Advertisement

Advertisement

exercise

Physical Therapy and Exercise for Arthritis: Do They Work?

Physical Therapy and Exercise for Arthritis: Do They Work?

Teaser: 

Marie D.Westby, BSc(PT), PhD Candidate, Mary Pack Arthritis Program,Vancouver Coastal Health, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC.
Linda Li, BSc(PT), PhD, Harold Robinson/Arthritis Society Chair, Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BC.

Physiotherapy aims to prevent physical impairment and restore functional ability through the use of exercise, education, and physical modalities. While there is solid evidence supporting physical activities in the management of arthritis, inactivity continues to be a problem among both younger and older patients with arthritis as compared to the general population. Current evidence supports the effectiveness and safety of moderate- to highintensity aerobic and strengthening exercises for osteoarthritis and stable rheumatoid arthritis. Participation in recreational activities does not replace the need for therapeutic exercises. Physicians and health professionals should be equipped with strategies to overcome barriers and facilitate treatment adherence when prescribing exercise.
Keywords: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, physical therapy, exercise, physical activity.

Yoga as a Complementary Therapy

Yoga as a Complementary Therapy

Teaser: 


Marian Garfinkel, EdD, Medical Researcher and Adjunct Professor, Temple University, College of Health Professions, Department of Kinesiology; Medical Researcher, University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Department of Rheumatology; Veterans Administration Hospital, Department of Rheumatology; Director, BKS Iyengar Yoga Studio of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

By broadening yoga’s application beyond stress-related ailments to include preventative and curative therapies, physicians today have an advantage in treating patients’ illnesses and disorders. Specifically, yoga therapy complements patients’ traditional medical treatment of osteoarthritis and other bone and joint disorders. Following anatomical guidelines, yoga teachers can adapt postures (asanas) to ensure patients’ organs, joints, and bones are aligned to achieve physiologic changes. Recent studies performed by this author assessing the effect of yoga therapy on rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, and repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, showed that yoga therapy caused physiologic changes, relieved pain, and improved motion.
Key words: osteoarthritis, yoga, Iyengar, exercise, repetitive strain injuries.

Screening for and Prescribing Exercise for Older Adults

Screening for and Prescribing Exercise for Older Adults

Teaser: 


Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Marcia G. Ory, PhD, MPH, Professor, Social and Behavioral Health; Director, Active for Life National Program Office, School of Rural Public Health, The Texas A & M University System, College Station, TX, USA.
Michael E. Rogers, PhD, CSCS, FACSM, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Studies, Center for Physical Activity and Aging, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USA.
Phillip Page, MS, PT, ATC, CSCS, Manager, Clinical Education & Research, The Hygenic Corporation, Akron, OH, USA.
Roseann M. Lyle, PhD, Purdue University, Department of Health and Kinesiology, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Cody Sipe, MS, Program Director, A.H. Ismail Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, PhD, Professor, Department Head of Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Terry L. Bazzarre, PhD, Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA.

Physical activity helps to maintain function, health, and overall quality of life for older adults. It is challenging, however, for health care providers and others who work with older adults to know what type of activity to encourage older adults to engage in, and how to motivate them to initiate and adhere to physical activity and exercise over time. The purpose of this piece is to provide an overview of physical activity for older adults and provide the resources needed to evaluate older adults and help them establish safe and appropriate physical activity programs, as well as providing motivational interventions that will eliminate the barriers to exercise and optimize the benefits.
Key words: exercise, screening, motivation, self-efficacy, outcome expectations.

The Evaluation and Treatment of Low Back Pain in Older Adults

The Evaluation and Treatment of Low Back Pain in Older Adults

Teaser: 


Arto Herno, MD, PhD, Senior Consultant, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

The degeneration of the lumbar spine is strongly associated with aging, but this does not mean that pain is an unavoidable accompaniment (though the recorded incidence of low back pain suggests otherwise). Recently, more attention has been drawn to the problem of changes related to the aging of our musculoskeletal system and the associated socioeconomic implications. We now have advanced equipment to examine patients and our store of knowledge is enormous, but the application of this knowledge to a working practical plan at the individual level is problematic. Understanding the automatism of the normal function of the lumbar spine is essential for treating mechanical low back pain because the main goal is to correct this functional disorder. However, the long-term goal of treatment should be to involve patients in their back disorder management.

Key words: aging, degeneration, lumbar spine, low back pain, exercise.

CME: Stepwise Approach to the Treatment of Diabetes in the Older Adult

CME: Stepwise Approach to the Treatment of Diabetes in the Older Adult

Teaser: 


The accredited CME learning activity based on this article is offered under the auspices of the CE department of the University of Toronto. Participating physicians are entitled to one (1) MAINPRO-M1 credit by completing this program, found online at www.geriatricsandaging.ca/cme.htm

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a very common condition in the older population. The disease may interact with other medical conditions that increase the degree of frailty in aging adults. Nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions are the usual steps in managing of DM. In this article, a stepwise treatment strategy will be suggested after a review of the pertinent literature.

Key words: diabetes mellitus, older adult, diet, exercise, pharmacotherapy.

Daniel Tessier MD, MSc, Head of Geriatric Services, Sherbrooke Geriatric University Institute, Sherbrooke, QC.

Translating Evidence into Clinical Practice: A Falls Prevention Program for Community-Dwelling Seniors

Translating Evidence into Clinical Practice: A Falls Prevention Program for Community-Dwelling Seniors

Teaser: 

Susan Maddock, RPT, Specialized Geriatric Services, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Susan Gal, BScPE, BHScPT, Specialized Geriatric Services, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

MaryJane McIntyre, BScPT, Specialized Geriatric Services, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Rory H. Fisher, MB, FRCP(Ed)(C), Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

Barbara A. Liu, MD, FRCPC, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto; Program Director, Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto, Toronto, ON.

The Falls Prevention Program at Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre was developed to provide patients with an evidence-based, multidisciplinary intervention to prevent falls. The goals of the program are to decrease the incidence of falls and improve patient confidence. Participants in the program are 65 or older with a history of falls or near-falls and are living in the community. Participants complete a 45-minute exercise circuit, twice a week for six weeks. In addition, patients undergo geriatric medical assessment and are seen by an occupational therapist for home safety education. Patients report fewer falls during the intervention and at follow-up, and subjectively report that they benefit from the program. The positive effects of this program support existing evidence that multidisciplinary intervention plays an important role in fall prevention.

Key words: falls prevention, older adults, exercise, balance, multidisciplinary, physiotherapy.

Importance and Management of Low Levels of High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Older Adults Part II: Screening and Treatment

Importance and Management of Low Levels of High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Older Adults Part II: Screening and Treatment

Teaser: 

Gustavo A. Cardenas, MD, Carl J. Lavie, MD and Richard V. Milani, MD, Department of Cardiology, Ochsner Medical Institutions, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Substantial data from epidemologic, lipid intervention and serial coronary angiographic studies have established the importance of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) on cardiovascular risk. Low levels of HDL-C should be treated with non-pharmacologic therapy, including weight reduction and aerobic exercise training. Persistently low levels of HDL-C can be treated with niacin therapy, fibrates (especially if the triglyceride levels are elevated) and the statin family of medications. For every 1% increase in HDL-C, one would expect a greater than 3% reduction in vascular risk.
Key words: high-density lipoprotein, niacin, fibrates, statins, exercise.

The Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging's Home Support Exercise Program

The Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging's Home Support Exercise Program

Teaser: 

Gareth R. Jones, PhD, Director, Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, London, ON.
Jessalynn A.B. Frederick, BHK Honors Co-op, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON.
Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging is affiliated with St. Joseph's Health Care, London and the University of Western Ontario, London, ON.

"Homeboundness" is defined as never or almost never leaving one's home except for emergencies, not going beyond one's door without assistance, or going out of one's home less than once a month, and it is estimated to affect as much as 50% of the population who are 85+ years old.1 The older homebound adult is more likely to live alone, have mobility limitations, experience incontinence problems, and be considered at high risk for falling and fear of falling, as well as more likely to receive home support services.2 Frail seniors living at home are particularly difficult to reach and are at high risk for loss of functional independence and for institutionalization.3

Home exercise is an effective means to prevent falls, to maintain functional independence and to promote rehabilitation following injury or illness.4 However, for an older adult faced with mobility challenges and/or other medical problems, attending a traditional community-based exercise program may not be a suitable option.

Delivery of Optimal Falls Prevention in Community-Dwelling Seniors

Delivery of Optimal Falls Prevention in Community-Dwelling Seniors

Teaser: 

Meghan G. Donaldson, MSc, CIHR Doctoral Scholar, Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
Karim M. Khan, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia; consultant in the Osteoporosis Programme at B.C. Women's Hospital and Health Centre; CIHR New Investigator, Vancouver, BC.
Stephen R. Lord, PhD, NHMRC, Principal Research Fellow, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Author of "Falls in Older People".

Falls are a major health problem in all Western societies. About 30% of community-dwelling seniors fall annually, and of these, half have recurrent falls. This article focuses on fall prevention in community-dwelling older people. It reviews risk factors for falls, addresses the role of exercise to prevent falls, and outlines management tips for physicians who see patients who fall. There is good evidence that strength and balance training should be prescribed to prevent falls. Also, there are many simple things a physician can do to reduce fall risk, such as medication rationalization and treating fall risk factors in a coordinated manner.
Key words: falls, exercise, balance, resistance training, risk factor modification.

Non-pharmacological Management of Diabetes: The Role of Diet and Exercise

Non-pharmacological Management of Diabetes: The Role of Diet and Exercise

Teaser: 

D'Arcy Little, MD, CCFP, Lecturer and Academic Fellow, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto; Director of Medical Education, York Community Services; 2002 Royal Canadian Legion Scholar in Care of Elderly, Toronto, ON.

Diabetes is a common disease in the elderly. While pharmacological management is important, the need for and benefits of non-phamacological therapy should not be underestimated in this population. Such therapy includes nutrition therapy, physical activity, smoking cessation and diabetic education. This article reviews, in detail, current recommendations for nutrition therapy and physical activity in elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes, including specific recommendations for all types of food groups and specific recommendations for pre-exercise evaluation.
Key words: elderly, diabetes mellitus Type 2, nutrition therapy, diet, physical activity, exercise.