Mar 28, 2020 | Healthy Activity, Prevention
Concussions can occur in both young and old!
Prevention is paramount…Safety first!
March is Brain injury awareness month! Every month should be prevention of concussion, brain injury from falls or an accident. Everyone is at risk – both young and older people.
As spring and summer approaches, we are outdoors more enjoying the great weather! Along with great weather, we are more active.
Youth: Young children, tweens, and teens are at greatest risk for concussions from direct impact sports – soccer, football, cycling. Emergency room visits have skyrocketed!
Adults: Older adults who fall are also at risk for concussions from a blow to the head and often go unnoticed! If you hit your head when you fall – this is a concussion!
It’s important whatever the age, that we check out your condition after a blow to your head and make sure that you are monitored closely following a concussion.
What are some of the signs of concussion?
- drowsiness,
- blurred vision,
- unsteadiness with walking or balance, and
- Up to 79% of people report dizziness and 56% experience balance impairment following a concussion.
After a concussion it’s important to be monitored for at least 24 hours. For a few days and weeks after the concussion you may gradually start progressing back to activity and/or sports.
Tips for return to activity or sport:
- Remove from play or activity and REST for the day ~ both cognitive and physical exertion.
- Seek medical help if symptoms worsen. You may need a CT or MRI.
- Protect from additional injury
- Neurocognitive assessment
- Balance testing
- Medical and/or physical therapy if recovery is incomplete after 2-3 weeks.
Call Today for a complementary Discovery Consultation visit. RSVP 210-833-8336.
Jan 13, 2020 | Healthy Activity
Welcome to the 21-day challenge! It’s fantastic that you have selected this opportunity to improve your health and fitness in the roaring year 2020. I am looking forward to seeing how well you do over the next 31 days. Your commitment to your health is outstanding!
Use your calendar to help you to keep track of your movement activity. Record your daily activities and the approximate total time you spent. At the end of the month you will submit your calendar. Then we will make rewards based on your level of participation.
Each week I will send you some suggestions for types of activities that might be beneficial for you. Remember that everybody is different.
This is about a way of life. It is a way of being to challenge for yourself. It’s known that it takes 21-days to create a habit.
As promised, when you selected to participate, you will receive reminders and suggestions as to a workout plan for the week. Remember it’s best to participate in a variety of activities that you enjoy most including aerobics, strength training, flexibility, and balance training.
Here is one suggestion to jump start your first week (days 1-7):
Daily aerobics.
Aerobics or endurance-based activities are vital to heart health and mental well-being. Walking, jogging, cycling, swimming are all aerobic activities that are great to improve your endurance and energy level. Aerobics have also been shown to help with sleep patterns if done early in the day.
- Start at your level of ability. You should be able to perform the activity you select and talk at the same time.
- Breathing is important. The activity can be done is small bouts of 5-10 minutes or continuously. In other words, every step or activity counts.
- You may want to set a goal and gradually increase your activity toward your goal. For example: A goal may be to walk or run or swim or cycle 30-minutes 5 days a week.
- Perform your activity of choice 5 minutes at your usual pace, then 5 minutes at a moderate to a fast pace, then 5 minutes at your usual pace. Gradually increase the bouts of your activity over the next month by 5 minutes per week. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends at least 5 days of aerobic activity per week for heart health.
- Your body responses best to changes in exercise intensity and type (e.g. cross training). So slow and faster bouts of aerobics can help your heart adjust to a wide variety of challenges.
- You may be “sore” so listen to your body! Make sure it is muscle soreness and not an injury. Delayed onset muscle soreness appears 24-48 hours after exercise.
- You may also experience shortness of breath. If so slow down a bit. Try pursed lip breathing. Breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try slowing your breathing down, for example: Inward breath for 3 seconds and outward breath for 6 seconds.
If you have any questions at anytime, I will be available to answer them. Either text or email me.
Good luck and way to bring in the roaring 20s!
Best health always!
Oct 7, 2019 | Healthy Activity
How to live to be 100 – and stay in Balance!
As I was out running the other day I began to think of my personal goal to live to be 103. When I mention this to people, some cringe, some smile, and others tell me all about the people that they know who have lived a long healthy life. Of course most who want to live to be 100 want to be independent and free of disability. The key is to start early – most likely when we are children.
Here are some take aways for you:
- Have a purpose: know why you you wake up in the morning
- Take a breaK: once weekly, take some time for yourself. Get away from everything for 24 hours every week (e.g. take a nature walk, pray, read)
- Stay active: especially in the morning by engaging in physical activity that is integrated into your day (regular low intensity activity allows you to life longer with vigor)
- Eat wisely: Eating more veggies has been associated with men and women who live longer lives (e.g. Omega 3, plant-based diet, wine with polyethanols [antioxidants], low caloric intake)
- Engage with a positive attitude: Join a Community with people who you can support and be supported.
Dec 28, 2018 | Healthy Activity
Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!
As you know, the Holidays are fast approaching, and with so much emphasis on shopping and eating, it’s
easy to end up sacrificing your fitness routine. Plus, the Holidays can add a significant level of stress,
causing your heart to work overtime and affecting your health. But don’t worry, there’s good news!
Did you know that practicing Yoga (especially during the busiest time of the year) will help reduce your
stress? It’s true! Yoga exercise does more than burn calories and tone – it can help reduce stress,
providing a total mind and body workout. Studies have shown that stress and overindulgence contribute
to the soaring rate of heart attacks during the Holidays, so reducing your stress at this time of year can
be critical to your health.
Are you ready to get a head start on your Yoga fitness before the Holidays arrive? Finding the right Yoga class will be the key to keeping you motivated and helping you reach your desired goals.
Whether you attend group classes or practice at home, you will see a marked difference in how you feel from day to day.
Benefits of Yoga-
- Breath Control (Reduce Stress) – In Yoga practice, you will learn about conscious breathing, which activates the cerebral cortex in the brain, which then impacts your emotions. Focusing on conscious breathing with each movement helps to reduce stress on both your body and mind.
- Improved Balance – Balance is vitally important in reducing the risk of a fall, and will help with reaction time in preventing a fall. Balance is needed in just about everything you do, from walking, to navigating stairs, to tying your shoes. There are many Yoga poses that help with posture and improve balance, to help you stay steady.
- Increased Flexibility – Stretching is an integral part of flexibility. Yoga poses focus on stretching, flexibility and balance, and some forms of Yoga also improve cardiovascular health. Staying active and maintaining flexibility can reduce chronic back pain, and may increase independence in aging. Less stress, steady balance, and increased flexibility are all great reasons to practice Yoga! Yoga is an enjoyable way to manage the toll of Holiday stress on both body and mind. So, this year get an early start on your fitness goals and help prepare your body for the busy days to come.
Wishing you happy, stress-free, Yoga Holidays!
Jun 9, 2018 | Health Tips, Healthy Activity
It’s summer! Get outside and play, walk, engage ~ stay active!
Here are some tips for people of all ages to stay active during the summer months:
HYDRATE
First drink plenty of water. Our bodies are 60% water. Hydrate often ~ if you wait until you are thirsty it’s too late.
ENJOY EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Second engage in some form of physical activity daily ~ put down the electronics and move! Activity help us maintain a healthy weight, helps improve mood, decreases pain, improves flexibility, and cardiopulmonary and vascular health. Balance your activity and food intake.
BE SAFE
Third use safety measures ~ play it safe by wearing a helmet when bicycling, roller skating, or skate boarding. Wear proper fitting shoes with padded inserts. Walk in safe neighborhoods early when temperatures are lower or walk a mall in cooled air conditioning.
PROTECT YOUR SKIN
Fourth use plenty of sunscreen and sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes. Reapply sunscreen frequently, approximately every two hours is recommended. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and bug spray for protection.
EAT WELL
Fifth eat nutritious foods! The new food pyramid focuses on 6 oz of Grains, 2 cups of Fruits and 2.5 cups Vegetables, 5.5 oz servings of Protein, 3 cups of Dairy, plus Physical Activity for 30 minutes for adults and 60 minutes for children each and every day. Sixty to 90 minutes of daily physical activity may be needed to prevent weight gain.
For more information go to: ChooseMyPlate.com
GET OUTDOORS and BREATH
Lastly enjoy the fresh air and just keep moving! We need sunlight and weight bearing activities for good bone heath, cardiovascular health, and muscle strength, endurance, power and mental wellbeing.
“A healthy lifestyle for all ages ~ an active life is a happy life!”
Go to: https://www.ahnewphysicaltherapy.com/ and
Like US on FB: @ahnewphysicaltherapy.
For a free Discovery Visit or Consultation:
Take Action: Contact Dr. Ann H. Newstead, PT, DPT, PhD 210-833-8336
Ref: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/558868634992266856/
Apr 14, 2018 | Healthy Activity
Have you started the new year off right? Ahnew you is right around the corner! Spring is here, the weather is gorgeous – are you ready to do the physical activities you enjoy most and get your mind and body ready for action?
Now‘s the time to get moving!
Movement is golden for many reasons… Movement keeps our joints limber, it keeps our muscles flexible and strong. When we are flexible and strong we are better able to accomplish the activities that we enjoy doing… Such as hiking, biking, walking, dancing, golfing, and playing with our friends, partners, children and grandchildren!
Below are some tips for starting and sticking with a physical activity program:
1) Find an activity you enjoy! Do you prefer walking or running or yoga? Being indoors or outdoors?
2) Ask a friend or family member to join you. Another person or a group keeps you accountable!
3) Identify the best time of day to work out. Are you a morning or afternoon or evening person? When is your energy the best? Set aside 30 minutes daily to be active!
4) Start easy and gradually increase your activity intensity (level of difficulty) and duration. How much activity is good for you? You should be able to talk and perform your activity with moderate effort.
5) Warm up and cool down to prepare your muscles for activity – don’t stretch “cold” muscles. A gentle aerobic activity such as easy walking or cycling are good starters.
6) Strength training at least 2-3 days a week. Research studies support an increase in strength with regular training individualized to you. How much is ideal? Complete 10 to 20 repetitions with good form. Increase by 5-10% per week without pain.You may feel a little soreness the next day or two – termed delayed muscle onset of soreness.
7) Flexibility 5 days a week. Stretch each major muscle group after a 5-10 minute warm up (walking or cycling) and hold 30 seconds x 3 reps. Stretch until you feel a gentle muscle pull and gradually increase each time.
8) Balance training 5 days a week. Stand with feet apart near a countertop and chair behind you for safety; hold position for a total of 30 seconds. Repeat 3 to 5 times. Next narrow your stance. Hold. Attempt to close your eyes for 3 to 5 seconds holding countertop and near chair for safety. Do this activity near a mirror to focus on good posture.
9) Aerobics most days of the week. Walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, or running are all great aerobic activities. ACSM recommends a cumulative of 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity throughout the day in total. Moderate activity level where you can walk and talk is best.
For more information on a Discover Visit to get a “Spring Tune Up” contact us today at AHNew Physical Therapy Health and Wellness. A healthy lifestyle for all ages!
Enjoy your Spring!
