Ac joint
A simple but highly effective way of helping patients to determine the right balance is by asking them to keep records of their physical activity and arthritis symptoms between office visits. ac joint Chronic low back pain. Patterns often become clear within a couple of weeks. Regular discussions about physical activity at each office visit convey sincerity and interest in the importance of exercise. Among patients, the relationship between physical activity and arthritis is confusing. ac joint Treatment for osteoarthritis. When joints hurt, a natural response to pain is to reduce physical activity. Also, health care providers often advise patients to rest and avoid exercise during acute flares. Thus, it is easy to understand why some individuals with arthritis mistakenly perceive that all physical activity is undesirable, will only aggravate or worsen their arthritis and should be minimized. ac joint Bladder pain. It is important to explore with patients their beliefs about exercise, as well as to help them identify barriers and misinformation. Physical activity counseling is most effective when it is tailored to the individual's physical and psychological needs. Important considerations in tailoring the advice are: 1) level of readiness to be more active; 2) confidence to begin exercising; 3) expectations about the benefits the person will receive by being more active; 4) previous experience with physical activity; and 5) current lifestyle. Discussions should focus first on encouraging physical activity and allaying fears, as well as helping patients to identify opportunities to become more physically active. Sedentary patients may benefit from receiving simple written directions that reflect a basic exercise prescription to enhance safety, boost confidence and guide them in gradually increasing their levels of physical activity. (top of section) (top of page) Assessing Readiness to ExercisePsychological readiness to begin exercising is also an important consideration. Theories of behavior change suggest that people vary widely in their readiness to adopt new behaviors. Up to 40% of individuals may be in the "precontemplative stage" where they remain essentially unaware of the problem and have not yet thought about change. For these individuals, realistic goals for exercise counseling are to increase awareness of the importance of physical activity and to personalize information about the benefits that can be anticipated. For those who express a willingness to be more active, a medical history and physical exam is advised. Specifically, the evaluation should assess the severity and extent of joint involvement, overall level of cardiovascular conditioning and presence of other comorbid conditions. In the book titled ACSM's Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Diseases and Disabilities,(ref 8) The American College of Sports Medicine recommends the following exercise testing program for individuals with arthritis:Muscle strength and endurance Aerobic endurance Joint flexibility and range of motion Neuromuscular fitness, including gait analysis and need for orthotics Functional capacity to accomplish activities of daily living(top of section) (top of page) Approaches to Physical Activity Structured Exercise Programs Water Aerobics Range of Motion/Flexibility Recreational or Lifestyle Exercise Structured Exercise ProgramsThe Fitness Arthritis and Seniors Trial (FAST) is the largest clinical trial to evaluate the effects of exercise on osteoarthritis. (ref 9) A total of 439 adults aged 60 and older were randomized to either aerobic exercise, resistance exercise or a control group (health education). Participants in the aerobic exercise group exercised for 40 minutes three times a week; those in the resistance training group completed three 40 minute sessions per week performing two sets of 12 repetitions of nine exercises. The investigators concluded that both types of exercise were associated with similar significant improvements in symptoms of physical disability, improved physical performance and reduced pain. (top of section) (top of page) Water AerobicsAquatic aerobic training programs that are offered in therapeutic pools have many advantages related to the warmth and buoyancy of the water. (ref 10) Pools that are designed for persons with arthritis are often kept at much warmer temperatures (e. g. , 78-83 degrees) than recreational pools and may have specialized access ramps to make entrance to the pool easier.
Ac joint
Therapy || Chronic low back pain || Joint vision 2010 || Joint vision 2010