https://medicalxpress.com/health-other-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Allied health Major new research from the University of Sydney has found that physiotherapist-led care significantly reduced emergency department waiting and treatment times for people with back pain, fractures, dislocations and other musculoskeletal conditions. The randomized controlled trial recruited 1,491 patients who presented to five emergency departments in NSW between November 2023 and March 2025. The findings are published in the journal BMJ Open. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-physiotherapist-emergency-departments-musculoskeletal-patients.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:40:01 EDT news707126311 About 65% of young children brought to New Jersey emergency departments for suspected poisoning probably didn't need emergency care and could have stayed home if their families had called poison control before rushing to the hospital, according to Rutgers researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-poison-center-er-young-kids.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:00:03 EDT news707111461 For Pacific Peoples, being diagnosed with Parkinson's is like being in a va'a/vaka on an unpredictable wave on the high seas, a University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka study has found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-parkinson-unexpected-unpredictable-journey-pacific.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:40:06 EDT news707058057 Every year, hundreds of thousands of older Americans recover from hip and knee replacement surgery at home. For many, that recovery depends on timely access to physical or occupational therapy after leaving the hospital. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-gaps-home-rehab-joint.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:40:03 EDT news707028841 A stroke can change life in an instant, affecting everything from walking and speaking to memory, mood and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Recovery often continues for months or even years as survivors of stroke work to regain independence and quality of life. A new guideline from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, emphasizes that every person who has a stroke should receive a personalized assessment and begin rehabilitation during their hospital stay once they are medically stable, supported by a team of specialists who can address physical, cognitive, communication and emotional challenges throughout recovery. The 2026 Guideline for Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery was published today in the journal Stroke. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-rehab-early-physical-cognitive-mental.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 05:00:11 EDT news706887661 Beyond lifelong physical conditions, cancer survivorship can bring long-term mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression and isolation. In an effort to support cancer survivors, researchers from Drexel University are exploring music therapy as a way to better understand what they're going through and help them manage these posttreatment challenges. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-songwriting-survivorship-music-therapy-cancer.html Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:00:05 EDT news706851362 Physical activity in adulthood may depend on exercise during growth, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers. The study, conducted in birds, is the first to directly demonstrate that experiences during development influence how efficiently adults use energy during movement. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-bird-bulking-youth-decreases-energy.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:00:02 EDT news706800842 Portal messages have become a routine way for patients to communicate with their health care teams. But a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health suggests that how patients write those messages can play a key role in whether—and by whom—they receive a response. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-patients-portal-messages-affect-doctors.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:00:07 EDT news706534922 For decades, people exercising have been told one simple rule: Never let your knees go over your toes. During lunges, squats and many other exercises, well-meaning coaches, trainers and physical therapists repeated this advice so often that it became fitness folklore. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-knees-toes-bullet-proof-experts.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:00:05 EDT news706773362 Black people in Canada who want to donate blood face barriers to doing so, despite a critical need for specific blood types to treat sickle cell disease, according to new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-black-people-canada-barriers-donating.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:10:01 EDT news706525981 Hand grip strength. Balance tests. Standing up from a seated position on the floor. These physical challenges are often touted as measurements of healthy aging and even predictors of longevity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-mobility-insights-crystal-ball.html Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:20:01 EDT news706613940 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized Aletta as the first standalone robotic device that can draw blood from a patient's arm. Marketing authorization was granted to Vitestro. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-fda-authorizes-standalone-robotic-device.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 23:00:01 EDT news706528985 The United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union (EU) was associated with major changes in health care worker migration and worsening physician shortages in England, according to a new study published in JAMA Health Forum. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-brexit-reshaped-uk-health-workforce.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:00:02 EDT news706526101 Loneliness and social isolation are widely recognized as harmful to older adults' health, yet frontline care workers have long lacked a simple, objective way to identify those most at risk. Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have developed a set of community-based, preventive approaches to address social frailty among seniors, including a new screening tool and nature-based interventions in care facilities. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-hong-kong-screening-tool-social.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:40:04 EDT news706438241 A digital program combining guided movement, breathing and meditation exercises, and coping-skills training reduced anxiety and depression symptoms in adults with chronic medical conditions, according to a new study published Aug. 20 in the journal PLOS Medicine by Puneeta Tandon of the University of Alberta, Canada, and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-digital-wellness-eases-anxiety-depression.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:00:06 EDT news706369501 Transitioning from high school to adult life is a challenge for anyone, but for young people living with spinal cord injuries, the path forward is less clear. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-residential-young-adults-spinal-cord.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 08:40:01 EDT news706433102 Mention psychotherapy and many people picture a familiar movie scene: someone lying on a couch, talking about their childhood, while a therapist sits behind them taking notes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-difference-psychotherapy-psychoanalysis.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:20:03 EDT news706346101 Chronic wounds affect about 450,000 Australians every year, requiring ongoing at-home monitoring, care and treatment to prevent infection. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-chronic-wounds-affect-million-australians.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:00:04 EDT news706344782 A novel AI system capable of recognizing yoga poses with high accuracy could pave the way for more effective digital coaching tools, rehabilitation platforms and movement-monitoring applications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-ai-yoga-pose-families-real.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 07:00:04 EDT news706338661 An international task force co-led by a Georgetown University stroke expert has outlined a new roadmap for stroke recovery, positioning genetic and blood biomarkers to drive the next generation of precision neurorehabilitation and biotherapy. The framework aligns with Georgetown's strategic focus on advancing brain health and accelerating discoveries that restore function and independence after neurological injury. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-roadmap-aims-recovery-personalized.html Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:02 EDT news706258231 Women who receive health visitor support alongside smoking relapse-prevention advice are more likely to remain smoke-free after childbirth, according to University of East Anglia (UEA) research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-health-visitor-postnatal-mothers-stay.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 19:10:01 EDT news706195441 Women have driven the expansion of the global health workforce over the past three decades, yet substantial workforce shortages remain, according to a new study published in The Lancet Public Health. Researchers estimate that an additional 34.4 million doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists and pharmacists are needed worldwide to achieve moderate levels of universal health coverage, where people can access essential health services without financial hardship. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-women-global-health-workforce-world.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:30:10 EDT news706201022 Why does my back crack? It sounds like such a simple question. But the more I think about it, the more fascinating it gets. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-physiologist.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:20:03 EDT news706266662 A nurse can know exactly how to give a medicine safely and still be more likely to make a mistake if they are repeatedly interrupted, given confusing information or forced to search several computer systems for the details they need. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-nurses-patients.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:00:10 EDT news706190702 Monash University researchers have reviewed existing evidence and concluded that most shoulder problems get better with self-management, education and time, challenging widespread clinical reliance on early imaging and surgical interventions. The landmark review, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, provides general practitioners and physiotherapists with an updated roadmap for managing shoulder pain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-guidance-gps-physiologists-ditch-unnecessary.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:20:08 EDT news706189991 The experiences people have with yoga are embodied and take place in the here and now. Yoga can offer a different kind of insight than what one gains by thinking and talking about what has happened or might happen, says Kari Evelin Arellano Lorentzen. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-yoga-people-experienced-trauma.html Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:20:01 EDT news705930842 Social isolation is a growing public health concern linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, infectious disease, depression, anxiety and even premature death. Older adults report the highest rates of social isolation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-older-hispanic-adults-buffered-social.html Thu, 13 Aug 2026 20:00:01 EDT news705853681 A new large-scale survey of NHS nurses by the University of Southampton and the University of Portsmouth has revealed what matters most to them. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-workplaces-key-retaining-experienced-nhs.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:20:05 EDT news705767041 A new study published in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing reveals that four in 10 inpatient psychiatric mental health registered nurses (PMH-RNs) experience high burnout. However, researchers found that supportive work environments significantly reduce burnout, job dissatisfaction and nurse turnover. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-inpatient-psychiatric-nurses-high-burnout.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 18:00:03 EDT news705765163 Anyone who has run while pushing a stroller knows stroller running can feel cumbersome and hard on the body. But does it increase the risk of injury? According to a new study from researchers at Penn State Berks, the answer appears to be no. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-parents-stroller-overuse-injury.html Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:04 EDT news705588660