Physical medicine expert Phil McClure, PT, PhD, FAPTA, has been awarded a grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a National Institutes of Health (NIH) division, to study rotator cuff tendinopathy.

McClure is vice president of MedRisk’s research and academic subsidiary, Expert Clinical Benchmarks. MedRisk is a leading managed care company specializing in the physical rehabilitation of injured workers.

With the grant — a four-year award totaling over $1.9 million — McClure will collaborate with Andrew Karduna, PhD, professor of human physiology at the University of Oregon, Eugene, to study shoulder muscle activation patterns and the effects of associated pain and exercise in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Patients in the study will be tested before and after subacromial injection and following a six-week rehabilitation program. McClure and Karduna will examine deficits in activation and motor patterns using fine-wire EMG during sub-maximal exertions and problems with neural drive using voluntary activation during maximal effort.

McClure has received numerous awards for his research in shoulder biomechanics and the effect of exercise on patients with shoulder impingement, a major issue in musculoskeletal conditions often associated with worker injury.

About MedRisk

MedRisk Inc. is a leading managed care company specializing in the physical rehabilitation of injured workers. Founded in 1994 and based in King of Prussia, Pa., MedRisk has been ranked as one of the fastest-growing companies on several lists, including Modern Healthcare’s Fast 40, the Inc. 500|5,000, Deloitte’s “Technology Fast 50,” and Philadelphia SmartCEO magazine’s Future 50. MedRisk is fully accredited under URAC and has successfully completed a SSAE 16 Type II examination. MedRisk’s programs deliver savings and operational efficiencies that are significantly greater than traditional programs. Customers include insurance carriers, self-insured employers, third-party administrators, state funds, general managed care companies, case management companies, claims adjusters and physical medicine providers. To make a referral or obtain more information, visit www.medrisknet.com or call 800-225-9675.

About ECB

Expert Clinical Benchmarks LLC (ECB) is the clinical research and academic subsidiary of MedRisk Inc. ECB monitors treatment outcomes, measures patient satisfaction, conducts academic offerings for clinicians and performs peer reviews. ECB is the industry leader in the development and maintenance of physical medicine treatment guidelines and utilization management protocols based on integrated outcome models and evidence-based practices. ECB is supported by its International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB). The ISAB is an elite panel of world-renown physical medicine specialists who meet annually to review the latest research and to update ECB’s proprietary treatment guidelines.