Tennis Ball Massage

Did you know?

When releasing a knot in your muscles your body also releases a metabolic waste (which is a good thing) but you may feel sore for 1-2 days. Make sure to drink plenty of water to flush out the metabolic wastes and to speed up the process a cold pack application may help remove the metabolic wastes.

National Laugh- Friendly Month

Go ahead laugh! Laughing is good for you and contagious. Not only does it bring closeness between others but it also helps with stress, strengthens your immune system, boosts your energy level, and helps diminish your pain. And good news about laughter, it’s free, fun, and easy to use!

How does laughter help with stress?

By laughing it reduces the hormones produced such as cortisone, epinephrine, and adrenaline and increase the production of endorphins and neurotransmitters making the body feel oh-so-good.

How does laughter help with immune system?

Humor is bliss! It is amazing how your body responds to something so positive. While laughing, the number of anti-body producing cells increases, which improve the function of the T-cells.

How does laughter boost energy?

By improving you immune system, relaxing your muscles, and increase the production of endorphins all from laughing you produce a lot more energy. A lot of energy is used for pain alone so imagine decreasing your pain level with a dose of humor.

How does laughter help diminish pain?

Laughing decreases tension in your muscles along with your heart allowing increase supply of blood flow throughout the body. Thus, you decrease the chances of a heart attack.

So what does this all mean?

Laugh!

Initiating movement may be one of the most difficult task to accomplish and can be very time consuming. Some feel like they are “stuck” to the ground or there is a magnet pulling them to the floor making walking difficult resulting in a shuffling gait.

Ways to help initiate movement

Moving to the beat of the music helps with continuous walking or place an object to step over like a broom stick to initiate walking. Studies are still being conducted with the correlation of music and Parkinson’s disease. I have tried both methods with my patients and works great. I also use counting or snapping a beat to keep them moving.

Posture

Stretching is important to increase upright posture along with strengthening. Usually the hamstrings, hip flexors,calves, abdominals, and pectorals are tight and should be stretched on a daily basis. Strengthening the extensor group muscles along with the shoulder girdle is going to be ideal to increase endurance to maintain an upright posture.

Knowing what is around you is crucial to avoid falling. Look out for steps, rugs, furniture, and any object obstructing your way. Make sure to pick up your toes when walking to avoid tripping on your feet!

Be on a daily fitness program

Either provided by your physical therapist as a home exercise program or local gym, it is important to stay on a daily fitness program. Afraid to fall? There are many programs out there that provide seated exercises targeting people with Parkinson’s disease.  Can’t find a facility close to home? Is transportation a problem?  The list below includes chair exercise DVDs that can be performed in the convenience of your own home.

Sit and Be Fit

Gentle Fitness DVD

If your doctor clears you there is also aquatic therapy classes so you don’t have to worry about falling while exercises. Make sure the facility provides assistance if needed to get in and out of the pool.

Aerobic Exercise

An aerobic exercise is a great way to increase your endurance by strengthening your heart and lungs by walking, biking, and swimming for 10-30 minutes.

Energy Conservation Techniques

Ways to conserve energy is practicing daily activities such as ambulating with an assistive device correctly. I see so many times when patients use a cane on the wrong side and not adjusted correctly to their height. Your therapist will help you determine all aspects of correct use of an assistive device. Another mistake people do is lean over on the rolling walker! Again another problem is the usage and adjustment of an assistive device along with receiving proper gait training.

Transfer training will also help conserve energy. Examples of this would be getting in and out of bed or a sit to stand transfer. If not done correctly it may take a few tries and before you know it your out of breath, your back hurts, your knees are strained and you are out of energy.

A physical therapist can educate and train you to conserve energy with treatment. You may not be able to do this independently depending on your status but with some ease. Maybe your caregiver, family member, or significant other is taking care of you. It is important to save their back too. Caregiver education is crucial for proper body mechanics to avoid injury on both parties. It would be very difficult for both of you to move around if you are both hurting.

Indication for Physical Therapy

• Balance problems

• Shuffling Gait Pattern

• Incoordination

• Immobility

• Pain

• Fatigue

• Muscle Weakness

Benefits of Exercise

• Improve coordination

• Improve bowel and bladder movement

• Increase range of motion

• Energy conservation techniques

• Maintain or Improve posture

• Increase safety Awareness

• Increase strength and endurance

Additional Resources

American Parkinson’s Disease Association

An organization that focuses on research, patient support, education and raising public awareness for Parkinson’s disease.

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Parkinson’s Hope

This site provides description of exercise program, healthy eating and support system

Physical Therapy

Goals of Physical Therapy:

• Prevention
• Patient Education
• Home exercise program
• Decrease pain and stiffness
• Increase range of motion
• Decrease inflammation
• Improve mobility
• Increase strength and stability

Physical therapy treatments may consist of:

• Therapeutic Exercises: increase strength and stability
• Range of Motion (passive, active assist, active)
• Progressive Resistance Exercise
• Mechanical Machines

Modalities: helps with pain, relaxation, inflammation, and strengthening

• Ultrasound
• Electrical Stimulation
• Laser Therapy
• Thermal Application
• Traction
• Iontophoresis
• Whirlpool

Manual Therapy

• Joint Mobilization
• Massage
• Passive Range of Motion
• Stretching

Prevention/Patient Education

• Home Exercise Program
• Proper Body Mechanics
• Safety Awareness
• Self Care Techniques

Stretching Techniques: to improve range of motion

Gait Training: regain or improve proper ambulation

• With or without use of an assistive device

Transfer Training: transitioning from different positions to improve energy conservation and prevent injury

• Sit to stand
• Supine (on your back) to sit

Balance Activities: improve proprioception (where the body is in space) to prevent falls

Prosthetic Training:

• Skin, scar, and stump management
• Regain function
• Care of prosthesis

Wound Care: to avoid infection and increase healing

• Debridement
• Dressing

Aquatic Therapy: to increase flexibility, strength, and stability

• Characteristics in water include bouncy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure (helps with swelling)

If you enjoyed this article you may also like this one:

What is the difference between Physical Therapist (PTs) and Physical Therapy Assistant (PTAs)?

Apply cold and hot pack to painful areas for approximately 10-15 minutes.

You could also try to alternate the cold and hot pack for example:

-> Cold pack for 10 min followed by

->Hot pack for 10 minutes

->Then cold pack for 10 min and so on…by alternating hot and cold every 10 minutes

Did you know?

This creates the blood vessels to constrict (get smaller) with the cold pack and dilate (become enlarged) with the hot pack acting like a pump to get rid of metabolic wastes so “fresh” blood can enter to nourish the cells.

What is the difference between Physical Therapist (PTs) and Physical Therapy Assistant (PTAs)?

You Can Be Me — A Career in Physical Therapy (APTA)

The list below is in alphabetical order with a brief description of most common used medical specialist. To learn more click on the specialty.

Anesthesiologist: administer anesthesia

Cardiologist: specialist in the heart

Dermatologist: specializes in skin, hair, and nails

Diabetologist: specializes in diabetes

Endocrinologist: specialize in hormones produced by the glands.

Gastroenterologist: specialize in disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, including esophagus, small and large intestine, stomach, liver, and biliary system which include gallbladder, bile, and bile ducts.

Gynecologist: specializing in the female reproductive system, including, uterus, vagina, and ovaries.

Hematologist: specializing in blood disorders

Immunologist: specializes in the immune system

Internist: focus on adult medicine

Nephrologist: specializes in kidney diseases, transplantation, and dialysis therapy.

Neurologist: diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.

Neurosurgeon: specializes in surgery of the nervous system.

Obstetrician: surgical specialty along with care with pregnancy, labor, and puerperium, the time immediately after delivery.

Oncologist: specialists that diagnose and treat cancer.

Ophthalmologist: eye specialist concerning medical and surgical problems.

Orthopaedist: specializes in skeletal deformities that include bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles.

Osteopathic physicians: diagnose and treat all illnesses and injuries as a whole.

Otolaryngologist: specialize in the ear, nose, and throat.

Pathologist: study the cause and development of diseases.

Pediatrician: specialize in children from birth to early adulthood.

Podiatrist: specializes in the foot, ankle, and leg.

Psychiatrist: specializes in mental disorders.

Pulmonologist: specialist in lungs, and the respiratory tract.

Radiologist: specializes to interpret medical images such as MRI, X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound and trained to use radioactive materials.

Rheumatologist: specialist in diagnosing and treating rheumatic illness such as, arthritis (inflammation of the joint) and other diseases that involve bones, joints, and muscles.

Urologist: specialist in the male and female urinary tract.

Take 1 cup of rubbing alcohol to 3 cups of water ( 1:3 ratio) and place into a big Ziploc bag (preferably 2 by double bagging it so it doesn’t leak out) and place in freezer until slushy. The alcohol keeps the water from hardening creating a slushy cold pack.

You can also try using liquid dish soap and place the desired amount into a ziplock bag. Place it in the freezer and it becomes very pliable and great for contour areas like the knees.

For the bottom of your foot

Take a plastic water bottle (about 20 ounce) with water and place in freezer until frozen. This is great for the bottom surface of the foot and can be used seated while performing an ice massage! An ice massage should last for 5-10 minutes until the area is numb.

For small areas

Take a Styrofoam cup and fill it up with ¾ water. Place in freezer until frozen and then peel the top off with the bottom acting as a handle.

This is great ice application for small areas such is tendonitis of a specific muscle and should be used in a constant circular motion until the area is numb.

Did you know?

There are four stages of sensation your body feels with cold application.

Stage 1 Cold

Stage 2 Burning

Stage 3 Achy

Stage 4 Numb

These are all normal to experience while applying a Cold application with end result to be numb. After the numb stage the cold application should be removed.

Do caution for frostbite!

Five Diabetic Foot Care Tips

Individuals with diabetes lose feeling in there feet because of nerve damage and poor circulation and may result to serious complications such as infections which may lead to amputations. Nerve damage means you may not feel hot, cold, or pain. These simple steps listed below should be done on a daily basis to avoid medical complications. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

• Check You Feet

Make sure to check the top and bottom of your feet as well as in between your toes for blisters, cuts, red spots, and swelling. Use a hand held mirror to help you see under your feet. You should do this everyday to avoid infection.

• Sensation…is it there?

Before entering the shower ALWAYS check the water temperature with your hands to avoid burning your feet.

• Foot-Wear is Important

Wear comfortable shoes that don’t compress your feet.

Avoid wearing shoes that have open toes, heels, or sandals.

Always wear clean dry socks (preferably 100% cotton, NO synthetic material) with shoes.

Make sure to check inside of shoes for anything that may injure your feet (such as stones or lining of the shoes) emptying them out before you wear them.

Never walk barefoot.

Consult your doctor about therapeutic shoes or inserts.

• Make sure to keep your Feet Clean

Wash your feet daily.

Dry your feet after bathing and make sure to get between those toes. Make sure to wipe off excessive lotion between toes as it may lead to infection.

Trim nails STRAIGHT across rather then rounded so it does not dig into your skin when it grows or go to the podiatrist/physician for this.

Never cut corns or calluses yourself (calluses can lead to foot ulcers and must be seen by a physician right away because it can cause an infection and possibly loss of a limb). Also keep in mind that walking on an ulcer may cause an infection faster. So make sure to get the doctors office. Not trying to scare you here; just want you to be more aware and take this seriously as I see a lot of cases that could have been avoided.

• Keep that Blood Moving

Try to keep your feet moving by moving your ankle up and down or splaying and curling your toes. (Exercise is important since it helps increase circulation).

Don’t Smoke (smoking decreases circulation).

Avoid crossing your legs for long periods of time.

Elevate your feet as much as possible; for example while sitting put your feet on a chair.

The Doctor’s TV Show

New Way RA