ABBEL Research Division

10/20/2025

👏 Big congrats to Dr. Havlik for completing an exceptional research poster! Your hard work, curiosity, and dedication to advancing clinical understanding and contributing to the growing body of rehabilitation research is truly inspiring. 🌟

10/16/2025

After decades of exploring his mobility, Ross Holland made a remarkable discovery — turning his prosthetic legs backward unlocked a new sense of balance, comfort, and possibility. 💪 His fearless drive and generous spirit to help others is redefining the boundaries of human movement. We’re grateful Ross chose the ABBEL Research Division to turn his personal discoveries into the first quantifiable evidence supporting backward prosthetics. His journey shows that progress starts when we dare to reimagine what’s possible. 💙

Ross Holland discovered a unique way to wear his prosthetic legs by turning the feet backwards. Holland, who has been using prosthetic legs since a lawn mowe...

10/14/2025

💡 Innovation Spotlight: 3D Printing with Roland!

At ABBEL, Rehab Engineer Roland Starr, MS led the design and fabrication of a motorized wrist Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine — fully 3D-printed and engineered in-house to support stroke rehabilitation.

🎯 How it works: Using a geared stepper motor and programmable control box, the device gently guides the wrist through slow, consistent flexion and extension, helping stroke survivors safely improve range of motion at home following Botox therapy.

This project, developed in collaboration with Dr. Scott Brown, MD, MA, Rachel Baraban, OTD, OTR/L, Sana Hafiz (GW Med), and Alexandra Artiga (Loyola Engineering), was recently submitted for presentation at AAP 2026 in Puerto Rico!

10/09/2025

📖 Yesterday, PGY-3 Physiatry Resident Dr. Yomiyou Geleta led our monthly Journal Club discussion!

He selected the article “Hyaluronic Acid Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Prospective, Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Clinical Outcomes and Effects on Intra-articular Biology for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis” (The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2016). This study compared whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections or hyaluronic acid (HA) injections provided greater improvements in pain and function for patients with knee OA.

💡 Highlights: Both treatments improved symptoms, but PRP showed greater gains in pain reduction and knee function at 24 and 52 weeks. The study also suggested that PRP’s anti-inflammatory effects may contribute to these benefits, especially in patients with mild OA and lower BMI.

👏 Thank you to Dr. Geleta for leading this engaging discussion and keeping our team connected to evidence-based care!

10/08/2025

Accepted! ✅ Congrats to Dr. Havlik, Dr. Bankert, and co-authors on their clinical vignette being accepted for publication in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Stay tuned — we’ll share the full article once it’s live!

10/02/2025

🌟 Project Spotlight: Studying knee range of motion recovery in kids after limb lengthening surgery to guide better rehab + outcomes 💪

09/29/2025

Sixty years strong! 🥳 Last week, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Institute at Sinai (formerly Sinai Rehabilitation Center) with an unforgettable luncheon full of food, games, laughter, and recognition.

We were honored to be joined by Amy Shlossman, President of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Maryland State Senator Dalya Attar, a representative from Senator Chris Van Hollen’s office, author Earl Arnett, and former PM&R Chiefs Dr. Scott Brown and Dr. Gerald Felsenthal. We were also proud to share a special proclamation from Mayor Brandon Scott recognizing this milestone.

Congratulations to Curt Cunningham on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, and to Caleb Martin for being named Employee of the Quarter 👏.

What an incredible way to honor our past while looking forward to the future of rehabilitation care in Baltimore! 💙

09/23/2025

🧸✨ The Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) Kit is a play-based developmental assessment for children from birth to 68 months. Through fun, engaging activities, it evaluates five key domains:
🔹 Gross Motor
🔹 Visual Reception
🔹 Fine Motor
🔹 Receptive Language
🔹 Expressive Language

At ABBEL, we use the MSEL as part of our Infant Norms Project to better understand each child’s developmental progress. 📊 Results from the assessment can also be shared with parents and pediatricians, offering valuable insights to support care and decision-making.

By combining developmental assessments with biomechanics research, we’re learning more about how infants grow, move, and thrive. 💡👶

09/19/2025

Huge congratulations to Anil Bhave, PT on being named Associate Editor for the Journal of Arthroplasty (JOA)!

This prestigious honor highlights his expertise in hip & knee arthroplasty rehabilitation and his dedication to advancing patient recovery after joint replacement surgery. We’re excited to see the impact he’ll continue to make in shaping research and clinical practices in this vital area of healthcare. 👏

09/16/2025

🎉 Huge congratulations to our Rehab Institute teammates on submitting 8 abstracts to the AAP 2026 Annual Meeting to be held in Puerto Rico! ✨
ABBEL is so proud to support this amazing group of physicians 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️, clinicians 🩺, researchers 🔬, and trainees 📚—together we’re pushing rehabilitation science forward! 💪🌟

09/11/2025

📖 Yesterday, PGY-4 Physiatry Resident Dr. Arionne Thomas led our monthly Journal Club discussion!

She selected the article "Self-Administered Acupressure for Probable Knee Osteoarthritis in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial" (JAMA Network Open, 2024), which examined whether a short self-acupressure training program paired with knee health education could improve pain and mobility in adults over 50 with knee OA.

💡 Highlights: Participants practicing self-acupressure twice daily for 12 weeks showed modest pain reduction, some mobility gains, and high compliance, supporting it as a low-cost, nonpharmacologic treatment option for knee OA.

👏 Thank you to Dr. Thomas for leading this thoughtful discussion and keeping our team engaged in evidence-based care!