Dr. Sara Cuccurullo and Dr. Talya Flemming: Investigating and Analyzing the Effect of a Comprehensive Stroke Recovery Program, Part 2
RUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Release Date: 01/29/2025
RUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Both corticosteroid injection and PRP demonstrate initial efficacy where steroid appears to provide superior pain relief, as you can see here going down within the first four weeks, whereas PRP demonstrated longer lasting effect, as you can see that the VAS score is actually going down all the way up to 24 weeks, where the corticosteroid injections kind of peak at four weeks, and then slowly the pain comes back to its original level by 24 weeks, maybe around, even like a 12 weeks’ time mark. So, both steroid and PRP are considered safe and an effective treatment for the GTPS. But in more...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Haruki Ishii discussed a review paper on the risks and benefits of corticosteroid injections versus plasma injections in patients. The aim of this review was to compare the evidence for clinical applications of these injectates as a treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions in patients. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections for clinical use as discussed here, is defined as autologous plasma, extracted from minimally processed blood, and then containing activated platelets. So PRP delivers concentrated growth factors and cytokines acting as extra cell signaling...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis is a Distinguished University Scholar and a Professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) and in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at The University of British Columbia. She holds the Reichwald Family Chair in Preventive Medicine and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology, and as is an International Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology. The focus of Dr. Martin Ginis’s research is placed on...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis is a Distinguished University Scholar and a Professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) and in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at The University of British Columbia. She holds the Reichwald Family Chair in Preventive Medicine and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology, and as is an International Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology. The focus of Dr. Martin Ginis’s research is placed on...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
With over 20 years of extensive clinical experience, Dr. Kedzierska is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She serves as a faculty member of an Accredited Physical Therapy Neurology Residency Program. She mentors department staff on assessment/treatment for related diagnosis. She has presented in local and national conferences and is a published author in the ANPT newsletter and Brain Injury Journal. She received her Master’s Degree in Physical Rehabilitation in Poland, Advanced Master’s Degree from...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Maria Janakos is a sports medicine physiatrist at NYU and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of Louisville and a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey. Her clinical interests include concussion management, orthobiologics, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and event coverage. Dr. Janakos is actively involved in medical education at NYU, teaching medical students, residents, and fellows through lectures, hands-on training, and mentorship. At NYU,...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Maria Janakos is a sports medicine physiatrist at NYU and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of Louisville and a Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey. Her clinical interests include concussion management, orthobiologics, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and event coverage. Dr. Janakos is actively involved in medical education at NYU, teaching medical students, residents, and fellows through lectures, hands-on training, and mentorship. At NYU,...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Zhu is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include the management of a range of symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment, including weakness, pain, neuropathy, and limited range of motion. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to proactive healthcare engagement, working closely with a team to provide comprehensive care. Her practice emphasizes patient education, along with helping individuals understand the causes of their symptoms and the changes their bodies...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Patricia Tan serves as Medical Director for Rusk Pediatrics Rehabilitation. Her Certification is from the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She has been selected as a Fellow by the following organizations: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine; and the Association of Academic Physiatrists. Her medical degree is from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. Dr. Megan Conklin is Associate Director of...
info_outlineRUSK Insights on Rehabilitation Medicine
Dr. Patricia Tan serves as Medical Director for Rusk Pediatrics Rehabilitation. Her Certification is from the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She has been selected as a Fellow by the following organizations: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine; and the Association of Academic Physiatrists. Her medical degree is from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. Dr. Megan Conklin is Associate Director of...
info_outlineThe introduction is done by Dr. Steven Flanagan, Chairperson of the Department of Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Health.
Sara Cuccurullo MD is Professor and Chairman, Residency Program Director in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Medical Director, VP at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute; and Physician in Chief of HMH Rehabilitation Care Transformation Services
Talya Flemming MD is Medical Director: Stroke Recovery Program, Post-COVID Rehabilitation Program, Aftercare Program ABMS, Brain Injury Medicine Certified JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Core Associate Professor, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
Part 2
Dr. Flemming described the functional results obtained from their intervention. They specifically chose the activity measure proposed for post-acute care, abbreviated as AM-PAC. It showed improvement over time and it allowed looking at specific subsections within rehabilitation, such as basic mobility, daily activity, and cognitive scores. An AM-PAC score is a recognized tool by Medicare used in multiple post-acute care settings. Dr. Cuccurullo indicated that according to an article published in 2011 in the journal Stroke, the all-cause mortality for stroke patients in the U.S. is 31%. In one year, the all-cause mortality in their program was 1.47%. Their results were published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The paper received the Excellence in Research Writing Award for the most impactful article of the year. Significantly, the manuscript attracted the attention of Medicare officials who asked them to present their findings. CMS wanted to know if it can be proved that the stroke recovery program saves money, can they validate their previous improvement in mortality with more patients, and can they replicate the results at other institutions nationally. Drs. Fleming and Cuccurullo described what they did in response to these questions.
A Question & Answer period followed.