Parkview Oaks Independent Living Residents Kickoff Wellness ProgramFriday, February 10th, 2012

Parkview Oaks Independent Living Residents enjoy the kickoff of their new wellness program. The program was introduced by Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc. exercise guru, and physiologist, Angela Howard.

“We are excited to ramp up the exercise and physical wellness focus here at this community. Everyone is excited and ready to go! We anticipate great results and are most likely to see a fast improvement in their strength and a decrease in their fall risk,” said Howard.

A proactive approach to restoring and maintaining independence is key to the longevity of your residential population.

Let’s work together to keep our mature community stronger for longer with wellness and rehabilitation! For more information on physical wellness & rehabilitation, visit www.htstherapy.com.

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

10 Reasons Your Body Thinks It’s HungryWednesday, February 8th, 2012

A staggering 63 percent of Americans are overweight. The most common cause? We eat more food than we need—and we’re all guilty of doing it: mindlessly munching on a bag of pretzels during a reality TV marathon or treating ourselves to a second helping when the first was plenty. But boredom and indulgence aside, why else are we reaching for a snack when we should feel full? Some of it can be blamed on habit, while other triggers have more to do with our body’s hunger signals. Check out the list below to find out the most common overeating pitfalls and simple solutions for avoiding these traps.

1. You didn’t get enough sleep last night.
Lack of rest stimulates two faux hunger triggers: energy deficiency, to which our natural reaction is to nourish our bodies, and appetite hormone confusion. “When our bodies are drained, levels of leptin—a hormone produced by our fat cells that controls our appetite—decrease, while levels of gherlin—a hormone produced by our stomach that stimulates our appetite—increase,” explains American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Karen Ansel, RD. That’s two hormones working against you. “Getting eight hours of sleep a night is the easiest thing you can do to prevent overeating.” If you do fall short on zzz’s, be sure to load up on nourishing, naturally energizing foods—such as fresh fruit, complex carbohydrates and lean proteins—throughout the day to help your body feel satisfied.

2. You’re taking medication that causes hunger as a side effect.
If you felt ravenous the last time you were taking an antibiotic to tame an allergic reaction, joint inflammation, acne or a bad cold, the medicine may be to blame. “Medication that contains mild steroids, like prednisone, a corticosteroid, ramp up hunger big time,” says Milton Stokes, RD, owner of One Source Nutrition, LLC. “If you’ve already eaten a normal-size meal, ignore the drug-inflated hunger,” says Stokes. Instead, try an oral fix like chewing gum, sipping warm coffee or brushing your teeth, he suggests. If you’re on long-term steroid therapy, consult a dietitian to devise an eating plan that will help you feel more satisfied throughout the treatment.

3. You’re thirsty or dehydrated.
The symptoms of dehydration (sleepiness, low energy) closely mimic those of being overly hungry, which may lead you to think you need food to increase your energy level, explains Sandon. When you’re thirsty, your mouth becomes dry, a symptom that eating will temporarily relieve, notes Sandon. She suggests drinking a tall glass of water or cup of herbal tea before eating and waiting for your body’s hunger signals to adjust (about 10 minutes). “Doing so could save hundreds of calories.”

4. It’s “mealtime.”
As creatures of habit, we tend to eat on autopilot. While some regularity is encouraged so that you don’t become overly hungry, which could lead to bingeing, it’s also important to listen to hunger signals, says Ansel. “Next time you sit down to eat, ask yourself: ‘Am I really hungry?’ If the answer is ‘no,’ either eat a smaller portion or put off the meal for an hour—though no longer than that,” suggests Ansel. This also applies to situations you associate with eating, like flying. “We’ve been conditioned to associate an airplane ride with eating,” Ansel says. The solution: “Pay attention to timing,” recommends Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, assistant professor of nutrition at University of Texas Southwestern. “Know how long the flight is and plan satisfying meals around it.” Also, take advantage of the free (hydrating) beverages, she adds, as the enclosed space leads to hunger-causing dehydration.

5. You just worked out.
We are conditioned to feed ourselves after exercising. And, after a particularly strenuous exercise session like a spinning class or interval-training workout, we tend to feel ravenous. But that doesn’t mean your body needs extra calories. “It means your body needs a specific kind of nourishment,” says Marissa Lippert, RD, a nutrition consultant and dietitian in New York City. Opt for roasted chicken or other lean meats (protein will replenish your muscles) and brown rice or other whole grains (complex carbohydrates take a while to break down) to help your body recover faster and fend off hunger longer.

6. Not enough time has passed since you finished your meal.
You’ve just eaten lunch only to wonder: “Why am I still hungry?” Before you assume you didn’t eat enough, consider that maybe you ate too quickly. “Appetite hormones need time to tell your brain you’re full,” explains Sandon. To prevent post-meal hunger pangs, keep these pointers in mind: Eat slowly, putting down your fork between bites; choose flavorful and satisfying foods; and include a combination of fat, protein and carbohydrates in every meal. If you’re still hungry, try sucking on a mint to ward off your cravings.

7. The women around you are eating.
A joint study out of Duke University and Arizona State University found that women tend to mirror other women’s eating habits. “When one overdoes it, the rest often follow along,” Ansel confirms. To avoid this copycat effect, Lippert suggests taking a quick minute to reassess your own eating habits—or, if all else fails, grabbing a pal and evacuating the scene of the food. A more permanent fix? Be the one who sets a healthy example for your girlfriends to follow. Their waistlines will thank you! “Just as obesity is contagious, so are healthy habits,” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet.

8. You’ve been drinking alcohol.
It’s long been suspected that alcohol contributes to an increased appetite. Though the underlying mechanisms are unknown, a common hypothesis is that it makes food more palatable. What we do know is that alcohol decreases our defenses, which is detrimental to those who restrict their eating, explains Jackson Blatner. Furthermore, “People expect that alcohol will make them eat more, which leads them to unabashedly do so,” Sandon adds. The solution? Eat before you order that glass of wine, beer or cocktail. To prevent overeating the next day, especially after a night of heavy drinking, be sure to drink plenty of water to replenish your dehydrated body.

9. You smell or see food.
“We tend to eat with our senses more than our stomachs,” says Ansel. When we smell or see food—even if it’s in a photo, advertisement or TV show—our mouths water, which stimulates our appetite. Onset factors can include smelling a batch of cupcakes baking, seeing snack food laid out on the counter or watching a cooking show. The clear-cut solution: “Out of sight, out of mind.” Leave the room, hide the candy jar, turn off the TV—and the craving to eat will likely subside, says Ansel.

10. You’re stressed out.
“Studies show that when people recognize they’re stressed, they are more likely to turn to high-fat, salty or sugary foods,” says Sandon. “These foods both are comforting and feel good in the mouth,” she adds. But it’s not all about emotional eating. Sandon notes that your body’s chemical reaction to stress could also cause hunger pangs. “Increased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and insulin may be associated with triggering appetite.” Either way, appetite control boils down to decision-making.
Read more: Reasons You’re Hungry – Why Am I Hungry – Woman’s Day

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

Poor Posture Takes a Toll on Overall HealthTuesday, August 9th, 2011

“Stand Up Straight! Don’t Slouch!”  How many times have you heard that in your life?  Behind those long forgotten words lies a very valuable and surprisingly simple message: Good posture is important because it helps your body function at top speed.  It promotes movement efficiency and endurance and contributes to an overall feeling of well being.

Good posture is also good prevention.  If you have poor posture, your bones are not properly aligned, and your muscles, joint and ligaments take more strain than nature intended.  Faulty posture can cause you fatigue, muscular strain, and in later stages, pain.  Many individuals with chronic back pain can trace their problems to years of faulty postural habits.  In addition, poor posture can affect the position and function of your vital organs, particularly those in the abdominal region.

Good posture also contributes to good appearance; the person with good posture projects poise, confidence and dignity.

The best way to maintain your posture is always practicing it.  What happens when you don’t practice good posture?

Check out these facts:

• The disks between the spinal segments become less resilient and give in more readily to external forces, such as gravity and body weight.
• Muscles become less flexible.
• Compression and deterioration of the spine, commonly seen in individuals with osteoporosis, causes an increase in flexed (or bent forward) posture.
• Lifestyles usually become more sedentary (non-active).  Sitting for long periods of time shortens various muscles, which results in the body being pulled into poor postural positions, and stretches and weakens other muscles, which allows the body to slump.

Tips for Maintaining Good Posture

• Avoid staying in one position for long period of time; inactivity causes muscle tension and weakness.
• Keep your weight down; excess weight exerts a constant forward pull on the back muscles and weakens the abdomen.
• Sleep on a firm mattress and use a pillow under your head just big enough to maintain the normal cervical-neck-curve.  Avoid use of oversized or several pillows.
• Wear comfortable and well-supported shoes. Avoid high heeled or platform shoes, which distort the normal shape of the foot and throw the back’s natural curves out of alignment.
• Walk with good posture; keep head erect with chin parallel to the ground, allow arms to swing naturally, and keep feet pointed in the direction you are going.

For more exercise and posture tips, seek out the advice of both a physical and occupational therapist.  Therapists can give you tips of how to strengthen and keep your muscles strong.  Ergonomic assessments by occupational therapists can be done with desks, chairs computers and work stations to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep bad posture from affecting you. No matter what age you are, every BODY will feel the benefits of better posture.

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

Osteoporosis 101Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, one in two women and one in four men age 50 and older will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture.  Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to weak and brittle bones.  Breaking a bone is serious, especially when you’re older, broken bones can cause severe pain that may not go away.  Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans.

Certain people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others.  Factors that put you at risk and are difficult to change include:

Lifestyle changes are your first line of defense to prevent osteoporosis.  A few of the lifestyle factors that affect bone health include:

Calcium & Vitamin D: Calcium is the building block of bone and Vitamin D helps your body use calcium.  Adults age 50 and older need a total of 1200 mg of calcium and 800-1000 IU of vitamin D every day.

Eating Fruits and Vegetables: Eating a well-balanced diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, is important for healthy bones.  In addition to calcium and vitamin D, magnesium, potassium and vitamin K are a few of the many minerals and vitamins that are important for bone health. 

Exercise: Certain types of regular exercise can help keep your bones strong.  These include weight-bearing exercises such as fast walking and muscle-strengthening exercises. 

Smoking & Alcohol: The chemicals in cigarettes are bad for your bone cells and can make it harder to absorb calcium.  Consuming heavy amounts of alcohol can reduce bone formation and affects the body’s calcium supply. 

Physical therapists are trained experts on preventing and treating osteoporosis.  Physical therapy can help prevent osteoporosis as well as reduce falls and injuries for those diagnosed with the disease.

Therapy goals for preventing and treating osteoporosis include:

• Maintain or increase bone mass density
• Improve muscle strength, balance and cardiovascular fitness
• Improve posture
• Improve psychological well-being
• Prevent fractures
• Reduce falls
• Provide education

References: National Osteoporosis Foundation

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

Managing Chronic Pain with Occupational & Physical TherapyTuesday, August 9th, 2011

Chronic Pain Defined

Pain is our body’s natural response to harm or possible damage.  Injury, illness or chemical changes within the body can trigger nerve endings called pain receptors.  When a pain receptor is turned on, it activates the release of chemicals that sends a signal to the brain.  The brain receives this signal and recognizes it as pain.

When pain lasts for a long time, it is called chronic pain.  Pain signals continue firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years. Chronic pain affects more than 130 million Americans.  More people in the US suffer from pain than diabetes, cancer and heart disease combined.  There is no clear definition of chronic pain, but generally speaking it can be defined as pain that lasts more than 6 months and may be constant, or it may come and go.  Common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain (pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself), and psychogenic pain (pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system).

How Can Therapy Help?

Treating chronic pain can be difficult because it varies from person to person and there are many different causes and possible treatments.  Developing the right treatment plan for your diagnosis is often the work of a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals.  When consulting with your doctor, he may refer you to visit a physical and occupational therapist.

Physical therapists will do an evaluation and establish a therapy treatment plan to fit you.  Treatment may include active treatments such as exercise to strengthen muscles and tendons, improving flexibility as well as passive treatments to decrease pain and inflammation. Therapists may use a combination of manual therapies, exercises and electrical modalities such as electrical stimulation and ultrasound technology.

Occupational therapy practitioners understand that pain it complex and different for everyone.  Occupational therapists work to evaluate the pain’s impact on your life quality and daily activities.  Occupational therapists can teach skills and strategies to manage and cope with your pain.  With occupational therapy, you can learn how to redirect your pain so that it interferes less with your daily life.

What Can You Do?

It is very important for people with chronic pain to educate themselves by reading literature on pain and seek help.  The key to managing your pain is to find the strategy that works best for you.  While your doctor should be your main source of information, it may be helpful to consult with other people who have had similar experiences.  Find out what treatments other people have tried, and suggest them to your doctor.  Being proactive will help you get your pain under control.  Consult with your doctor and ask if physical and occupational therapy can benefit you!

References:  spineuniverse.com

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

Tai Chi for Arthritis ReliefTuesday, August 9th, 2011

Tai Chi for Arthritis Relief

Gentle movements of the ancient Chinese exercise tai chi are one of many alternatives to help elderly people find pain relief.

The movements of tai chi are gentle, graceful, mystical — and, for elderly people, a very safe way to relieve arthritis pain and gain balance, strength, and flexibility. Tai chi is one of many alternative therapies that can provide relief from pain, possibly letting you cut back on pain medications.

Early mornings in large and small cities in China – and increasingly in America’s parks, hospitals, and community centers – people are practicing tai chi. It is an ancient tradition said to have developed in medieval China, to help restore health of monks in poor physical condition from too much meditation and too little exercise.

Chi (pronounced chee) is the Chinese word for energy. In the healing arts, tai chi is used to promote the movement of energy through the body — similar to blood being pumped through the body, explains Cate Morrill, a certified tai chi instructor in Atlanta. Morrill spends much of her time in teaching classes for seniors, many of whom are unfamiliar with this practice. “But after five, 10, 15 minutes of tai chi, they report having pain relief,” she tells WebMD.

Virtually all major health organizations – including the Arthritis Foundation — recommend tai chi as an activity for seniors because it provides balance of body and mind.

“The movements of tai chi keep the body fresh and allow the person to find a freer range of motion in the joints, greater flexibility, better balance,” Morrill explains. Tai chi is often called “moving meditation,” because it is relaxing, because the focus is on breathing and creating inner stillness — quieting the mind, relaxing the body. When people focus on breathing and on the movements, they aren’t focused on their worldly worries.

Older adults who try tai chi find the benefits flow into their everyday lives in surprising ways, Morrill tells WebMD. “Everyday stuff like gardening and cleaning the house — even basic moves like getting in and out of a bathtub – are easier when muscles are strong and flexible, when there is proper balance and body alignment.”

What Happens in Tai Chi Class

Tai chi movements are full of natural symbolism – “Wind Rolls with Lotus Leaves,” “Brush Dust Against the Wind,” and “White Crane Spreads Wings.”

Yet the application of these moves is very practical: “Folks with arthritis in the knees tend to not bend their knees very much when they walk, so they tend to have a stiffer gait. Some tai chi exercise work to increase the knee flexibility,” says Morrill.

For example, in the movement “Wave Hands Like Clouds,” the focus is on the hands, which seem to drift like clouds in the air. But as the hands wave, the rest of the body is in continual slow motion, Morrill explains. The hips are driving the body motion — as one leg bends, the other stretches, then the motion switches to the other side of the body. The arms rotate at the shoulder to strengthen shoulder muscles, which encourages the arms to stretch out fully. As weight is shifted, the body is slightly turned to produce flexibility in the waist and strength and flexibility in side muscles.

This movement may last only two minutes or so; during the hour-long class, seniors will complete at least 20 different sets of movements, says Morrill.

Gain Back 8 Years of Youth

According to legend, “if you meditate and do tai chi 100 days in a row, you gain back eight years of youth,” says Morrill.

While many of today’s tai chi movements have roots in martial arts, the goal is indeed therapeutic. Progress is measured in terms of coordination, strength, balance, flexibility, breathing, digestion, emotional balance, and a general sense of well-being.

Tai chi and other types of mindfulness-based practices “are intended to maintain muscle tone, strength, and flexibility, and perhaps even spiritual aspects like mindfulness – focusing in the moment, focusing away from the pain,” says Raymond Gaeta, MD, director of pain management services at Stanford Hospital & Clinics.

Parag Sheth, MD, assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, saw the popularity of tai chi on a visit to China 15 years ago. “We saw it every morning – thousands of people in the park doing tai chi, all of them elderly,” he tells WebMD.

“There’s logic in how tai chi works,” Sheth says. “Tai chi emphasizes rotary movements — turning the body from side to side, working muscles that they don’t use when walking, building muscle groups they are not used to using. If they have some strength in those support muscles – the rotators in the hip — that can help prevent a fall.”

What Studies Have Shown

A study published in 1997 found that seniors who took 15 tai chi lessons and practiced for 15 minutes twice daily were able to significantly reduce their risk of falls. Since then, several more studies have pointed to the physical benefits of tai chi for the elderly.

• One six-month study, a group of elderly people who took part in tai chi were about twice as likely to report that they were not limited in their ability to perform moderate-to-vigorous daily activities – things like walking, climbing, bending, lifting. The seniors in that study also reported better overall quality of life – in terms of bodily pain, mental health, and perceptions of health and independence.
• Another study of seniors with arthritis showed that those who took a 12-week tai chi course got around better and had less pain in their legs. Yet another study found that people with arthritis who took a 12-week tai chi class had stronger abdominal muscles and better balance afterward.
• A review of four studies on tai chi found that it does not appear to significantly reduce pain or lessen the severity of rheumatoid arthritis. However, it does significantly improve range of motion in the joints of the legs and ankles. Those who got the most benefit reported participating more in their tai chi classes and enjoying them more compared with those who were in a traditional exercise program.

“I’m an absolute huge fan of tai chi,” says Jason Theodoskais, MD, MS, MPH, FACPM, author of The Arthritis Cure and a preventive and sports medicine specialist at the University of Arizona Medical Center.

Any type of motion helps lubricate the joints by moving joint fluid, which is helpful in relieving pain, he says. “Tai chi is not a cure-all, but it’s one piece of the puzzle. What’s good about tai chi is that it’s a gentle motion, so even people who are severely affected with arthritis can do it. Also, tai chi helps strengthen the joints in a functional manner… you strengthen muscles in the way your body normally uses the joints.”

Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc. Provides Tai Chi programming as a part of their SeniorFit Wellness initiative.  If you are interested in SeniorFit in your Senior Living Community, contact 800-486-4449 or visit our website at www.htstherapy.com

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

Your Personal Walking ProgramTuesday, August 9th, 2011

Physical activity is a vital component to maintaining our overall health.  The benefits of exercise affect many different aspects of our bodies.  Maintaining a daily activity regimen can help us to prevent disease, develop stronger heart & lungs, and promote overall good health. Also, exercise can improve our bodies stamina by training our body to become more efficient and use less energy, and enhances our flexibility allowing us to be limber enough to easily move around, bend and reach.

A daily walking program is an activity that most everyone can take part.  Below are recommendations and instructions that can assist you in developing your own walking program.  Always make sure to consult with your physician before beginning any new exercise routine.

Your Personal Walking Program

Guidelines to Consider

• Never hold your breath when exercising
• Wait at least 1 hour to exercise after eating a meal
• Avoid walking outside during extremely cold or hot weather
• Make sure to wear proper fitted shoes
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• Steer clear of rocks or rough ground that could potentially cause a fall.

Developing YOUR Personal Walking Program

Step 1. Your walking program should follow your individual tolerance.  If you are tired or ill, wait until you feel better to continue the activity.

Step 2. Warm up your muscles to reduce the risk of injury. To develop a warm up routine appropriate for you, consult with your physician or therapy department.

Step 3. Walk at a speed in which you feel comfortable.  Walking should be continuous and rhythmic.  Maintain posture by keeping your head up, eyes forward, shoulders back and back straight.

Step 4. Start slow and gradually increase as tolerated.  To begin, you may only be comfortable with walking a few minutes a day.  Over time you can gradually increase your walking time.

Step 5. Cool down after walking to return your body to its “resting state” and reduce the risk of muscle soreness.  To develop a cool down exercise appropriate for you, consult with your physician or physical therapist.

Track Your Progress

Purchase a pedometer and track your daily progress.  A pedometer is a small device you can clip on your belt that records the number of steps you take based on your body’s movement.

How many steps do I need per day?

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

Everyday Exercises You can Do to Prevent FallsFriday, August 5th, 2011

Balance is defined as the ability to maintain your center of gravity over your base of support (your feet).  Poor balance can result in an unwanted movement, like a misstep, a wobble or tripping.  Falling down is the ultimate loss of balance and the leading cause of debilitating injury and premature death in older adults.  Each year 1 in 3 older adults will experience a fall; which is why it is vitally important to pay attention to your body to stay on top of your balance.

Fall prevention is the #1 reason to implement balance exercises.  By preventing balance problems and working to improve remaining ability, seniors can improve their quality of life and reduce crippling or life threatening injuries.  Balance exercises are designed to challenge your balance network while minimizing the chances of falling.  The body and brain are challenged to learn how to effectively coordinate the various muscles in the body that work together to keep you balanced.

Everyday exercises you can do to prevent falls…

1. Walk heel-to-toe.  Position your heel just in front of the toes of the opposite foot each time you take a step.  Your heel and toes should touch or almost touch.
2. Practice standing up and sitting down without using your hands.
3. Stand on one foot, and alternate feet.

Beginner Balance Exercise

Intermediate Balance Exercise

Advanced Balance Exercise

Strength Exercises to Improve Balance

Hip Flexion – purpose is to strengthen thigh and hip muscles

→   Stand straight, hold onto table or chair for balance

→   Slowly bend one knee toward chest, without bending waist or hips.

→   Hold position for 1 second

→   Slowly lower leg all the way down. Pause/Rest

→   Repeat with other leg, alternate legs until you have done 8 to 15 repetitions

→   Add weights as you progress

Hip Extension – purpose is to strengthen buttock and lower-back muscles

→   Stand 12 to 18 inches from a table or chair, feet slightly apart

→   Bend forward at hips at about 45 degree angle, hold table or chair for balance

→   Slowly lift one leg straight backwards without bending your knee, pointing your toes, or bending your upper body any farther forward

→   Hold position for 1 second

→   Slowly lower leg. Pause

→   Repeat with other leg, alternate legs until you have done 8 to 15 repetitions

Side Leg Raises – purpose is to strengthen muscles at sides of hips and thighs

→   Stand straight, directly behind table or chair, feet slightly apart

→   Hold table or chair for balance

→   Slowly lift one leg to side, 6 to 12 inches out to the side

→   Keep your back and both legs straight

→   Don’t point your toes downward; keep them facing forward during this exercise.  Hold

→   Slowly lower leg and repeat with other leg

→   Alternate legs until you have done 8 to 15 repetitions

Check Your Progress

It feels good to know that you’re making progress, and with balance exercises the change can be very subtle.  Here’s how to tell when your balance is improving:

• Time yourself as you stand on one foot, without support, for as long as possible.
• Stand near something sturdy to hold onto in case you lose your balance.
• Repeat the test while standing on the other foot.
• Test and record your scores each month.

With any exercise program, it is important to remember moderation is vital!  The National Institute on Aging recommends that you don’t increase your regularly scheduled strength exercise sessions to incorporate these balance modifications.  Always remember, you can do more harm than good by doing strength exercises too often.  Don’t exercise the same set of muscles 2 days in a row.  Check with your physician before starting any new exercise programs.

Therapy Can Help Reduce Falls

Physical therapists work with individuals to identify your specific risk factor to create an individualized program to help you regain your balance and decrease the possibility of fall related injuries.  Occupational therapists work with you to discuss changes and modifications that can be made around your home to help prevent falls from occurring.

References: Simple Fitness Solutions; National Institute on Aging;

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

Treating Sports Injuries With Sports MedicineWednesday, February 2nd, 2011

The discipline of sports or exercise science is a department of medicine that deals with the study of physiology, anatomy and the remedy techniques, applying these principles and the information on individual’s physical activities. Although that discipline is rather young, the exploration into it discipline is really intense and it is focused on human body type’s ability of adaptation to a variety of exercise workouts or to the shortage of physical activity.

What does sports medicine do?

The main goal of sports medicine is to utilize scientific information and medical data so that to prevent, recognize, handle or rehabilitate different injuries brought on by a sportive life or by various leisure activities.

There are two main areas of research incorporated into this field: the first one pertains to the life style betterment and the 2nd one concerns injury prevention and recovery. Clinical schooling and diagnostic and good treatment can also be thought of among sports medicine’s goals.

Though they may possibly seem quite easy to achieve, all these functions demand an the complete crew of professionals, from nutritionists and sport psychologists to trainers, coaches and laboratorants.

Sports medicine professionals focus on medical and therapeutic factors of bodily activities, these people are educated to diagnose, prevent and treat pains and aches which occur during a great deal of sports activities.

What are the most typical sports injuries treated by sports medicine?

While talking about sports medicine, we need to mention injuries related to sports, that are generally divided in two main classes: traumatic and overuse injuries. First types come about mainly in contact sports, similar to football or rugby, due to the high~ collision nature of those activities. Muscle strains, fractures, bruises or head injuries, those are all typical for these types of sports. Traumatic injuries include a single blow, from a single power application, and they bring about lots of pain to the sufferer. Overuse injuries occur due to repetitive stress in a specific portion of the body, such as knee are less painful but if kept untreated, they can turn worse over time. Overuse or chronic injuries involve stress fractures, tendinitis (irritation of the tendon) and epiphysitis.

Now let’s have a closer glance at these health concerns related to sports medicine. If the harm isn’t so bad looking or painful, we may possibly be tempted to ignore it, thinking that it will retract by itself. However, this will not happen with traumatic injuries, that are really pretty serious. An untreated traumatic injury can be a real menace for one’s life, especially if it starts swelling, if the pain rises and it prospects to limping, loss of flexibility or motion ranges.

Sports medicine has to treat these healthcare problems, but in addition, to teach the affected person how to prevent future injuries as well as help him recuperate properly. The first action in healing any injury is to stop or stay away from the agent which brought on it or which produce the pain. So until the issue is solved, avoid practicing any sport or intensive physical activity. You may also be suggested to put on or use a protective device, such as a arm guard, a knee brace or some an orthotic device. And naturally, you’ll need to do rehabilitation or physical therapy, so that to get better sooner.

As you can see, there are a lot of exciting details when it comes to sports medicine, the discipline of diagnosing, preventing and curing sports injuries.

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »

Depression Causes – Find Out What They AreMonday, December 20th, 2010

You’ll find a few key factors which are involved in nearly all cases of depressive disorders. Depressive disorders brings about persons that have so quite a few reasons to be happy, to feel mental and actual disorders that can sometimes defy explanation. Our personality, actual wellness, stressful occurrences and even family genetics; all play an very important role in our overall mental well-being.

Personality

You’ll find plenty of men and women out there, who deal with depressive disorders, that do not understand just how toxic their personality may be to their mental wellness. Having a positive outlook on life, will frequently assist anyone to steer clear of the ill thoughts and low self-confidence that depression causes. Prevent pessimism at all costs: Thinking that something bad is always going to occur, or that nothing positive can come of any situation is a sure way to keep yourself in a depressive state of mind.

Actual Health

Actual wellbeing is very very important. You’ve to choose an apple over that favorite sugary donuts in the morning, along with taking the stairs as opposed to the elevator whenever possible. For the most part, be certain to acquire at least 30 minutes of physical exercise each single day and by no means skip breakfast. Depression brings about many of us to become lethargic and sit in front of the TV. Be proactive and eat 4 times per day, even though getting some form of actual health and beauty tips activity.

Stressful Occurrences

Stressful items happen to all of us. If they never did, we may not ever be in a position to appreciate the factors that make us happy in life. Several anxiety might be avoided, just like taking the bus to work rather than fighting morning traffic, or avoiding pesky neighbors that always want to push their problems on you. Other issues may be dealt with by means of exercise, meditation, or by seeking out a trusted friend to talk points more than with.

Genetic Variables

Depression brings about physical and emotional stress on sufferers. What many of us don’t realize is genetics are a major contributor. Although there is still very much to become learned about the role genetics play in our emotional well-being, some persons are predisposed to depressive thoughts by way of genetic variables for example: endorphin deficiency, lack of adrenaline production, schizophrenia, etc.

Posted in Health & Lifestyle | No Comments »