Physical Therapy Treatment Solutions for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

Treatment Solutions for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints. Autoimmune diseases cause the body to attack itself, because it perceives it as a threat. As the joints are damaged, they become inflamed and painful, often too painful to perform daily tasks.

As the immune system attacks the joints, there is a thickening of the space between them, which results in the destruction of cartilage. Over time, the tendons and ligaments in these areas get stretched out and weaker, causing the joint to lose its shape greatly impacting movement.

Discovering the Symptoms

The early signs of this disease usually begin with pain in the small joints, starting in the fingers and toes. As it progresses, it can move to the other joints and, in rare cases, other areas of the body. Some symptoms to look out for include:

  • Swollen, tender joints
  • Joint stiffness that gets worse with inactivity
  • Fatigue
  • Fever

Treating the Symptoms of RA

Aging on its own can be difficult; with rheumatoid arthritis it’s even harder. Having trouble using your hands, or even standing up can make it difficult to live a normal life. Though there is no cure for this disease, symptoms can be treated medically and with physical therapy.

Flexible Joints, Flexible Life

About two thirds of RA patients have significance muscle loss. In fact, it is found that 70% of strength loss is common in most patients. Research has shown that aerobic and resistance training can help improve functions and overall wellbeing of those who suffer with RA.

  • Weight Training– Reversing muscle loss can help improve movement of the joints, and reduce the disability associated with this disorder. A 24-week resistance training program can increase lean body mass, resulting in improvement of strength and function of the joints.
  • Aerobic Exercise– Patients that partake in aerobic exercise can decrease their risk of mortality around 20-30%. It helps to improve joint function, while increasing flexibility.
  • Other Exercise– Pilates and yoga have also been found to be effective. Elderly patients, who practice tai chi, tend to have better movements in the ankle and knees, due to the increase of joint lubrication.

Patients who suffer from RA are encouraged to partake in some form of exercise as part of their care, as inactivity can cause it to worsen. It is important to consult your local Physical Therapist to help you discover the right exercise regimen for you.

Citation

Cooney JK, Law RJ, Matschke V, et al. Benefits of exercise in rheumatoid arthritis. J Aging Res. 2011;2011:681640. Published 2011 Feb 13. doi:10.4061/2011/681640

Jagpal A, Navarro-Millán I. Cardiovascular co-morbidity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a narrative review of risk factors, cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment. BMC Rheumatol. 2018;2:10. Published 2018 Apr 11. doi:10.1186/s41927-018-0014-y

Veldhuijzen van Zanten JJ, Rouse PC, Hale ED, et al. Perceived Barriers, Facilitators and Benefits for Regular Physical Activity and Exercise in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review of the Literature. Sports Med. 2015;45(10):1401–1412. doi:10.1007/s40279-015-0363-2

New Year’s Resolution: Three Tips For Organizing Your Garage

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

If you are like many other garage owners, your space is so cluttered there is no way you could think about parking your car in there. The thought of cleaning a space, such as this, can be a daunting one. This is why, when faced with a task like this, it is best to go at it with a plan. Here are some tips for organizing your garage.

Create a plan

The first thing you want to do is actually get into it. As Newton’s laws of physics state, an object in motion tends to stay in motion. Once you start the motivation to finish will help out. Start by coming up with a plan of action. Break it down into little task, maybe start with a corner and work your way outward. By breaking it into little task, organizing your garage seems more manageable.

Make piles

Start sorting your items into different piles. One for things you will keep, another for things that can be sold or donated, and a third for stuff you can just toss out. This will let you know what needs to go back into the garage and what doesn’t need to be there anymore.

Look into self-storage

Once the piles are sorted, and you find that you still don’t have enough space to park your car in its home, you might want to start looking into self-storage. Self-storage can help you keep things important to you, without the cluttering up your home or garage.

The Importance Of Intentional Listening

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

It’s not hard for anyone to understand the desire to want to not only be heard, but understood as well. In a society where multitasking is at an all-time high, sometimes focusing on listening can take a back seat. In fact today is seems like most people are more intent on responding, than listening. Whether you are a salesperson trying to get a big client, or a manager listening to the needs of an employee, intentional listening is an essential key to success. Here are is why intentional listening is important.

Listen To Understand

Most people listen with the intent of responding. Intentional listening is when you listen to understand. This type of listening can be vital in all aspects of life, business being a big one. There are a number of ways intentional listening can make a business run more efficiently, therefore increasing revenue. For example, when you utilize intentional listening when speaking to a potential client, you get a better understanding of their wants and needs, which can make it easier to explain why your product would be best for them. When your customers feel that you understand them and their needs, they are more likely to stick around.

Creates A Longer Relationship With Clients

Building and maintaining a reputation with your clients through listening, is beneficial to you in the long run. Not only do you keep a long term client, but it opens you to more business through referrals. A single client can make or break your reputation. Intentional listening can help you reduce the possibility of conflict and treat the clients how they expect to be treated.

Show You Care

Another importance of intentional listening in business is when it comes to your employees. Happy employees, make for more effective employees. Keep them happy and your business will run smoother. When you listen to what they have to say, you not only show them you care about their needs and desires, you can better understand what they want to gain from working there. With your help, you can help them develop a plan to succeed that helps both them and the business in the long run.

Build Trust

A vital component for intentional listening is developing trust. This trust is what keeps your clients and employees happy. When they trust that you have their best interests in mind they are more likely to stick around. Building trust among your employees will help motivate them to do the best work possible.

Multitasking, while is seems like an effective way to get more things down at once, often leads to you taking longer to get things done. The human brain cannot actively do multiple things at once without sacrificing efficiency. If you are listening to someone speak, while also checking your emails on your phone, not only are you being disrespectful to the person you are supposed to be listening to, you are not intentionally listening to what they have to say. When you aren’t listening to them, you miss the actual message they are giving you. You can’t be an effective leader if you don’t listen to what your clients or employees are saying. If you wish to have a constructive conversation, consider leaving the multitasking for another time.

Next time you have a conversation with an employee or client; try listening to them in order to understand what it is they want. When you utilize intentional listening, you are more capable of making them happy and moving towards a more mutually beneficial arrangement. Listening should never just be about waiting for a chance to respond. Actively listening to understand helps build positive conversations and relationships between employees and clients.