It will not only ensure patients receive leading-edge care but help build a reputation for excellence at the hospital, the [91亚色 Central] chief of emergency medicine says. And that's why he is participating in the initiative.

Knowledge translation, Ghosh explains, makes that important link between research and its application in health care. "We know there is good evidence-based, science-based research that has not been translated into clinical practice," he says. "A gap exists."

To narrow that gap, 91亚色 Central Hospital made a decision to forge a collaborative effort with 91亚色 about two years ago. Researchers with a specialty in two of YCH's areas of focus, seniors' health and chronic disease management, now have offices at the hospital.

For example, Dr. William Gage, whose research focuses on seniors' health, has connected 91亚色 Central staff with a 91亚色 researcher examining changes in motor performance among patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Researcher Sherry Grace [] worked with Tiziana Rivera, chief practice officer at 91亚色 Central and others on publishing a review of studies on women and cardiac rehabilitation, program adherence and preference for alternative models of care. YCH staff can use the information when setting rehabilitation programs for their female cardiac patients.

Republished courtesy of YFile 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin

The post 91亚色 Central Hospital's partnership with 91亚色 will improve patient care appeared first on Research & Innovation.

People who have had chest pain or angina could also benefit, she says, and congenital heart patients are being tested to see how much rehab can help them, too.

"Rehab itself costs only $1,500 per patient, whereas a bypass surgery, for example, can cost $40,000 and up," said Grace, director of research for the cardiovascular rehabilitation and prevention program at Peter Munk Cardiac Centre. "So if we are by this $1,500 preventing a lot more bypass surgeries and re-hospitalizations down the road, it's a real win-win in terms of the cost benefit and the health-economics of chronic disease management and cardiac rehab."

The team studied 2,635 patients with coronary artery disease at 11 Ontario hospitals. The patients filled out surveys while in the hospital, their medical charts were studied, and more than 1,800 patients completed a follow-up survey a year later.

The about the study is available in the Research News section.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post Professor Sherry Grace's cardiac rehabilitation study attracts Canadian coverage appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Researchers explored multiple strategies to increase referrals to cardiac rehabilitation programs at 11 hospitals across Ontario, including using a discharge checklist for doctors, electronic referral in medical records and talking with patients at the bedside.

According to the study, 鈥�Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral Strategies on Utilization Rates鈥�, published in the Feb. 14 edition of the journal , a combined approach 鈥� a checklist or electronic referral and talking with patients 鈥� can increase referrals by 45 per cent. By targeting both health care providers and patients,聽more than聽70 per cent of patients enrol in cardiac rehab.

鈥淓very patient discharged from the hospital with a heart condition should be referred to a cardiac rehab program,鈥� says聽91亚色 kinesiology &聽health science聽Professor Sherry Grace, principal investigator and director of research for the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation & Prevention Program at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, which is part of the聽University Health Network in Toronto.

鈥淐ardiac rehab is a key component of the continuum of cardiac care. We shouldn鈥檛 just discharge patients from the hospital without ensuring there is a link to these proven rehab services to support patients in their recovery,鈥� says Grace.

Cardiac rehabilitation offers a comprehensive approach to health by combining medical treatments and lifestyle modification.聽Patients are able to benefit from a variety of services, including: education sessions, nutritional assessment with a dietitian, risk factor treatment (hypertension, cholesterol and smoking cessation) by physicians and nurse practitioners, medication review with a pharmacist, targeted exercise prescription by an exercise physiologist, nurse or kinesiologist and supervised exercise.

indicate that participating in cardiac rehab after a cardiac illness, such as a heart attack, can reduce the risk of death by approximately 25 per cent, a reduction similar to that of other standard therapies such as cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) and aspirin. In spite of this evidence, only 20 to 30 per cent of patients are referred to a cardiac rehabilitation program after hospital discharge, a phenomenon observed in many countries.

Joe Walters, 55, lost 30 pounds through the centre鈥檚 Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) after having being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in August 2009.

鈥淭he cardiac rehab program was truly motivational. It opened my eyes to the number of people who have heart problems like me, and it was refreshing to know it came with a built-in support network,鈥� says聽Walters, who notes work-related stress contributed to his weight gain and heart trouble. 鈥淚 highly recommend a cardiac rehab program for anyone with a heart condition.鈥�

Walters graduated from the program in April 2010, but continues to attend classes to keep the weight off.

Dr. Caroline Chessex, medical doctor and clinical director of the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation聽& Prevention Program at the centre, is part of a multidisciplinary team who treats patients like聽Walters by developing a personalized exercise program tailored to each patient's cardiac risk profile.

鈥淥ur goal is to develop strategies for patients to reduce or eliminate their risk of coronary artery disease, prevent or minimize hospitalization, decrease mortality and improve quality of life,鈥� says Chessex, noting that patients can prolong their life and reduce their risk of having a second heart attack, or needing a second heart surgery.

Beyond the physical and psychological benefits, cardiac rehabilitation saves money.聽Cardiac bypass surgery, the most common type of open-heart surgery, costs approximately $23,000 for each patient, but rehabilitation costs $1,000 to 1,500 per patient.

鈥淭he return on investment is obvious. Focusing on expensive cardiac interventions and then discharging patients without a systematic approach for support just doesn鈥檛 make sense,鈥� says Grace. 聽鈥淐ardiac rehab is the right step towards prevention and it saves money.鈥�

The (CIHR) and the 聽 funded this study.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin

The post Professor Sherry Grace's study shows positive benefits of cardiac rehab participation appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Tai chi can help mitigate musculoskeletal disorders caused by extended computer use and provide a lift in mood, says a study led by 91亚色 researchers.

The study looked at female computer users at the University, measuring levels of physical fitness and psychological well-being in more than 50 staff members who participated in a twice-weekly lunch-hour tai chi program.

Above: Tai chi is a popular martial art that originated in China. A 91亚色 study has found that regular participation in tai chi classes offers great physical and psychological benefits for聽workers in desk jobs. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Researchers found that participants improved their musculoskeletal and back fitness, achieved lower resting heart rates and聽a smaller waist circumference, and experienced an emotional boost.

"Overall, the program was effective in improving both musculoskeletal fitness and psychological well-being," says study lead author Hala Tamim,聽professor in 91亚色鈥檚 School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health. "We鈥檙e excited about these results, especially given the difficulty in treating musculoskeletal disorders using traditional methods," she says.

Left: Hala Tamim

Musculoskeletal disorders, such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, are painful disorders of muscles, nerves and tendons, often caused by work activities that are repetitive or involve awkward postures. Women suffer from these complications at a higher rate than men, which makes early intervention for women particularly important, according to Tamim.

The exercise program consisted of two 50-minute classes per week for 12 consecutive weeks from May to August 2007. Classes were conducted by a professional tai chi practitioner, using fitness facilities at the University.

Study participants averaged 5.8 hours a day on computers at work. The majority (79 per cent) perceived their physical fitness as average or above, yet 34.6 per cent reported that they rarely or never engaged in weekly physical activity. Of the 52 participants, 42 had never formally practised tai chi prior to the study.

Pre- and post-program assessments included resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, anthropometric measures (height, weight, waist circumference) and musculoskeletal and back fitness (including grip strength, sit and reach, and vertical jump tests), employing the Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness聽& Lifestyle Approach.

Psychological well-being of study participants was also assessed pre- and post-program, using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). They reported feeling less stress and more control over their lives and personal problems.

Tamim says the simplicity of tai chi makes it especially beneficial for office workers. "It鈥檚 something that can easily fit into a working day. You don鈥檛 need any specialized equipment, and you鈥檙e not perspiring heavily, so there鈥檚 no need to shower before going back to work," she says.

The study, "Tai chi workplace program for improving musculoskeletal fitness among female computer users", is published in the Dec. 23 issue WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.

It is co-authored by kinesiology & health science graduate student Evan聽Castel, 91亚色 Professors Veronica Jamnik, Sherry聽Grace, Norman Gledhill and Alison聽Macpherson, and McMaster University Professor Peter Keir.

Republished courtesy of YFile 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

The post A little tai chi each day keeps the aches caused by a desk job away appeared first on Research & Innovation.