Archive for the ‘Arthritis’ Category

Nesconset Rehab & Nursing

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Nesconset Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, a 240 bed skilled nursing facility in Smithtown, NY announces the addition of a courtesy van.  Intended to promote resident trips, family visitation and other important psychosocial supports, the Van is another demonstration that Nesconset Nursing Center seeks to keep our residents integrated into the Community and fostering family visitation.

Nesconset Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation provides high quality skilled nursing services and rehabilitation (Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapies) to persons effected by a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, arthritis for both short term rehabilitation (sub-acute rehab) as well as for long term care stays. We accept medicaid, Medicare and a host of private insurances.

Posted in aging, Alzheimer's, Arthritis, cardio, cardiovascular, diet, health, knee & hip, nutrition, osteoporosis, rehab, seniors, stroke | Comments Off

Stiff Joints Keeping You Up at Night? Try Some Cognitive Therapy

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

As the Baby Boomer generation ages, there is a swelling populaton of people suffering from osteoarthritis. Arthritis pain seems to go hand in hand with insomnia, with joint pain keeping awake 60% of those with osteoarthritis

A new study, reported in the Aug. 15 issue of Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, finds that cognitive therapy has a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis patients and insomniacs – assisting them in their quest for a good night’s sleep.

Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia or CBT-I,was given by an experienced clinical psychologist who taught participants cognitive restructuring techniques that helped change unrealistic beliefs and irrational fears regarding sleep or lack of it.

Handwritten sleep logs kept by participants documented their sleep patterns, and pain level was graded by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the Body Pain Subscale (SF-PAIN) question from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Pain.

Results showed that after CBT-I treatement, patients were falling asleep faster than before, and remained sleeping approximately 37 minutes longer. CBT-I seems to be an effective tool for treatment of osteoarthritis in conjunction with other pain management techniques, and may also work well with other chronic pain conditions.

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Posted in aging, Arthritis, Baby Boomers, health, lifestyle, medicine, osteoporosis, prevention, rehab, research, seniors | Comments Off

Hips and Hormones

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

by Jose Sonik

Some news from the science front! Hormone replacement in women is linked to hip replacement -  and childbearing is linked to knee replacement. These two new findings come out of England where 1.3 million women were followed since 1996.
Hormone replacement therapy is quite common among post-menopausal women, particularly those at risk of osteoporosis. Estrogen prevents bone-loss, which in turn prevents osteoporosis. But it seems to have a negative affect on join strength. Notable, estrogen with progestragen was more closely correlated with hip replacement than estrogen alone or tibolone.
The second finding is more startling. It’s well known that running, excessive jumping, climbing, and carrying heavy things can damage the knees, but nobody ever thought to apply that to carrying children. Though, when you think about it, some of those babies can get quite heavy.
This finding creates one of those tight corners often created by conflicting medical advice. Exercise during pregnancy is highly recommended, but it’s important to avoid unduly stressing the knees. Here are a few recommendations:
1. Swimming. Swimming takes the weight off your legs while getting your heart rate pumping. An outdoor pool or swimming no more than once a week because of the chlorine and ammonia that can build up over indoor pools.
2. Rowing, weightlifting (from sitting position), and similar exercises are healthy and will also get you ready to start carrying around a 10 lb baby.
3. Biking on a stationary bike will support your weight while giving you great aerobic exercise.
4. Yoga is both relaxing and healthy and a good idea any day.

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Posted in Arthritis, health, knee & hip | Comments Off

Reducing Falls With Ritalin

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

By Donna Lampa

When you hear Ritalin, what comes to mind is usually a hyperactive youngster who needs help keeping still. Well, new studies reported in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society are opening up new vistas for the  medication, suggesting that seniors on Ritalin stumble less frequently than their unmedicated peers.

This study was done on a small scale, so its doubtful to lead to widespread prescribing of  Ritalin for the elderly. What’s significant is that the data proves that walking and stability are  not just a physical skill but there’s a cognitive connection as well.

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Posted in aging, Arthritis, health, seniors | Comments Off

Get Moving, Grandma

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

~ by Ellis Greaty

If you are a senior:

Exercise is good for you.

Aerobic exercise is very good for you.

Strength training is good for you.

And now… walking is good for you too.

OK, most of us have always suspected – even known, perhaps – that walking doesn’t hurt and probably helps. But now there is scientific evidence supporting this belief, and the numbers are telling.

The University of Georgia rounded up 26 geriatric study subjects all over the age of 60 and predominantly female. Half the group went walking 3 times a week, initially for 10 minutes, but building up to 40. The other half watched videos on nutrition. Before the study, the participants were evaluated on fitness and physical ability. At the end of the study, they were again evaluated. The difference was telling.

For those who went walking, physical function increased 25%. For those who watched videos, it decreased 8.3%. Disability risk decreased 41% in the walking group. Aerobic capacity increased 19%, while it declined 9% in the control group.

Not all of the benefits were physical. The walking group became a tight group of friends, really enjoying their walks together. Quality of life was greatly increased. So seniors should definitely get out there and walk – with a friend.

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Posted in aging, Arthritis, exercise, fitness, health, knee & hip, seniors | Comments Off

Knee and Hip Replacements

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

~ contributed by T. Lee

What do you get when you combine an aging population with a gaining population?

Hip and knee replacements.

As baby boomers age and acquire arthritis, and as obesity continues to rage among the younger population, knees and hips are wearing out at an unprecedented rate. And as they wear out, they are being replaced at an unprecedented rate.

Arthritis is usually associated with aging, and the grinding down of cartilage at the joints. But cartilage can also be ground down by excessive weight placed on the joint by obesity.

Today, both populations of arthritis patients are growing, as baby boomers hit retirement and obesity grows in the general American population.

Arthritis can cause stiffness, swelling, and general joint pain, restricting, or even severely limiting, patient mobility. When pain-killers cease to help, join replacement surgery is a popular option. Titanium joints can last 10 or so years before they need to be replaced, and drastically reduce pain and increase mobility close to ordinary activity levels.

Between 2000 and 2004, there was a 53% increase in knee replacements and a 37% increase in hip replacements. According to a report by Dr. Sunny Kim at the Florida International University, if these trends persist, there will be 1.4 million knee replacements performed in the year 2015 alone. The cost to health care providers would be enormous.

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Posted in aging, Arthritis, Baby Boomers, exercise, fitness, health, knee & hip, rehab | Comments Off