physical therapy

Here’s an interesting infographic on the benefits of biking and the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle. The image outlines how much Americans drive, how much pollution of this driving causes and how biking instead of driving can have a dramatically beneficial effect.

Not only is biking better for the health of Americans and for the environment, the infographic also attempts to illustrate how biking could save America billions of dollars.

As always such infographics need to be taken with a grain of salt. However, I don’t think it’s too hard to imagine that less driving and more biking would benefit all of us.

Thanks to healthcaremanagementdegree.com for putting this on together.

Biking and Health: How Bikes Can Save Us

X-Ray Post Total Knee Replacement

According to research presented earlier this month, physician-diagnosed symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) is occurring on average 16 years earlier in life than what was previously found in the 1990′s. The research performed at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and was presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

If the trend continues, the amount of healthcare utilization and especially the number of total knee replacement surgeries may need to be performed in the near future may dramatically increase. One result of such an increase was stated to be a significant increase in health care costs in the United States.

You can read more at the American College or Rheumatology or in the press release at PR Web.

Photo by mikebaird

Fruit juices are often portrayed by their manufacturers as a healthy alternative to soda / pop. This infographic illustrates that this image is not only false but that they are often even less healthy; less healthy at least in turns of calories and sugar content. Even though it paints a simplistic picture of the situation, it’s interesting to see how much sugar is in these ‘fruit drinks’. And I thought colas had a ton of sugar!

Thanks to http://www.healthscience.net for creating this.

Soda' s Evil Twin: The Dangers of Fruit Drinks

Here’s another nice infographic, this time about the perils of cushy running shoes. Barefoot or minimalist running is all the rage these days. This illustration points out some of the history of running shoes as well as a few common ailments that are now being blamed on the increased heel strike often associated with running in padded running shoes.

Please… leave us your comments at the bottom of the page.

You may also be interested in: Anatomy of Walking

The Harm Caused By Running Shoes

The infographic was created by www.xraytechnicianschools.net

An Epub ahead of print at the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) describes a study done comparing outcomes following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA; also sometimes known as TKR for ‘Total Knee Replacement’). Two rehabilitation protocols were followed by the two different groups in the study.

The two groups 8 were age and sex-matched. One group followed a standard, lower intensity rehabilitation program while the second group followed a higher intensity program that progressed as tolerated. The high intensity (HI) group had an additional month of treatments but there were already significant differences between the two groups at the 3.5 weeks post TKA. The HI group also utilized machine-based strengthening while the lower intensity group only progressed to ankle weights or resistive bands.

The study found that those in the higher intensity group had superior strength and functional outcomes while not experiencing any increase in pain or decrease in range of motion (ROM). The HI group showed significantly greater short-term and long-term strength and function as measured at 3.5 weeks, 12weeks and 52 weeks .

It’s worth noting that the study only involved a small sample size and lacked randomization and blinding. However, the researchers believe that this illustrates that larger similar studies are warranted.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Sep 30;

Authors: Bade MJ, Stevens-Lapsley JE

Please see the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sport Physical Therapy (JOSPT) site for more topics.

The latest issue of ‘InMotion’, a digital magazine published by the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), has a great piece on the importance of social media to the physiotherapist / physical therapist. The article includes  a very brief description social media and discusses topics such as how social media can:

• help you become a better practitioner
• allow you to contribute to the physiotherapy body of knowledge
• help you make professional connections
• allow you to influence health care conversations
• help you get educated
• help you promote better public health
• help you sell your services
• allow peer review research

Why social media matters for physiotherapists

Physical activity is essential for combating many physical problems yet current figures suggest that older Americans aren’t getting enough. This infographic effectively breaks the numbers down for you.

Highlights:

• 22% of those 65 and older report regular physical activity
• estimated cost of falling injuries by 2020 is $32.3 billion
• 4 in 10 of people 65 or older have difficulty with at least one basic activity of daily living (ADL)

Physical Activity and Older Americans Infographic via Evergreen Rehab

Here’s another powerful infographic. It illustrates how much money is senselessly wasted on medical paperwork every year in America, much of which could be saved by switching to electronic health records.

Created by: Medical Transcription

This is a great infographic about the negative effects of sitting. It was created by Medical Billing & Coding and is definitely worth a look.

A few of the interesting items on the graphic are:

• we spend more time sitting than sleeping
• sitting 6+ hours a day makes you 40% more likely to die within 15 years than someone who sites less than 3
• obese people sit 2.5 more hours per day than thin people
• calorie burning drops to 1 per minute when you are sitting
• each extra hour of watching tv = 11% higher death risk
• sitting in a reclined position puts less strain on your back

 

Via: Medical Billing And Coding

The Wii as physical therapy for cerebral palsy

The University of West Indies, School of Physical Therapy, recently conducted a study on the use of the Wii as a adjunct to physical therapy treatment for children with cerebral palsy. The study was a small one, only involving six children, but the results they found were very positive.

The Wii was chosen largely because of it’s affordability compared to other gaming consoles, making it a much more likely candidate to be purchased by the families of children requiring treatment. Compared to standard physical therapy treatment costs the Wii is very affordable.

One of the primary reasons cited for the success of using video games as therapy is because of the much greater likelyhood that the children will actually take part in the therapy. The video games, while being physically challenging, are also engaging and make the children what to do their therapy.

It is believed that the neurological connections in the brain are strengthened by the new activities offered by the ‘virtual reality’ game play and that the plasticity of the brain allows it to do some ‘re-wiring’ as a result of the mental and physical stimulation.

Although this study involved children with cerebral palsy, the researchers are excited to explore the possibilities of using the Wii with people with cardiovascular impairments as well.

You can read more about the study in the Jamaica Observer here: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/-Wii–care_8980080