Category Archives: Blog

Calculating Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

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What is the Body Mass Index (BMI)?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI is a fairly reliable indicator of body fatness for most people. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat, such as underwater weighing and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).1, 2 BMI can be considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. Additionally, BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight categories that may lead to health problems.

How is BMI used?

BMI is used as a screening tool to identify possible weight problems in adults. However, BMI is not a diagnostic tool. For example, a person may have a high BMI. However, to determine if excess weight is a health risk, a healthcare provider would need to perform further assessments. These assessments might include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings.

Why is BMI used to measure overweight and obesity?

Calculating BMI is one of the best methods for population assessment of overweight and obesity. Because calculation requires only height and weight, it is inexpensive and easy to use for clinicians and for the general public. The use of BMI allows people to compare their own weight status to that of the general population.

What are some of the other ways to measure obesity?

Other methods to measure body fatness include skinfold thickness measurements (with calipers), underwater weighing, bioelectrical impedance, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and isotope dilution. However, these methods are not always readily available, and they are either expensive or need highly trained personnel. Furthermore, many of these methods can be difficult to standardize across observers or machines, complicating comparisons across studies and time periods.

What are the health consequences of being overweight and obese for adults?

The BMI ranges are based on the relationship between body weight and disease and death.5 Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following:

  • Hypertension
  • Dyslipidemia (for example, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides)
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
  • Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

Find Your BMI Results Now:

BMI For Adults Widget

Information provided by cdc.gov

Repetitive strain injury (RSI)

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According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), repetitive strain injuries are the nation’s most common and costly occupational health problem, affecting hundreds of thousands of American workers,and costing more than $20 billion a year in workers compensation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly two-thirds of all occupational illnesses reported, were caused by exposure to repeated trauma to workers’ upper body (the wrist, elbow or shoulder). One common example of such an injury is carpal tunnel syndrome
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Helpful Hints to Stop Tennis Elbow

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Commonly known as “tennis elbow”, lateral epicondylitis is an inflammation of the tendon fibers that attach the forearm extensor muscles to the outside of the elbow. More recently it is believed that tennis elbow is due to the degeneration of the wrist extensor tendons. Either way this affects the muscles that lift the wrist and hand. Pain may be felt where these fibers attach to the bone on the outside of the elbow or along the muscles in the forearm. Overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm and elbow are the most common reasons people develop tennis elbow. Repeating some types of activities over and over again can put too much strain on the elbow tendons. These activities are not necessarily high-level sports competition. Hammering nails, picking up heavy buckets, or pruning shrubs can all cause the pain of tennis elbow. Some patients, however, develop tennis elbow without any specific recognizable activity leading to symptoms.

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What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?

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APRIL IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH!

Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.

Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:

  • An individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals.
  • Customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals.
  • An outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.

 

Occupational therapists serve infants, children and adults with a range of abilities and diagnoses such as:

  • Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit
  • Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Brachial Plexus Injury
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Concussion and other traumatic brain injuries
  • Down Syndrome
  • Hand and wrist injuries
  • Organizational or sensory movement disorders
  • Sensory Processing Disorders
  • Torticollis

WHAT TYPES OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ARE THERE?
Occupational therapists can address a number of different needs. Specialized treatments include:

  • Manual Therapy
  • Neurodevelopmental Treatment
  • Post-Concussion Management
  • Self-care/Daily Living Skill Acquisition
  • Sensory Integration Therapy
  • Social Skill Development
  • Therapeutic Exercise
  • Vestibular Treatment
  • Visual Motor Rehabilitation
  • Work Related Injuries and Evaluations
  • and many others…

Spring Gardening and Injury Prevention

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It’s finally spring and many of you will be enjoying the weather while tending your gardens. Gardening should be a joy, not a chore. As you work to have gorgeous spring blooms and ripe fruits and veggies never try to complete more than you can comfortably manage. You can potentially risk injury by missing the signals your body is sending you; like an ache in the elbow or strain in the back.

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Physical Therapy for Diabetic Neuropathy

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Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication from diabetes, in which nerves are compromised as a result of high blood sugar levels. This condition may present itself in several different ways. Some of the symptoms may include tingling, burning and loss of sensation in your hands or feet. This is the result of nerve damage, also called peripheral neuropathy. Lowering blood glucose levels can help prevent and possibly reverse some of the effects of diabetic neuropathy. Physical therapy is an effective treatment that can help restore balance and sensation that has been lost.

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prevent overuse injuries

9 Steps to Prevent Overuse injuries

- Blog, Sports and Fitness

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One big problem with sports specialization at an early age is overuse injuries. These injuries are often subtle and occur over time. Micro-trauma from too much repetitive motion often shows up in elbows, knees, and shoulders.

  • Base conditioning and flexibility is key to prevention of overuse injuries
  • Listen to your body- Learn to take care of your body
  • Proper training and common sense
  • “No pain, no gain” is not the best slogan to go by
  • Start slowly and build up by 10% a week
  • Variety in training and exercise programs is one of the reasons that cross-training. Cross-fit and triathlons are some of the best and fastest-growing programs today.
  • A 52 week a year exercise program is unrealistic. Build rest cycles in your training. Many professional pitchers do not throw a baseball for one month a year
  • Use proper technique to avoid overuse injuries. Even a slight change in form may create an injury.
  • Anatomic and biomechanical factors cause some athletes to be more prone to overuse injuries. Why? Imbalances between strength and flexibility around certain joints are usually the cause.

We all want to be free to chase our dreams both in sport and in life. This pursuit is a multi-year race, not a quick sprint. If you are 10 years old or 60 years old, too much of a good thing too quickly is just too much. To learn more or to schedule an evaluation, Find a PT today!

More information on overuse injuries is in The Therapy Connection Newsletter for April 2015. You can sign up to receive our newsletter via email here.

Provided by: Chris Snoddy, MA, LAT, ATC, STAR Physical Therapy

 

 

Primal 7: Pursuing Movement

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Primal 7 is the ultimate movement tool it allows you to train in the primary patterns of movement that every human body was designed to perform – push, pull, squat, bend, lunge, gate, and twist. Because these universal movements are the foundation of all life and sport, perfecting them can lead to faster recovery, injury prevention, and enhanced performance.

Physical therapists and trainers alike are introducing the Primal 7 System into their facilities and utilizing it to aid in

  • Recovery: From traumatic brain injury patients to athletes transitioning back to sport, Primal 7 empowers each patient with the confidence to pursue movement. Without the use of weights or cumbersome harnesses or stirrups.
  • Performance: For more athletic athletes. Combining compound, functional movements with instability training means faster results – minus the wear and tear
    on joints and muscles.
  • Wellness: Simple, sustainable fitness. Primal 7 simplifies fitness down to the seven foundational patterns of human movement for a more practical, efficient approach to long-term health and wellness.

A versatile system that has shown proven results that increase mobility and decrease pain. Improves balance and proprioception. Builds strength and instills confidence. It makes functional rehabilitation safe and simple. Ask your physical therapist about it today or look for a facility that uses Primal 7 today to get you on the road to recovery and improved movement.

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Aging Gracefully with Physical Therapy

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The human body goes through a number of changes as one grows older. A decline in muscle mass and bone density can lead to muscle fatigue and joint pain. There is good news. Seniors can remain physically active and lead happy, healthy and productive lives with the help of physical therapy. Exercise in a safe, controlled environment under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, goes a long way to improving the quality of life. A physical therapist can design exercise programs that help seniors cope with some of the issues associated with aging which include:

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