Telehealth describes the provision of medical services remotely through technology, and may enhance patient access to specialty care services. Although teleneurology has expanded widely since the introduction of telestroke in 1999, telehealth services for outpatients with neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorders are less widespread. In this narrative review, we will describe the current technology, applications, outcomes, and limitations of this dynamically growing field. Evidence for telehealth applications related to neuromuscular diseases, palliative care, specialized multidisciplinary services, and musculoskeletal care are reviewed. With growing demand for specialized services and finite resources, telehealth provides a promising avenue to promote access to high-quality care, decrease the cost and burden of travel for patients, and with the expansion of software to personal computing and mobile devices, offer flexible, low-overhead practice opportunities for clinicians. Providers embarking on careers in telehealth should be aware of current legal restrictions impacting care to minimize risk and avoid liability. Muscle Nerve 58: 475-485, 2018.

IROP and FABER may be worthwhile components of the clinical evaluation of hip pain to determine intra-articular hip pathology. These tests are nonspecific and therefore not necessarily negative in the absence of intra-articular hip pathology. These hip provocation maneuvers are a useful part of an evaluation that includes history, further examination findings, and other diagnostic studies.

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Hospital mortality correlates with the number and level of inotropic support necessary to separate from CPB following adult open heart surgery. The application of a standard pharmacological formula together with hemodynamic criteria for VAD insertion after postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock results in earlier insertion, lower incidence of postoperative MOSF, and improved wean and discharge rates.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of device-guided breathing to lower blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive type II diabetic patients. A randomized controlled trial was carried out in four urban family practice clinics in Israel. Non-insulin-dependent diabetic, hypertensive patients with uncontrolled BP, receiving antihypertensive therapy or those non-medicated were enrolled. Baseline characteristics of the 66 patients who completed the study (33 intervention and 33 control) were: 62% men, age 62±8 years (mean±s.d.); body mass index 29±5 kg/m 2 ; systolic BP 148±11 mm Hg and diastolic BP 81 ± 9 mm Hg. The intervention group used a device (RESPeRATE), which interactively guides the user towards slow and regular breathing by synchronizing respiration voluntarily to musical tones for 15 min daily for an 8-week period. The control group continued with their regular treatment. BP was measured in the clinic at baseline, after 4 weeks and at 8 weeks.Medication was unchanged for 4 weeks prior to and during the study period. The main outcome measure was the office BP change from baseline to the end of the 8-week period. BP was reduced in the treatment group (mean ± s.e.) systolic À10.0 ± 1.8 mm Hg and diastolic À3.6 ± 1.3 mm Hg (Po0.0001 and Po0.01), but not in the controls þ 1.6±2.1 and À1.0±1.4 mm Hg P40.4 and P40.4, respectively. Test for between group difference Po0.0001 and P ¼ 0.08. The subjects were highly compliant with the treatment, performing 75% of the requested exercise sessions. Greater BP reduction was observed with increased compliance with device usage (P ¼ 0.01 and P ¼ 0.001). It is concluded that self-treatment with device-guided breathing at home for 8 weeks by non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients was associated with a substantial reduction in office systolic BP.

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