Source
Pain, fatigue, swelling and loss of function are common symptoms associated with the inflammatory disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The disease impacts nearly 1.3 million Americans according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders.
Recent medical advancements have modified the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. These advancements may account for the decrease of physical therapists receiving referrals for RA patients. Yet, despite the decline, Dr. Iversen sees plenty of opportunity for physical therapists interested in working with RA patients. She states a growing number of studies demonstrate the importance of RA patients staying physically active and believes physical therapists are uniquely qualified to teach RA patients how to maintain physical activity and prevent deleterious effects of the disease.
Physical Activity Boosts Emotional Health
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As therapists, we frequently provide physical activities for children to promote muscle strengthening, range of motion, balance, motor skills and coordination. We must not forget that physical activity also helps to boost the social and emotional health of children. Physical, active play can help children to:
- express emotions such as smiling and laughing
- negotiate with peers during games such as turn taking, establishing rules of games, etc
- reduce stress
- elevate the mood
- establish feelings of pride and accomplishment by achieving goals such as climbing equipment or running around a track
- observe the children and see what they enjoy playing. Create more opportunities for what they enjoy.
- recommend "just right" activities for the children. Provide teachers and parents with a list of activities that the children can accomplish to help boost feelings of self worth. Perhaps provide some activities that may be a challenge so that children can have a sense of accomplishment of pushing themselves to achieve more.
- praise children when they achieve new motor tasks or skills
- add emotions to make believe active play i.e. be a silly troll, a happy princess or a miserable witch
- offer some activity ideas that all children can participate in regardless of motor skill to encourage peer interaction. This will help some children to focus on the social aspects of play without having to struggle with motor skills.
- keep children motivated and engaged. If certain activities are not encouraging active play, change it up to make it more active. Add more loose parts to play such as balls and hula hoops rather than relying on playground equipment to get children moving.
Physical Activity Boosts Emotional Health
Source
As therapists, we frequently provide physical activities for children to promote muscle strengthening, range of motion, balance, motor skills and coordination. We must not forget that physical activity also helps to boost the social and emotional health of children. Physical, active play can help children to:
- express emotions such as smiling and laughing
- negotiate with peers during games such as turn taking, establishing rules of games, etc
- reduce stress
- elevate the mood
- establish feelings of pride and accomplishment by achieving goals such as climbing equipment or running around a track
- observe the children and see what they enjoy playing. Create more opportunities for what they enjoy.
- recommend "just right" activities for the children. Provide teachers and parents with a list of activities that the children can accomplish to help boost feelings of self worth. Perhaps provide some activities that may be a challenge so that children can have a sense of accomplishment of pushing themselves to achieve more.
- praise children when they achieve new motor tasks or skills
- add emotions to make believe active play i.e. be a silly troll, a happy princess or a miserable witch
- offer some activity ideas that all children can participate in regardless of motor skill to encourage peer interaction. This will help some children to focus on the social aspects of play without having to struggle with motor skills.
- keep children motivated and engaged. If certain activities are not encouraging active play, change it up to make it more active. Add more loose parts to play such as balls and hula hoops rather than relying on playground equipment to get children moving.
Does Backward Treadmill Walking Help Low Back Pain?
Source
There are many different options available to help low back pain . Postural instruction , mobilization, and exercise are proven ways to help. But which exercises are the best? Which exercise can help your specific problem?
A recent study examined the effect that walking backwards on the treadmill had on low back pain in college athletes. Ten people were recruited for the study. Five people had low back pain and five did not. All were instructed in backward treadmill walking and then participated in 15 minutes of backwards treadmill walking 3 times per week for 3 weeks. Outcomes measures were low back range of motion, stride measurements, shock attenuation, and pain measures.
In the low back pain walkers, all showed improvements in lumbar motion, stride, and shock attenuation. Most importantly, all reported a significant decrease in subjective pain levels after the retro walking.
Of course, a study with such a small sample size would not be considered very strong evidence that backwards walking decreases low back pain. Plus, a study such as this makes it impossible to blind the experimental group. Simply put, the low back pain sufferers knew that they were in a study investigating the effects that walking backward had on low back pain. Their reduction in pain could be due to simply knowing what was expected and reporting as such.
Many times, low back pain occurs episodically. This means that it may strike, last for a few days, and then slowly dissipate. Many of the athletes participating could have experienced a reduction in low back pain simply due to the passage of time, and not necessarily due to the intervention.
Regardless, if you are suffering from low back pain, talk to your doctor and physical therapist. Ask about backwards walking on the treadmill to see if it may help you. Be sure to stay safe-walking backwards can be a little tricky
There are many different options available to help low back pain . Postural instruction , mobilization, and exercise are proven ways to help. But which exercises are the best? Which exercise can help your specific problem?
A recent study examined the effect that walking backwards on the treadmill had on low back pain in college athletes. Ten people were recruited for the study. Five people had low back pain and five did not. All were instructed in backward treadmill walking and then participated in 15 minutes of backwards treadmill walking 3 times per week for 3 weeks. Outcomes measures were low back range of motion, stride measurements, shock attenuation, and pain measures.
In the low back pain walkers, all showed improvements in lumbar motion, stride, and shock attenuation. Most importantly, all reported a significant decrease in subjective pain levels after the retro walking.
Of course, a study with such a small sample size would not be considered very strong evidence that backwards walking decreases low back pain. Plus, a study such as this makes it impossible to blind the experimental group. Simply put, the low back pain sufferers knew that they were in a study investigating the effects that walking backward had on low back pain. Their reduction in pain could be due to simply knowing what was expected and reporting as such.
Many times, low back pain occurs episodically. This means that it may strike, last for a few days, and then slowly dissipate. Many of the athletes participating could have experienced a reduction in low back pain simply due to the passage of time, and not necessarily due to the intervention.
Regardless, if you are suffering from low back pain, talk to your doctor and physical therapist. Ask about backwards walking on the treadmill to see if it may help you. Be sure to stay safe-walking backwards can be a little tricky
Fall Prevention
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At AlterG we want to help you help your patients get stronger, feel more confident and be less likely to fall. As may you know, falls amongst the elderly are the leading cause of fatal injuries, and yet falls are largely preventable. So today, on Fall Prevention Awareness Day we're helping spread the word about fall prevention in the hope that all of you dedicated healthcare providers have the tools you need to help your patients get healthy and stay healthy.
Click here to learn more about Fall Prevention in Seniors, by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. Click here to learn more about Fall Prevention by visiting the National Council on Aging. How Can Falls Be Prevented? Studies show that a combination of interventions can significantly reduce falls in the older adult population. Experts recommend a physical activity regimen with balance, strength training, and flexibility components. In the case of a history of falls or balance and gait difficulties, consulting with a health professional about getting a fall risk assessment; having medications reviewed periodically; getting eyes checked annually; and making sure the home environment is safe and supportive are all elements to help decrease the risk of falling. How The AlterG Can Help Click here to learn more about how the AlterG can help prevent falls by enabling exercise amongst the elderly. For more information about fall prevention or to learn more about the AlterG, contact us here. We hope the information we've provided has been helpful and that together we can enable our seniors to get healthier and stronger than ever before. |
Osteoporosis Education & Support Group
The National Osteoporosis Foundation of Ormond Beach
Support Group will meet on Tuesday, October 11 at 4 PM at the Ormond Beach Library Auditorium.
The guest speaker will be Sheila R. Vidamour, a Certified KeenFit Pole Walking Instructor, who will do a presentation/demonstration on the benefits and the techniques used to walk with poles; she will also have demo poles available for anyone in the group who wishes to try them.
For more information & to let us know that you are coming, please call Barr & Associates Physical Therapy at 673-3535.
Support Group will meet on Tuesday, October 11 at 4 PM at the Ormond Beach Library Auditorium.
The guest speaker will be Sheila R. Vidamour, a Certified KeenFit Pole Walking Instructor, who will do a presentation/demonstration on the benefits and the techniques used to walk with poles; she will also have demo poles available for anyone in the group who wishes to try them.
For more information & to let us know that you are coming, please call Barr & Associates Physical Therapy at 673-3535.
Proper Posture for the Low Back
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One of the most common causes of low back pain is poor sitting posture. When you sit, especially for long periods, excessive strain is put on the muscles, tendons, and discs in the low back. This strain can lead to low back pain.
Anatomy of the Spine
The low back, or lumbar spine, is comprised of 5 bones called vertebrae. Between these bones are spongy shock absorbers called discs. There are two parts to the disc: the inner part called the nucleus pulposes, and the outer part called the annulus fibrosis. The nucleus pulposes is a jelly-like material, while the annulus fibrosis is stiffer. The discs can therefore be thought of as mini jelly doughnuts between the bones. There are many muscles and ligaments that attach to the lumbar spine.
When viewing the spine from the side, a forward curve can be seen in the low back. When sitting, many people slouch. This slouched position causes the forward curve in the low back to reverse. The reversal of the forward curve puts excessive strain on the front side of the disc, and the jelly in the middle of the disc gets pushed towards the back. When the jelly pushes out far enough, nerves are pinched and low back pain may occur.
How to Attain Correct Sitting Posture
Normally there should be a forward curve in the low back. When sitting, you must use a small towel roll or lumbar pillow to help support the curve in the low back. To use a lumbar roll properly, sit in a chair with your hips pressed all the way up to the back of the chair. Then lean forward slightly and place the roll at the small of your back, at the level of your beltline. This will help keep the proper curve in your low back.
Poor sitting posture is one of the major causes of low back pain. It puts excessive pressure on the discs, muscles, and joints in the back. Exercising1 and maintaining proper sitting posture are important steps to eliminating or preventing low back pain.
One of the most common causes of low back pain is poor sitting posture. When you sit, especially for long periods, excessive strain is put on the muscles, tendons, and discs in the low back. This strain can lead to low back pain.
Anatomy of the Spine
The low back, or lumbar spine, is comprised of 5 bones called vertebrae. Between these bones are spongy shock absorbers called discs. There are two parts to the disc: the inner part called the nucleus pulposes, and the outer part called the annulus fibrosis. The nucleus pulposes is a jelly-like material, while the annulus fibrosis is stiffer. The discs can therefore be thought of as mini jelly doughnuts between the bones. There are many muscles and ligaments that attach to the lumbar spine.
When viewing the spine from the side, a forward curve can be seen in the low back. When sitting, many people slouch. This slouched position causes the forward curve in the low back to reverse. The reversal of the forward curve puts excessive strain on the front side of the disc, and the jelly in the middle of the disc gets pushed towards the back. When the jelly pushes out far enough, nerves are pinched and low back pain may occur.
How to Attain Correct Sitting Posture
Normally there should be a forward curve in the low back. When sitting, you must use a small towel roll or lumbar pillow to help support the curve in the low back. To use a lumbar roll properly, sit in a chair with your hips pressed all the way up to the back of the chair. Then lean forward slightly and place the roll at the small of your back, at the level of your beltline. This will help keep the proper curve in your low back.
Poor sitting posture is one of the major causes of low back pain. It puts excessive pressure on the discs, muscles, and joints in the back. Exercising1 and maintaining proper sitting posture are important steps to eliminating or preventing low back pain.
Preventing Hamstring Injuries
Source
With autumn approaching, many people will be returning to the soccer field. This intense sport requires players to be in top physical form to play well. Maintaining physical fitness can also help prevent injuries while playing soccer. While not all injuries can be prevented, proper training may help to reduce the number and severity of injuries incurred. Hamstring strains are a common soccer injury. Running, sliding, and kicking all place a great amount of stress on the knee and on the supporting ligaments and muscles. One of the functions of the hamstring muscle is to bend the knee.
In high velocity sports like soccer, the hamstring muscle also helps control the forces on the knee while it straightens. This can put a great amount of tension on the muscle, and it is thought that these high tension forces can lead to muscle strains. A recent study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine examined a specific type of exercise to prevent hamstring strains. The researchers found that players performing eccentric hamstring exercises had significantly fewer acute and recurrent hamstring injuries than players who did not add eccentric hamstring exercises to their training regimen. What are eccentric exercises ? An eccentric contraction is a muscle contraction that occurs while the muscle is lengthening. To illustrate an eccentric muscle contraction, bend your elbow. Now hold something heavy, like a gallon of milk, and slowly allow your arm to straighten. The bicep muscle in the front of your arm had to lengthen while performing the contraction. That is an eccentric contraction. By training the hamstring muscle eccentrically, it may be possible to reduce your chance of injuring the hamstring during high demand sports like soccer. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to learn if eccentric hamstring training is right for you
With autumn approaching, many people will be returning to the soccer field. This intense sport requires players to be in top physical form to play well. Maintaining physical fitness can also help prevent injuries while playing soccer. While not all injuries can be prevented, proper training may help to reduce the number and severity of injuries incurred. Hamstring strains are a common soccer injury. Running, sliding, and kicking all place a great amount of stress on the knee and on the supporting ligaments and muscles. One of the functions of the hamstring muscle is to bend the knee.
In high velocity sports like soccer, the hamstring muscle also helps control the forces on the knee while it straightens. This can put a great amount of tension on the muscle, and it is thought that these high tension forces can lead to muscle strains. A recent study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine examined a specific type of exercise to prevent hamstring strains. The researchers found that players performing eccentric hamstring exercises had significantly fewer acute and recurrent hamstring injuries than players who did not add eccentric hamstring exercises to their training regimen. What are eccentric exercises ? An eccentric contraction is a muscle contraction that occurs while the muscle is lengthening. To illustrate an eccentric muscle contraction, bend your elbow. Now hold something heavy, like a gallon of milk, and slowly allow your arm to straighten. The bicep muscle in the front of your arm had to lengthen while performing the contraction. That is an eccentric contraction. By training the hamstring muscle eccentrically, it may be possible to reduce your chance of injuring the hamstring during high demand sports like soccer. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to learn if eccentric hamstring training is right for you
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