Archive for the ‘exercise’ Category
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
A 24 month unblinded, random intervention study to compare the effects of strength training programs, self-management programs, and a combination of both carried out at the University of Arizona Arthritis Center found that physically inactive, middle aged people with symptomatic osteoarthritis benefited equally from strength training regimes, self-management programs, or a combination of the two. In this study, known as the Knee Study the researchers hypothesized that combining the two treatments might enhance the outcome.
Two hundred seventy three study participants between the ages of 35 and 65 who had reported pain and disability due to knee pain on most days in one or both knees for a period of not more than five years, and had a Kellgren/Lawrence classification grade 2 radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis in one or both knees were included.
Study participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups-strength training, self management program, and the combination group. The strength training group spent the first 9 months improving the core areas of stretching and balance, range of motion and flexibility, and isotonic muscle strength. This was followed by 15 months of developing independent, long-term exercise habits. The second group participated in a 2-phase self-management program to educate participants and provide one on one treatment advice. The combined group participated in both the complete training and self-management program. Two hundred one of the original 273 participants completed the two year program with the self management group having the highest compliance rate.
Despite the lack of differences in finding in the three groups, all groups demonstrated improvements in physical function tests and decreased self-reported pain and disability. The researchers stated that because the self management group demonstrated higher compliance and there was no differences found in the outcome of the three groups, self-management might be a less intrusive and equally effective early treatment for knee osteoarthritis. More information is available in the January 2010 issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
Tags:arthritis, exercise, Knee-Study, osteoarthritis, research, self-management
Posted in arthritis, exercise, osteoarthritis | Comments Closed
Friday, December 18th, 2009
A study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference from December 6 to 9 by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health reported that men with prostate cancer
who do physical activity as little as 15 minutes a day can reduce their overall mortality rates. They looked at both overall survival of men with prostate cancer and death rates specific to prostate cancer. They concluded that a moderate amount of regular exercise may improved overall survival and 5 or more hours a week of vigorous exercise may reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer.
Physical activity of 2,686 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study before and after a diagnoses of prostrate cancer (men with metastases when diagnosed were excluded) was assessed. Men who participated in biking, swimming, jogging, or playing tennis about a half hour weekly had a 35% lower risk of overall mortality. Men who walked 4 or more hours weekly had a 23% lower risk of all-causes of mortality compared to men who walked less than 20 minutes a week. However, walking did not show an effect on specific prostate cancer mortality but strenuous exercise did and men who participated in 5 or more hours of vigorous physical activity weekly had a decreased risk of dying from prostate cancer.
Although the specific mechanisms of exercise on prostate cancer are unknown, the researchers said exercise is known to influence a number of hormones hypothesized to stimulate prostate cancer, improve immune functioning, and reduce inflammation. The interaction of these factors is still being. studied and more research is forthcoming.
Tags:exercise, prostate cancer. research
Posted in Cancer, exercise, prostate cancer | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
A study was carried out and reported in the Journal of Hand Therapy in 2007 on the effects of strength training among people with hand osteoarthritis. In this 2 year study whole body strength training and gripper exercise were evaluated in terms of hand strength, pain and functioning in adults with radiographic evidence of hand osteoarthritis. Fifty five adults age 65 to 78 and 80% women participated in two years of strength training three times a week. Bilateral gripper exercises (isotonic grip strength) isometric grip strength, pain, and self reported hand and finger functioning were reported at the beginning and the end of the 2 year period. Isotonic grip strength increased by 1.94 kg over the two year period which was significant at the p<0.0003 level; the right and left isometric grip increased 3.62 kg that was significant at the p<0.002 level and p<0.0005 level respectively, and hand pain decreased from 4.77 to 2.62 significant at the p<0.006 level. Hand and finger function scores showed minimal dysfunction at the beginning and at the end.
Results suggest that strength train may safely increase grip strength and reduce the pain in older people with hand osteoarthritis.
Tags:gripper exercises, hand and finger fuctioning, hand osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis, pain
Posted in arthritis, exercise | Comments Closed
Friday, November 27th, 2009
A prospective study published in the British Journal of Cancer (October 27) concluded that men who are not sitting for most of the time during work or occupational activities and who walk or bicycle more than 30 minutes daily during their adult life have a reduced incidence of prostate cancer. In the study 45,887 men aged 45 to 79 were followed for 10 years. There were 2735 cases of prostate cancer and 190 deaths. There was an inverse relationship between levels of physical activity and prostate cancer. Those in the top quartile of lifetime physical activity decreased by 18% (95% confidence level) compared with those in the lowest quartile their risk of prostate cancer. Men who sat at work half of the time had a 20% reduction in prostate cancer risk over those who sat most of the time. There was also an inverse relationship between the incidence of prostate cancer among those with average physical activity at work and walking and bicycling duration. Thus, physical activity seems important for reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
Tags:exercise, Holistic Health Show, prostate cancer, research
Posted in Cancer, exercise, prostate cancer | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
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.
Tags:exercise, Holistic Health Show, rheumatoid arthritis
Posted in arthritis, exercise, rheumatoid arthritis | 2 Comments »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
Data present by Duke U researchers at the Society for Neuroscience meeting last month showed that exercise is a major factor in improving memory and mood after whole-brain radiation treatment in rodents. This is an exciting finding because whole brain radiation is sometimes used to treat brain cancer in humans.
In the study one group of mice that had radiation stayed in their cages under normal conditions of living with other mice, eating and playing as they liked. A different group of mice having radiation were given daily access to a cage with a running wheel which they could use if they wanted.
The mice were tested for how well they remembered spatial features in their environment for locating a preferred excape hole to exit a well lit maze abd hide., They were tested at two weeks and 3 months after radiation.
The mice that had radiation and access to running did as well as normal mice (without radiation) that didn’t exercise when it came to remembering where the hole was. Irradiated mice that did not have access to exercise eventually showed no preference for that section of the maze with the escape hole.
The researchers concluded that exercise seems to protect against the loss of memory and increased depressive like behavior.
Tags:brain cancer, Dr Carl O Helvie, exercise, memory, mood, radiation, research
Posted in Cancer, exercise | Comments Closed
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
Tags:arthritis, Dr Carl O Helvie, DVD's, exercise, Frank Titus, gold medalist, Harvard U, herniated disc, martial arts, mind-body therapy, pain management, Rami Rones, sciatica, stress reduction, stretching, talk radio host, The Painkillers, Titus Motion Therapy, Tufts U, video consultation, whiplash
Posted in Titus Motion Therapy, arthritis, body alignment, exercise, rheumatoid arthritis, tai chi | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
Researchers at the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands reviewed dynamic exercises programs with individuals having rheumatoid arthritis and found moderate benefits associated with this type of intervention. According to the lead researcher, Emalie Hurkmans, “based upon the evidence in the study, we would recommend aerobic capacity training combined with muscle strength training as routine practice for RA patients. But we need more research to establish the recommended length and type of exercise programs, whether patients need to be supervised and if these programs are cost effective.”
Data from 8 trials was combined involving a total of 575 patients. The findings confirmed previous studies that dynamic exercise programs are safe and have positive effects on muscle strength and aerobic capacity in rheumatoid arthritis patients and when performed over a long period of time have a positive effect on functional abilities.
Tags:exercise. rheumatoid arthritis
Posted in Uncategorized, arthritis, exercise, rheumatoid arthritis | 3 Comments »
Sunday, October 11th, 2009
My first guest last night on the Holistic Health Show hosted by Dr Carl O Helvie was Dr Nathan Wei, CEO of the Arthritis and Osteoporesis Center of Maryland who has helped more than 7,000 patients with arthritis. He is author of more than 60 peer-reviewed literatures, 500 published articles, has produced 12 videotaped presentations, presented over 120 lectures worldwide, and taught advanced courses in rheumatology. More information is available on an earlier blog or at: www.aocm.org
My second guest, Kelly Rouba, is an author, writer, emergency management professional, and spokesperson for the Arthritis National Research Foundation who was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at age 2. More information is available on an earlier blog here or at: www.eadassociates.com
My last guest was Kirsten Mahoney who is a certified Life Balance Coach and founder of Insight Out Life Coaching who has arthritis and talks about her treatment. More information is available on an earlier blog or at: www.insightoutlifecoaching.com
This interview follows. You can also listen to it on itunes, podcast alley, or podcast pickle.
Tags:acupuncture, anti inflamatory medications, chiropractor, Dr Carl O Helvie, Dr Nathan Wei, herbs, Kelly Rouba, Kirsten Mahoney, life style modification, massage, music therapy, natural supplements, occupational therapy juvenile arthritis, osteoarthritis, physical therapy, rheumatoid arthritis, stem cell, Yoga
Posted in Podcast, alternative health, arthritis, exercise, herbs, meditation, nutrition, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatology, stress | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Dr Arlene Donar is the second guest of Dr Carl O Helvie on the Holistic Health Show this week. Dr Donar graduated summa cum laude with a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine which is one of the four accredited university programs in North America. She is board certified and licensed as a Naturopathic Physician in Connecticut. Part of her Naturopathic preparation was at the Lukas Klinik and Ita Wegman Klinik in Switzerland where she worked with patients having cancer and other acute and chronic conditions. Dr Donar completed an externship at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York working with allopathic physicians who specialized in HIV/AID’s health care.
She also holds a masters degree in Speech and Language Pathology and has worked as both a private consultant and adjunct professor at Pace University in Manhattan, New York.
Dr Donar is the former Medical Director of the supplement manufacturers, Heartguardian, located in Princeton, New Jersey. In this role she oversaw a new program called “Cholesterol/Watchers” where she developed and supervised programs that included supplements, diet, exercise and lifestyle management directly related to cardiovascular health.
Currently she is in private practice working with clients with chronic health conditions and lectures locally on prevention and treatment of diseases using biological medicine and clinical nutrition. She has written articles for magazines and been a guest on Tribeca Radio. She is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and the Oncological Association of Naturopathic Physicians. More information is available at www.drdonar.com
Tags:Dr Arlere Donar, Dr Carl O Helvie, exercise, lifestyle, Naturopathic Physician, nutrition, oncological physician, supplements
Posted in Cancer, exercise, naturopathic medicine, nutrition, supplements | Comments Closed
