Dr Alberto Esquenazi Wins 'Best Paper' for Study on ReWalk Exoskeleton Aiding Spinal Cord Injured Patients to Walk Independently
Newswise — Philadelphia, PA (March 13, 2013) – The Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) and the editors of American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AJPM&R), the official journal of the AAP, announced that Alberto Esquenazi, MD, has been named winner of the 2012 AAP Excellence in Research Writing Award for Best Paper. The publisher of AJPM&R, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health, sponsored the award to help raise awareness of important research in the field of physical medical rehabilitation.
Dr Esquenazi was lead author of the 2012 Best Paper, which reported on the successful use of the ReWalk powered exoskeleton to restore walking ability to patients with thoracic-level spinal cord injury. The award was presented at a ceremony during the 2013 AAP Annual Meeting, held last week in New Orleans.
Award Honors Some of the Year's Best Papers from AJPM&RThe award-winning paper, "The ReWalk Powered Exoskeleton to Restore Ambulatory Function to Individuals with Thoracic-Level Motor-Complete Spinal Cord Injury," appeared in the November, 2012, issue of AJPM&R. Dr Esquenazi's coauthors were Mukul Talaty, PhD, Andrew Packel, PT, NCS, and Michael Saulino, MD, PhD.
Video Shows Patient Using ReWalk ExoskeletonDr Esquenazi and coauthors reported their initial experience with the ReWalk powered exoskeleton in twelve patients with SCI, including the intensive training regimen required. After fitting and training with ReWalk, all patients learned to walk independently. A video showing a patient using the ReWalk exoskeleton can be viewed on the AJPM&R website.
In addition, Siera Goodnight, MPH, was named winner of the 2012 Ernest W. Johnson Excellence in Research Writing Award for the best paper on which the first author was in-training when the paper was written. Ms Goodnight's paper, "Construct Validity of Language Independent Functional Evaluation as Used by Spanish-Speaking Clinicians to Evaluate Persons with Developmental Delays," was published in the February, 2012, issue of AJPM&R. Her coauthors were Tony Boggess, DO, Carlos Quintero, MD, Diana Mejia, Juan Felipe Amezquita, Karen S.J. Yamakawa, MS, and Andrew J. Haig, MD.
The AAP Excellence in Research Writing Award recognizes the lead author of the best paper published in AJPM&R each year. Winners are selected by a committee from the Editorial Board, appointed by the Editor.
The committee also presented Honorable Mention awards for two additional papers published in AJPM&R: "Development of an Objective Test of Upper-Limb Function in Tetraplegia: The Capabilities of Upper Extremity Test" by Ralph J. Marino, MD, MS, Mary Patrick, RN, MSN, Whitney Albright, MS, OTR/L, Benjamin E. Leiby, PhD, MJ Mulcahey, OTR/L, PhD, Mary Schmidt-Read, PT, DPT, and Stephen B. Kern, OTR/L, PhD (June, 2012); and “Skeletal Muscle Plasticity after Hemorrhagic Stroke in Rats: Influence of Spontaneous Physical Activity” (November, 2012) by LeAnn Snow, MD, PhD, Walter C. Low, PhD, and LaDora V. Thompson, PhD.
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About AJPM&RAmerican Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation focuses on the practice, research and educational aspects of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Monthly issues keep physiatrists up-to-date on the optimal functional restoration of patients with disabilities, physical treatment of neuromuscular impairments, the development of new rehabilitative technologies, and the use of electrodiagnostic studies. The Journal publishes cutting-edge basic and clinical research, clinical case reports and in-depth topical reviews of interest to rehabilitation professionals.
About the Association of Academic PhysiatristsThe AAP was founded in 1967 to serve as the national organization of physiatrists who are affiliated with medical schools. The AAP is a member organization of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The objectives of the Association are to promote the advancement of teaching and research in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation within an academic environment. The organization acts as a sounding board and forum for the exchange of ideas and information relative to all phases of the art and science of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.
LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2012 annual revenues of €3.6 billion ($4.6 billion).
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