News: Happy Back Yoga Series and New Instructor!

******Come One Come All! --Back To Health will be starting another 6 week "Happy BacK"  yoga series on September 8, 2012 with Bill Rodowshy, P,T.A. and certified therapeutic yoga instructor

******New Full Time Physical Therapist!

After a long search that included a number of top notch applicants, Back to Health is very pleased to welcome Justine S. Haroon, D. P. T. to our staff. Justine earned her clinical doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Florida. While in school she was awarded "for demonstrating outstanding performance in a clinical internship."

Justine is a skilled therapist who truly cares about patients and is easy to talk to.  She also "walks the walk", leading a healthy, active lifestyle, especially enjoying activities in and on the water. 

Does your Dentate Gyrus need some exercise?

At Back to Health, we seek to promote active lifestyles among our patients, especially as they reach middle age and beyond. This is because we know that people remain functional and independent much longer when they engage in regular physical activity, and there is a raft of studies to support this fact.   

Now it appears that regular, moderate aerobic exercise also facilitates the growth of new brain cells, probably by increasing blood flow to the dentrate gyrus. What the heck is that, you ask? It is a small section in the area of the brain called the hippocampus which is crucial for memory. In research at Columbia University in 2007, scientists discovered that when mice ran on their little wheels they produced new brain cells at twice the rate of sedentary mice. Additional research at the Salk Institute by Fred Gage, one of the foremost neuroscientist working today, found that exercise had the same effect on elderly mice. The benefit of the neurogenesis was that the exercising mice were much better learners than their sedentary counterparts.    

In follow up studies on humans, it was found that exercisers had nearly twice the blood flow of non exercisers and that the increase occurred in the area of the brain that is critical for memory-you guessed it-the dentate gyrus!     

Over the last several years scientists have been focusing attention on what-if anything- can help our brains as we age. There are lots of ideas and many false claims, but at this point the scientific research indicates that exercise is the answer.    

The great part about this is it's something that we can do for ourselves and it's free!

Professor Gage recommends that we all do something active-even walking at a moderate pace- for 30 minutes each day. So get your shoes on and get going; your dentate gyrus will appreciate it!     

 

 Comments or questions about this article are welcome via email to info@backtohealthpt.com or you can find us on Facebook .

Exercise Help

NEED SOME HELP? If you haven't been exercising in awhile and would like a supervised program in a non gym environment, give us a call or stop by. All of our personnel are true health professionals who can design a program just for you and help you carry it out. 

Prepare To Launch: Our Kids on their College Careers!

In the coming weeks or months a number of us will be launching our kids on their college careers. Sending your son or daughter off to college for the first time is a bitter sweet experience for both parent and child.   As parents, we are proud that they are taking that first step toward living on their own, but also a little anxious for them and sad that they are leaving the nest. Our child, on the other hand, is probably experiencing feelings of both excitement and insecurity about leaving home for life on campus.  

The last thing we want to throw into this emotional mix is a moving related injury. The following tips are intended to help prevent that from happening:  

1. "Chill" - Residence Halls usually open at least several days before classes start so consider delaying your arrival by a day or two to avoid the mad rush of anxious parents and kids that will be moving in the moment the doors open.
2. Don't make boxes too heavy. An extra trip is worth the effort to avoid an injury.
3. Wear sneakers!! Sandals although comfortable offer NO protection should an item fall on you. Sandals and flip flops are also a trip risk.
4. Use proper lifting technique- When lifting heavy items, bend at the knees and keep your back straight--let your legs do the work. Also, avoid twisting as you lift. If an item is too heavy or bulky, get some help. If you have any neck problems avoid lifting any heavy objects overhead.
5. Work together- If an item is too heavy or bulky, get someone to help you.
6. Tire Check-Before you hit the road, check the condition and pressure in your tires, this is truly a safety measure and will also make the trip more comfortable and improve gas mileage.
7. Car posture*-If you are the driver: Adjust your seat, sit up tall, engage your abdominals, pinch shoulder blades down and tuck in chin. Now adjust your rearview mirror. When necessary during the drive, readjust your posture, NOT the mirror.
8. Staging- Get as close to the Residence Hall entrance as safely possible and unload everything. Leave your son or daughter there while you park the car, then all of you can work together to carry things to the dorm room.
9. Watch your step- If you have to negotiate stairs, watch your step, take it slow, and use tips 4 and 5 above for lifting and carrying.  

Moving is your child's first step towards independence, make sure they help!!  

If you have some of your own tips to offer, visit us on Facebook and share what you have learned.

*Send us an email request and we will send you one of our car air fresheners (vanilla scent) with posture tips for a strong core and healthy back.

    

For more information about this article or a free consultation, call Kathleen Casey or Darlene Wooldridge at Back To Health Physical Therapy  (954) 565- 0075, or email us at info@backtohealthpt.com