Physical therapy helps people of all ages who have medical conditions, illnesses or injuries that limit their regular ability to move and function.
A customized physical therapy program can help individuals return to their prior level of functioning, and encourage activities and lifestyle changes that can help prevent further injury and improve overall health and well being. Primary care doctors often refer patients to physical therapy at the first sign of a problem, since it is considered a conservative approach to managing problems. Wondering what makes physical therapy so important? There are 10 ways physical therapy may benefit you.
Reduce or eliminate pain.�Therapeutic exercises and manual therapy techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobilization or treatments such as ultrasound, taping or electrical stimulation can help relieve pain and restore muscle and joint function to reduce pain. Such therapies can also prevent pain from returning.
Avoid surgery.�If physical therapy helps you eliminate pain or heal from an injury, surgery may not be needed. And even if surgery is required, you may benefit from pre-surgery physical therapy. If you are going into a surgery stronger and in better shape, you will recover faster afterwards in many cases. Also, by avoiding surgery, health care costs are reduced.
Improve mobility.�If you�re having trouble standing, walking or moving�no matter your age�physical therapy can help. Stretching and strengthening exercises help restore your ability to move. Physical therapists can properly fit individuals with a cane, crutches or any other assistive device, or assess for orthotic prescription. By customizing an individual care plan, whatever activity that is important to an individual�s life can be practiced and adapted to ensure maximal performance and safety.
Recover from a stroke.�It�s common to lose some degree of function and movement after stroke. Physical therapy helps strengthen weakened parts of the body and improve gait and balance. Physical therapists can also improve stroke patients� ability to transfer and move around in bed so that they can be more independent around the home, and reduce their burden of care for toileting, bathing, dressing and other activities of daily living.
Recover from or prevent a sports injury.�Physical therapists understand how different sports can increase your risk for specific types of injuries (such as stress fractures for distance runners). They can design appropriate recovery or prevention exercise programs for you to ensure a safe return to your sport.
Improve your balance and prevent falls�. When you begin physical therapy, you will get screened for fall risk. If you�re at high risk for falls, therapists will provide exercises that safely and carefully challenge your balance as a way to mimic real-life situations. Therapists also help you with exercises to improve coordination and assistive devices to help with safer walking. When the balance problem is caused by a problem in one�s vestibular system, Physical therapists can perform specific maneuvers that can quickly restore proper vestibular functioning, and reduce and eliminate symptoms of dizziness or vertigo.
Manage diabetes and vascular conditions. As part of an overall diabetes management plan, exercise can help effectively control blood sugar. �Additionally, people with diabetes may have problems with sensation in their feet and legs. Physical therapists can help provide and educate these patients on proper foot care to prevent further problems down the road.
Manage age-related issues�. As individuals age, they may develop arthritis or osteoporosis or need a joint replacement. Physical therapists are experts in helping patients recover from joint replacement, and manage arthritic or osteoporotic conditions conservatively.
Manage heart and lung disease.�While patients may complete cardiac rehabilitation after a heart attack or procedure, you also may receive physical therapy if your daily functioning is affected. For pulmonary problems, physical therapy can improve quality of life through strengthening, conditioning and breathing exercises, and help patients clear fluid in the lungs.
Manage Women�s Health and other conditions.�Women have specific health concerns, such as with pregnancy and post-partum care. Physical therapists can offer specialized management of issues related to women�s health. Additionally, PT can provide specialized treatment for: �Bowel incontinence, breast cancer, constipation, fibromyalgia, lymphedema, male pelvic health, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence.
If you have questions about how physical therapy may help you or someone you care about, please don�t hesitate to ask your health care provider or local PT for information.
Remaining physically active is essential for people of all ages towards maintaining overall health, especially for elderly patients. And, when an injury or a condition has challenged an individual’s lifestyle, physical therapy can have tremendous benefits for them.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Dr. Alex Jimenez, chiropractor, has been helping his patients find the proper legal representation they need to settle their personal injury cases, also helping them find the right insurance agent to offer proper compensation for property damages and injuries they may have suffered. Dr. Jimenez has been working alongside numerous insurance agents to ensure individuals receive the best treatment.
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Contact El Paso State Farm Agent Mike Halpin at (915) 778-8335 for life, home, car insurance and more.
Finding a qualified, experienced and knowledgeable insurance agent who can effectively help settle a personal injury claim after being involved in an automobile accident is important, in order for the individual to gain the proper compensation they deserve for their case. State Farm insurance agent Mike Halpin is a highly regarded individual who can help guarantee you receive the proper care for your injuries and property damages.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
According to Dr. Alex Jimenez, chiropractor, participating in physical activities is important for an individual’s overall health and when we start to age, remaining physically active becomes more important than ever. The body undergoes a natural process of degeneration over time, however, exercise and a balanced nutrition can help slow down this process and make it smoother for the individual, avoiding the development of conditions or injuries resulting from these. But, once an older adult has suffered an injury or aggravated a condition, physical therapy can be the best choice to restore the individual’s quality of life.
Physical therapy can help seniors retain their independence, whether they are managing a long-term illness or just want to improve their general health and mobility. The goal of physical therapy is to help restore and improve functionality, reduce pain and increase mobility for better strength and balance.
Falls are the major reason seniors require physical therapy.
As people age, they tend to lose flexibility, strength and often their balance, so maintaining the desired level of fitness becomes increasingly challenging. �Loss of these functions could lead to a fall that could cause serious injury. Physical therapy helps improve these functions.
Osteoporosis, which is a progressive bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, can lead to an increased risk for fractures.� It is often the cause of many falls. Physical therapy and a regular exercise program help control the effects of this condition.
Strength training and exercise provided in physical therapy can also help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. �People with arthritis can benefit from physical therapy because it provides exercises to help preserve the strength and use of the joints.� �Physical therapy also teaches therapeutic methods to relieve discomfort through both physical techniques and activity modifications.
Physical therapy is prescribed in many cases following a hospital stay.� Skipping on post hospitalization therapy can cause serious repercussions.
Consequences of Skipping Physical Therapy
Falls � After a hospital stay, many are weak and more prone to falling. Failing to have therapy after hospitalization could potentially lead to a re-hospitalization due to an injury from a fall.
Infections- Without active movement because of weakness that could have been improved with physical therapy, there is an increased risk for pneumonia. There is also increased potential for skin problems, such as ulcers, which may develop because of lack of movement.
Reduced Long Term Strength and Endurance- During recovery, physical therapy can influence your strength and endurance level that you will have long after you finished your sessions.This can also cause increased blood pressure and heart rate and decreased oxygen saturation levels, which can lead to stroke, blood clots and heart attacks.
Reduced Education- Education through physical therapy shows ways to complete activities of daily living in a more efficient way to help improve physical and mental well being and quality of life.
Increased Pain- If you�re not moving because you are not taking physical therapy, joints tends to get stiff. Decreased mobility leads to more pain.
Physical therapy for seniors has a variety of benefits which can include not only gaining strength and balance, but also providing a renewed sense of confidence.� Physical therapy can give seniors back their independence and make daily tasks easier.
Working with a physical therapist will not only reduce pain, but it will also help improve overall strength and ability and reduce the risk for injuries, helping you maintain a higher quality of life.
As mentioned before, when people age, the body can naturally lose flexibility, mobility, strength and even balance. Because of this, staying active is of utmost importance for seniors. Physical therapy can help the elderly improve their general health as well as help rehabilitate those with an injury or condition. As with any other type of therapy, however, the individual should first visit a healthcare professional to receive an appropriate exercise regimen.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Educating individuals on the latest and most important medical news, Dr. Alex Jimenez, chiropractor, has become aware of some of the adverse effects of medications. Current allegations have demonstrated that HPV vaccines have not been working properly as they were first described to and have in fact been showing adverse side-effects on individuals who’ve used them. The following has been understood by Dr. Jimenez.
Dr. Diane Harper was a leading expert responsible for the Phase II and Phase III safety and effectiveness studies which secured the approval of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines, Gardasil� and Cervarix�. Dr. Harper also authored many of the published, scholarly papers about the vaccines.
She is now the latest in a long string of experts who are pressing the red alert button on the devastating consequences and irrelevancy of these vaccines. Dr. Harper made her surprising confession at the 4th International Conference on Vaccination which took place in Reston, Virginia. Her speech, which was originally intended to promote the benefits of the vaccines, took a 180-degree turn when she chose instead to clean her conscience about the deadly vaccines so she �could sleep at night�. The following is an excerpt from a story by Sarah Cain:
�Dr. Harper explained in her presentation that the cervical cancer risk in the U.S. is already extremely low, and that vaccinations are unlikely to have any effect upon the rate of cervical cancer in the United States. In fact, 70% of all HPV infections resolve themselves without treatment in a year, and the number rises to well over 90% in two years. Harper also mentioned the safety angle. All trials of the vaccines were done on children aged 15 and above, despite them currently being marketed for 9-year-olds. So far, 15,037 girls have reported adverse side effects from Gardasil� alone to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), and this number only reflects parents who underwent the hurdles required for reporting adverse reactions. At the time of writing, 44 girls are officially known to have died from these vaccines. The reported side effects include Guillian Barr� Syndrome (paralysis lasting for years, or permanently � sometimes eventually causing suffocation), lupus, seizures, blood clots, and brain inflammation. Parents are usually not made aware of these risks. Dr. Harper, the vaccine developer, claimed that she was speaking out, so that she might finally be able to sleep at night. �About eight in every ten women who have been sexually active will have HPV at some stage of their life,� Harper says. �Normally there are no symptoms, and in 98 per cent of cases it clears itself. But in those cases where it doesn�t, and isn�t treated, it can lead to pre-cancerous cells which may develop into cervical cancer.��
Although these two vaccines are marketed as protection against cervical cancer, this claim is purely hypothetical. Studies have proven there is no demonstrated relationship between the condition being vaccinated for and the rare cancers that the vaccine might prevent, but it is marketed to do that nonetheless. In fact, there is no actual evidence that the vaccine can prevent any cancer. From the manufacturers own admissions, the vaccine only works on 4 strains out of 40 for a specific venereal disease that dies on its own in a relatively short period, so the chance of it actually helping an individual is about about the same as the chance of her being struck by a meteorite.
Since coming forward with the truth about the devastating consequences of the HPV vaccine, Dr. Harper has been victim of a relentless campaign attempting to discredit the validity of her claims. Harper was even misquoted by British tabloid The Sunday Express which printed a false story loaded with fabricated quotations attributed to Harper. In an interview with The Guardian, Harper makes it very clear about what exactly she said in order to protect herself from a potential lawsuit. In an interview with CBS NEWS, Harper clarifies her position, and once again makes it crystal clear just how devastating this vaccine can be: �If we vaccinate 11 year olds and the protection doesn�t last � we�ve put them at harm from side effects, small but real, for no benefit,� says Dr. Harper. �The benefit to public health is nothing, there is no reduction in cervical cancers, they are just postponed, unless the protection lasts for at least 15 years, and over 70% of all sexually active females of all ages are vaccinated.� She also says that enough serious side effects have been reported after Gardasil use that the vaccine could prove riskier than the cervical cancer it purports to prevent. Cervical cancer is usually entirely curable when detected early through normal Pap screenings.
�The risks of serious adverse events including death reported after Gardasil use in (the JAMA article by CDC�s Dr. Barbara Slade) were 3.4/100,000 doses distributed,�Harper tells CBS NEWS. �The rate of serious adverse events on par with the death rate of cervical cancer. Gardasil has been associated with at least as many serious adverse events as there are deaths from cervical cancer developing each year. Indeed, the risks of vaccination are underreported in Slade�s article, as they are based on a denominator of doses distributed from Merck�s warehouse. Up to a third of those doses may be in refrigerators waiting to be dispensed as the autumn onslaught of vaccine messages is sent home to parents the first day of school. Should the denominator in Dr. Slade�s work be adjusted to account for this, and then divided by three for the number of women who would receive all three doses, the incidence rate of serious adverse events increases up to five fold. How does a parent value that information,� said Harper.
�Parents and women must know that deaths occurred,� Harper tells CBS NEWS. �Not all deaths that have been reported were represented in Dr. Slade�s work, one-third of the death reports were unavailable to the CDC, leaving the parents of the deceased teenagers in despair that the CDC is ignoring the very rare but real occurrences that need not have happened if parents were given information stating that there are real, but small risks of death surrounding the administration of Gardasil.� She also worries that Merck�s aggressive marketing of the vaccine may have given women a false sense of security. �The future expectations women hold because they have received free doses of Gardasil purchased by philanthropic foundations, by public health agencies or covered by insurance is the true threat to cervical cancer in the future. Should women stop Pap screening after vaccination, the cervical cancer rate will actually increase per year. Should women believe this is preventive for all cancers � something never stated, but often inferred by many in the population � a reduction in all health care will compound our current health crisis. Should Gardasil not be effective for more than 15 years, the most costly public health experiment in cancer control will have failed miserably.� Harper notes that her concern for the vaccine�s deadly side effects applies only to women in the Western world. �Of course, in developing countries where there is no safety Pap screening for women repeatedly over their lifetimes, the risks of serious adverse events may be acceptable as the incidence rate of cervical cancer is five to 12 times higher than in the US, dwarfing the risk of death reported after Gardasil.�
The National Vaccine Information Center confirmed�two virologists, Stephen Krahling and Joan Wlochowski have filed a lawsuit against their former employer and vaccine manufacturer Merck. NVIC writes: �The lawsuit alleges that Merck defrauded the U.S. for over 10 years by overstating the MMR vaccine�s effectivenes. The virologists claim in their lawsuit that they �Witnessed firsthand the improper testing and data falseification in which Merck engaged to artificially inflate the vaccine�s efficacy findings.� NVIC president and co-founder, Barbara Loe Fisher, warns of the disturbingly cozy relationship and overwhelming conflict of interest between federal agencies charged with vaccine safety oversight (such as the Centers for Disease Control) and vaccine manufacturers. Merck�s global vaccine sales total more than $20 BILLION A YEAR.
As the world�s pharmaceutical giants continue to be driven less by moral accountability and more by profit and shareholder-driven bottom lines, we are going to see more and more products such as this vaccine which are marketed as �essential to one�s survival.� While some vaccines are indeed essential, such as vaccines for polio and measles, the HPV vaccine is a new beast entirely. To learn more about how pharmaceutical giants are putting profits ahead of ethics you need to watch FRONTLINE�s terrifying new documentary �Hunting The Nightmare Bacteria.�
After taking any specific medication, especially if it’s been prescribed to exert a particular effect, a complete evaluation of the individual is required from time to time to study the full effects of the drug and determine if such is causing undesirable side-effects or the development of dangerous conditions and disorders. HPV vaccines have long been used as a preventive method for the human papilloma virus, however, the recent allegations of the lead developer of the medication have changed the complete spectrum of the effects of the drug.
For more information on this subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Eating right and staying fit are important no matter what your age. As we get older our bodies have different needs, so certain nutrients become especially important for good health.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Older adults need more calcium and vitamin D to help maintain bone health. Have three servings of vitamin D-fortified low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt each day. Other calcium-rich foods include fortified cereals and fruit juices, dark green leafy vegetables and canned fish with soft bones. If you take a calcium supplement or multivitamin, choose one that contains vitamin D.
Vitamin B12
Many people older than 50 do not get enough vitamin B12. Fortified cereal, lean meat and some fish and seafood are sources of vitamin B12. Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian nutritionist if you need a vitamin B12 supplement.
Fiber
Eat more fiber-rich foods to stay regular. Fiber also can help lower your risk for heart disease, control your weight and prevent Type 2 diabetes. Eat whole-grain breads and cereals, and more beans and peas � along with fruits and vegetables which also provide fiber.
Potassium
Increasing potassium along with reducing sodium (salt) may lower your risk of high blood pressure. Fruits, vegetables and low-fat or fat-free milk and yogurt are good sources of potassium. Also, select and prepare foods with little or no added salt.
Know Your Fats
Foods that are low in saturated fats and trans fat help reduce your risk of heart disease. Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Check the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels for total fat and saturated fat.
Maintaining a proper nutrition throughout our lives is absolutely essential towards overall health, and many might find this difficult to follow, especially since our dietary needs change as we age. Due to natural wear and tear alterations of the tissues in our body, what we needed mostly as children may not be necessarily beneficial to us as adults. The above list covers several nutritional needs for seniors.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Fish oil is one of the most popular dietary supplements in the U.S. because of the perceived cardiovascular benefits of the omega-3 it contains. However, scientific findings on its effectiveness have been conflicting.
New research in Physiological Reports supports the claims for seniors, reporting that taking omega-3 fish oil supplements every day can improve the cardiovascular health of healthy seniors after 12 weeks of use.
Risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age because the arteries become stiffer. Arterial stiffness affects how blood travels through them and ultimately how strongly the heart needs to pump. The most commonly used measures of arterial stiffness are pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index. When the heart ejects blood into the blood vessels, pressure increases, creating a bulge in the vessel. PWV is the speed at which the bulge ripples through the arteries. When the pressure pulse hits a fork in the arteries, part of the pressure pulse bounces back towards the heart and combines with the new pulse coming out of the heart. How much the reflected pulse enhances the new one is called augmentation index. High PWV and high augmentation index values reflect stiffer arteries.
Reported cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 include reduced arterial stiffness seen through improved PWV and augmentation index. In this new study, researchers at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine examined whether omega-3 supplements could reverse the effects of aging on the blood vessels in healthy older adults and reduce PWV and augmentation index.
Healthy subjects ages 60 to 80 took two omega-3 capsules twice daily for 12 weeks. Each capsule contained 1000 mg of omega-3 (465 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 375 mg docosahexanoic acid). The researchers measured PWV, augmentation index and blood pressure before and after the 12-week regimen. The results were compared to young healthy subjects, ages 21 to 35, who also followed the same omega-3 supplement schedule.
The researchers found that 12 weeks of supplementation significantly decreased PWV in the older subjects, supporting improvement in vascular health, although PWV was still higher than in young subjects. While PWV improved, augmentation index and blood pressure did not. The omega-3 supplements also did not improve either index of arterial stiffness in the young subjects.
According to the researchers, “These findings provide support for the concept that increased omega-3 intake may be an efficacious therapy in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in aging humans through effects on central arterial stiffness.” They also noted that “these effects occurred over a relatively short period of time.”
With age, the body can become more vulnerable to developing certain conditions or even injuries related with aging. Cardiovascular disease is among the most common complication reported among the elderly, due to changes in the arteries. Fortunately, research has determined that omega-3 fish oil supplements can have tremendous benefits for seniors.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Getting older involves change, both negative and positive, but you can enjoy aging if you understand what�s going on with your body and take steps to maintain your health.
Many different things happen to your body as you age. Your skin, bones, and even brain may start to behave differently. Don’t let the changes that come with old age catch you by surprise.
Here are some of the common ones:
Your bones. Bones can become thinner and more brittle in old age, especially in women, sometimes resulting in the fragile bone condition called osteoporosis. Thinning bones and decreasing bone mass can put you at risk for falls that can easily result in broken bones. Be sure to talk with your physician about what you can do to prevent osteoporosis and falls.
Your heart. While a healthy diet and regular exercise can keep your heart healthy, it may become slightly enlarged, your heart rate may lower, and the walls of the heart may thicken.
Your brain and nervous system. Getting older can cause changes in your reflexes and even your senses. While dementia is not a normal consequence of old age, it is common for people to experience some slight forgetfulness as they get older. Cells in the brain and nerves can be damaged by the formation of plaques and tangles, abnormalities that could eventually lead to dementia.
Your digestive system. As you age, your digestive tract becomes more firm and rigid, and doesn’t contract as often. This change can lead to problems such as constipation, stomach pain, and feelings of nausea; a better diet can help.
Your senses. You may notice that your vision and hearing aren’t quite as sharp as they once were. You may start to lose your sense of taste � flavors may not seem as distinct to you. Your senses of smell and touch may also weaken. Your body is taking longer to react and needs more to stimulate it.
Your teeth. The tough enamel that protects your teeth from decay can start to wear away over the years, leaving you susceptible to cavities. Gum disease is also a concern for older adults. Good dental hygiene can protect your teeth and gums. Dry mouth, which is a common side effect of many medications that seniors take, may also be a problem.
Your skin. With old age, your skin loses its elasticity and may start to sag and wrinkle. However, the more you protected your skin from sun damage and smoking when you were younger, the better your skin will look as you get older. Start protecting your skin now to prevent further damage, as well as skin cancer.
Your sex life. After menopause, when menstruation stops, many women experience physical changes like a loss of vaginal lubrication. Men may experience erectile dysfunction. Fortunately, both problems can be easily treated.
Many bodily changes are a natural part of aging, but they don�t have to slow you down. What�s more, there’s a lot you can do to protect your body and keep it as healthy as possible.
Keys to Aging Well
While maintaining your physical health is important to healthy aging, it�s also key to value the experience and maturity you gain with advancing years. Practicing healthy habits throughout your life is ideal, but it’s never too late reap the benefits of taking good care of yourself, even as you get older.
Here are some healthy aging tips that are good advice at any stage of life:
Stay physically active with regular exercise.
Stay socially active with friends and family and within your community.
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet � dump the junk food in favor of fiber-rich, low-fat, and low-cholesterol eating.
Don’t neglect yourself: Regular check-ups with your doctor, dentist, and optometrist are even more important now.
Take all medications as directed by your doctor.
Limit alcohol consumption and cut out smoking.
Get the sleep that your body needs.
Finally, taking care of your physical self is vital, but it�s important that you tend to your emotional health as well. Reap the rewards of your long life, and enjoy each and every day. Now is the time to savor good health and happiness.
Natural changes begin to affect the human body as we age, changing an individual’s normal mobility, strength and flexibility. While these gradual changes can begin slowing you down, remaining physically active according to how you feel and are capable of can help keep the body as healthy as possible, and there’s several ways to achieve this.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
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