Happy New Year from all of us at Southwest Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. We hope that you had a great Holiday season and we wish you all the best for 2018.
Welcome to the January newsletter
NEW JANUARY ARTICLE
How Exercise Keeps Us Young
Ensuring that your body’s cells are young and healthy is one of the keys to staying young. Current research shows that there is a link between exercise and young, healthy cell DNA. The abbreviation DNA refers to deoxyribonucleic acid, which is the cellular (cell) material that facilitates cell development, growth, proper functioning, reproduction, and overall health. DNA often becomes damaged, but there are specific proteins in the body called telomeres that help protect persistent DNA damage from occurring. However, the size of these protective proteins shorten with age and this disrupts the DNA repair process, thereby leading to damaged cells, aging, and sickness.
Interestingly, a fairly recent study showed that endurance exercise such as cycling boosts the production of telomeres, which prevents DNA from aging and in doing so sustains youth. The researchers explained that endurance exercise such as cycling releases energy molecules that support an increase in telomeres in skeletal muscle. This finding suggests that engaging in endurance exercises regularly promotes the rejuvenation of telomeres in muscle tissue. More specifically, this process ensures that these proteins can maintain their protective functions, which includes keeping us young.
Another research study into older individuals who were highly active, non-elite cyclists demonstrated that the participants had similar levels of reflexes, memory, balance, and metabolism as younger individuals.
This is thought to be because physical functioning remains quite stable throughout age for people who maintain an active lifestyle, specifically through endurance and resistance exercises (cardio and weight training). Exercise also promotes healthy organs (e.g., lungs, heart), muscles, and vibrant skin. Exercise improves the circulation of blood oxygen, and essential nutrients to all of the body’s vital organs, including the skin. In other words, persistent physical activity helps keep your body young on both the inside and out.
If you are 55 years of age or older, or you recently suffered from a serious physical injury, it is especially important to safely engage in physical activity. For individuals who may frequently feel stiff and have lost mobility or full range of motion due to an injury, guided movements that are demonstrated by a Physical Therapist, for example, improve mobility and promote a quicker recovery. People who receive Physical Therapy also report feeling lower levels of fear during movement and less depression. This is especially beneficial as it encourages people to exercise regularly, which is the key to staying vital as you age. Therefore, Physical Therapy is a great option for individuals who need assistance with regaining their mobility and previous level of physical activity.
Furthermore, a Physical Therapist can show you how to incorporate different types of exercise techniques into your daily routine. This includes proper posture and lifting strategies that will reduce the occurrence of injury and help prevent your exercise routine from becoming interrupted. The Physical Therapists at Southwest Orthopaedic Physical Therapy are well-trained to provide a comprehensive assessment of your current physical states. This allows the Physical Therapist to design a plan that is specific for each client.
As research shows that exercise promotes health and youth on the mental, physical, and even cellular (cell) level; it is important to be able to stay active and regain full activity if you have been injured. The experts at Southwest Orthopaedic Physical Therapy can demonstrate safe movements and guide you through the recommended exercise regimen. Call Southwest Orthopaedic Physical Therapy today to speak with a trained professional who can assist you today.
References
1. Diman A, Boros J, Poulain F, Rodriguez J, et al. Nuclear respiratory factor 1 and endurance exercise promote human telomere transcription. Sci Adv. 2016; 2(7):e1600031.
2. Arnoult N, Karlseder J. Complex interactions between the DNA-damage response and mammalian telomeres. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2015; 22:859-866.
3. Blackburn EH, Epel ES, Lin J. Human telomere biology: A contributory and interactive factor in aging, disease risks, and protection. Science. 2015; 350:1193-1198.
4. Pollock RD, Carter S, Velloso CP, Duggal NA, Lord JM, Lazarus NR, Harridge SD. An investigation into the relationship between age and physiological function in highly active older adults. J Physiol. 2015; 593(3):657-680.
5. Bo H, Jiang N, Zhang ZY, Ji LL, Zhang Y. Exercise and health: from evaluation of health-promoting effects of exercise to exploration of exercise mimetics. Sheng Li Ke Xue Jin Zhan. 2014; 45(4):251-256.
6. Sohil P, Hao PY, Mark L. Potential impact of early physiotherapy in the emergency department for non-traumatic neck and back pain. World J Emerg Med. 2017; 8(2):110-115.
7. Sullivan MJ, Adams H. Psychosocial treatment techniques to augment the impact of physiotherapy interventions for low back pain. Physiother Can. 2010; 62(3):180-189.
LIVE WELL
Enjoying Snowboarding
Introduction to SnowboardingPhysical Therapy in Albuquerque for Snowboarding
Thank you for visiting Southwest Orthopaedic Physical Therapy’s resource about snowboarding.
To the uninitiated, snowboarders may be looked at as daredevils or competitors in an extreme sport. While many snowboarders, both professional and amateur, have the risk-taking gene and an incredible sense of adventure driving them as they strap their board to their feet, the best snowboarders, like Brent Meyer, know that utmost care, conditioning, and caution must be used when partaking in this quick growing and exciting sport.
Interestingly enough, the most common snowboarding injury occurs to the upper body as opposed to the lower body. The wrist is a particular target when trying to catch yourself or overcorrecting prior to a fall.
This area of our site is designed to help you, the snowboarder, learn the best techniques and exercises to stay healthy and unhurt as you hurtle down the slopes -- so you can spend more time catching air and less time being "crashtastic."
BE INSPIRED
If you’re experiencing chronic pain it may gradually begin to affect your mental health. A positive mind promotes overall health and an enhanced quality of life.
Don’t let persistent pain disrupt your life, speak with a trained Physical Therapist today who can address the cause of your pain.
MOVE WELL
Trigger finger and trigger thumb refer to an abnormal change in the tendons that bend the fingers toward the palm of the hand. It is commonly characterized by a “catch” or an inability to straighten out the finger or thumb. Thickening of the tendons leads to the formation of a knob which gets caught within the sheath of the tendon, and triggers this problem. To learn more about how this condition develops and how it is treated read below.
EAT WELL
Healthy meals help promote long-term health. Here are dinner and dessert recipes that are nutritious and delicious!
New Classic Meatloaf
From: Thefoodnetwork.com
The recipe is a combination of onions, mushrooms, carrots, thyme, garlic, black pepper, and ground beef. This hearty meal serves at least eight people and provides numerous essential vitamins and minerals. Try it today!
Banana Hempseed Berry Pudding
From: minimalistbaker.com
This gluten-free recipe is a real treat. It consists of bananas, organic berries, coconut milk, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and cinnamon. This dessert provides your body with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. You can also add maple syrup or pitted dates for added sweetness.
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