Researchers at the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that dynamic exercise programs had moderate benefits for rheumatoid arthritis patients and recommended aerobic capacity training combined with muscle strength training as routine practice for these patients. However, more research is needed to determine the recommended length and type of exercise program, if patients need supervision, and if these programs are cost effective.
The researchers combined data from 8 studies involving 575 patients and founds that dynamic exercises are safe and have a positive effect on aerobic capacity and muscle strength for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and when performed long term have a positive effect on functional ability. However, the benefits are seen only after the intervention and programs that are water-based may help improve functioning of patients. Results were published in the Cochrane Library.
Archive for the ‘arthritis’ Category
Moderate Benefits of Dynamic Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009Dr Ellen Kamhi and Cindy Holt (both R.N.’s ) Interviewed on Arthritis
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Interviews by Dr Carl O. Helvie with Dr Ellen Kamhi and Cindy Holt on the Holistic Health Show yesterday on BBS Radio (www.bbsradio.com) follow.
Dr Kamhi, (above left) an expert in and author on arthritis is known as the “Natural Nurse”. She is very active professionally and her biography was published in a previous blog. She talks about causes of arthritis including stress, the natural ways to deal with arthritis including maintaining an alkaline body, the advantages of natural treatments over chemicals, and other aspects of arthritis.
Cindy Holt is a registered nurse, and massage therapist, and has completed the course work for a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. She has arthritis of the spine that she controls primarily with natural methods. She will talk about the symptoms she has, how she deals with them, and how she uses this knowledge with others to help them with their pain. Cindy’s biography was published on this blog earlier.
*Sorry for today’s delayed posting but the noreaster over the past few days put everything behind schedule.
Do Magnetic and Copper Bracelets Help Arthritis Sufferers?
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
Magnetic straps and magnetic and copper bracelets to relieve the pain of arthritis have become popular. They are advertised to increase the blood flow to tissues and stimulate the release of the body’s natural painkillers. In 2004 the results of studies on the effect of magnets on arthritis were contradictory. One study with 194 patients with osteoarthritis who wore the bracelet for 12 weeks concluded that those wearing the bracelet showed more improvement than those wearing a dummy bracelet. But several other studies that same year concluded that there was no evidence for magnetic bracelets helping arthritis patients.
This year a well designed study published by British scientists on ScienceDirect.com (August 28, 2009) concluded that magnetic and copper bracelets are generally ineffective for managing pain, stiffness, and physical functions in osteoarthritis although they have no adverse effect and may provide hope for the sufferer.
In their study the researchers compared the effects of a popular magnetic device, a weak magnetic wrist strap, a demagnetized device and a copper bracelet in people with arthritis and reached the above conclusions. More information is available in the original article. .
Dr Ellen Kamhi and Ms Cindy Holt, both R.N.’s, will be Interviewed Saturday on the Holistic Health Show
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Dr Carl O Helvie will interview Dr Ellen Kamhi and Ms Cindy Holt on BBS Radio (www.bbsradio.com) on Station 1 at 12 noon PST or 3 p.m. EST next Saturday. This change to a new station, date and time for the show was necessitated by changes at the radio station. Thereafter, the show will be broadcast every other week on station 1 at the times identified above. The shows will continue to be posted on this site, itunes, podcast alley, and podcast pickle on the day following the broadcast.
A biography and picture of Dr Kamhi and Ms. Holt were posted on an earlier blog. Please refer to these for more information. I look forward to having you as a listener of this important information on arthritis.
Cindy Holt, R.N. To be Interviewed on the Holistic Health Show on Saturday
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
Dr Carl O Helvie will interview Cindy Holt as his second guest on the Holistic Health Show on Saturday. Cindy is a registered nurse with a baccalaureate in nursing, certification as a massage therapist from Mueller College in San Diego, and completed the course work for a doctorate in naturopathic medicine at Clayton College. She also finished programs in lymph drainage massage, and guided imagery. Her career in cardiac care nursing span 7 hospitals, a doctor’s office, home nursing and hospice care. She was the nurse manager of CCU at Pomona Valley Hospital for 16 years before finding massage therapy. She opened her own business in 1999 and worked for the Visiting Nurses Association in Claremont, California as a hospice massage nurse, and volunteered for various agencies in different capacities such as the American Red Cross. She has arthritis of the spine and never uses more than a rare Ibuprophen for it but keeps it under control with diet, enercise, yoga and supplements.
My first Guest on the Holistic Health Show on Saturday is Dr Ellen Kamhi.
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
Dr Carl O. Helvie will interview Dr Ellen Kamhi, R.N., PhD about arthritis on the Holistic health Show on Saturday on BBS Radio (www.bbsradio.com) at 7 p.m. PST or 10 p.m. EST. Dr Kamhi The Natural Nurse has been involved in Natural Medicine since 1973 when she directed a program in Ethnobotany at Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona. She attended Rutgers and Cornell Universities, sat on the panel of Traditional Medicine at Columbia Presbyterian Medical School and is a Clinical Instructor at Stony Brook Medical School and at New York Chiropractic College where she teaches Botanical Pharmocology. She was nominated for the March of Dimes Woman of Distinction, 2004, and received the J.G. Gallimore award for research in science. A respected authority in the field of natural healing, Dr Kamhi is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild (AHG), is nationally board certified as a holistic nurse (a-HNC) and works to bring together a body of ancient and modern practices and philosophies that use less invasive, less toxic, natural techniques to enhance wellness. Along with Dr Eugene Zampieron, ND, Ellen heads Natural Alternative Health Education, and Multimedia Services, and leads EcoTours For Cures which brings participants to indiginous areas to experience the ancient healing arts of traditional cultures.
Dr Kamhi is the author of Cycles of Life, Herbs for Women, The Natural Guide to Great Sex, Weight Loss-The Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide (2007), and co-author with Dr Zampieron of the Natural Medicine Chest and Arthritis, The Alternative Medicine Definitive Guide (1999, revised 2006). She is often quoted in numerous print media including Marie Clare, Latina, Self, Woman’s World, National Examiner, Cosmopolitan, andGlamour . She also appears daily on radio/tv and provides personal health consultation. She is available for organizations and private consultation at 1-800-829-0918 or http://www.naturalnurse.com
Study Concludes Nontramadol Opioids Should Not be Routinely Used for Osteoarthritis
Friday, October 30th, 2009
A study in the October 7 issue of the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews reported that even when the pain is severe. nontramadol Opioids should not routinely be used for osteoarthritis. The researchers compared oral and transdermal opioids with placebo in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee to determine its effect on pain, function, and safety. They reviewed studies from Central Medline, EMBASE, and CINAHL and conference proceedings and contacted authors for additional data when needed.
Of the 10 trials included that comprised 2268 subjects, 4 trials had studied oral oxycodone, 3 studied oral codeine, 1 studied transdermal fentanyl, 1 studied oral morphine, and 2 studied oral oxomorphone. Compared with the control subjects (placebo) those receiving opioids had better pain relief, and improved function. Efficacy did not vary much based upon opioid type, analgesic potency, daily dose, duration of treatment or of follow up, methodological quality of study, or type of funding.
Those in the study group were more likely than the control group to have adverse reactions. The researchers concluded that the small to moderate benefits of the Nontramadol Opioids were outweighed by large increases in the risks of adverse reactions and should not be routinely used even if the osteoarthritis pain is severe.
Limitations of the study were noted as funding for most of the studies had been provided by pharmacetical companies.
Practicing Qigong Helps Fight Cancer
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
On Saturday, Rami Rones talked about the use of tai chi and qigong with individuals suffering from arthritis. Research (joint studies from the United States and China) now shows that this intervention may also help fight cancer.
Yuan Zheng Ping, head of the Cancer Rehabilitation Club in China, was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma 28 years ago and after studying Guolin qigong in Beijing started the Cancer Rehab Club in 1989 to teach others. He did a survey in 1993 with 1,500 cancer patients and found that after practicing Guolin qigong for 5 years there was about an 85 percent recovery rate. A second survey was carried out in 2003 and of 7000 cancer patients more than 60 percent had survived over 5 years.
Subsequently, the University of Illinois and Shanghai University of Sports studied this relationship and found it can help cancer patients live longer and have a better quality of life.
Another study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute is in the first phase and researcher Wang Changwei in China says regardless of quality of life, exercise ability, or health condition those who practiced Guolin qigong are far better off than those who don’t exercise qigong. The study is in its initial phase and a large scale study should take 3 to 5 years to confirm the validity of qigong and cancer recovery.
Holistic Health Show Last Night on Arthritis Included Interviews with Dr Elizabeth R. Lombardo, Frank Titus, and Rami Rones.
Sunday, October 25th, 2009
Dr Carl O Helvie interviewed Dr Elizabeth R. Lombardo, Frank Titus and Rami Rones on BBS Radio last night. Dr Lombardo helps arthritis patients increase happiness and decrease stress in their lives and discussed the interventions she uses. More information on her background was presented earlier on this website and can be found at: www.controlstressforgood.com
Frank (center) is the Founder of Titus Motion Therapy and Director of the Health Through Motion Center in Santa Monica, California where he treats clients locally and world wide using this intervention. More information was presented earlier on this site and is available at www.titusmotiontherapy.com
Rami has won many gold metals for Tai Chi and has DVD’s and a book on this subject. He works with arthritis patients through direct service and research. More information was presented earlier on this site and can be found at: http://www.ramelrones.com
The interview follows:
Frank Titus, Founder of Titus Motion Therapy and Rami Rones, multiple Gold Medal Winner for Tai Chi and other Martial Arts to be Interviewed on the Holistic Health Show
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
My second guest for Saturday is Frank Titus, (left) Founder of Titus Motion Therapy that uses individual exercises and stretches designed to get people out of pain. His success rate has been over 95% treating such chronic painful conditions as herniated discs, sciatica, whiplash, carpel tunnel, migraine, fibromyalgia, TMJ, rotator cuff injuries, degenerative joint disease, tennis elbow, ACL injuries, and arthritis. In 2005 he opened the Health Through Motion Center in Santa Monica and in addition to treating those in the Los Angeles area he treats clients throughout the world via video consultation including clients as far away as New Zealand.
Those treated have included many high profile clients in the entertainment and sports world including Olympians, and PGA, NFL, PBA, ATP, AVP, and NBA athletes as well as yoga teachers, musicians, and doctors. He also hosts the #1 talk radio show The Painkillers on 97.1 FM and was the only non-medical doctor to appear on the American Health Journal award winning television series on PBS. Frank will talk about Titus Motion Therapy on the show. More information is available at: www.titusmotiontherapy.com
My last guest on Saturday is Rami Rones who moved to Boston from Israel in 1983 to study martial arts with renown traditional master Dr Yang-Jwing Ming. Over the years Rami has won many gold medals in martial arts including 3 time gold medalist in Shanghi, China for Tai Chi, External and Internal Weapons, and Tai Chi and Kung Fu Sword. He also won gold medals for Tai Chi Pushing Hands and Tai Chi Sword in the International North America Chinese Martial Art Competition.
He now focuses his attention on helping people with cancer, arthritis, aging and stress using Tai Chi and QiGong. He is a scientific consultant of body-mind therapy at Dane Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard and Tufts Medical Schools as well as author of numerous scientific publications. He has been featured in magazines and newspapers, and on radio and television programs. One of his latest research reports was Tai Chi is Effective in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial presented at the International Tai Chi Chaun Symposium in July 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee at Vanderbuilt University. He has published two DVD’s on Tai Chi and his latest book is Sunrise Tai Chi: Simplified Tai Chi for Health and Longevity
More information is available at: http://www.ramelrones.com
