If Your World is Spinning...
21/03/11 09:39
Almost everyone experiences a few seconds of dizziness at some point in their lives. Do you remember your childhood days when you would spin round and round until you got dizzy and had to wait a few seconds till the “world stopped spinning”? It was fun back then, but when it occurs “out of the blue”, it’s something to be concerned about.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 90 million Americans (more than a third of the population) report bouts of dizziness at some point in their lives. Of those, 76 million suffer from inner-ear disorders, which can be caused by:
1. Whiplash (neck injuries)
2. Blows to the head
3. Viral infections
4. High doses of certain antibiotics
5. Stroke
6. Degeneration of the inner ear's balance function, also known as the vestibular system (often deteriorates with age).
Inner-ear problems can manifest themselves in different ways. Some symptoms include dizziness, nausea and blurred vision. It’s not uncommon for individuals with dizziness to go from one doctor to another in an attempt to find a solution.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 90 million Americans (more than a third of the population) report bouts of dizziness at some point in their lives. Of those, 76 million suffer from inner-ear disorders, which can be caused by:
1. Whiplash (neck injuries)
2. Blows to the head
3. Viral infections
4. High doses of certain antibiotics
5. Stroke
6. Degeneration of the inner ear's balance function, also known as the vestibular system (often deteriorates with age).
Inner-ear problems can manifest themselves in different ways. Some symptoms include dizziness, nausea and blurred vision. It’s not uncommon for individuals with dizziness to go from one doctor to another in an attempt to find a solution.
0 Comments
What is Gait and How Home Physical Therapy Can Help
15/01/11 10:16
The pattern of how a person walks is called their gait. Many different types of walking abnormalities are produced unconsciously. Most, but not all, are due to some physical condition.
Some walking abnormalities are so characteristic that they have been given descriptive names:
Home Care
Treatment of the cause often improves the gait. For example, gait abnormalities from trauma to part of the leg will improve as the leg heals.
For an abnormal gait that occurs with conversion disorder, psychiatric counseling as well as support from family members is strongly recommended.
For a propulsive gait:
Original article: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003199.htm
Some walking abnormalities are so characteristic that they have been given descriptive names:
- Propulsive gait -- a stooped, rigid posture, with the head and neck bent forward
- Scissors gait -- legs flexed slightly at the hips and knees, giving the appearance of crouching, with the knees and thighs hitting or crossing in a scissors-like movement
- Spastic gait -- a stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by one-sided, long-term, muscle contraction
- Steppage gait -- foot drop where the foot hangs with the toes pointing down, causing the toes to scrape the ground while walking
- Waddling gait -- a distinctive duck-like walk that may appear in childhood or later in life
Home Care
Treatment of the cause often improves the gait. For example, gait abnormalities from trauma to part of the leg will improve as the leg heals.
For an abnormal gait that occurs with conversion disorder, psychiatric counseling as well as support from family members is strongly recommended.
For a propulsive gait:
- Encourage the person to be as self-reliant and independent as possible.
- Allow plenty of time for daily activities, especially walking. People with this problem are susceptible to falls because of poor balance and an unconscious effort to always catch up.
- Provide walking assistance for safety reasons, especially on uneven ground.
- Consult a physical therapist about exercise therapy and walking retraining.
- Loss of skin sensation is often associated with scissors gait, so skin care should be provided in order to avoid skin breakdown and ulcers.
- Leg braces and in-shoe splints can help maintain proper foot alignment for standing and walking. A physical therapist can supply these and provide exercise therapy, if appropriate.
- Both active and passive exercises are encouraged.
- Leg braces and in-shoe splints can help maintain proper foot alignment for standing and walking. A physical therapist can supply these and provide exercise therapy, if appropriate.
- A cane or a walker is recommended for those with poor balance.
- Adequate rest is encouraged. Fatigue can often cause an affected person to stub his toe and fall.
- Leg braces and in-shoe splints can help maintain proper foot alignment for standing and walking. A physical therapist can supply these and provide exercise therapy, if appropriate.
Original article: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003199.htm
Timed Up and Go Test
19/12/10 10:02
At Distinctive Home Physical Therapy, we use the “Timed Up and Go Test” to gauge our patient’s range of mobility and as a fall prevention strategy.
Here’s an overview of the test:
Patients are instructed to stand up and walk 10 feet as fast but as comfortable as possible. They are then asked to sit down. A score greater than 14 seconds indicates a high risk for falls in the elderly.
Call us today to have your balance checked and to determine your fall risk level!
Here’s an overview of the test:
Patients are instructed to stand up and walk 10 feet as fast but as comfortable as possible. They are then asked to sit down. A score greater than 14 seconds indicates a high risk for falls in the elderly.
Call us today to have your balance checked and to determine your fall risk level!
Yoga to Improve Balance for Seniors
13/12/10 09:15
Age-related muscle loss and bone loss increases the possibility of trips and falls in seniors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one-third of seniors have some type of fall every year, leading to debilitating injuries such as fractures and even death. Now research reports that yoga practice improves balance and stability in elderly women and may reduce the risk of falling.
The Study
The study, presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society, examined the effect of yoga on balance and stability in elderly women. Researchers at the Gait Study Center at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, administered a yoga therapy program to 24 elderly women for 9 weeks. The yoga program was designed for seniors by study coauthor and certified senior Iyengar Yoga instructor Marian Garfinkel, Ed.D., and yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar. The yoga practice included postures (asanas) and breathing techniques.
The Results
The researchers found that the participants had increased lower body flexibility and strength, improved single-leg stance and faster stride. Furthermore, the participants had improved postural stability and balance. The study authors suggest that yoga practice may help reduce the risk of falling.
The Main Point
"We were very impressed at the progress our participants made by the end of the program," says researcher Dr. Jinsup Song, director of the Gait Study Center at Temple University, in a news release "Subjects demonstrated improved muscle strength in lower extremities, which helps with stability. There was also a pronounced difference in how pressure was distributed on the bottom of the foot, which helps to maintain balance."
This study is significant because it shows that yoga practice may help reduce the risk of falls and fractures in seniors. Practicing yoga can improve quality of life in our golden years.
Original article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2932346/yoga_improves_balance_in_seniors.html
The Study
The study, presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society, examined the effect of yoga on balance and stability in elderly women. Researchers at the Gait Study Center at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, administered a yoga therapy program to 24 elderly women for 9 weeks. The yoga program was designed for seniors by study coauthor and certified senior Iyengar Yoga instructor Marian Garfinkel, Ed.D., and yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar. The yoga practice included postures (asanas) and breathing techniques.
The Results
The researchers found that the participants had increased lower body flexibility and strength, improved single-leg stance and faster stride. Furthermore, the participants had improved postural stability and balance. The study authors suggest that yoga practice may help reduce the risk of falling.
The Main Point
"We were very impressed at the progress our participants made by the end of the program," says researcher Dr. Jinsup Song, director of the Gait Study Center at Temple University, in a news release "Subjects demonstrated improved muscle strength in lower extremities, which helps with stability. There was also a pronounced difference in how pressure was distributed on the bottom of the foot, which helps to maintain balance."
This study is significant because it shows that yoga practice may help reduce the risk of falls and fractures in seniors. Practicing yoga can improve quality of life in our golden years.
Original article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2932346/yoga_improves_balance_in_seniors.html
Study: Walking Again After a Stroke Using a Treadmill
03/12/10 10:40
Walking After Stroke: What Does Treadmill Training With Body Weight Support Add to Overground Gait Training in Patients Early After Stroke?
A Single-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial
Marco Franceschini, MD; Stefano Carda, MD; Maurizio Agosti, PT; Roberto Antenucci, MD; Daniele Malgrati, MD; Carlo Cisari, MD on behalf of Gruppo Italiano Studio Allevio Carico Ictus (GISACI)
Background and Purpose— This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gait training using body weight support on a treadmill compared with conventional gait training for people with subacute stroke who were unable to walk.
Methods— This was a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up. Ninety-seven subjects were recruited within 6 weeks of stroke onset and were randomly assigned to conventional rehabilitative treatment plus gait training with body weight support on a treadmill (experimental group; n=52) and conventional treatment with overground gait training only (control group; n=45). All subjects were treated in 60-minute sessions every weekday for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were Motricity Index, Trunk Control test, Barthel Index, Functional Ambulation Categories, 10-meter and 6-minute Walk Tests, and Walking Handicap Scale. Assessments were made at baseline, after 20 sessions of treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, and 6 months after stroke.
Results— After treatment, all patients were able to walk. Both groups showed improvement in all outcome measures (P<0.0063) at the end of the treatment and at follow-up. No differences were seen between the 2 groups before, during, and after treatment and at follow-up.
Conclusions— In subacute patients with stroke, gait training on a treadmill with body weight support is feasible and as effective as conventional gait training. However, the need for more personnel for treadmill training makes the use of robotically assisted systems more compelling.
Original article: http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/short/40/9/3079
A Single-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial
Marco Franceschini, MD; Stefano Carda, MD; Maurizio Agosti, PT; Roberto Antenucci, MD; Daniele Malgrati, MD; Carlo Cisari, MD on behalf of Gruppo Italiano Studio Allevio Carico Ictus (GISACI)
Background and Purpose— This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gait training using body weight support on a treadmill compared with conventional gait training for people with subacute stroke who were unable to walk.
Methods— This was a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up. Ninety-seven subjects were recruited within 6 weeks of stroke onset and were randomly assigned to conventional rehabilitative treatment plus gait training with body weight support on a treadmill (experimental group; n=52) and conventional treatment with overground gait training only (control group; n=45). All subjects were treated in 60-minute sessions every weekday for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were Motricity Index, Trunk Control test, Barthel Index, Functional Ambulation Categories, 10-meter and 6-minute Walk Tests, and Walking Handicap Scale. Assessments were made at baseline, after 20 sessions of treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, and 6 months after stroke.
Results— After treatment, all patients were able to walk. Both groups showed improvement in all outcome measures (P<0.0063) at the end of the treatment and at follow-up. No differences were seen between the 2 groups before, during, and after treatment and at follow-up.
Conclusions— In subacute patients with stroke, gait training on a treadmill with body weight support is feasible and as effective as conventional gait training. However, the need for more personnel for treadmill training makes the use of robotically assisted systems more compelling.
Original article: http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/short/40/9/3079
Life Alert For Balance and Falls
28/11/10 15:37
Falls: Causes, Prevention, and What To Do If It Happens
by Dr. Don Rose
INTRODUCTION
A fall can happen to us all. This is true no matter what our age. While falls are not the inevitable result of getting older, the odds go up as one advances in age.
SYMPTOMS THAT CAN LEAD TO FALLS
Dizziness, lightheadedness, and general weakness can all cause a fall, and each condition may be a sign of an underlying medical issue. In addition, a fall may be a symptom of a serious illness, such as a heart attack, stroke, internal bleeding, or pneumonia. Falls may also indicate a drinking problem; alcohol abuse is an alarming trend among more and more seniors.
HOW FALLS OCCUR
As one ages, eyesight and hearing ability often decreases. Slower reflexes and decreased coordination and muscle strength can limit our ability to take action in avoiding a fall when it starts to happen. Medical conditions like heart disease or low blood pressure can affect balance. Medicines or alcohol can cause lightheadedness. Arthritis can throw off balance, and osteoporosis can weaken bones so they break more easily than when one is young. Fortunately, the most preventable factors are usually things in the home; many folks, especially seniors, just aren't aware of the hazards they have in their abodes.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FALL
If you fall, are badly injured, and can get to a phone, dial 911 and/or someone you know who can take you to a doctor or emergency room. Many seniors should call their health care provider or emergency number after a fall, even if there appears to be little or no injury, just to be safe. Also note that head injuries can be very serious.
Another consideration: a fall may be a symptom of a serious illness. Your health professional can examine you and may order x-rays or other tests, if needed. Also, tell your doctor if you think one or more of your medicines are affecting your balance or causing dizziness.
Lastly, we must consider cases where someone is injured at home and cannot reach a phone. For seniors living alone, the increased odds of a fall means a medical alarm system is a vital step to ensure protection. Just as we use medical insurance to protect our health and assets, a medical alarm system acts as a form of additional insurance when something happens (like a fall) that could be life-threatening when a phone is out of reach. Life Alert can provide this protection; subscribers to Life Alert wear a small pendant which, when pressed, can summon help 24/7 if something happens to you and you cannot reach a phone. See www.lifealert.com for more details.
For original article: http://www.seniorprotection.com/healthtips/falls.aspx
Are Your Stairs and Steps Safe?
20/11/10 10:51
At Distinctive Home Physical Therapy, your safety is our number one concern. We want to make sure that your home is safe and free of obstruction, especially your stairs and steps.
Here is a list of helpful tips from the CDC:
Here is a list of helpful tips from the CDC:
| STAIRS AND STEPS: Look at the stairs you use both inside and outside your home. |
Physical Therapy and Seniors: A Way to Get Back on Track
13/11/10 08:51
Physical Therapy a Boon for Seniors
Would you believe in a non-drug treatment that works for arthritis, cancer pain, Parkinson's, and incontinence and improves your strength and endurance? There is one -- physical therapy.
WebMD Feature
When a person gets injured or has a prolonged illness, doctors often recommend physical therapy. In the case of older people, though, sometimes this is seen as just something to "try." This could not be further from the truth. Physical therapy is "A-quality" therapy for many conditions affecting older people, from Alzheimer's to urinary incontinence. In fact, one researcher did a study in which you had to be 100 years of age to even participate!
According to Jennifer M. Bottomley, PhD, MS, PT, president of the geriatrics section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and adviser to the surgeon general, one of the main things that brings older people to the physical therapist is a fall. "They want and need to maintain their independence," she says.
"It's important to look at each individual," stresses Tim Kauffman, PT, PhD, professor of physical therapy at the Hahnemann campus of Drexel University in Philadelphia. "Every person of any age has an individual background, say an auto accident, football injury, genetic predispositions. No two 'old' people are the same."
According to APTA, physical therapy can restore or increase strength, range of motion, flexibility, coordination, and endurance -- as well as reduce pain. Another important role is to retrain the patient to do everyday tasks.
*For original article:
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/physical-therapy-benefits-for-seniors
Would you believe in a non-drug treatment that works for arthritis, cancer pain, Parkinson's, and incontinence and improves your strength and endurance? There is one -- physical therapy.
WebMD Feature
When a person gets injured or has a prolonged illness, doctors often recommend physical therapy. In the case of older people, though, sometimes this is seen as just something to "try." This could not be further from the truth. Physical therapy is "A-quality" therapy for many conditions affecting older people, from Alzheimer's to urinary incontinence. In fact, one researcher did a study in which you had to be 100 years of age to even participate!
According to Jennifer M. Bottomley, PhD, MS, PT, president of the geriatrics section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and adviser to the surgeon general, one of the main things that brings older people to the physical therapist is a fall. "They want and need to maintain their independence," she says.
"It's important to look at each individual," stresses Tim Kauffman, PT, PhD, professor of physical therapy at the Hahnemann campus of Drexel University in Philadelphia. "Every person of any age has an individual background, say an auto accident, football injury, genetic predispositions. No two 'old' people are the same."
According to APTA, physical therapy can restore or increase strength, range of motion, flexibility, coordination, and endurance -- as well as reduce pain. Another important role is to retrain the patient to do everyday tasks.
*For original article:
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/physical-therapy-benefits-for-seniors