One powerful tool for enhancing the functioning of the mind is meditation. Meditation is a technique that involves focusing your attention on a specific activity, for example, on breath, an object, such as a candle, or a thought, like a mantra. The idea is to train your mind to be more aware, present, and calm. Through regular meditation practice, you can improve your attention span and memory, among other cognitive abilities.
Over time, handwriting can change, especially with age, tremors, and changes in vision, and strength. With Parkinson’s Disease (PD), handwriting can be impacted by tremors, slowed movement, and rigidity. Seventy-five percent of people with PD have micrographia, which is small, cramped handwriting. It is a result of the same brain processes that affect the amplitude of other movements in the body.
February is Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 1.7 million people (about twice the population of Delaware) will be diagnosed with cancer in 2019 alone. An estimated 600,000 will die because of this disease. That is a lot of lives lost—and many more lives disrupted by treatment and recovery time. This month gives us opportunities to spread awareness and search for more resources to better understand cancer prevention.
HIIT, High Intensity Interval Training, is not a new kid on the fitness scene. Athletes, trainers, and gym rats have been using it for years to build cardiovascular endurance and strength. The problem is many see HIIT as a young man’s game. The good news?...IT’S NOT! More and more research show HIIT’s incredible benefits for those in our community over the age of 60.
Have you noticed a sudden change in your voice? Or, do you have moments of no voice at all? Often times, this can be a result of Muscle Tension Dysphonia which is known to be one of the most common voice disorders. Changes in the way the voice sounds or feels may be due to tension in the muscles that assist in vocal production.
For adults with chronic illness, taking medication in a timely manner is an essential part of everyday living. As occupational therapists, we work with clients to maintain independence in their medication management, which includes everything from communicating with pharmacists, to reading prescription labels, to making a habit of taking the right medicine at the right time of day. We partner with clients, including those with low vision, limited coordination, and memory difficulties, to safely manage their medication. If you are having difficulty with medication management, talk to your occupational therapist about finding solutions to stay in charge of your health.
By definition, pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential damage to a structure in the body. (International Association for the Study of Pain). Pain is the brain’s protective mechanism to detect threats to the body and is NORMAL!
The majority of the people we treat as physical therapists are experiencing some form of pain, including acute after recent injury, subacute, or post-operative. This kind of pain is adaptive and should follow typical timelines of healing/recovery with several approaches to treat including modalities, exercises, manual treatments and education. Easy right? Well, it can be for some but unfortunately, as many people know firsthand, it is not always that easy.
LSVT BIG consists of frequent repetition and increased complexity of tasks as the individual progresses. This frequency and complexity is key to helping people with PD live a more active, confident, and independent life. It is never too early or late to begin LSVT BIG treatment! Treating before noticing changes in posture, balance and general function can help prevent issues in the future and maintain optimal functioning for years.
One in two women and one in four men will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis.
In the US, osteoporosis affects over 10 million adults
Osteoporosis has a yearly societal cost of over 22 billion (and that is from 2002)
Currently, osteoporosis is underdiagnosed AND undertreated
Staggering statistics, numbers to some, but to those of us who have a family history of brittle bones and have lost height – its personal.
Is there hope? YES! Here are some simple things you can do to start improving your bone health TODAY.
Yoga can be a great benefit for those who live with Lymphedema by providing a safe exercise practice to decrease symptoms as well as promoting mental wellbeing. A recent research study has shown that participants who completed consistent yoga practice for a period of three months experienced less swelling and pain as well as improved mobility (Int. J. Yoga, 2016).
