7 Conditions Underwater Therapy Can Help

 

By Adrienne Erin

 

Aquatic therapy has been around for generations thanks to its ability to help cure or lessen common medical conditions.Historically, this type of therapy has taken place in regular pools or spas; now, with technological advances, some therapy pools include underwater treadmills and resistance jets as well.This enables physical and occupational therapists to use more types of exercises to achieve their patients’ goals as they try to overcome the symptoms associated with the following conditions.

 

1.    Obesity

Obesity is technically defined by a person having a BMI of 30+.It’s a growing problem in the United States and can lead to other conditions, such as diabetes, early death, arthritis and heart disease.Underwater therapy enables those who are morbidly obese to exercise in a forgiving environment since their body weight is not as much of a factor as it is on land.With gravitational forces putting less demand on their limbs while they are underwater, patients can move with more freedom and burn calories in the process.

 

 

2.    Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects adults as they age, making movement very difficult, especially during flair-ups.Many men and women treat this condition with prescriptions and over-the-counter remedies; however, natural methods, such as therapy in a warm-water pool equipped with treadmill floor, promote healing, movement and comfort without pharmaceuticals. Many patients say that the results they get from hydrotherapy sessions last long after they have left the pool, making day-to-day activities easier.

 

 

3.    Muscle Strains

Athletes are at the top of the charts of therapy pool users thanks to all the muscle strains and sprains they experience.Their coaches and physical therapists often use hydrotherapy as a way to keep the athletes from losing lean muscle mass as they recover from injuries.That way, the athletes are able to return to play faster than if they only engaged in land-based therapies.

 

 

4.    ACL Surgery

Surgeries of the ACL have become commonplace, especially among recreationally and professional athletes.While the ACL surgery site is mending, the patient can successfully undergo underwater therapy without risking further tears of the muscles or tendons.Walking on an underwater treadmill helps keep the athlete’s gait as even as possible, making recovery faster and more efficient.

 

 

5.    Chronic Pain

Many medical conditions cause chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia.Pain of this nature does not typically go away on its own, making daily activities excruciating for men, women and children.Reports have shown that when these same sufferers exercise regularly in a warm-water therapy pool, they are more likely to be able to continue movement on land without as much discomfort.Plus, they can keep their weight to a healthy level, which is important for all individuals.

 

 

6.    Neurological Disorders

Those who face neurological disorders may have difficulty moving safely on land because their motor skills have been compromised.For instance, people who have experienced stroke may find that balance is difficult on land.Therapy in a pool enables these persons to safely re-learn how to keep their bodies stable in both water and land situations.

 

 

7.    Pediatric Conditions

Certain conditions affecting children, such as tactile defensiveness, can be addressed more successfully in physical therapy when hydrotherapy sessions are interwoven with land-based exercises. Young patients tend to enjoy the pool atmosphere and consider it a fun alternative to land activities; this relaxes them and leaves them open to trying new tasks. As they move their bodies in the forgiving pool atmosphere, they can achieve the goals as set by their physical therapists.

 

It’s little wonder that so many underwater therapy clinics have opened around the country. Given the successful outcomes experienced by people with numerous types of conditions, aquatic therapy is likely to continue to increase in popularity.

 

Adrienne Erin is a freelance writer interested in doing what it takes to live a healthier life. You can follow her on Twitter at @foodierx and read more of her work on her blog Foodie Fitness.

 

Categories: conditions, disorders, underwater therapy

Five Conditions That Chiropractic Treatments Can Relieve

A chiropractor is a medical professional who primarily treats musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders. They treat conditions by moving and pushing bones inside of the joints and spine. Most people see chiropractors for back problems. However, many people do not know that chiropractors can treat a variety of other conditions. Below are some of the conditions that respond well to chiropractic care:

 

Headaches

Headaches are something that most of us suffer from occasionally. They are not always an indication of a serious medical problem, but they can be a nuisance. In many cases, headaches are triggered or worsened by misaligned vertebrae in the spine. A chiropractor will help move the vertebrae into their proper position, which can alleviate headaches.

 

Asthma

Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation of the airways. It has increased by 60 percent since the 1980s. Medications are currently the standard treatment for asthma, but alternative treatments are currently being studied. Chiropractic treatment is one of the alternative treatments that has shown to be effective for treating asthma. Chiropractor care can help alleviate asthma symptoms by improving respiratory muscles and muscle coordination.

 

Infertility

Infertility is a problem that affects around 12 percent of the population. Many patients are encouraged to seek chiropractic care before they opt for more invasive infertility treatments. Infertility can sometimes be caused by a problem with the nervous system or improperly aligned spine. A chiropractor can perform an adjustment that will help align the spine and allow the nervous system to function properly.

 

Stress

Stress affects almost everyone at some point in time. Although stress is generally harmless, it can cause raises in blood pressure or heart rate in people with other medical conditions. Stress can also lead to other medical problems like trouble sleeping. When someone is overly stressed, it’s a good idea to seek treatment. According to a professional from Alberta Back & Neck Rehab, chiropractic massage therapy can help reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and improve circulation.

 

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is an illness that causes widespread muscle pain. It can also cause other symptoms, such as fatigue and joint stiffness. Studies have shown that chiropractic care can help alleviate fibromyalgia. The adjustments that a chiropractor performs can improve joint motion. In many cases, improving joint motion greatly improves or completely eliminates the pain.

 

Temporomandibular joint disorder

Tempomandibular joint disorder is a condition that causes pain in the joints and muscles that control chewing. Chiropractic care is effective for treating temporomandibular joint disorder because it can adjust the joints, re-position the jaw and relax the muscles. Chiropractic care not only helps alleviate pain, but it can also prevent TMJ from reoccurring.

 

Even though chiropractors are primarily known for treating back pain, it is important to note that they are medical professionals who can treat a variety of conditions. Chiropractic treatments can often be a great option for people who prefer not to have other invasive medical treatments.

Categories: alternative treatments, blood pressure, chiropractic, chiropractic care, chiropractic treatments, conditions, Heart Rate, joint disorder, joint motion, temporomandibular joint

If You’ve Lost Your Partner Your Mental Health Could Suffer

Mental health disorders cost the healthcare system in the United States more than any other area of wellness. Many adults in the States, as well as other countries across the globe, find their wellbeing affected by mental health conditions including depression and anxiety; these sorts of conditions are now becoming as common as bacterial infections.

 

Some people, however, are at greater risk of developing serious mental health problems, despite any treatment they may be on. As the age of the population continues to increase over the next decade, more and more people are going to experience the trauma of their spouse dying. This can leave them with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety.

 

Losing a spouse is a major, life-changing event. Many couples are married for decades, and so the loss of a spouse (especially when it is sudden) can result in serious shock and a variety of related mental health conditions.

 

Many who suffer this kind of loss will recover from the bereavement in time and with a bit of counselling or medical help, but for others there remains a long-term psychological impairment. Many who suffer this kind of long-term psychological impairment find that they have difficulty managing their day to day life and managing general tasks.

 

If you have recently suffered the death of a spouse, it is important that you realise that the psychological complications of bereavement are completely normal. The bereavement process varies in length and will have varying effects, but the quality of life that you are left with should not deteriorate substantially.

 

It is important to recognise the risk that you are at, and to then surround yourself with a support network to help you manage your bereavement. There is a tendency to become isolated, and this actually increases the likelihood of mental health conditions, so actively work to engage with activities outside of your home. You may even be able to find a support group to attend.

Categories: conditions, health, health conditions, Long term, mental, Mental Health, nbsp, psychological impairment, term psychological, widow

Do We Really Know What"s Going On In Our Bodies?

We can check our financial health easily. We know where we stand with our employers. Our families members can generally tell us how our relationships with them are doing. Even so, our health is one of the most complicated aspects of our lives to measure.

 

In movies and television we often see protagonists stand before the mirror and flex their muscles, as if that were the metric by which we should gauge our health. Unfortunately, the diameter of your muscles isn’t enough to determine your true health.

 

However, thanks to technology, these days we can learn more about what’s going on inside our bodies than ever before.

 

 

Facts and Figures

Hypertension, better known as high blood pressure, is often referred to as “the silent killer.” That’s because many people who suffer from it have no idea that they have high blood pressure. As a result, they fail to treat it until it triggers more obvious events like heart attacks and strokes.

 

Plenty of other conditions can lurk beneath the surface, slowly eroding your health even as you seem to feel fine. Conditions like diabetes, cancer, and artherosclerosis can be wreaking havoc on your future even though you feel fine, or at most, have a diffuse group of odd symptoms that you ignore.

 

So just because you don’t notice anything unusual doesn’t mean that something serious can’t be afoot.

 

Getting to the doctor for annual physicals is key. That means going at a time when you aren’t sick and just having your practitioner give you the age-relevant rundown of what you should be checking on. Then, you must take the initiative to get the necessary tests and check-ups.

 

 

Are We Taking the Right Medications?

And while we’re debunking the old ways of monitoring our health, let’s not forget the knee-jerk move to request prescription medication from our doctors the moment we feel run-down.

 

There was a time when the math of health went something like this:

 

Condition + Medication = Recovery

 

But that equation has gotten muddier in recent years. Drugs have side effects. Medications can interact with each other or generate new health problems.

 

The surest way to avoid a negative side effect from your treatment is to submit to prescription drug testing by health professionals who can accurately determine the medication levels in your body. This can also help you and your doctor develop a personalized treatment plan.

 

Remember that many drugs, particularly antibiotics, linger inside your body long after you have gulped the last pill. Certain steps can help you clear many toxins from your body, but medications are harder to resolve.

 

So if the condition for which you’ve taken that medicine is persisting even as the drug remains active in your body, it’s clear that you need to try a new strategy.

 

Obviously that’s not necessary with every pesky cold or nagging cough. But when more serious conditions exist, like major infections or organ malfunctions, it’s critical that you know if your current prescription isn’t cutting the mustard.

 

And your doctor should know too.

 

Speaking of things your doctor should know, interactions are critical events as well. If you continue to show significant levels of a drug you finished weeks or even months ago–and yes, they can hang around that long–your doctor needs to know that before providing you with a new medication.

 

That information is more important if the leftover medication was prescribed by someone else.

 

Regardless of the circumstances, identifying medication residues can direct us to use a different medication or consider nutritional or other treatments for new conditions.

Categories: blood pressure, bodies, conditions, doctor, feel fine, health, high blood, hypertension, medication, nbsp, nbsp nbsp

Could Chiropractic Care be Suitable for Your Pet?

Chiropractors are trained to help alleviate pain and treat a range of conditions, including the nervous system. But did you realise that there are people trained to provide chiropractic care to your pets? If your pet is suffering with certain conditions, this form of care could be just the thing they need to get back to fit health again.

Chiropractic care focuses on the nervous system – dysfunction in this area can lead to a variety of illnesses and health conditions, and this form of care can restore the nerve flow to the body. The difference between chiropractic care and other forms of treatment is that this gets to the root of the problem, rather than simply treating the symptoms. When a joint is misaligned, it can lose motion and its position, for example. Chiropractors can restore the function and subluxation, so that it works efficiently again. The most common conditions treated with this form of treatment include ear infections, seizures, arthritis, hot spots, neurological conditions, sudden back leg paralysis, abnormal gait and injuries which have occurred as a result of a fall or trauma. It can also be used to treat pets who have undergone a variety of tests, all of which are normal even though the pet is clearly still unwell.

Some animal chiropractors can provide wellness care, which is for healthy pets whose owners wish to prevent conditions from developing. For example, getting your pets spine checked a couple of times a year can greatly reduce the risk of a condition that is often disregarded as ‘old age’. In a typical chiropractic appointment, your pet’s history would be discussed and any imaging or treatment records may also be looked at. This will almost certainly take place if your pet has a current condition for which they’ve had specific tests.
Neurological tests may be performed, as well as stance and gait analysis, after which your pet will be adjusted. Most animals enjoy this, although on their first visit they may be a little nervous. However, once they realise that it isn’t painful and that they feel better afterwards, most relax and enjoy the treatment. It’s important that you seek out a chiropractor who is trained to perform adjustments on animals, as a normal trained chiropractor will not be equipped to do so. Pets are naturally very different to humans and their spine and biomechanics work differently. It’s not just dogs who can receive this treatment, either – cats, rabbits and even birds are all suitable.

This form of treatment can be very effective for dogs, for example, who compete in shows and competitions. It is a fantastic form of therapy for improving agility and flexibility in animals, and can be very effective in pets who suffer from joint problems, such as arthritis.

There have been a number of success stories for animals who have suffered injuries who serious conditions who have benefited greatly from this therapy, being restored to full health after a course of chiropractic treatments. Depending on where you live, you may need a referral from your vet in order to see an animal chiropractor – this is something you will need to discuss with your pet’s vet. It’s worth noting that chiropractors don’t replace regular medication for your animal. They can be useful in complementing the medication though, and provided that your animal is up to date with their annual exams, they could benefit enormously from this treatment.

Categories: care, chiropractic, chiropractic care, conditions, Neurological tests, pet, pets, treatment