Nov 24, 2017 | Health Resources
Health and wellness are critical to primary prevention of disease and a wide variety of health conditions. Now is a perfect time of year to focus on a new you!
DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR FLEXIBILITY, MOBILITY, BALANCE AND RETURN TO DOING MORE ACTIVITIES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS? READ ON…
Health, wellness and prevention services are vital elements that your physical therapist can provide for you..
The American Physical Therapy Association suggests a comprehensive wellness check up yearly. The Annual Physical Therapy Check-up includes a Personal health profile, Disease risk profile, Physical examination, and Physical functional performance examination. Other special tests may be administered depending on your Personal health profile. Specialized and individualized recommendations are made to you to improve your areas of need. For example, balance
AHNew Physical Therapy provides health and wellness through a comprehensive examination. We provide individualized program to enhance your quality of life by providing strength, endurance, flexibility, balance and functional training especially to our aging and at risk populations. By initiating a health and wellness program, you can prevent and defer many of the complications of disease.
We perform examinations, evaluative assessments, critical thinking, movement analyses, and guided our patients/clients in formation of an individual plan of care that leads to improved functional quality of life.
In addition American Physical Therapy Association has had a few position statements (from 2006-present) that encourage patient/client health, wellness and fitness and management of disease. Health management of patients with disease are also encouraged. Additionally, physical therapists own health and wellness and fitness are advocated as we are examples to the population at large.
More recently (2017) the role of the physical therapists in diet and nutrition was included as a part of health and wellness, primary, secondary and tertiary care and within our scope of practice. Referral to other healthcare professionals is encouraged when special problems are identified.
Here’s wishing you a new you! A happy life is a healthy and active life!
For more information go to:
http://www.apta.org/AnnualCheckup/
http://www.apta.org/AnnualCheckup/BestPractices/
http://www.apta.org/ProfessionInTransformation/Knowledgeable/AnnualCheckup/
http://www.apta.org/NEXT/News/2014/6/12/PTExam/
http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/About_Us/Policies/Practice/AssociationRoleAdvocacy.pdf
http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/About_Us/Policies/Practice/PTRoleAdvocacy.pdf
http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/About_Us/Policies/Practice/RolePTDietNutrition.pdf
http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/APTAorg/About_Us/Policies/Practice/HealthPrioritiesPopulationsIndividuals.pdf
Nov 21, 2017 | Health Tips
Tips if you have o
steopenia and osteoporosis.
- Weight bearing exercises
- Calcium with Vit D
- Posture
- Regular examination after 65 or family history or postmenopausal
As we age, we lose bone mass and the quality of our bones decline, e.g. bone health.
After the age of 30 our bone mineral density declines. Bone mineral density is measured by the amount of bone at your hip and at your lumbar spine by a special test called a DEXA scan (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry).
Bone mineral density measurements are recommended at and after the age of 65 for both men and women and post menopausal. (CDC)
Men lose 1% of BMD per decade and women about 2.5% of BMD per decade. Bone mineral density refers to amount of bone per volume whereas is related to the internal bone architecture. Bone quality has been vastly ignored. http://www.mdedge.com/ccjm/article/95089/endocrinology/bone-density-vs-bone-quality-whats-clinician-do
Many times we have changes in our diet and nutrition that contribute to loss of bone health.
We require sufficient doses of calcium plus vitamin D. What is the optimal dose? A combination of food sources as well as supplements outlined in the following reference.(https://www.nof.org/patients/treatment/calciumvitamin-d/)
Also we begin to lose muscle mass and add around age 50. Both men and women can lose muscle mass. Men lose muscle mass about 1% per year and woman about 2% per year depending upon physical activity. (Check)
Muscles contribute to pull on the bone and can actually enhance our billing mineral density. Lack of sufficient physical activity can lead to loss of muscle strength, power, and endurance. Muscle mass can be regained through physical activity and exercise through and beyond age 90. Muscle health is important to prevent fall. Falls may lead to a fracture if somebody has osteoporosis or osteopenia. Weight-bearing activities and exercises are recommended to minimize loss of bone.
Weight-bearing activities can also enhance balance, strength, and flexibility if done correctly under the supervision of a exercise expert. Some activities that are recommended are walking, strength training, jumping, and prior to starting any new activities we should be reminded that we need to progress slowly and gradually.(CDC)
People who are at risk most risk for osteopenia and osteoporosis are:
1) Caucasian
2) Female
3) Low body weight
4) Family history
5) Lack of physical activity and weight bearing exercises
Osteopenia and osteoporosis can be minimized through nutrition and physical activity and individualized exercise prescription.
Please contact your PCP and/or physical therapist today to minimize your risk and maximize your healthy and active function for Quality of life. Health check up yearly is important to make sure we keep tabs on our bodies! Early detection of disease or bone loss can minimize our losses in the long run.