Ormond Beach Steps for Strong Bones

Ormond Beach Steps For Strong Bones – this 3k walk at Ormond Beach Central Park is being hosted by the National Osteoporosis Foundation Support Group of Ormond Beach and Barr & Associates Physical Therapy.

In conjunction with National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, the group is sponsoring a walkathon on Saturday, May 21st at Central Park in Ormond Beach. Registration will start at 7:30am. Join them for an morning of fun and take part is the first Ormond Beach Steps for Strong Bones Walk.

Steps for Strong Bones is a fundraising program that promotes healthy bones through weight bearing activity such as walking or running. The National Osteoporosis Foundation Support Group of Ormond Beach was formed in June 2009 with a goal of providing education and encouragement to those who have osteoporosis. The group holds monthly meetings at the Ormond Beach Public Library featuring guest speakers from the local medical community. Guest speakers have included Drs. Kevin Free, Albert Gillespy, Lisa Gonzales, David Subich, Sara Droker, Andrew Green and others including pharmacists, dieticians and nutritionists. The group has over 100 members and averages about 30 members per meeting.

Be part of this national effort to increase awareness of osteoporosis while raising funds to support NOF's programs of awareness, advocacy, education and research.

One hundred percent of all proceeds will be donated to the National Osteoporosis Foundation in Washington, DC.

For more information call 386-673-3535 or email

Get Registration Form here


 

Sciatic Pain: It’s Not Always a Pinched Nerve

“My doctor recently told me that I have sciatica and the pain that I feel in my butt was actually coming from my back. But, I do not have any pain in my back.”
As a physical therapist, this comment is not uncommon to hear and causes confusion with patients. So, what is sciatica? “Sciatica” is more commonly referred to symptoms felt from the back, buttocks and down the leg. The symptoms can range from pain, numbness/tingling or weakness. The symptoms can be constant, varying in intensity or can come and go.

Nerve referral patterns

The pain can be dull, aching or sharp. Sciatica symptoms can often be described as muscle spasms or sharp electric jolting down the leg. Also, weakness can be felt in the legs or foot with sensations of the legs giving away. Sciatica can be confused with symptoms that mimic a hamstring strain, hip pain, ankle sprain, calf cramp, and heel pain. As you can see “Sciatica” is a broad term used to describe many symptoms.

So what causes sciatica symptoms? It is common for patients to visualize a nerve being “pinched” by a herniated disc. There are many other sources of pain in the spine that can cause sciatica and people should not always fear that the disc is injured. Spinal stenosis is another common diagnosis that can cause sciatica, where the nerve is compressed as it exits the spine. Bone overgrowth (osteophytes) and joint stiffness can also irritate the nerve as it exits the spine to cause “sciatica”

A thorough examination and assessment of low back pain is performed by the physical therapist with the patient’s history, symptoms location, symptoms behavior, and neurological examination (sensory, motor and reflexes). This is important for figuring out whether the pain is coming from the back or not.
When sciatica symptoms are caused by irritation to a specific nerve root, the symptoms can follow a dermatomal pattern (area of skin that is mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve). For example, the L5 and S1 nerve root referral pattern has a consistent dermatomal pattern to the foot.

If you are experiencing or think you are experiencing sciatica symptoms, it is recommended to seek proper medical attention and treatment. The doctor may order diagnostics such as an X-ray or MRI to figure out what is irritating the sciatic nerve. Physical therapy intervention is usually successful for patients with low back pain with or without sciatica symptoms. Physical therapist can treat sciatica using various interventions that can include but not limited to: manual therapy, exercises, modalities, traction, postural education, activity modifications, pain management and neuromobilization.

Source
References

Germinate Your Garden And Your Health This Spring

As Americans anxiously await the arrival of spring's milder temperatures, many are also looking forward to springing back into the garden. A place where plants, veggies and flowers thrive, a garden is also where people of all ages, fitness levels and shades of green thumb can enjoy physical activity. As with all types of exercise, there is a risk of injury if done improperly. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), it is important that gardeners take a health-conscious approach to both prevent injuries and reap the health rewards of gardening. 

"Many gardeners injure themselves because they don't view gardening as a workout," says APTA spokesperson Mary Ann Wilmarth, PT, DPT. "Gardening is a strenuous activity and it is very easy for people to overdo it, especially for seniors or those who have pre-existing conditions, limited mobility or who are normally inactive." 

Common gardening tasks, such as digging, planting, weeding, mulching and raking can cause stress and strain on muscles and joints, primarily in the shoulders, back, neck and knees. APTA recommends the following tips to minimize the risk of injury: 

- Warm up before you begin. Get your heart rate up by taking a 10-minute walk followed by some stretches for your upper and lower back, neck, arms and legs. Roll your shoulders back in a circular motion and slowly move your head from side to side a few times to loosen up. 

- Don't overdo it. Be mindful of how your body feels. If you experience an aching back or neck, then slow down and stretch or stop and switch to a different task. 

- Use a garden cart or wheelbarrow to move tools and heavy planting materials. 

- Don't kneel on both knees. Keep one foot on the ground to give your back more stability. If you have to kneel, use knee pads or a pillow to absorb some of the pressure. 

- Change positions and take frequent breaks to avoid stiffness or cramping. 

- Start with smaller projects and build gradually. Don't try to do it all at once. 

- Practice proper body mechanics. Bend at your knees when you grab something or pull a weed, bend your knees and contract your abdominal muscles to avoid straining your back. 

- End your gardening session with a short walk or some light stretching. Take a warm bath or shower to help prevent next-day soreness. 

- If you experience pain, contact your physical therapist. 

Source: 
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

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How the AlterG Benefits a Senior Rehabilitation Patient

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 :

1. Increased brain activity in prefrontal cortex seen on MRI
2. 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)
3. Improved math scores but not improved reading skills

Reference: Physorg.com Exercise helps overweight children think better, do better in math. Retrieved from the web on 2/10/11 at http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-overweight-children-math.html

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.