Restore

How your attitude can impact your recovery

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:23:59 GMT

After an injury, illness or surgery, not being able to do the activities you usually enjoy can be frustrating and upsetting. But as you work with a speech, physical or occupational therapist, one of the most powerful tools will be your attitude.

Current research indicates that a positive attitude and using applied mental techniques may mean a shorter, more successful rehabilitation. Your mind exerts powerful control over your body and researchers found that fast healing individuals used several specific tactics to improve their results. They shouldered personal responsibility for healing, showed determination and desire to heal, used creative visualization and asked for more social support, in addition to a having a positive approach to their condition.

If you find yourself getting angry and frustrated, share those feelings with your therapist and ask about coping skills that will increase your self-confidence, lessen your fear of re-injury and assist with your overall recovery.

One area that can help is positive mental imagery. This means using the senses and the imagination to create a mental likeness of the recovery you would like to see happen. Try this exercise with your therapist or a loved one, talking through it in a detailed way and visualizing exactly what it will be like when you are recovered. Imagine activities you will do and what senses will be associated with them.

Rehab can be painful and difficult at points and there can be a temptation to lessen your effort or quit. Your attitude at this point can make all the difference. Are you suffering just because you feel life is unfair, or are you experiencing your body growing stronger so that you can push through the discomfort?

You can lessen your fear of re-injury by working with your therapist to set realistic, healthy goals and use that positive mental imagery to see yourself achieving them. Both short- and long-term goals will give you benchmarks to note as you make your way along the road to recovery. In the end, each met goal will uplift you as you see progress and grow more confident in your body’s ability to heal and recover.

Better Hearing and Speech Month in an aging America

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:38:00 GMT

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, and we want to bring attention to communication disorders for the more than 70 million Americans over 55 who could develop speech and language disorders. We also want to say thank you to the speech-language pathologists who help with prevention and recovery from these disorders every day.

Normal aging includes changes in hearing, speech, language, memory, and swallowing. After 55, a person’s chances of experiencing hearing loss, having a stroke, suffering memory loss or Parkinson’s disease grows, which can cause other related disorders like a communication disorder. As a person ages, that risk increases. The over-85 age group is the fasting-growing segment of the American population, and people over 50 years old account for 43 percent of all U.S. households, according to The Center for Mature Consumer Studies and The Roper Organization for Modern Maturity Magazine.

Many communication problems can be prevented — the most important step is early identification and intervention. Here are some healthy prevention tips:

* Reduce your stroke risk — quit smoking, keep blood pressure normal and exercise

* Use helmets and seat belts to prevent possible brain injuries

* Be gentle with your voice — don’t scream

* Stay hydrated with water and don’t smoke

* Get regular medical checkups

* Stay mentally active — do puzzles, read books or newspapers, and keep up with the news

* Stay active and social — plan fun activities with friends and get a hobby that involves other people

Warning signs of speech and language problems:

* Sudden onset of difficulties in speaking, thinking or moving parts of the body — this could be a sign of a stroke, and calls for immediate medical attention

* Trouble remembering appointments or how to do routine tasks

* A hoarse voice/easily losing voice power

* Trouble with clear and understandable speech that increases over time

Speech-language pathologists can assist older adults in differentiating between normal aging and having a communication disorder. They can provide tips and techniques to prevent communication problems and keep speech, voice, and language in top form.

By following these tips for prevention — and by working with a speech-language pathologist in early identification and intervention — communication disorders can be managed for better hearing and speech or even prevented.

Taking therapy – and precautions – outdoors

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:49:41 GMT

With spring in bloom, many physical and occupational therapists are taking therapy into the great outdoors. From walking and biking to doing stretches in the sunshine, outdoor exercise and fresh air are good antidotes to the winter blahs. A recent study shows that just five minutes of exercise in a "green space" can create a mental health boost; if there’s a body of water in sight, the effect is even greater.

If your health professional suggests venturing outside, follow these simple precautions to make your adventure safe and fun.

Insects and snakes: Sometimes Mother Nature stings and bites, so take care not to brush up against bushes or walk into overgrowth where insects and snakes can nest. You might consider a few sprays of insect repellant on your arms and legs to keep mosquitoes away.

Variations in terrain: Wear good-fitting athletic shoes and be observant of the topography—divots, bumps, lumps and uneven texture are par for the course on unpaved or older paved areas. Be cautions when walking in low light, as well. Carry a flashlight during these times.

Cars: Never assume that a driver sees you or will stop for you—distracted driving accidents with pedestrians are all too common. Be especially cautious if you’re riding a bicycle or are walking in the street. Whenever possible, get out of the street and walk or ride on a sidewalk.

Sunburn: After a long winter indoors, skin can have less pigment and be more prone to sunburn. Even if you only plan to spend a few minutes outside, wear a broad-spectrum SPF spray of at least 15 on all exposed body parts, as well as a ball cap or wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with SPF protection.

Dehydration: Know where there are water refill stops along the way, perhaps a water fountain at a public park or a convenience store (this can also help if you need to use the restroom during your exercise). If these refill stops are not available along your route, you may consider bringing a small bottle of water with you.

Carry a few extras: Make sure your pockets are big enough for your ID, insurance card, a small amount of cash and a cell phone. If there’s an accident, you’ll be glad you have a way to get in touch or be identified. And if an ice cream truck rolls by, that $2 might end your time outdoors on a sweet note.

Occupational Therapy’s Role in Diabetes Self-Management

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:50:03 GMT

For people with diabetes or those at risk, occupational therapists can play a critical role in education and self-management of this systematic, chronic disease. They are an important part of the diabetes care team.

Education means training in ways to modify current habits and routines and develop new ones to promote a healthier lifestyle and minimize disease progression. Occupational therapists assist people in developing simple, measurable and achievable self-management goals that allow them to stay active. These are based on healthy eating, getting active, monitoring, taking medications, problem solving, healthy coping and reducing risks.

Some of these goals are multi-faceted: monitoring, for example, includes not only blood glucose testing, but also blood pressure, weight, foot health and “steps walked” to ensure adequate physical activity. Reducing risks means a broad range of behaviors, such as quitting smoking; foot self-inspections; maintenance of personal health records; and regular eye, foot and dental exams.

Overarching all of this are occupational therapists’ ability to motivate patients to track and regularly make appointments with their diabetes health care team, such as physicians, nutritionists and physical therapists.

Occupational therapists have a holistic approach to care because they address the physical, cognitive, psychosocial and sensory aspects intrinsic in the performance of day-to-day life activities. They understand the impact of diabetes on a person’s daily and long-term functioning. The goal of the patient-occupational therapy relationship is to create collaboration to prioritize accomplishments. This is essential with this disease, which requires self-management 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Through education and encouragement, occupational therapists can modify or adapt how their clients perform needed self-care tasks to promote ease and success in achieving their goals in managing diabetes.

Aquatic therapy assists in recovery from injury

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:19:32 GMT

Aquatic therapy is a modality of care that many physical therapists employ with great success. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, from joint sprains to fibromyalgia and offers a wide range of benefits. The water itself assists in patient healing and in peak performance of the exercises needed for healing and recovery.

One reason aquatic therapy is considered a gentle option is because of the buoyancy of water. This helps support the body weight of the patient and takes pressure off the joints as the patient is exercising. For patients with arthritis, healing bones or tendons, or those who are overweight or obese, this is particularly significant. Buoyancy decreases the overall amount of pain involved in most exercises.

Another benefit of aquatic therapy is that water’s natural viscosity creates resistance that allows for muscle strengthening without the use of weights. This resistance, combined with the water’s buoyancy, allows a patient to work on muscle groups with decreased joint stress in a way that can not be done in the gym.

A third benefit is the hydrostatic pressure of water. This decreases swelling and improves joint position awareness during aquatic therapy. Hydrostatic pressure produces forces perpendicular to the body’s surface, which provides joint positional awareness to the patient. This is particularly important for patients who have joint sprains. The hydrostatic pressure also helps to decrease joint and soft tissue swelling that may result after an injury or with arthritis.

Fourth, there’s the fun aspect of being in the water. Many patients who might dislike rehab therapy in a gym react well to a swimming pool. It’s simply more comfortable and there’s something playful about the experience.

Finally, the warm temperature of the water during aquatic therapy helps to relax muscles and vasodilates vessels. This means increased blood flow to injured areas. Patients with muscle spasms, back pain and fibromyalgia find this aspect of aquatic therapy especially therapeutic.

Aquatic therapy is not for everyone. Those with cardiac disease, fevers, infections or bowel/bladder incontinence are not good candidates.

While there are a small number of rehabilitation facilities nationwide that offer a pool, those that do should strongly consider incorporating aquatic therapy into the patient care programs. The benefits of aquatic therapy make it an invaluable tool in rehabilitation and care.

Physical therapy treatment for osteoporosis after a fracture

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:26:10 GMT

Each year in the U.S., there are about 1.5 million osteoporosis-related fractures. Many people may not even know they have this bone-thinning disease until a fracture happens. It can be a rather disruptive experience, in terms of physical recovery and emotionally coping with the fear that future movement could cause another fracture.

Physical therapists can help with the physical and emotional recovery to give patients the mobility and confidence to enjoy their lives again. Physical recovery measures depend on the kind of fracture, the severity of it and whether surgery will be needed. To cope with the emotional aspect of the situation, a therapist can help the patient identify safe ways to move so that they have the confidence and assurance to move about conducting their day-to-day activities. Regaining this emotional stability and confidence is a really important part of the healing process.

About osteoporosis fractures

The most common osteoporosis-related fractures happen to the wrist, spine and hip bones. Each has its own unique characteristics.

Wrist or forearm: These fractures tend to happen more to people in their 50s and 60s. They generally recover easily, without the need for surgery or hospitalization. These fractures are typically the result of a fall.

Spine: Seen more often in older patients and can happen without a fall—just twisting or bending incorrectly can cause a spinal fracture in a person with osteoporosis. These fractures are often quite painful and necessitate recovery in a short-term/subacute care facility. These fractures may create a loss in height and difficulties performing day-to-day tasks.

Hip: This is the most complex of the fractures because a hip fracture tends to require the most care, such as hospitalization, surgery and rehab. About one in five people with an osteoporosis-related hip fracture needs rehab at a short-term care facility.

How physical therapy can help with osteoporosis

The physical therapist is part of a team of players that helps patients get back on their feet through a well thought-out treatment plan. This team often includes doctors, nurses and occupational therapists, as well. The first phase is pain control for the fracture. The second phase involves help and support regaining their range of motion and getting back any strength lost due to the fracture.

A physical therapist can help patients in these ways:

• Selecting a cane or walker that fits and is comfortable

• Using assistive devices to prevent another fall, like shower bars, a gripping device to reach high shelves or rails on patio stairs

• Learning new movement patterns that will help with pain reduction as well as help to prevent further injury

• Learning lifestyle and movement skills that will help prevent another fall

• Learning how to lift without using the back and move without twisting the spine

• Increasing confidence by learning these new skills and techniques

• Identifying exercises that can keep the person active, but safe from injury

Certainly, preventing fractures before they happen is best. If you do suffer a fracture, a physical therapist can be your best ally to help you heal properly and get advice on how to prevent future injuries.

Physical Therapy Can Improve COPD Patients’ Quality of Life

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:57:53 GMT

Breathing easy. If you or a loved one suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that simple statement is a lot easier said than done. That’s because COPD is a condition in which a person’s airways in the lungs have become damaged, making it increasingly difficult for the person to breathe.

COPD, also called emphysema or chronic bronchitis, is said to be the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and it can create a serious, long-term disability for some of the more severe cases. Additionally, the number of people struggling with COPD is on the rise. Today, there are nearly 12 million people with COPD and there are estimates of another 12 million people that are at risk or currently suffering with the disease, but don’t know it. Not surprisingly, smoking is the greatest risk factor for COPD.

Physical therapy can also help. COPD is a disease that can be managed and improved upon through physical therapy treatment. Therapies include breathing training, exercise, and education. The primary goal of COPD physical therapy is to help people manage their illness, breathe better and prevent re-hospitalizations.

Though people may not think of physical therapy as an option, it is part of a pulmonary rehabilitation program prescribed for many people suffering with COPD. The physical therapist is part of a team of professionals trained to help patients learn more about the disease and adopt breathing techniques which improve their quality of life and overall breathing comfort.

When COPD is severe, shortness of breath and other symptoms can get in the way of doing even the most basic tasks, such walking, grooming and dressing. Through physical therapy, patients can reach their best level of activity and function. For example, breathing training methods, like diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, and breathing combined with body movement are all techniques that enable people to manage through difficult periods of time where they may be experiencing a shortness of breath.

Physical therapy can also involve aerobic exercise, like walking or bicycling, and muscle-strengthening exercises for the limbs. Under the supervision of a doctor and a physical therapist, patients can gradually increase their strength and endurance, which can all lead to improved breathing and overall total health. The therapist can also review and recommend various lifestyle changes that may either reduce the risk of COPD or take a proactive role in managing COPD symptoms.

Education is also a key strategy for taking charge of COPD symptoms. Information on lifestyle choice, therapy options, medical advances and a good relationship with a doctor play a big part in disease management. The influenza vaccination can also help. Those at risk can make a special effort to avoid respiratory infections by getting an annual flu vaccination.

As people understand the long-term effects of things like smoking and air pollution, they can take better care of themselves to breath better, live healthier and breathe a little easier, after all.

OT Treatments for Permanent, Limiting Medical Conditions

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:56:38 GMT

Patients with permanent, limiting medical conditions, like spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis, often require special help to master certain life activities. An Occupational Therapist (OT) is a critical part of a team of players who can provide that assistance.

The goal of an OT is to best understand the people affected by the permanent, limiting medical condition—their environment, mental state, motivation, social circumstances and health condition—so that a treatment plan may be developed to improve their quality of life.

People with these limitations often face challenges in caring for themselves, productivity and leisure activities. These challenges are often because of the effects of the illness, like decreased mobility, decreased strength or progressive deterioration of upper-limb function.

An OT has an arsenal of tools to make up for a patient’s loss of strength and mobility. This includes a range of things, from modifications at home and dressing aids to wheelchair accessories and communication aids.

Many OTs also design or build special equipment for home or work, like computer-aided adaptive equipment. In the example of work, an OT can evaluate the working environment, help plan productive work activities and later evaluate progress. An OT might even work with the employer to modify the workspace for more success. The ultimate goal is for that equipment and interventions to improve communication and control various environmental settings.

OTs are able to take a holistic look at an individual and his or her limitations in work and personal life and address them. This enables the people to lead more productive, active and independent lives.

Go red and support American Heart Month

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:36:10 GMT

The human heart beats more than 42 million times per year and every one of those beats is important. Any one of them can be interrupted by heart disease and its effects.

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius points out that there are more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes a year, and 800,000 deaths.

"Heart disease takes the lives of far too many people in this country, depriving their families and communities of someone they love and care for—a father, a mother, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, a spouse,” she said. “Just about all of us have been touched by someone who has had heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke.”

February is American Heart Month and this is a special time to learn how to take care of this precious organ and keep it healthy for years to come. Here are some general guidelines for heart health.

Eat a healthy diet. The foods you eat may be one of the biggest factors in heat health. Make your plate more colorful (and we don’t mean orange chips): load up on fruits and veggies and other high-fiber foods. Things to limit: saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium. A diet that meets these guidelines can help keep your blood pressure in the normal range, prevent plaque buildups in your arteries and keep the number on the scale in the healthy range.

Watch Your Weight. Being overweight is considered a big risk factor for coronary heart disease and heart attack—34% of adults over 20 are overweight in the United States. That’s a major health issue.

Going over your healthy weight range by just 20% or more significantly increases your risk for developing heart disease. This is particularly true if you have a large amount of abdominal fat. As for obesity, which affects almost 34% of American adults over 20, they are at increased risk of heart disease, even if they have no other related health conditions.

Doctors often calculate weight ranges using something called the Body Mass Index (BMI). You can calculate your BMI at CDC's Assessing Your Weight website.

Get active. The human body was meant to move and the physical activity you do is a powerful health tonic: it helps maintain a healthy weight, as well as lower cholesterol and blood pressure. According to the Surgeon General, adults need 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. How does your workout schedule measure up?

Stay away from tobacco. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in this country, causing one in five deaths (443,000 deaths) every year. Many of these are related to heart disease and stroke. If you want to quit, there are many free resources, like the CDC's Smoking & Tobacco Use website, SmokeFree.gov and the American Cancer Society’s Guide to Quitting Smoking.

Limit alcohol use. Excessive alcohol consumption causes high blood pressure, a risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke, among other health problems.

One effort we applaud is Million Hearts, launched last year by the Department of Health and Human Services. It aims to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. over the next five years. Its approach is two-fold: Empower Americans to make healthy choices and improve care for people who do need treatment.

Since February is designated as a month to celebrate love, caring, and heart health, what better time to improve your own heart health or encourage loved ones to do the same?

Heart Disease and Women

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:21:13 GMT

Heart disease is often thought of as a man’s disease and indeed, it affects millions of men in the United States. But coronary heart disease (CHD) is actually the number-one killer of men AND women in this country—both men and women have heart attacks, but more women who have heart attacks die from them. In fact, one in four women die from heart disease.

Two other types of heart disease primarily affect women, coronary microvascular disease (MVD) and “broken heart syndrome.” These two disorders are not as well understood as CHD, although researchers are learning more with new studies.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at these three types of heart disease, as well as symptoms of a heart attack for women and outlook.

Coronary Heart Disease
Your coronary arteries are the major blood vessels that bring your heart blood, oxygen and nutrients. CHD is diagnosed when a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside these arteries and reduces the flow of blood to the heart.

This plaque often hardens and can cause chest pain or discomfort, called angina. Sometimes, the plaque ruptures and causes a clot that partially or completely blocks blood flow through the coronary artery, which is the most common cause of a heart attack in men and women. The plaque can also build up to cause a complete blockage, which can also cause a heart attack.

Coronary Microvascular Disease
Coronary MVD is more likely to affect men than women and standard tests for CHD do not detect MVD, so some women who have MVD may look like they are at low risk for heart disease.

Coronary MVD is diagnosed when the walls of the heart’s tiny arteries are damaged. It’s also called cardiac syndrome X or nonobstructive CHD. Some researchers think that the reason women are more likely to have MVD is because of the drop in estrogen levels during menopause in tandem with other heart disease risk factors, like high blood pressure or smoking.

Broken Heart Syndrome
Another condition that happens more often in women then men is called “broken heart syndrome.” This occurs when tremendous emotional stress leads to severe, but usually short-term, heart muscle failure. Most people have a full and quick recovery, although many are first incorrectly diagnosed with a heart attack because of similar symptoms. This is a fairly newly recognized disorder and researchers are just beginning to investigate causes and treatment.

What are the signs of a heart attack for women?
The most common sign of a heart attack for men and women is pain or discomfort in the chest that can be mild or intense, ongoing in duration or coming and going. The signs of a heart attack can come on suddenly, but they can also develop slowly, over hours, days, and even weeks before a heart attack. Other common symptoms for men and women include:

* Pain or discomfort in arm(s), back, neck, jaw or stomach

* Shortness of breath

* Breaking out in a cold sweat

* Nausea/vomiting

* Feeling faint or lightheaded

Women frequently exhibit the less common signs of a heart attack, including:

* Heartburn

* Loss of appetite

* Feeling tired/weak

* Coughing

* Heart flutters

Remember, the more of these symptoms that you have, the more likely it is that you are having a heart attack. And if you’ve had a heart attack before, the symptoms of another one may be different.

Time is critical with a heart attack—even if you’re not sure, you should see a medical professional immediately. If you or someone else may be experiencing a heart attack, call 911 within a few minutes (five at the most).

Outlook for women
As it turns out, women are affected by CHD on average ten years later than men. But this could turn out to be a good thing, because it gives women more time to control and change CHD risk factors, including:

* High blood cholesterol and triglyceride

* High blood pressure

* Diabetes

* Overweight and obesity

* Smoking

* Lack of physical activity

* Unhealthy diet

* Stress

Changes to lifestyle, medicines and medical/surgical procedures can help women lower their risk for heart disease and CHD. For this reason, prevention should start as early as possible in life and be ongoing.

Daily Life After Hip Replacement Surgery

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:59:23 GMT

Total hip replacement surgery can offer people a new lease on life. But there is a six to eight week recovery period and patients will need to make myriad changes in order to carry out daily activities. Total rehabilitation after surgery can take up to six months.

An occupational therapist (OT) can help these folks by teaching them new ways to move safely and effectively and by providing handy equipment and gear for activities such as bathing, grooming, cooking and dressing.

During rehabilitation and as the patient prepares to return home, the OT will:

• Show the person proper seating positions. For example, leg-crossing is a major no-no.
• Establish safe and effective techniques for entering and exiting a car
• Demonstrate methods for transferring from the walker to a chair, a bed or a bath chair in the tub or shower
• Educate family and caregivers about the patient’s surgical hip precautions and the best way to help
• Provide the patient with adaptive equipment to assist with dressing, like a dressing stick to pull on underwear or pants without bending too much at the hip
• Instruct on safe techniques for getting in and out of bed and positioning the hip correctly during sleep
• Make suggestions for completing household tasks easily

With education and instruction from an OT, those recovering from a total hip replacement can recuperate more comfortably and safely.

Pain management through physical, occupational therapy

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:42:48 GMT

Living with pain can limit a patient’s mobility and enjoyment of life. While there are many treatments for pain — chronic or temporary — physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) are two of the less invasive options. They have few side effects and great flexibility in care options.

PT can be used to treat all kinds of chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. This therapy involves treating and healing, bringing back function and movement, and preventing further hurt.

A professional physical therapist may choose to focus on a patient’s pain through two kinds of therapy: passive or active. Examples of passive therapy include heat or ice packs, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) units and ultrasound.

Examples of active therapy include low-impact aerobics, different types of stretches for the affected area(s) and strengthening/pain relief exercises.

OT is based on medicine, psychiatry and behavioral psychology with the objective of helping patients become more functional in their lives. An occupational therapist can help the patient determine what activities increase pain and can teach methods for lessening it.

The occupational therapist uses several techniques. They focus on moving the body in ways that do not increase pain and providing joint protection, while focusing on assets rather than liabilities. OT also helps the patient learn how to adapt daily activities to conserve energy and, like PT, can include exercises that increase strength and flexibility. OT may include the use of adaptive equipment and assistive devices, like a "reacher" - a tool that helps you grab an object you can't reach.

It’s essential that pain patients have the expertise of a professional before attempting any sort of rehab. The physical and occupational therapists are trained to spot and correct improper movement patterns and can show the patients how to properly apply healing and adaptive techniques.

Finally, a critical component for healing is performing the exercises and therapies at home in-between sessions. A patient’s time with the therapist is limited and the real healing occurs with consistency and repetition from day to day.

Aphasia Treatment After Stroke

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:17:45 GMT

Aphasia is a loss of ability to understand or produce language, caused by brain damage. It is a common condition after a stroke and a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is an integral part of regaining function. The SLP works collaboratively with the patient’s family and other medical professionals to address all of the person's recovery needs.

The SLP evaluates the individual and determines the type and severity of aphasia. The evaluation is done by assessing the person’s speech, understanding, expression, social communication, reading and writing.

The SLP conducts different types of therapy, such as cognitive linguistic, programmed simulation, PACE, stimulation-facilitation therapy and group therapy. The type of treatment depends on the needs and goals of the person with aphasia.

Another way to increase the effectiveness of aphasia therapy is for the SLP to use multiple forms of sensory stimuli. This could encompass auditory stimuli in the form of speech, visual stimuli in the form of photographs and olfactory stimuli in the form of a scent.

It has also been noted that gradual increases in the difficulty of language exercises practiced in therapy sessions improves the outcome.

Recovery is absolutely possible for people with aphasia and an SLP is part of the solution.

Honoring Caregivers During National Family Caregivers Month

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:00:41 GMT

During November’s National Family Caregivers Month, we honor those in the U.S. who provide a vitally important role. The dedication and compassion these people show make them indispensible—they are the bedrock for continuity of care. No one else is in such a position as to be intimately familiar with their care recipients’ medical, treatment, dietary and exercise regimens. This month, we stop to say thank you and to support, educate and empower all caregivers.

According to National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), family caregivers provide 80% of our country’s long-term-care services. Currently, family caregivers provide over $306 billion annually of free caregiving services to their loved ones.

As President Barack Obama said in a recent proclamation, “As we observe National Family Caregivers Month, we honor the tireless compassion of Americans who heal, comfort, and support our injured, our elders, and people with disabilities. This month and throughout the year, let the quiet perseverance of our family caregivers remind us of the decency and kindness to which we can all aspire.”

Homecare can be provided for those with acute illness, long-term health conditions, permanent disability, or terminal illness. It’s a booming field—job growth in the field is expected to increase a whopping 48 percent by 2018 and more family members will become caregivers. One reason is because for the next 20 years, 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65 and, according to a recent study, more than 90% of those surveyed want to stay in their homes as long as possible.

Here are a few simple ways to show your support for a caregiver.

Five Ways to Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month

1. Offer a few hours of your time to a family caregiver so he or she can relax or spend time with friends.

2. Send a card of gratitude or a vase of flowers to brighten a caregiver's day.

3. Offer to help a family caregiver decorate his or her home for the holidays—you’ll bring cheer and provide great help.

4. Encourage family caregivers to become a part of the National Family Caregiver Story Project found at thefamilycaregiver.org. It's a great place to not only share, but read about others in similar situations.

5. Direct a family caregiver to new educational materials and support through family caregiving websites, like the National Family Caregivers Association or the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.

Wash Hands, Get Vaccinated to Prevent Infections

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:08:16 GMT

This week represents the 25th anniversary of International Infection Prevention Week—the commemoration of the importance of infection prevention around the globe. It’s hot on the heels of a new study in which the authors indicate one in five patients who stay a week in a hospital will get an infection from their stay, events that would be preventable with optimal care. While substantial progress that has been made in preventing some health care-associated infections, there is much room for improvement in achieving the goal of eliminating infections.

For example, in this recent study, "How Dangerous Is a Day in Hospital?," researchers report that on average, every additional night a patient stays in the hospital increases his or her chance of infection by 1.6 percent. The usual causes of the infections are non-sterile equipment, catheter mistakes, or urinary tract infections, according to lead author Dr. Katharina Hauck of Imperial College London. She said one way to reduce these would be early discharge from the hospital and home-based programs. Another recent report found that healthcare-acquired infections are the fourth leading cause of death in this country, affecting 1.7 million inpatients each year.

Proper hand hygiene is the entrance door for reducing healthcare-associated infection and increasing patient safety. Hand washing/antisepsis is a simple action, however according to the World Health Organization, there is problematic compliance among healthcare providers worldwide. The primary ways to increase hand hygiene are healthcare workers’ education; audits of hand hygiene practices and performance feedback; reminders; increased availability of water and soap; automated sinks; and introduction of an alcohol-based hand rub. Hand sanitation should be performed before and after touching the patient; after contact with body fluids, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or wound dressings; after contact with inanimate surfaces and objects near the patient; and after removing gloves.

Another major area to consider for infection prevention is influenza vaccination for healthcare personnel . The flu has high rates of morbidity and mortality. According to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), in the U.S., an estimated 5-15 percent of the population is affected by the virus each year, which comes out to about 226,000 hospital admissions and 36,000 deaths annually. Healthcare workers are considered high risk for catching the flu because they are exposed to ill patients and large numbers of people in the community. Because those people who are at greatest risk of developing complications of influenza are exposed to healthcare workers in a variety of in-patient and outpatient settings, one surefire way to protect them is to immunize healthcare professionals.

Read more about International Infection Prevention Week at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

Dangers of Heat Exposure

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:03:57 GMT

Summers in the U.S. are hot, with many regions experiencing extreme heat waves each year. According to the National Weather Service, heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States.

Two common and dangerous heat conditions are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses large amounts of water and salt through excessive sweating. Such loss can disturb circulation and interfere with brain function. Individuals with heart problems or on a low-sodium diet are particularly at risk for heat exhaustion.

Heat stroke occurs when the body fails to regulate its own temperature and body temperature continues to rise. Symptoms include fast heart rate, unconsciousness, seizures, difficulty breathing, sweating that may be heavy or has stopped, severe vomiting and diarrhea, or skin that may be red, hot and dry.

The National Weather Service issues heat advisories to keep us informed of extreme high temperatures. It’s important to pay attention to your local weather so you’ll be aware of issued heat advisories, which include:

Excessive Heat Outlook: Issued when the potential exists for an excessive heat event in the next 3-7 days
Excessive Heat Watch: Issued when conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event in the next 12-48 hours
Excessive Heat Warning: Issued when an excessive heat event is expected in the next 36 hours. This warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.

As we age, our bodies don't regulate temperature as well as they did when we were younger. So the older we get, the more we have to be aware of temperature-related symptoms. To stay safe and comfortable this summer, make sure your living space is cool and that you limit physical activity as temperatures approach or go above
90 F.

Stay Hydrated This Summer

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:30:45 GMT

Summer is here and people are looking forward to the great outdoors. Whether swimming, gardening or taking the dog for a long walk, the long days of summer beckon us to take in fresh air and plenty of sunshine.

To help make sure your summer is healthy and safe, you should be aware of the effects that sun and high temperatures can have on your body.

Avoiding Dehydration

We need water to function normally. When we become dehydrated, it means our loss of water far exceeds our water intake. Dehydration can be difficult to diagnose because it shares common symptoms with other conditions, including dizziness, headaches, dry mouth and loss of blood pressure upon standing.

Hydration is Key

Follow these tips to stay hydrated:

Drink before activity: Staying hydrated before you exercise is just as important as staying hydrated while you're exercising.
Reduce the caffeine: Caffeine acts as a diuretic and causes the body to lose water.
Drink frequently: It's recommended that adults drink between 6-8 glasses of water every day.

During the heat of summer, remember to monitor your water intake and increase it when necessary. By staying properly hydrated, you’ll not only beat the heat – you’ll keep your body healthy and happy!

5 Tips for Treating Osteoporosis Through Exercise

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:50:45 GMT

As a physical therapist, I’ve worked with many patients living with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, the most common type of bone disease, is the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density over time. The thinning causes bones to become weak and easily broken or fractured.

Half of Caucasian women and 1 in 4 men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her/his lifetime. The disease is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually. If you have or are at risk for osteoporosis, you should receive an exercise prescription from a physical therapist.

Here are five tips I give my patients with osteoporosis:

1. When exercising, avoid spine flexion such as curl-ups and toe touches. These movements can increase risk of spine fractures.
2. Perform exercises in your best posture.
3. Breathe through the exercise; don’t hold your breath.
4. Avoid jerking or thrusting weights into position. The exercise should be done with smooth, steady movements.
5. Exercises should be done in a pain-free range of motion.

Protect yourself--get screened for osteoporosis, learn more about preventing falls, and stay active!

Speech Therapy: An Important Element of Recovery

Mon, 16 May 2011 10:52:52 GMT

Many of us take for granted the ability to have a simple conversation. But for people with speech impediments, communication is often not an easy task. Speech-language pathology services are important for helping people overcome or reduce these difficulties.

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), I’ve always thought that speech-language pathology is one of the most misunderstood types of therapy. Many people think SLPs focus only on childhood language issues or stuttering, but SLP services are a part of recovery programs for many illnesses. SLPs often collaborate with physical therapists, occupational therapists and nurses to develop a holistic recovery plan for the patient.

In general, speech/language portions of SLP services focus on the ability to understand and use words and expressive language. It deals with the mechanics such as articulation, pitch, fluency and volume. It also deals with the formulation and use of language and cognition (thinking skills) that are such an important part of communication. For many adults, speech difficulties are caused by medical issues such as stroke, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, mental disability, brain injury, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.

Throughout my career as an SLP, I’ve also helped adult patients with swallowing through dysphagia therapy. Oftentimes, patients are unable to chew effectively or may cough when they swallow. SLPs can help them learn to manage these issues with exercises for coordinating the swallowing muscles or stimulating the nerves that trigger the swallow reflex. The SLP also shows patients ways to place food in the mouth or position the body and head to help with swallowing.

No matter the condition, an SLP helps people gain greater control over speaking and language skills by setting up an individualized treatment program. The exercises might involve blowing on whistles to strengthen the tongue and lips, or the therapist may have the patient practice difficult sounds.

At Aegis Therapies, we follow a “restore, compensate, adapt” model of care. That is, we help patients “restore” certain abilities they have lost, learn strategies to “compensate” for abilities they cannot regain, and train caregivers to “adapt” their approach to help patients perform other unique but necessary tasks.

To learn more information about speech-language pathology, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's website.

Why I Chose a Career in Occupational Therapy

Mon, 02 May 2011 14:10:42 GMT

I’ve been in occupational therapy (OT) for over 25 years and it’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I discovered it as a teenager, and I’m glad I did.

I played piano in high school, and in 9th grade, I was selected to be a music counselor at a camp for kids with conditions like cerebral palsy and spina bifida. Although I was there to teach music, I really wanted to do more to help the children with their physical problems. I was told that occupational therapists were trained to do just that.

I knew nothing about occupational therapy, so I visited the library to find more information. There was one book in my school library on the subject. I read the book, and decided I wanted to be an occupational therapist. As I was finishing high school, I started looking at occupational outlooks and things like that, thinking the job market would be good for OT.

Occupational therapy school was pretty competitive to get into. As high school students, we were encouraged to do a lot of volunteer work in the field to improve our chances of being accepted into OT school. The more volunteer work I did, the more I loved OT. My father was understandably concerned about me doing all of this volunteering in addition to working full time as an aid at a nursing home. “Gosh, you’re working so hard to become this OT, I don’t even see any ads in the paper for OT,” he’d say. I reassured him that it was okay, it’s what I wanted to do.

I was kind of fortunate; I applied to three schools and got into all of them. I chose the Medical College of Virginia, which kicked off my formal training and career as an occupational therapist.

There have been many patient success stories over the years that continue to make me proud of what we do at Aegis Therapies. I’m reminded of a family whose loved one had severe dementia. They didn’t know how to communicate with their loved one, so they would just come and sit with her. One of our occupational therapists did a cognitive assessment to determine the optimal way to get the patient to interact. The therapist showed the family how to use sensory simulation and a memory book.

The patient died about 6 or 7 months later, but the family was so appreciative that they were finally able to bond and communicate with their loved one in those last few months. Stories like that let me know we’re making a difference in patients’ lives.

So 25 years later, I’m still really happy with choosing OT. Occupational therapists look at the whole person, focusing on function. And that’s what I love.