Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Stroke Treatment – How Physiotherapy plays an important role?

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Current interventions in the management of knee osteoarthritis


No specific cure for OA exists and the severity of condition varies from individual to individual. Hence, a more generic approach to current treatment methods revolves around some combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment modalities. Mostly, all exercise programs for knee OA should be practical, albeit simple, but should be helpful in gradual and progressive cure of the condition. Each program should be individually designed for proper accommodations based on the severity, age, gender, weight, lifestyle, and the individual’s functional capabilities. These program settings should typically not involve any high-impact axial loading and should allow for proper rest intervals as set forth by the individual’s needs toward the frequency, intensity, and duration of the treatment. The goal of the program should be to decrease pain, increase the range of motion, increase the overall functional strength, educate about posture and gait, as well as to improve physical fitness levels and mobility.Pro Physiotherapy is the Top Physiotherapist in Bangalore.

Top Physiotherapist in Bangalore.

Weight reduction is one of the first and unproblematic measures that can be taken to reduce knee OA. Studies of OA have constantly shown that overweight people have higher rates of knee OA than non-overweight control subjects. This is due to the fact that force across the knees is 3–6 times the body weight; therefore, people who have more mass cause extreme forces on their knees, leading to the early onset or steady progression of knee OA condition.2] Individuals who are overweight may have circulation problems, possibly including a cartilage growth problem or a bone problem, which has the ability to cause cartilage breakdown or affect the bone underneath the cartilage, thereby leading to OA. Finally, overweight people have higher bone mineral densities, and high bone mineral density (or the absence of osteoporosis) may itself be a risk factor for OA. Weight loss is therefore a logical step to relieve pain in these joints and to slow the progression of degenerative arthritis. According to a study conducted by Mao-Hsiung Huang and group, pain reduction and improvement of walking speed in various degrees of severity of arthritis was observed in the OA population undergoing prescribed weight loss procedures.Suggestions from the Top Physiotherapist in Bangalore — Stress affects the condition of arthritis.
Apart from weight reduction and avoiding activities that exert excessive stress on the joint cartilage, there has been no specific treatment to prevent cartilage degeneration or to repair damaged cartilage in OA. Therefore, for the past several years, research has focused on determining the causes of knee OA and to discover how to stop the progression of the disease, aside from lowering the effects such as pain and discomfort by therapy. Some studies have even hoped to help reform the lost cartilage to return the knee back to health. A potential technique that can augment cartilage growth (stem cell tissue engineering approaches) is the use of electromagnetic field therapy (EFT). Modulation of cell signaling events by weak electromagnetic fields is associated with binding of hormones, antibodies, and neurotransmitters to their specific binding sites. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) treatment preserves the morphology of articular cartilage and retards the development of OA lesions. However, while supply limitations of stem cells can be overcome, the lack of tissue quality, specifically in the preparation of the differentiated stem cells toward the articular cartilage phenotype is still a major challenge for the researchers.
However, the most widely used remedy for knee OA is rehabilitation and physical therapy (PT). PT has proved to be useful in helping patients with pain and mobility. Fitness walking, aerobic exercise, and strength training have all been reported to result in functional improvement in patients with OA of the knee. Having a clinical PT program has the benefits of onsite direction and availability of sophisticated equipment. By and large, various studies have shown that having these added benefits contributes to program adherence and overall higher outcomes while in the care of the PT. These programs may be divided into PT at rehabilitation center under the supervision and monitoring of doctors and trained specialists and the other one carried out through personal care as prescribed by medical practitioner at home.

Rehabilitation-centered approach

Specialist at Pro Physiotherapy will also treat problems related to Osteoarthritis and stand as the Top Physiotherapist in Bangalore.
The specific programs that are typically run are a combination of programs such as strength training, aquatic, Tai Chi, aerobic, and hydrotherapy. Strength training, being the most common treatment approach for the management of patients with functional limitations, is prescribed to address the need to increase muscular strength and joint stability for improving in WOMAC pain scores and overall health benefits. The common equipment used is based on fundamentally different movement progression and resistance patterns such as isotonic (unchanged tension but change in length), isometric (no change in length or angle), and isokinetic (constant resistance with variation in speeds). Though isometric activities show effective results in reducing pain levels, they are avoided when working with the elderly due to increases seen in heart rate and blood pressure, which could be contraindicative to other co-morbidities. Typically the programs last for 6–24 weeks with an average of 8 weeks, while working at an average frequency of three sessions per week for an average duration of 30 min each.
Aerobic exercise programs may make OA patients feel better, help reduce the joint pain, and make it easier for them to perform daily tasks. Exercise programs under medical supervision should be balanced with rest and joint care. Aerobic programs truly border both clinical (rehabilitation) and home programs. Regardless of the setting, this program type was found to be effective for reducing pain in hip and knee. Patients are typically recommended to exercise between 50% and 70% target heart rate for a minimum of 30 min, 3 times a week, for overall weight management, health benefits, and a reduction in pain which was noted after a 6-month program.
Yoga therapy for osteoarthritis rehabilitation
Although many people think yoga involves twisting the body into pretzel-like poses, it can be safe and effective for people with OA. Yoga’s gentle movements can aid to build body strength, flexibility, and balance, and reduce arthritis pain and stiffness. The slow, controlled physical movement of joints is helpful for the arthritis patients. It improves the blood circulation in joints, removing unwanted toxins and other waste products. However, the problem is if the patient tries to move his limbs and joints then pain increases, which may lead to task avoidance, thereby further increasing the problem. So, it is a vicious cycle, i.e., because of pain no movements and because there is no movement, the situation becomes even worse. So, the patient should keep doing the movements which are possible for him/her. A pilot study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, examined one type of yoga, Iyengar yoga, suitable for people with OA of the knee. After an 8-week course of weekly 90-min beginner classes, there was a statistically significant reduction in pain, physical function, and mood, indicating the positive effects of yoga therapy for OA rehabilitation.
Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that is primarily practiced for its health benefits, including a means for dealing with tension and stress. It emphasizes complete relaxation, and is essentially a form of meditation, or what has been called “meditation in motion.” Unlike the hard martial arts, Tai Chi is characterized by soft, slow, flowing movements that emphasize force, rather than brute strength. Though it is soft, slow, and flowing, the movements are to be executed precisely. Tai Chi as a form of therapy was typically conducted within the clinical setting and followed a host of different focus styles (Sun, Wu, Yang, Baduanjin, and Qigong), all of which were used as an intervention protocol for hip and knee OA. Each Tai chi session on average ran a length of 8–24 weeks with a frequency of one to five sessions per week at a length of 20–60 min. The use of Tai Chi showed significant improvements in reducing pain levels, and ultimately good program adherence. Out of all the styles selected, the Yang style (comprising 13 basic body movements) proved to have the best results.

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Use Cold Laser Therapy and Control Your Pain.


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Cold Laser Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissue and is thought to help accelerate the healing process. It can be used on patients who suffer from a variety of acute and chronic conditions in order to help eliminate pain, swelling, reduce spasms and increase functionality.
How Cold Lasers Work? 
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Cold lasers are handheld devices used by the clinician and are often the size of a flashlight. The laser is placed directly over the injured area for 30 seconds to several minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated and the dose provided by the cold laser unit.
During this time, the non-thermal photons of light that are emitted from the laser pass through the skins layers (the dermis, epidermis, and the subcutaneous tissue or tissue fat under the skin). This light has the ability to penetrate 2 to 5 centimeters below the skin at 90mw and 830 nm.
Once the light energy passes through the layers of skin and reaches the target area, it is absorbed and interacts with the light sensitive elements in the cell. This process can be compared to photosynthesis in plants – sunlight is absorbed by plants, which is then converted to usable energy so that the plant can grow.
When cells absorb this light energy, it initiates a series of events in the cell that is theorized to eventually result in normalizing damaged or injured tissue, a reduction in pain, inflammation, edema and an overall reduction in healing time by increasing intracellular metabolism.
Types of Conditions Treated by Cold Lasers:
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Cold laser therapy can stimulate all cell types including muscle, ligament, cartilage, nerves, etc., so a number of conditions can be treated by cold laser therapy. Some of conditions that may typically be treated by cold laser therapy include:
Arthritis pain
Back pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Fibromyalgia pain
Knee pain
Neck pain
Tendonitis
Effectiveness of Cold Laser Therapy
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For years, physicians have been using cold laser therapy on patients who are seeking effective, alternative methods for pain relief. Since 1967 there have been over 2,500 clinical studies published worldwide. Many of these studies are double-blinded, placebo-controlled and have demonstrated cold laser therapy to be a proven method for pain relief.
Effectiveness of Cold Laser Therapy
Potential Cold Laser Therapy Disadvantages
Cold laser therapy does have several disadvantages.
Patients do not typically get full relief or resolution from their pain symptoms after the first treatment. It takes a series of treatments, usually 8 to 30, depending on the severity and duration of the condition.
Patients often have to return to the doctor for treatments at least 2 to 4 times per week. Old injuries may be aggravated for a few days after treatments, but for most patients this sensation is short term, lasting for a couple of days.
Physiotherapy clinic near you in JP Nagar.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is thought to have an analgesic effect as well as a biomodulatory effect on microcirculation. This study was designed to examine the pain-relieving effect of LLLT and possible microcirculatory changes measured by thermography in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Materials and Methods: Patients with mild or moderate KOA were randomized to receive either LLLT or placebo LLLT. Treatments were delivered twice a week over a period of 4 wk with a diode laser (wavelength 830 nm, continuous wave, power 50 mW) in skin contact at a dose of 6 J/point. The placebo control group was treated with an ineffective probe (power 0.5 mW) of the same appearance. Before examinations and immediately, 2 wk, and 2 mo after completing the therapy, thermography was performed (bilateral comparative thermograph by AGA infrared camera); joint flexion, circumference, and pressure sensitivity were measured; and the visual analogue scale was recorded. Results: In the group treated with active LLLT, a significant improvement was found in pain (before treatment [BT]: 5.75; 2 mo after treatment: 1.18); circumference (BT: 40.45; AT: 39.86); pressure sensitivity (BT: 2.33; AT: 0.77); and flexion (BT: 105.83; AT: 122.94). In the placebo group, changes in joint flexion and pain were not significant. Thermographic measurements showed at least a 0.5°C increase in temperature—and thus an improvement in circulation compared to the initial values. In the placebo group, these changes did not occur. Conclusion: Our results show that LLLT reduces pain in KOA and improves microcirculation in the irradiated area.
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References
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12. Bjordal J.M. Lopes-Martins R.A. Iversen V.V. A randomised, placebo controlled trial of low level laser therapy for activated Achilles tendinitis with microdialysis measurement of peritendinous prostaglandin E2 concentrations. Br. J. Sports Med. 2006;40:76–80. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
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