AgeWell: News and LifeStyle

Physical Therapy, Strokes, and Depression

2011-12-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

By: Lauradonna Manno, DPT

About 600,000 American men and women experience a first or recurrent stroke each year. Major depression is seen in about 10 to 27 percent of them. Unfortunately when depression occurs following a stroke it is frequently undiagnosed and untreated. Up to 40 percent of stroke survivors will experience symptoms of depression within the first two months.

Depression can occur in anyone, of any age; however, people who had a stroke are at a greater risk of feeling depressed. This should not go untreated and each diagnosis should be treated separately.

Treating depression will help the patient who has had a stroke improve their medical status, enhance their quality of life, reduce pain, shorten the rehabilitation process, and lead to an earlier community integration. Treatment for depression in stroke patients should be directed by a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker who works closely with the physician providing the post-stroke rehabilitation and treatment.

Persons with stroke related depression, especially those with major depressive disorder, may be less compliant with rehabilitation, more irritable, and may experience personality change.

Although signs or symptoms of depression may overlap with post-stroke symptoms, skilled health professionals at AgeWell will:

Recognize the symptoms of depression
Inquire about their duration and severity
Refer to the appropriate health care professional

Aging with Multiple sclerosis

2011-08-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

By: Lauradonna D'Antoni, DPT

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease where myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, causing demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms. MS is more commonly found in young adult women approximately 75 per 100,000 people. Multiple Sclerosis is highly affected by temperature.

Those who have MS need to be cautions of their environmental temperatures.

Many people with MS experience a temporary worsening of their symptoms when the weather is very hot or humid, they run a fever, sunbathe, get overheated from exercise, or take very hot showers or baths. Some people with MS report temporary blurred vision when they get overheated. These temporary changes can result from even a very slight elevation in core body temperature. A change in temperature by one-quarter to one-half of a degree higher can impair the ability of the demyelinated nerve to conduct electrical impulses. Many years ago a “Hot Bath” test was used to diagnose MS and see if the patients symptoms would be exacerbated.

Some things to keep in mind during hot and humid temperatures:

You should stay in air-conditioned rooms during times of extreme heat and humidity.
You should use cold compresses, bandanas or hats for cooling methods.
It is important to wear lightweight, loose, breathable clothing.
It is also advised to always have cold water or an icy drink available in hot temperatures.
Exercise should be done in a cool environment, such as pool of less than 85 degrees.

Some MS patients notice symptoms in very cold weather, usually spasticity. At AgeWell Physical Therapy, MS is a treated diagnosis. We allow for MS patient’s to exercise in a cool controlled climate under the supervision of our professional staff to help control symptoms.

CrossFit Shared at AgeWell

2011-07-15T07:09:00.000-07:00

By Caitlin DellaValle, MS, OTR/L

I have been training with the CrossFit program for over a year. After being introduced to the exercise regiment it has quickly become an integral part of my life. CrossFit (CF) is a principal strength and conditioning program. It delivers fitness that is by design broad, general and inclusive. CF programs are designed for universal ability, making it the perfect application for any individual regardless of experience.

Using what I was doing in my own workouts, I transferred some of the CF activities to the daily treatments I was providing at AgeWell. Clients at AgeWell were able to participate in CF derived therapeutic exercise. Using combined movements like an overhead reach with a squat, my clients received the benefit of weight training integrated with cardiovascular exercise. The movements are also functional! Think of all the times we stand up from a chair to lift an item overhead, or retrieve an object from a high shelf.

CF also taught me about new eating habits, particularly the Paelo Diet. I shared this diet guideline with some clients at AgeWell and 2 people decided to try the diet. After checking with their doctor they started eating the Paleo way. A diet high in protein, fruits, veggies and natural fats like olive oil and nuts. They reported weight loss, decreased blood sugar levels and improved energy.

I am happy to be involved in CF. I feel physically fit and full of energy. I am very proud to have had AgeWell clients participate in the CF experience!

BOWEL AND BLADDER UPDATE

2010-12-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

By Lauradonna D’Antoni DPT, Pelvic Girdle Therapist

How can you prevent changes in your bowel and bladder?

Many of us live a busy lifestyle, too much on our mind, and not enough time for ourselves. Making minor changes in our life can prevent us from forming bad habits. Did you know that stress and time management, as well as diet play a big role in our bowel and bladder functioning properly.

At some point in our lives we may experience difficulty with our urological and gastrointestinal systems. A fair amount of the population does not seek medical attention for these changes until they are well advanced.

How do we know if a problem is really a problem?

Some guidelines to be aware of are:

Frequency/Urgency: Normal urination should be every 3-4 hours during the day and one should be able to sleep throughout the night without waking up to urinate.

JIC : “Just In Case” Many of us train our bladder to empty when it is not full. Going to urinate just in case prior to leaving the house or doing an activity is a poor habit to start. This will irritate your bladder.

Pain: We should never feel pain with urgency/frequency, urinating, or during bowel movements.

Bowel movements: Normal can be 2x/week to 3x/day. Constipation becomes a problem when our normal value decreases.

If you do experience any of these problems you should see your medical doctor, urologist, gynecologist, or gastrointestinal specialist who can evaluate, diagnose and treat you including prescribing physical therapy treatment.

How does this relate to physical therapy?

If you are seeking a physical therapist for any of these problems he or she should specialize in pelvic floor physical therapy. The pelvic floor physical therapist can teach you proper techniques to retrain your bowel and bladder issues, educate on proper diet and fluid intake as well as retraining you pelvic floor muscles. In some cases manual physical therapy is warranted to decrease pelvic pain and relax high toned muscles.

Lee National Denim Day at AgeWell

2010-10-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this year, AgeWell supported the effort dedicated to education, awareness and empowerment.

On October 8^th 2010, AgeWell participated in Lee National Denim Day. Denim Day is a single day fundraiser when participants across the country join together in wearing jeans and making a $5.00 donation to help in the fight against breast cancer. Since its inception in 1996, Denim Day has raised more than $80 million for breast cancer research and patient education.

AgeWell’s patients and employees were proud participants in the day dedicated to awareness, education, empowerment, denim and all things pink! United in the effort to recognize the importance in the fight against cancer, AgeWell raised over $260. Sincere thanks and appreciation go out to all of those who participated in such an important cause!

Medicare Cuts to Physical Therapy Benefits = No Care for Seniors?

2010-08-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

Original story found thru Rss feed at: healthcare « WordPress.com Tag Feed
Re-posted at: http://coolweather.dreamhosters.com/

WSPT reposted this blog regarding the Medicare benefits that are proposed to be cut very soon. Please click on the comment below to share your thoughts with us.

Medicare Cuts to Physical Therapy Benefits = No Care for Seniors?
More than likely.

It may not be well known that insurance companies across the board have significantly cut payouts to physical therapists making it increasingly difficult for practices to accept all insurance plans as it’s become impossible to support a business or a staff based on the cuts. If you have one of these insurancecompanies, then you know precisely what I’m talking about as I’m sure you’ve had difficulty finding providers that are in network or your co- pays are so high you can’t afford to go. Private companies are, of course, free to do as they wish and PT’s are free to choose not to accept those plans. Who loses? The consumer.

Now Medicare patients may be severely affected by a new regulations
proposal. Currently, there is a government proposed regulation to deeply cut Medicare payouts to Physical Therapy providers. The cuts are so severe it will simply put practices out of business or ensure no practice accepts Medicare in the future. What does this mean for Medicare patients? No treatment. Is it fair to tell people who’ve paid into a system their entire lives that they will no longer have access to treatment? Consider how it will effect a person who breaks a hip. Without PT, the hip will certainly heal, but the musculature will atrophy to a point the patient will be disabled or on their own to figure out how to walk again. Best case scenario, the patient lives in pain and walks with a limp and the worst case is another fall, another break, another stint in the hospital. For those only interested in the bottom line, how is that cost efficient? Obviously, it isn’t a good situation for the patient.

Arguably, the lack of physical therapy will create a boom for the nursing home industry as older people with injuries won’t be able to recover without treatment and forced into homes. Again, who suffers? The consumer. Why?
Not only do they face the possibility of being debilitated, but they will
also have to give up their homes and lives to go live in a facility of
Medicare’s choosing. Sounds great, right? If you’re like me and think this sounds reprehensible, then you can have your voice heard. Medicare is NOT a private company, it is a government run (albeit into the ground) program that WE fund with every paycheck. Click the link below and let the government know this is unacceptable. We only have two weeks to fight this so spread the word and don’t let them get away with it.

Dana Tamuccio

Duffy & Bracken Physical Therapy

Stay Safe In The Summer Heat

2010-07-07T11:11:00.000-07:00

The US Center For Disease Control (CDC) estimates that every year around 300 people in the US die from heat related ailments. In addition thousands of American citizens suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Summer draws people, including seniors, outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and outdoor activities with family and friends. Senior citizens are more susceptible to the effects of heat as their bodies return to normal slowly and their bodies cooling mechanism is not as efficient as younger people. Hence seniors should be well aware of the health problems related to summer heat and the preventive and safety steps that they should take to avoid these problems.

AgeWell Tips: Stay COOL, Stay Safe!

Drink plenty of liquids -- eight or more 8-ounce glasses per day and or fruit juices to stay hydrated. Encourage older people to drink frequently throughout the day by having bottled water visibly available and people/systems in place prompting them to drink.
Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. These are diuretics and can cause dehydration.
Dress appropriately. Wear loose-fitting clothes in natural fabrics like cotton. These will breathe easier than synthetic fabrics such as polyester. Also dress in light colours that will reflect the sun and heat instead of darker colours that will attract them.
When outdoors, protect your skin from damage by wearing hats, sunglasses and a sunscreen of 30 SPF or more.
Stay indoors during extreme heat. Avoid the outdoors altogether during extremely hot days and/or during the hottest part of the day - the late afternoon. A room with air conditioning is best.
If you do not have air conditioning in your home, try and find somewhere that does.
If you need to get out of the house and don't drive a car, call a taxi, or a friend. Do not wait outside for the bus in extreme heat.
If you are absolutely unable to leave the house and do not have air conditioning, take a cool bath or shower to lower your body temperature on extremely hot days.
Temperatures inside the home should not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit for prolonged periods of time.
Know the signs of heat stroke and take immediate action if you feel them coming on. Signs include flushed face, high body temperature, headache, nausea, rapid pulse, dizziness and confusion.

Exercise Decreases Memory Loss

2010-06-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Belmonte P.T., M.S.

“Where did I park my car?” or “What is today’s date?” are two insignificant slips in memory that can send chills down the spine of an individual over 55.

A recent poll by MetLife reveals that about one-third of this population fears Alzheimer’s and its related dementia more than cancer. This can be fear of caring for a loved one or the fear of its devastating effect on one’s memory, personality, and ability to function independently. What compounds this dilemma is that most of the fear comes from lack of knowledge regarding this disease. As the exact cause and progression is not well understood by even the most astute researchers, the end result is a loss of cognitive function. Cognition is the brain’s ability to process information and put it to use. This can be remembering a grandson’s birthday or how to make a peach cobbler. At this time there is no cure or way to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, but recent research shows promise in ways to delay it. Recent studies illustrate a positive correlation between regular exercise and a low ratio of dementia onset. These studies state that an individual exercising 3 or more times per week developed dementia less than a person who exercised less than 3 times per week. Although not all research aimed toward dementia has produced such convincing evidence there are still many proven health benefits to regular exercise. Regular exercise provides improvements I blood pressure, diabetes, lipid profile, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and is also associated with decreased mortality and age-related morbidity in older adults.

Beside physical and mental benefits, exercise can raise a person’s quality of life by providing them with the ability to interact with family and the community on an independent basis. If you have a fear of memory loss or a desire to return to activities you once loved, regular exercise is a realistic outlet to be proactive about your well-being. Please contact a healthcare professional before beginning an exercise regimen.

Older Americans Fear Alzheimer’s the Most, While Most Adults Fear Cancer,
May 31, 2006 MetLife Foundation

U.S. Adults Fear Alzheimer’s More Than Heart Disease, Diabetes of Stroke, But Few Prepare
Robert J Nied, MD

Exercise Is Associated with Reduced Risk for Incident Dementia among Persons 65 Years of Age and Older, January 17, 2006
Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH; Li Wang, MS; James D. Bowen, MD; Wayne C. McCormick, MD, MPH; Linda Teri, PhD; Paul Crane, MD, MPH; and Walter Kukull, PhD

Balance Training in 70 year old women

2010-06-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

Johansson G, Jarnlo GB
Physiother Theory Pract 1991; 7(2): 121 - 125

70 year old women trained for 1 hour twice a week over a 5 week period. The training program consisted of walking in different directions at different speeds, often combined with movements of the arms, neck, and trunk. Many dancing steps were utilized. Weight transfer activities while sitting and standing, and rising from and sitting down in a chair were performed. Subjects participated in balance, coordination, agility, flexibility, relaxation, muscle strength, power and endurance training.

The 70 year old women showed they have the ability to improve their balance by using specific balance tests and training. This improvement hopefully will lead to a decrease in falls in these geriatric women.

AgeWell employs this approach in the treatment of balance disorders by having patients participate in balance activities on unstable surfaces with their eyes open and closed, with head movements. Patients receive challenges to their balance by their therapist. If a patient needs assistance correcting their loss of balance, a licensed PT/PTA is inches away to assist them.