Blog: Physical Therapy & Chiropractic

Can Physical Therapy Help Diabetes?

In the world that we live in, Type II diabetes has become widespread. It is usually associated with weight gain, which further complicates the condition. Owing to insulin imbalances, it becomes extremely difficult for a diabetic to lose weight.

At the same time, weight loss is an important component of diabetes management. Losing just 5 to 10 percent of excess body weight has radical long term consequences and significant health benefits. Weight loss has the potential to reduce the complications associated with diabetes and minimize the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes.

In order to shed the excess body weight, a diabetic needs a progressive, structured combination of exercise and nutrition. Supervision and accountability is a key component of lasting weight loss for diabetics. A physical therapist can play an important role in exercise program design. A well-designed exercise program from a physical therapist can help burn calories, improve circulation and help the body manage insulin more effectively.

Planning For Safe, Sustained Weight Loss

Weight loss requires a strategic combination of cardiovascular exercise and muscle strengthening to burn excess calories and improve metabolism. This increases your body’s ability to utilize energy and balance blood sugar levels, which is a safe and effective way to manage diabetes.

Type II diabetes is associated with decreased insulin sensitivity, which makes it extremely important for a diabetic to include muscle strengthening as part of a supervised exercise program. Increased muscle tone is a direct benefit of muscle strengthening. Muscle is considered a ‘metabolically active’ tissue, which burns energy, helps stabilize the body’s response to sugar and allows the body to use insulin more effectively. With your physical therapist’s supervision, muscle strengthening can be a safe, fun way to manage diabetes and improve energy levels!

Depending on the severity of the insulin imbalance, a physician may recommend some medications, and it’s best to consult with your physician to determine if you need a prescription for diabetes medication or a visit to your physical therapist.

Exercise Is The Foundation

Exercise is the foundation for the safe, effective treatment of diabetes. A physical therapist can evaluate a diabetic patient and determine if there is any muscle weakness, imbalance, impairment of sensations or aches and pains associated with excess body weight.

This information can be used to design an exercise program that can restore muscle balance, aid in weight loss and facilitate return to normal, healthy function.

A physical therapist can play a crucial role by setting up an individualized exercise program to manage diabetes. In most cases, a physical therapist will work closely with your physician to help you manage your blood sugar levels.

There is a lot that a physical therapist can do for you, and help is just a phone call away. Don’t let diabetes steal your energy or affect your lifestyle. We are standing by to assist you and help you fight diabetes the right way. Please call us today and give us the opportunity to demonstrate how we can help you.

http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com

Balance and Strengthening For Ankle Sprains

The ankle is the most common site of sprains in the human body. An ankle sprain can occur when you least expect it. It is most likely to occur after a sudden, unnatural twisting of the foot which results in a ligament tear. An injury like this affects every aspect of your daily life, most notably your ability to walk and drive.

The symptoms of an ankle sprain vary depending on the severity. Tenderness, bruising, swelling and stiffness are common. Walking can be painful.

Athletes tend to suffer from ankle sprains, owing to the sudden, explosive and rotational nature of most sports. This requires a prolonged course of physical therapy and strengthening before the athlete can return to competitive sports.

Unfortunately, once an ankle has been sprained, it is at a much higher risk of re-injury.

Soccer players, basketball players, tennis stars, marathon runners, and other athletes can get caught up in the cycle of injury and recurring sprains. The good news is that physical therapy can play a preventive role. With the right program of balance and strengthening exercises, the risk of injury can be minimized.

Treatment of Chronic Ankle Sprains

Strength and balance exercises to restore muscle strength and balance in the foot is the best way to recover from injury and reduce pain associated with the injury. Strength training utilizing the muscles that turn your foot in (the invertor muscles) and turn your foot out (the evertor muscles) may lower the incidence of ankle sprains.

Balance intervention training involves an assortment of strength training exercises. A physical therapist will design a simple, effective home exercise program to improve stability in the foot and ankle region.

Depending on your needs, you physical therapist may recommend balance training using a ‘balance board’, which is an excellent way to stabilize and strengthen the muscles in the foot.

Physical Therapy for Ankle Sprains

If you spend several hours a day on your feet, you may be at risk for an ankle injury. Excess body weight and improper body mechanics can also play a role in a painful sprain, and you want to do everything possible to minimize the incidence of injury.

That’s exactly where your physical therapist can help you. If you want to strengthen your ankle and minimize the possibility of an ankle injury, all you need is an evaluation, followed by a simple balance training program from your physical therapist. Depending on your age, gender, body weight and fitness level, your physical therapist will design an effective ankle stabilization protocol for you.

Call us today to schedule an appointment. We’ll not only treat you for any ankle injuries, but we’ll teach you an exercise program to minimize the risk of injuries in general. We look forward to helping you, and are committed to your injury prevention and wellness goals.

Forest Hills Rehabilitation
108-14 72nd Ave, 4th Flr
Forest Hills NY 11375

http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com

Can Physical Therapy Train Your Brain?

We exercise to keep our bodies fit, but did you know that exercise can also train your brain? You have likely heard of the effect of endorphins on your mood, and you probably know that you feel better after exercising. Exercise can improve clarity, increase brain function, and possibly stimulate the formation of new brain pathways by restoring and stimulating nerve cells, called ‘neurons’.

Mental exercises can keep you alert, and must be accompanied with physicalexercises for best results. Exercise helps improve circulation in your cardiovascular (heart), pulmonary (lungs) and nervous (brain and spinal cord) system.

The Mind-Body Connection
As one grows older, the human brain starts to lose nerve cells and this can result in varying degrees of mental decline. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to challenge your nerves. Your brain function is improved through mental stimulation as well as through physical exercise. The inevitable mental declines often associated with the aging process can be minimized with a well-designed exercise routine.

Exercise triggers communication between (and blood circulation to) brain cells, which interact with other parts of the nervous system. The processing system of the brain is challenged during workouts, as certain chemicals such as adrenaline are triggered.

Regular exercise can help keep brain cells healthy and functioning properly. An active lifestyle can improve mental focus, accelerate the healing process for patients with brain or nerve injuries and can reduce the risk of dementia as we grow older.

There is a strong correlation between physical exercise and good mental health as people age. Individuals who stimulate their nervous system through exercise tend to function at a higher level physically and mentally.

Physical Activity and Brain Training

Exercise at low to moderate levels is best for training the brain. Very intense workouts can leave you exhausted physically and mentally. Ideally, you need at least half an hour of moderate exercise 3 times a week. Longer sessions may provide added benefit. You can also consider shorter, more frequent exercise during the day.

Moderate activities like brisk walking, hiking, biking, and swimming are beneficial, as are calming activities like yoga and deep breathing exercises. Your physical therapist will help you determine what’s best for you.

If you want to maintain mental acuity well into advanced age, contact your physical therapist. Physical activity can help ready the brain for new information, leading to increased interest, improved attitude, and better learning outcomes.

Contact your physical therapist at Forest Hills Rehabilitation to learn more about how exercise therapy can help train your brain.

http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com