Stroke Rehabilitation: A Novel Treatment Pays Off

In a landmark study, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham used a randomized controlled trial -- the gold standard method for evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment -- to show that immobilizing the good arm of stroke patients and intensively exercising the weakened arm actually improved recovery, even when performed long after the stroke occurred. At one level, randomized controlled trials in the field of rehabilitation medicine have been so rare that the publication of each and every one should be applauded. At another level, the outcome of this study is so satisfying in terms of what we think we know about brain physiology function that even if the results turn out not to be true, they ought to be. A controlled trial is one in which there is a comparison group of patients that is either untreated or is treated differently. When a...

Get Back On The Playground!

I asked myself this recently when I took my 3-year-old daughter to the playground at a fast food restaurant. She loves playgrounds and so do I. At an almost frantic pace, she began to scale every inch of the equipment, and I surveyed the scene around me. What I saw were kids playing and parents either trying to wrangle their kids off the playground, or get their little ones to sit still and finish their food before they hit the playground. None of the children were sitting in a chair watching the action. They were either taking part in it or itching to. Some kids are shy and timid, of course, but the overwhelming instinct of children is to jump in and participate in any way possible, even at the expense of fueling their bodies. They seem to have no fear of looking weird or not fitting in, especially the youngest of them. So what happened to us adults. When...

Home Inspection Going On Top

Everyone who buys or sells a house, apartment or condo is going to use a home inspector at one time or another and even though you pretty much know what they do, many of you might have more appreciation for them once you learn more details of there chosen profession. Home inspectors have been around for a long time and they will be here for a lot longer, preparing reports, giving advice and recommendations and to some, a peace of mind. Because this is a big subject and there is a lot to say, right know I will focus on roof inspection and also give a little class on roof construction. First the basics Pitched Roofs The basic structure of a typical pitched roof is: the framework, a deck and a weather resistant covering. The purpose of the deck is to serve as a base for supporting the roof covering, which is what protects the roof. Pretty simple so far...

Saving The Environment One Step At A Time

With the rise in environmental awareness, it has become obvious that there is more we can do to create a sustainable society. If everyone in the world would take just a few small steps, make a few different choices, and think about their impact on the world, there might be a way to restore the world to its original beauty and resources. Let s look at a few different places where these steps can be taken you may just find that you too can save the world. Your home is where you spend a majority of your time, so it seems safe to say that steps taken there will do the most good or harm for the environment. Thankfully, many of the changes that you can make are simple and will not affect your day to day living. Use more efficient light bulbs Many of these newly designed halogen light bulbs can last up to ten years in a regular lamp or light fixture, allowing you...