Meet Barbara. Barbara suffers from a spinal cord injury along with cervical stenosis. She currently uses a walker to assist in her mobility. Barbara exercises using AlterG's senior rehabilitation treadmill to work on balance, gait training, strength and endurance.
Step Your Kids Away from the Xbox
Physical Activity Linked to Improved IQ and Math Scores in Kids
Health Psychology published research on a study of 171 overweight 7 to 11 year olds who participated in increased physical activity. The following results were seen in the children who participated in the vigorous exercise group :
- Increased brain activity in prefrontal cortex seen on MRI
- IQ scores increased by 3.8 points with 40 minutes of exercise per day afterschool (smaller increases in children who exercised 20 minutes per day)
- Improved math scores but not improved reading skills
Safety Leonhard on Road to Recovery with Help from Alter G
It was frustrating for safety Jim Leonhard to watch the Jets lose in the AFC Championship game without him.
But the truly hard part for Leonhard will be his recovery from a broken right leg suffered in early December. Leonhard continues to rehab and will meet with the doctor in just over two weeks to gauge how his recovery is going.
The safety has yet to start running but he has been doing work in the pool, on an anti-gravity treadmill and on the bike.
Read full story from ESPN
Barr and Associates Physical Therapy uses the same Anti Gravity Treadmill, Alter-G as a method of therapy. For more information see us on our website or call 386-673-3535
You KNeed to Use these Tips!
The American Physical Therapy Association recommends the following tips to avoid knee injuries, which too often result from improper exercise technique.
1. Most knee injuries occur when one is fatigued. Know your limits and don't push beyond them.
2. Have a medical exam before returning to sports activity if you've had a previous injury.
3. Wear well-fitting shoes that are appropriate to your sport and the ground surface, and replace worn out shoes.
4. Overly developed hamstrings and weak quadriceps, or vice versa, can stress knees. Maintain good balance when developing leg muscles.
5. Avoid twisting the knee.
6. When using a leg press machine or lifting weight in a standing position avoid locking the knees. Get expert instruction on proper body alignment and appropriate weight to lift.
7. Warm-up and stretch muscles around the knee before beginning activity with the following exercises:
* Knee Lifts
Raise the knees one at a time to the chest as if marching in place, lifting each knee 10 times.
* Backward Lunges
Step backward with one leg into a shallow lunge pressing the heal of the rear foot to the floor. The knee of the forward foot should be aligned over the ankle. Return to a standing position and repeat the move 10 times with each leg.
* Leg Extensions
Sitting in a chair with both feet flat on the floor, extend one leg parallel to the floor. Return to first position and repeat 10 times for each leg.
8. Exercises and stretches should not cause pain. If you have discomfort or symptoms of an injury, consult a qualified health care professional for an evaluation before continuing exercise activity.
1. Most knee injuries occur when one is fatigued. Know your limits and don't push beyond them.
2. Have a medical exam before returning to sports activity if you've had a previous injury.
3. Wear well-fitting shoes that are appropriate to your sport and the ground surface, and replace worn out shoes.
4. Overly developed hamstrings and weak quadriceps, or vice versa, can stress knees. Maintain good balance when developing leg muscles.
5. Avoid twisting the knee.
6. When using a leg press machine or lifting weight in a standing position avoid locking the knees. Get expert instruction on proper body alignment and appropriate weight to lift.
7. Warm-up and stretch muscles around the knee before beginning activity with the following exercises:
* Knee Lifts
Raise the knees one at a time to the chest as if marching in place, lifting each knee 10 times.
* Backward Lunges
Step backward with one leg into a shallow lunge pressing the heal of the rear foot to the floor. The knee of the forward foot should be aligned over the ankle. Return to a standing position and repeat the move 10 times with each leg.
* Leg Extensions
Sitting in a chair with both feet flat on the floor, extend one leg parallel to the floor. Return to first position and repeat 10 times for each leg.
8. Exercises and stretches should not cause pain. If you have discomfort or symptoms of an injury, consult a qualified health care professional for an evaluation before continuing exercise activity.
New To The Gym? Physical Therapists Help You Get Fit - Safely - In 2011
New Years' resolutions have an 80 percent rate of failure by Valentine's Day, but Americans can increase their success by sharing their commitment with others. The American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA's) Move Forward campaign is helping individuals keep commitments by starting the conversation online and providing fitness tips for those who are heading to the gym.
For new, potential, and even returning gym members, APTA launched 12 instructional videos by physical therapist and APTA member Robert Gillanders, PT, DPT. Dr. Gillanders demonstrates correct posture and form for selected core, leg, shoulder and arm exercises. These exercises, in conjunction with a regular cardiovascular routine, will help individuals strengthen target areas. Gillanders' advice will also help individuals exercise with less risk of injury.
"One of the most important things to remember is the overall form of the exercise," Gillanders said. "It's going to help you be less vulnerable to injury. Physical therapists have extensive knowledge of the way the body moves and are also able to adjust workouts for pre-existing conditions, and these videos will help get Americans off to a good start in 2011."
Source:
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/213060.php
Educational Toys Holiday Ideas
Through educational toys, children discover about themselves, their environment and about social cues. Toys aid in
developing the child’s creativity and builds leadership skills and healthy personalities. Play increases skills children need
to learn to read and write. Playing with educational toys in early childhood is the best foundation for success in school.
Educational toys help a child achieve the following:
• Development of physical skills. . Physical and gross motor skills are developed as a child learns to reach,
grasp, crawl, run, climb, and balance. Fine motor skills are developed as children handle small toys. Dexterity develops
as the child holds toys or other items.
• Development of cognitive thinking. Children learn to solve problems (cause and effect), through play.
Children also learn colors, numbers, size, and shapes. They have the ability to enhance their memory skills as well as
their attention span. Children move on to higher levels of thought as they play with educational toys.
• Development of language skills. Language develops as a child plays and interacts with others. This begins
with babies playing cooing games and advances to useful language skills such as story telling and jokes. Learning to
cooperate, negotiate, take turns and play by the rules are important life skills for interacting and communicating.
• Development of emotional well-being. Through play a child can accomplish his/her wishes and can conquer
fears and bad experiences. Play helps the child master the environment and promotes awareness of their surroundings.
When children at play feel safe, successful and confident, they gain important principles of positive emotional health.
Playing with educational toys also can create strong bonds between parent and child.
• Development of social skills. Learning to share are important social skills children learn through educational
toys. These skills include daily interaction skills such as sharing, taking turns, and allowing others to talk without
interrupting. Social skills grow as the child plays. Children learn to imitate desirable responses such as turn taking with
board games, cards, or other activities that require a child to wait for others. As a result, children learn the roles and
rules of society.
Selecting educational toys for your child
Educational toys should challenge a child's interests and abilities and match closely his/her skills and maturity level.
Both solitary and social play is necessary for a child's development. A child can play with a building toy by themselves
and, in the process, develop independence, self-sufficiency and persistence. Playing with the same toy with others,
he/she acquires social skills such as sharing, understanding and cooperation.
Parents also have an important role in choosing good quality educational toys. Below are some suggestions for
appropriate toys for children of various ages. Be aware of your child's interests and abilities. Not all children enjoy the
same kinds of play.
Birth to 1 year old
A baby learns about his environment by using all 5 senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch). A child this age is
also learning cause and effect. Toys he/she may enjoy include:
• Mobiles and safety mirrors
• Rattles
• Stacking toys
• Pop up toys
• Picture books
• Musical toys, squeeze toys
• Infant swings
• Teething toys
1 to 3 years old
A toddler moves around his environment a great deal (walking, climbing, pushing, and riding). A strong curiosity in
manipulating and problem solving with objects begins during this stage and can be encouraged with:
• Push-pull and ride-on toys
• Small tricycles and wagons
• Simple puzzles, shape sorters, peg boards
• Movement games
• Large lacing beads
• Blocks, stacking rings
• Picture and coloring books
• Crayons, markers, and clay
3 to 5 years old
Preschool children enjoy playing with others the same age. At this age they take pleasure in sharing activities, including:
• Dress-up with accessories
• Puppets
• Large bead threading and lace sets
• Storybooks
• Simple board games (Candyland ,Whac-A-Mole, or Chutes and Ladders)
• Puzzles (no more than 24 pieces)
6 to 9 years old
A school-age child looks for new information, experiences, and challenges in play. A child in this age group is
influenced by peers and is extremely social. He/she may favor group activity items such as:
• Sports equipment
• Bicycle and helmet
• Roller skates with protective gear
• Books
• Simple model and craft kits
• Board games (Sorry, Trouble, and Checkers)
• Coordination or memory games (Uno, Guess Who or Perfection)
• Building and construction sets
9 to 12 years oldA pre-teen is independent, yet thrives on play with other children. A child this age knows how to play fair using
advanced social skills. He will be able to manage:
• Books
• Card and board games (Monopoly, Clue, and Life)
• Sports equipment
• Art supplies
• Model kits/science kits
• Jigsaw puzzles
Tips on selecting educational toysBefore choosing a toy parents should keep the following in mind:
• Toys should be appropriate to the child's age, skills, and abilities.
• Toys that will it hold the child's interests, are well designed, and durable.
• Toys which stimulate creativity. Toys such as arts, crafts, hobbies, language, reading, music, movement, and
drama can help to expand a child's imagination.
• Toys which teach communication skills.
• Toys that encourage eye-hand coordination or fine and large motor skills.
• Toys which offer the opportunity to think, learn, and help practice cognitive thinking.
• Toys should be beneficial to the child not difficult to use.
• Toys that the child can use on their own. It will help gain independent skills.
• Toys that help the child express emotions and learn social interaction.
• Toys should be fun. It important the child enjoy using the toy.
• Read toy or packaging labels for age ranges and safety warnings.
• Choose a safe storage place for toys.
• Check toys at least every three months to determine their safety. Make any repairs immediately or throw away
damaged toys.
Source
AlterG – The New Standard of Care in Rehab and Conditioning
How the AlterG Benefits a Senior Rehabilitation Patient
We Get patients better faster: Pain free movement encourages earlier walking with normal gait
mechanics. Precise partial weight bearing for earlier incorporation of closed-kinetic chain
activities.
We Get patients better safely: Patients are comfortably secure inside the AlterG. Gentle air
support allows for increased confidence and safe progression of activities to improve neuromuscular
control and balance.
We Decrease overall cost of care: Easy to use and
maintain, with minimal resource requirements from
facility and staff.
We Create facility revenue: Mobilizing patients
faster can lead to a placement in a higher
Resource Utilization Group (RUG). Attract
more doctor referrals and patients with stateof-
the-art NASA technology.
The FDA-cleared and patented AlterG Anti-Gravity
Treadmill is rapidly becoming an indispensable
device for rehabilitation and conditioning for any age
group.
Because of its unique safety, efficacy and comfort
characteristics it is well positioned to benefit senior
patients.
Approved uses include rehabilitation from any
lower body disability, neurological gait training,
geriatric conditioning, fall prevention and weight
control programs.
The AlterG has been chosen by leading assisted
living, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and physical
therapy clinics including; Life Care Centers of
America, Steadman-Hawkins, UCSF, NovaCare,
Stanford University, Harvard University and Walter
Reed Army Medical Center.
FDA-cleared and recommended by Techical specifications
top physical therapists and doctors
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)