recover function, so the drugs interfere with their lives. He suggests patients use careful measurement of their pain tolerance, walking until they reach the halfway point of what they can handle and stop before it gets too bad, in order to build tolerance over time.

"Pain is very complex, and people experience pain at very different levels," Bostick said. "Opioids can help people with severe pain be more comfortable, but if they are not also facilitating improved function, the impact of these medications on quality of life should be questioned."-Update by Physiotherapy Jobs Portal (www.physiotherapyjobs.co.in)

News Link: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/01/22/Physical-therapy-patients-may-improve-faster-without-opioids/2881453492677/

NBAHS to draft guidelines for allied health professionals: The Hindu Newspaper dated Jan 04 2016

              NBAHS to draft guidelines for allied health professionals:

              News published in The Hindu News Paper dated Jan 4, 2016

The National Board for Allied Health Sciences (NBAHS) proposed to be set up by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH & FW) will divide the functional areas of Allied Health Professionals (AHP) into three categories namely diagnostics, technical and therapeutics for drafting separate standard operating procedures. Besides, it (NBAHS) will be the common regulatory agency for the AHP.

The MoH & FW has felt the need to have uniform guidelines and norms for AHP by bringing them under one umbrella (NBAHS) on the lines of similar regulatory systems followed in the developed countries.

Objective

The NBAHS will make a comprehensive set of rules governing the ‘support services’ rendered by AHP in order to have standardised mechanism thereof. “Healthcare professionals like physiotherapists, pathology technologists and medical radiation technologists are playing a vital role in delivering healthcare in the nation. It is to acknowledge their efforts that the government has decided to set up the NBAHS for ensuring proper standards and their professional development”, said Shri. G. Krishna Murthy, Director of R&D at Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS).

He told The Hindu NBAHS provides a platform for standardisation of courses and curriculum in physiotherapy, optometry, speech language pathology, medical lab technology, radiography etc.

Autonomous bodies

The Public Health Foundation of India (PFHI) suggested to the MoH & FW to form the institution with the stated purpose.

A study by it recommended that there should be an establishment of national and regional institutes of allied health sciences as autonomous bodies fully funded by the Central government.

Role of a common regulator

The NBAHS will be playing the role of a common regulator like the Medical, Dental and Nursing Councils of India and the Central Council of Indian Medicine of the Ministry of AYUSH.

Another objective of NBAHS is to make skilled AHP available for future needs as they are expected to be in short–supply over the next few years.

Poor quality of services found

Under the existing unorganised setup, the quality of services provided by AHP has been found to be poor as they adopted their own standards which drastically varied from one place to another. This adversely affected the treatment outcomes causing death or morbidity in many cases.

The functional areas of Allied Health Professionals will be divided into three categories namely diagnostics, technical and therapeutics for drafting separate standard operating procedures.

Compiled for information purpose by Physiotherapy Jobs Portal
www.physiotherapyjobs.co.in , a registered and exclusive Job Portal for Indian Physiotherapists

Source: 

The Hindu News Link dated Jan 04 2016: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/nbahs-to-draft-guidelines-for-allied-health-professionals/article8063804.ece

PhD Admission for Physiotherapists 2016- NIMHANS, Bangalore

Ph.D in Neurological Rehabilitation and Ph.D in Neurophysiology  in NIMHANS, Bangalore for the academic year 2016

1. Ph.D in Neurological Rehabilitation:
(Department of Neurological Rehabilitation)

Duration: 3 – 5 years

Minimum Qualification for Admission: A Candidate who has obtained following degrees from recognized university securing not less than 55% marks, MBBS, Master in Physiotherapy (MPT), Masters in Occupational therapy (MOT), Masters in Orthotics & Prosthetics, M.Phil in Clinical Psychology, M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work, M.Phil in Clinical Neurosciences, M.Sc in Nursing and M.Sc in Speech Therapy, MD/DNB in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation can register for Ph.D examination after one year from the date of provisional registration.

Program of Study: The candidate would be trained in research methodology, theoretical and practical aspects of the curriculum on Ph.D for the duration of 3 years. All the candidates have to complete PrePh.D examination after one year from the date of provisional registration.

Exemption: Faculty working in the department of Neurological Rehabilitation in NIMHANS will not be required to appear for Pre-Ph.D examination (to be considered as per institutes’ guidelines). For such candidates the duration of Ph.D will be for two years.

Research Facility: Clinical Neurological rehabilitation OPD and inpatient facilities, dynamic posturography, treadmill with bodyweight support, urodynamic laboratory, gait analysis laboratory, CANTAB for cognitive assessment, Hand robot and fully equipped occupational therapy and physiotherapy sections.

2. Ph.D in Neurophysiology :
(Department of Neurophysiology)

Duration: 3 – 5 years

Minimum Qualification for Admission: M.Phil in Neuroscience / Neurophysiology / MBBS / MD in Physiology / MD in Ayurveda /BE /B.Tech. Electronics /Electrical / Computer Science / Biotechnology / M.Sc in Physiology / Biochemistry / Anatomy / Neuroscience / Life Science / Biotechnology / Zoology / Masters in Physiotherapy / Masters in Unani Medicine

Program of study: Initially the candidates will be provisionally registered for Ph.D Before confirmation of the registration, all the candidates have to complete pre -Ph.D examination. The candidate would be trained in both theoretical and practical aspects of the curriculum pertaining to the discipline. After satisfactory completion of proposed research work and approval of synopsis, the candidate shall submit the thesis for award of Ph.D degree.

Last date to apply: Jan 31, 2016

NIMHANS Website for Admission registration  http://nimhansonline.in/nimhans_jan2016/

Compiled for information purpose by Physiotherapy Jobs Portal
www.physiotherapyjobs.co.in , a registered and exclusive Job Portal for Indian Physiotherapists

(Refer page no 44 and 56 in the attached Prospectus in the NIMHANS website link provided above)

                                                                    Advertisement