Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Keeping active with multiple sclerosis


Umer Physio
Putting Your Fitness First


Keeping active with multiple sclerosis
By Chris Sulway

A diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can be overwhelming, but it does not mean the end of physical activity: in fact, keeping strong and active can be key to maintaining a high quality of life. MS is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. With MS, the protective sheath known as myelin that surrounds the nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord becomes damaged. The damaged areas become scarred, leaving multiple hardened sclerotic patches – hence the name.

Once the myelin is destroyed, the nerve is no longer able to send messages as efficiently, much the same way as the loss of insulation surrounding an electrical wire will interfere with its ability to transmit signals.
Despite a number of theories, the overall cause of MS remains unknown. It is generally accepted that MS is an autoimmune disorder; in other words, the body’s immune system attacks its own myelin. Genetic and environmental factors are believed to play a role.
The first symptoms of MS usually occur between the ages of 20 and 40 years. It is about twice as common in women as in men and it predominantly affects Caucasians living in temperate and northern climates. However, there is recent research indicating that it is becoming more common in the Gulf region.
MS is an unpredictable disease. Symptoms usually appear in episodes and there is no way of knowing in any particular individual how severe it will be and what part of the body will be affected. Symptoms can include fatigue, impaired vision, loss of balance and muscle coordination, tremors, bladder and bowel problems, and partial or complete paralysis. Just as the symptoms vary among individuals with MS, so does the course of the disease: some people can be minimally affected, while others suffer severe progressive disability.
As yet there is no cure for MS, but there are treatments available that can help slow the progression of the disease and provide relief for symptoms. A component of an effective treatment plan includes physiotherapy and exercise. Physiotherapy can address many issues associated with MS: decreased range of motion in the affected joints; spasticity; and inadequate trunk control.

Physiotherapists can also help with acquisition of assistive devices to help with daily activities; training on how to effectively transfer from lying, to sitting to standing; and fall prevention. A daily exercise program is an important part of an over all
treatment plan and has many benefits for people with MS. Research indicates that moderate daily exercise, geared to a person's abilities and limitations, improves cardiovascular fitness and strength, results in better bladder and bowel function, less fatigue and depression, a more positive attitude, and increased participation in social activities.
Many people with MS can enjoy a variety of activities, but it is recommended that they consult a physiotherapist to provide guidance regarding types of activity and frequency. Issues that should be addressed include: target pulse and breathing rate, adapting routines when MS symptoms fluctuate, timing with medication, how to avoid overheating and dealing with symptoms that occur only on one side of the body. The exercise program should be designed to meet individual goals andlifestyle, and be enjoyable, too. Aquatics, exercise in water, is often recommended because it provides optimal exercise conditions for the person with MS. Being in chest-high water can provide support, and a sense of weightlessness. This enables people with weakened limbs to attain a greater range of motion in their joints and provides the ability to stand and maintain balance for exercises with less effort than on land. Water also provides resistance that can be used for muscle strengthening. Water temperature should be between 80° to 84° F to reduce body heat generated by exercise, this is important for MS, because overheating can often cause temporary worsening of symptoms.
Home exercise programs should be done daily and include components of stretching, strength training, aerobic exercise, and weight bearing activities. These can include activities such as yoga and Tai Chi, as well as weight lifting and ball exercises.
Even the most able-bodied person can’t expect to dive into exercise and achieve immediate dramatic change. Success is accomplished by meeting a series of small goals that fit individual strengths and needs. The less rigid the program, the greater the likelihood of success. Exercise may be so gratifying that it can lead to overexertion; with this comes fatigue and increased possibility of injury. Start slowly and exercise a little longer at each session. People with MS who work slowly at the beginning, and avoid exhaustion, will achieve greater positive results in the end. Living with the unpredictable nature of multiple sclerosis can be a challenge; exercise can be an effective tool to help reduce the impact the disease and bring a greater enjoyment to life.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Wrist Injury Treatment By : Umer Physio

Umer Physio
Putting Your Fitness First

Self-Care at Home

When you have fallen and injured your wrist, it is important to rest your arm.
•If there is an obvious deformity of the wrist or numbness in the hand, you should lay your wrist across a soft pillow and seek medical attention immediately.

•If there is no obvious deformity and you are not in severe pain, you may want to take some acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) and wait to see how the wrist feels. Again, a soft pillow is a good temporary splint.

•Apply ice to the area. Do not put ice directly on your skin. Wrap a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel to create an icepack.

•If pain or other symptoms do not go away within a day, you should see a doctor.
Medical Treatment

•If there is no fracture seen on the x-ray, the doctor may diagnose a sprain. In cases where there is tenderness in the anatomical snuffbox, the doctor may also suspect there may be a fracture of the scaphoid that is not apparent on the x-rays.

•For a wrist sprain, the doctor may decide to treat you with no splint, a Velcro wrist splint, or plaster splint (like a cast). The decision about a splint will be based on your level of pain, amount of swelling, restriction of movement, and concern about an occult or hidden fracture. (An occult fracture is a fracture that is so small that it does not appear on the initial x-rays.) If the doctor has concerns about an occult fracture, the doctor may splint you and advise you to have repeat x-rays at your doctor's office or with an orthopedist (bone specialist) in 5-10 days.

•For minor sprains, you will likely not be given a splint and told to limit activity appropriate to your level of pain.

•For more severe sprains, you will likely be given a Velcro wrist splint that you can take on and off. Also you might be prescribed some form of pain medication. You should make sure that you let the doctor know what other medications you are taking and any allergies that you have.

•Most experts recommend only the use of ice or cold therapy for sprains. Some doctors may still recommend switching to heat therapy after 24-48 hours.

•Treatment of a fracture (a broken bone) depends on the specific type of fracture found. If you have a fracture, you may be treated by the doctor who sees you initially or you may be referred to an orthopedic surgeon.

For more exercise literaturs, patients education and information about physiotherapy in pakistan please visit: www.umerphysio.co.cc

What is Stroke? by Umer Physio

Umer Physio
Putting Your Fitness First

WHAT IS STROKE?

Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the
brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is
either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the
blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.

Reducing Risk:

Knowing your risk and controlling what you can is the best defense against having a stroke.What stroke risk factors can be changed, treated or controlled?High blood pressure: High blood pressure is the most important controllable risk factor for stroke.Many people believe the effective treatment of high blood pressure is a key reason for the accelerated decline in the death rates for stroke.
For more informative Literature's, Exercises and Rehabilitation Protocol's Visit: www.umerphysio.co.cc

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Physiotherapy in Pakistan

Umer Physio
Putting Your Fitness First

Umer Physio provides a high quality and prompt treatment of a wide rangeof spinal and musculoskeletal problems for patients at my workplace or in the
convenience of there home or office.


Aswell as having a wealth of knowledge and experience in treating avariety of complaints,fully qualified and registered with Pakistan Physiotherapy Society


What Umer Physio Offers

  • Day, evening, weekend & home appointments
  • Over 7 years experience in physiotherapy
  • Fully equipped home visit facility
  • Central Karachi location
  • Links with Podiatry services and consultants locally
  • Treatment of a wide range of musculoskeletal problems
  • Soft tissue massage & sports massage
  • Spinal manipulations
  • Ergonomic work assessments
  • Prompt treatments at your convenience
If you have any questions or would like to speak to Umer physio, please don't hesitate to call me on +92-321-2227533 or visit www.umerphysio.co.cc .