October is National Physical Therapy Month, so we have put together our top stories on physical therapy and related topics including osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, enlarged prostate, dementia, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Many Americans are opting for medications and prescription drugs to obtain relief from pain and other symptoms, but physical therapy can be a very reliable treatment option that comes without the unwanted side effects. Unfortunately, it is largely underutilized.
Urine leaks in osteoporosis improve with physical therapy
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Urine leaks, or urinary incontinence, are common among women with osteoporosis, but new findings suggest urine leaks can be combated with physical therapy. Physical therapy to help improve urine leaks is focused on pelvic muscle training, which was shown to offer dramatic improvements.
Researchers from the BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the University of Montreal, Quebec, recruited 48 women over the age of 55 with osteoporosis and urine leakage.
Half of the women underwent 12 weeks of doctor-assisted physical therapy, which consisted of pelvic muscle strengthening and training with biofeedback, along with dietary changes. The other half of women went through a three-hour education program on physical activity, diet, and medications used for osteoporosis, one-on-one sessions with a dietician and physical therapist, and extensive follow-ups with healthcare providers. Continue reading…
Risk of multiple sclerosis in women may not be reduced with exercise: Study
The risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in women may not be reduced with regular exercise, according to latest research findings. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, but no benefits were seen protecting against multiple sclerosis.
Previously, it was believed that regular exercise could help reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis, but the new findings do not add any evidence to this notion.
The researchers tracked over 193,000 American women for up to 20 years. These women filled out questionnaires about their physical activity. The researchers then calculated how many hours the women spent exercising a week. Continue reading…
Natural remedies and exercises for enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
By age 60, at least 50 percent of men will experience enlarged prostate, or what is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As a man ages, the chance of having an enlarged prostate increases. For example, by age 85, the likelihood jumps to 90 percent. The good news is, there are natural remedies for enlarged prostate gland and healthy prostate exercises that can help.
When prostate enlargement or BPH goes untreated, it can cause problems with urine flow or lead to either a urinary tract infection or kidney malfunction. Some people with enlarged prostate have been prescribed medications, while others have experienced invasive surgery. Your symptoms, the size of your prostate, and any other health issues you might have should be taken into consideration by a doctor before a treatment option is decided upon. In some cases, enlarged prostate treatment with natural remedies are all one needs. Continue reading…
Dementia risk lowered with exercise
The new report suggests that people who live a sedentary lifestyle are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The findings unveiled that sedentary seniors have a 50 percent higher risk of developing dementia, compared to those exercising regularly.
Examples of moderate physical activity include walking, cycling, ballroom dancing, or gardening, according to the CDC.
Senior researcher Dr. Zaldy Tan said, “It doesn’t require intensive physical activity to decrease risk of dementia. Even moderate amounts are fine.” Continue reading…
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms can be reduced with exercise, physical activity
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms can be reduced with exercise and physical activity. The findings come from the University of Gothenburg’s study, which included 102 patients. Half of the patients were randomly selected to increase their physical activity levels, while the other half maintained their usual lifestyle.
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Both groups received supportive phone calls from physiotherapists.
The active group increased their physical activity independently, with the advice and support of a physiotherapist. Author and registered physiotherapist Elisabet Johannesson said, “They were advised to perform moderate to vigorous physical activity for 20 to 30 minutes three to five times a week.”
At the beginning of the study and after three months, all participants were asked to rate their IBS complaints. Senior physician responsible for the study Riadh Sadik explained, “The group with unchanged lifestyle had an average decrease of symptoms by five points. The active group, on the other hand, showed a symptom improvement with an average reduction of 51 points.” Continue reading…
