Hot Story Topics
PM&R physicians frequently treat diseases of, and
injuries to, the body's musculoskeletal system. With more than 35 million musculoskeletal
injuries in the United States each year, this is a hot beat. The Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation beat is rich with compelling human interest stories. Linking this human
interest with common conditions and problems can increase the target audience and appeal
of your story.
Preventive medicine is the cornerstone of
managed care, and stories offering tips on preventing injury and/or disease are
increasingly common. These features are often less time sensitive and also lend themselves
to publication in either health care or general interest media.
Whether you are working on a hard news story or
a specific or general interest feature story, AAPM&R can provide additional background
information and put you in touch with physician spokespersons who can speak directly to
key issues.
Some current hot
topics:
For more story ideas, additional information, or
referral to physiatrist spokesperson, credentialed media and freelancers may contact
Joanne Constantine, associate director, marketing and communications, by phone at
(312) 464-9700, fax at (312) 464-0227, or e-mail at jconstantine@aapmr.org.
Our mailing address is: AAPM&R
Communications Department, 330 North Wabash, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60611.
Back pain affects one in four Americans and is
the most common form of physical disability. An estimated 80 percent of all Americans will
suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Problems can range from minor
aggravating aches to severe debilitating pain. Back pain is the second leading cause of
work absenteeism. Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians take a comprehensive
approach to examining all aspects of back problems. Studies have shown that early
aggressive treatment of back injuries by a physiatrist results in quicker recovery and
fewer lost work days. What treatment options are available for back pain? How do the
success rates compare for surgical vs. nonsurgical treatment for low back pain? What
exercises are important in rehabilitating back injuries and how can recurrences be
prevented?
As specialists in musculoskeletal conditions,
PM&R physicians offer non-surgical intervention and rehabilitation of sports injuries.
Physiatrists treat simple sprains and overuse injuries such as tennis elbow as well as
more complex conditions such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and rotator cuff
injuries. Many PM&R physicians serve as consultants to professional and college sports
teams and work with these athletes in rehabilitating injuries. They also help design
exercise, strength and conditioning programs that can help prevent injuries and improve
performance. At the professional level, sports injuries can have a unique financial
impact. Are these highly paid athletes receiving proper medical rehabilitation? What are
the most common types of sports-related injuries and how can the "weekend
warrior" prevent nagging injuries?
Spinal cord injuries impair about 8,000
Americans each year, and the catastrophic nature of these injuries causes complex physical
and psychological effects. Yet, expectations for those with spinal cord injuries have
evolved tremendously in the last 50 years. The spinal cord injured are now viewed as
physically disabled but healthy people, with a productive future in society. As pioneers
in the treatment and management of spinal cord injuries, physiatrists lead
interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals in treating and rehabilitating
patients with spinal cord injuries. Studies have shown that this team approach leads to
improved outcomes, decreased hospitalization and long-term nursing expenses, and increased
personal earnings. Are advances in technology affecting spinal cord injury rehabilitation?
What new research is giving hope to patients with spinal cord injuries? What impact has
violence in our society had on the incidence of spinal cord injuries?
Strokes affect approximately 500,000 Americans
per year, killing 150,000. Stroke is the leading cause of severe disability in the United
States and the third largest cause of death. More than three million people who have had
strokes are alive today. More than one-third of these patients have permanent
disabilities, but fewer than 20 percent receive rehabilitation. PM&R physicians help
stroke victims return to independent living and maximum functioning. These specialists
help patients manage both the physical and emotional effects that a stroke can have on
their daily lives. What exactly is a stroke and how is it diagnosed? What are the warning
signs of stroke and how can individuals reduce their risk for stroke? What are the most
common effects of a stroke and what role does rehabilitation play in recovery of stroke
survivors? How can patients and caregivers cope with the emotional effects of a stroke?
Disability is a significant public health and
social issue in this country. Some 35 million Americans have some degree of activity
limitation due to chronic conditions. What medical conditions are associated with
disability? What strategies are being employed to help prevent disabilities? What is the
economic impact of disability? What new equipment and technology is being used to assist
individuals with disabilities in basic physical and life activities?
Nine million people cannot enter the work force
because of a physical restriction. With rehabilitation, an estimated 350,000 people with
disabilities are able to return to work each year. Close to $3.5 billion in earnings are
thus attributable to rehabilitation. Workplace injuries and disabilities range from carpal
tunnel syndrome and related repetitive motion injuries to sprains, dislocations, and
fractures. What conditions are most associated with work disability? What types of
rehabilitation therapy are effective in returning people to work? How can employers reduce
the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace? What are the direct and indirect
costs of disability?
Head injuries kill more Americans under age 34
than all other causes of death combined. But in the last decade the survival rate of head
injury patients has increased from 50 percent to 90 percent. An estimated two million
Americans will incur a head injury this year and one fourth of these individuals will
require hospitalization. Traumatic head injury can be devastating and even moderate
injuries can cause significant physical and emotional damage. PM&R physicians
coordinate the long term rehabilitation process for brain injury patients.
Studies show conclusively that medical
rehabilitation improves speed and degree of recovery, significantly reduces hospital and
nursing home stays, and provides economic benefits far exceeding the cost of
rehabilitation.
Physiatrists treat a wide variety of patients
with acute and chronic pain. Pain management typically occupies a large portion of a
physiatrist's day-to-day practice. Chronic pain affects an estimated 80 million Americans
and is the third leading cause of physical impairment in the United States following
cancer and heart disease.
From low back pain and herniated discs to carpal
tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, physiatrists seek to not only reduce and eliminate pain,
but also to prevent its recurrence. They are skilled in the use of drug therapies to treat
both acute and chronic pain. PM&R physicians also perform nerve blocks and utilize
special injection techniques on a diagnostic and therapeutic basis.
With aging comes an increased incidence of
acute, chronic and catastrophic diseases, all of which require medical care. In addition,
the likelihood of disability increases greatly with age. Seniors represent more than 40
percent of the physically challenged population. Cost of this necessary specialized care
can be high, and yet many seniors are on fixed incomes with static health care benefits.
Medical rehabilitation is an integral part of basic health care services, and access to
inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services is critical for all Americans, especially
seniors. What economic and social benefits can be achieved through broader access to
medical rehabilitation? What effect has the "graying of America" had on the
demand for quality of life and the growth of rehabilitation therapy?
Human interest stories in physical medicine and
rehabilitation often surface first as hard news and evolve into more feature oriented
pieces. Former NY Jet Dennis Byrd's spinal cord injury and subsequent recovery...actor
Christopher Reeve's injury, rehabilitation, and vow to walk again one day. Even lower
profile individuals who have overcome adversity present angles for human interest stories
related to physical medicine and rehabilitation. These stories also represent the newly
emphasized importance of medical rehabilitation in the integrated care of severely injured
people.
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