Women’s Health Across a Lifespan

posted on May 15th, 2012, by Rich. No Comments posted so far.

filed under Women's Health

As part of National Women’s Health Week, the American Physical Therapy Association will be presenting

“Women’s Health Across a Lifespan”

Tune in tonight,  May 15 at 7 p.m. ET, for a great conversation with top experts who will discuss women’s health issues that can be prevented and treated by a physical therapist. Topics will include incontinence, pelvic pain, bowel/bladder problems, osteoporosis, chronic pain, lymphedema, pregnancy and post-partum conditions, and more!

Women across the country can listen here and call in to the show to ask questions or submit them in advance via Twitter by tweeting @MoveForwardPT and using the hashtag #overshare.

For more information on women’s health issues like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or speak to our women’s health specialist Taryn Cohn, PT.

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Women’s Health Week

posted on May 14th, 2012, by Rich. No Comments posted so far.

filed under Women's Health

National Women’s Health week is a time for you to take care of you.

Schedule your check ups today.

Here is the list of things you should get checked.

In addition to this list of health screens, Baudry Therapy Center wants you to move and feel better.

Call this week to schedule your FREE  functional movement screen.

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Pitching and Tommy John Surgery. Is Your Child Next?

posted on May 2nd, 2012, by Rich. No Comments posted so far.

filed under Baseball Training, Sports injury

From 1996 to ’99, Dr. Andrews performed Tommy John surgery on 164 pitchers, 19 of whom were high school aged or younger. From 2004 to ’07, those numbers had increased to 588 total pitchers and 146 high school or youth league players — a sevenfold increase.

The recent 18 inning battle between Jesuit and Rummel in baseball has gotten a lot of national attention lately, and not just because of how good the game was. Each starting pitcher threw over 150 pitches. And as a result the question of pitch count has come up again.  How many pitches are too many?

The research has found the following results:

  • Pitchers aged 9-14 throwing 75-99 pitches/game have 52% increased risk for shoulder pain
  • There is a 234% increased risk of elbow pain with 600-800 pitches/season
  • 80 pitches/game leads to 4x greater chance of requiring elbow/shoulder surgery
  • Competitive pitching for greater than 8 months/year leads to 5x greater chance of requiring elbow/shoulder surgery
  • Fatigued pitchers have a 36x greater chance of injury

These stats should be alarming, especially if your child is playing travel ball or on multiple baseball teams. Throwers are limited by their throwing mechanics, their  strength, their stability, and their physical maturity. Too much throwing can certainly leave a player at risk for permanent damage.

But like any learned activity pitching improves with practice. And more repetitions can help the athlete to become proficient. Unfortunately with repetition comes the risk of overuse injuries. And so for athletes there is always a balance between doing enough to master their craft, and doing too much causing injury and damage.

For us in the injury prevention and rehabilitation, the question is how can we help protect athletes and make them more suited for their athletic activity. One clear step is to develop more educated parents and players.

The first way for a parent to help their child avoid injury is to get involved in the process. Give your child the tools he needs to succeed and pay close attention to your child’s behavior. Here are 4 ways to help limit your child’s risk of throwing injury:

  1. A physical evaluation: Strength, flexibility, muscle balance, and coordination are all keys for good pitching mechanics. A physical therapist, an orthopedist, or an athletic trainer with experience in sports medicine would be a great start to identify potential weaknesses.
  2. Technical training: Good throwing mechanics are essential. Have a specific throwing/pitching evaluation from a knowledgeable coach.  Someone who has experience at least at the college level is recommended. But do your home work and select your coach wisely.
  3. Regular monitoring- injury checks:  Have your child’s arm assessed regularly throughout the season. More often as soreness and the season goes on. A physical therapist, orthopedist, or athletic trainer who is active with sports medicine and rehabilitation can be very helpful in determining how much your child should be throwing.
  4. Stay engaged: Bottom line is that as a parent you need to be engaged and pay attention. Children want to perform, they want to please, and they want to perform well. Sometimes to their own detriment.  You know your child better than anyone else. Don’t be afraid to step in and get help.

For a FREE consult,  more information on throwing, injures and specific training,  call or stop by our office, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Here are 2 great resources for more information on pitching injuries:

ASMI.org

stopsportsinjuries.org

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Tips For a Happy Healthy Jazz Fest

posted on April 25th, 2012, by Rich. No Comments posted so far.

filed under Healthy Living

Taryn Cohn MSPT, COMT

In just a few short days thousands of New Orleanians will make their annual trek to the fair grounds in search of music, food, art and fun.  Although this journey is done with entertainment as the primary focus it is often accompanied by lots of standing, walking and sun exposure.  It is important not to under estimate the impact this can have on your body.  Below is a list of tips to help make your Jazz Fest experience one that is enjoyable and not one you will regret the next day.

  1. Stay cool; It isn’t always easy to find shade at the fest, but there are several options for intermittent reprieves from the elements.Take advantage of the music tents.  There is no direct sun light, they have mist machines for the audience members, and you may get turned on to some new music.Head to the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage in the Grand Stand where you can listen in on artist interviews in the comfort of AC and indoor plumbing.Bring a shaded chair with you (google “canopy folding chairs” and you will find several affordable options)
  2. Stay hydrated; Contrary to the belief of many New Orleanians, beer does not quench your thirst.  Make sure you drink plenty of water.  The Institute of Medicine recommends roughly 3 liters for men(about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and 2.2 liters for women (about 9 cups).  So if you just can’t swing the water, there are several vendors that offer other options like caffeine-free iced herbal tea.
  3. Know the signs of dehydration:  dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, inability to make tears, diminished perspiration, muscle cramps, decreased urine output, light headedness, heart palpitations, weakness.
  4. Where good shoes.  If they must be sandals or flip flops, make sure they are a supportive type that secures to the foot like those designed for hiking or river walking.  By doing this you are less likely to loose your footing on uneven ground or get stuck in the mud.  The following are some good brands and examples of what I would recommend.  Chaco, Keen, Merrell and North Face.
  5. Restore and recover.  For some of you this may be the most walking (or dancing) you do all year.  Because of this there is a possibility you may experience some stiffness in the calves, hips and low back.  As with any physical activity, your body needs a post-exercise plan for recovery.  Make sure you take some time to stretch and loosen up throughout the day and when you get home.  Try some of these exercises to keep you moving: 1) Sidebending Stretch, 2) Calf Stretch, 3) Hip Flexor Stretch, 4) Trunk Rotation Stretch.

1)

2)

These are great stretches to do at the Fest or after when the stiffness sets in.  Hold each stretch for 15-25 seconds each.

Have a Safe and Enjoyable Jazz Fest.

For more information on injury prevention, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or contact our office.

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61% of Americans Have Low Back Pain

posted on April 11th, 2012, by Rich. Comments Off posted so far.

filed under Back pain

In a recent survey from the American Physical Therapy Association 61% of Americans experience low back pain and 69% of these individuals say their back pain affects their daily lives.

Surprisingly only 4 in 10 of these people ever seek medical advice!!!!!

http://www.moveforwardpt.com/LowBackPain/Infographic/Default.aspx

Back pain is often preventable and unnecessary. Talk to us about how to control the pain.

For more information on injury prevention, and strategies to improve your back, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or contact our office.

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ASTYM, a Tool for Better Running

posted on March 28th, 2012, by Rich. Comments Off posted so far.

filed under Overuse injuries, Physical Therapy, Run Training, Running, injury

If you are a runner, the last thing you want to hear is that you must stop running. Injuries often sideline runners.

ASTYM, or augmented soft tissue mobilization, is a physical therapy treatment that regenerates healthy soft tissues. This non-invasive treatment provides a great option for runners and enables them to keep running.

  • ASTYM decreases scar tissue and muscle restrictions that can lead to injury.
  • ASTYM stimulates your body’s healing mechanisms to repair injured tissue.
  • ASTYM re-models muscle tissue to withstand the strain of running.

In addition to being a great tool to treat running injuries, ASTYM can also be used proactively to reduce the risk of running injury.

For more information on injury prevention, treatments for running injuries and strategies to improve your running, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or contact our office.

Photo courtesy of Flickr via sea turtle


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Tennis Fitness: Increase Serve Speed with Medicine Ball Exercises

posted on March 21st, 2012, by Kevin. Comments Off posted so far.

filed under Tennis

Want a more powerful serve? Learn from one of the best, Mardy Fish, and utilize the kinetic chain in order to add power to your serve. The kinetic chain is the concept of generating force from the ground up through your legs and trunk to your arm and racquet. Power and serve speed is lost if there is a missing link in this chain.

Here is a great exercise to help you develop the hip and trunk strength necessary to make the serve your next weapon on the tennis court.

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Perform this exercise 2-3 times for 20-30 seconds at a time. Try this exercise after practice or during your off court tennis training session this week.

Please consult your doctor before you begin your tennis fitness training. If you have any questions about your tennis fitness, please give us a call. For more great tips like these, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

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Prevent Running Injuries and Muscle Imbalances

posted on March 20th, 2012, by Rich. Comments Off posted so far.

filed under Overuse injuries, Run Training, Running, Sports injury

If you could correct for the variables that make you vulnerable to running injuries, would you?

Most runners like to do one thing… Run!

But the act of distance running lends itself to muscle imbalances which can lead to movement dysfunction, overuse, and injury.

Common imbalances for runners include:

  • Hip flexor tightness
  • Lower back tightness
  • Calf tightness

These imbalances can lead to what is called lower crossed syndrome, a movement dysfunction where tightness in one muscle group causes weakness and overstretching in the opposing muscles. So as the hip flexor muscles become tight, the gluteals become weak.  Likewise, as the low back muscles become tight, the lower abdominal muscles become weak. Uncorrected, these imbalances can set you up to be on the sidelines for the next race.

To avoid lower crossed syndrome and the aches and pains that go along with it, add these exercises to your routine:

  1. Hip flexor stretch
  2. Soleus stretch
  3. Bridges
  4. Posterior pelvic tilt
  5. Cat and Camel

1. Hip Flexor Stretch: Hold a arms together overhead. While in tall 1/2 kneeling position, reach arms up and towards the left. Rotate towards the up knee to feel a stretch in the front of the right leg. 15 sec hold, 3 reps.

2. Calf stretch: In 1/2 kneeling position, shift weight forward to feel a stretch in the back of the lower calf. Make sure to keep your heel down. Hold 15 sec, 3 reps.

3. Single leg bridge: While lying on back, perform a 2 legged bridge, then extend one leg. Hold for 30 sec each leg, 3 times each.

4. Posterior pelvic tilt: lie on back, press your lower back to the floor by pulling in your lower abdominal muscles.  Repeat for 10 repetitions holding for 10 seconds.

5. Cat/Camel: while in a hands and knees position, pull lower abdominal muscles in to round out your low back, then allow your back to sag. Repeat 10-15 times.

For more information on running, overuse injuries, and training techniques like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or contact our office.


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Running With Purpose

posted on March 14th, 2012, by Taryn. Comments Off posted so far.

filed under Run Training, Running

Two Sundays ago, many New Orleans residents spent their morning cheering on friends, family members, and co-workers as they raced to complete the Rock n Roll Mardi Gras Marathon and 1/2 Marathon. For many of the participants, this is an annual event, and for some, the accomplishment of a long sought-after goal. For members of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team in Training (TNT), the race had a much greater purpose.

I was fortunate enough to spent much of my morning in the finishing tent with members of the Mississippi/Louisiana chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. For those who are not familiar with this organization, LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Team in Training is the most successful fundraising campaign for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The TNT program trains participants to run or walk a full or half marathon, while the participants agree to raise funds. The funds generated are used to support blood cancer research globally, and provide support services and education.

As a physical therapist, I have had the opportunity to work with the TNT runners for several seasons. I have watched people begin the program as novice runners and cross the finish line signed up for their next long distance event.  The Team in Training coaches and mentors are never short on encouragement, and because you are training in a group setting, there is always another runner that is on a similar fitness level. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of running with TNT is when you meet the individuals, whose lives have been changed because of the medical research LLS has helped to fund.

The TNT tent was bustling with competitors, LLS staff and volunteers, but perhaps the most energetic presence in the tent came from a nine year-old boy named Quentin Murray. Quentin is this season’s Honored Hero. Quentin was originally diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) July of 2008. Because of recent gains in research Quentin was able to receive a stem-cell transplant March 28, 2008 with cells taken from his newborn sister’s umbilical cord and placenta. Today Quentin is in remission, running and chasing his baby sister like any other healthy boy his age. His physicians are optimistic about his prognosis for the future. Quentin is just one example of the millions of people benefitting from the work of this organization.

Participating in road races is a good way to stay motivated and keep you focused to reach a goal. However, consider how much more motivated you will be if you are training and raising funds to cure cancer, or fight autism or Alzheimer’s. Find a cause you are passionate about and incorporate that in your journey when you commit to your next long distance running endeavor.

If you’d like to learn more about Quentin and his miraculous story, go here.

Taryn Cohn MSPT, COMT


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Prevent Running Injuries With Kinesiology Tape

posted on March 13th, 2012, by Rich. Comments Off posted so far.

filed under Run Training, Running, Sports injury

During the Rock N Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Expo, Baudry Therapy Center had the opportunity to work with the Spider Tech team in demonstrating kinesiotaping taping techniques. We saw runners of all shapes and sizes completing their final preparation for the marathon.  For these runners, the anticipation of the race was palpable. Runners came out in droves for last minute advice on race preparation.

Kinesiology tape can have the following benefits for distance runners:

  • it provides structural support to the muscles and joints,
  • it provides neurological support to improve muscle firing, and
  • it improves local circulation to reduce inflammation and muscle fatigue.

There are several brands of kinesiology tape, all with similar properties.

To find out if kinesiology tape could help you, call or stop by our office.

For more running tips see our blog, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Image via Flickr: hojusaram


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