Avoid Hip Surgery

Often times people go to their primary care physician and/or orthopedic surgeon with complaints of hip pain only to be told they are "bone on bone" and need a cortisone shot or hip replacement surgery. Before jumping into more invasive procedures like surgery, a trial of PT can be amazingly beneficial in reducing pain, improving function, and avoiding hip surgery.

In a recent trial of 109 patients meeting criteria for hip osteoarthritis, the patients were split into 2 groups both with different outcomes. The first group received physical therapy exercises and the second group received a specialized program of manual hands on care combined with specific physical therapy exercise. For the patients in the second group improvements in pain, hip function,  ROM, and quality of life improved, was significantly higher, and remained after a 7 month follow-up (Hoeksma et al).

The physical therapists at HAPT have all been trained in the specific hands on treatment combined with exercises that were provided in this randomized controlled treatment trial. Please contact us if you have questions about hip pain and want to know if we can help. Having a detailed examination of your hip, low back and pelvis can keep you from needing invasive procedures and improve with low cost simple solutions.

Hoeksma, HL et al. Comparison of Manual Therapy and Exercise Therapy in Osteoarthritis of the Hip: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2004; 51: 722-729.

Written By John Kangas, PT, OCS

Research Institute of Human Movement

The Research Institute of Human Movement (RIHM) is a non-profit, charitable organization that was formed this year by Dr. Maury Hayashida. RIHM is the first non-profit organization of its kind with the sole purpose of conducting and publishing research on how human movement influences the quality and performance of life. RIHM seeks to provide the Santa Barbara community resources and education on how to better their lives by applying good research in human movement.

This has been an exciting past few months for RIHM as it received its official non-profit status in August and is now able to turn its attention toward finding partnerships and funding in order to mobilize many months of planning. Many research projects have been set forth and several initiated, examples include: athletic injury prevention/prediction testing, cognitive learning in elementary age children and its relationship to physical movement, relationship between genetic leg length discrepancy and lumbar spine mobility and many more. Currently, RIHM is finalizing 8 months of data collection on a study comparing the use of a visual feedback device compared to traditional verbal feedback on interventions for lumbar spine mobility exercise. This study hopes to provide insight into the effectiveness of both methods of teaching motor control of the lumbar spine in individuals who suffer from non-specific low back pain. The manuscript is anticipated to be submitted for publication in the Spring of 2013.
RIHM invites community participation. For further information about donating to its cause or to learn more about RIHM, go to our website: rihmsb.org.


Written By: Maury Hayashida, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS

Physical Exercise Can Make You Smarter

Exercise is good for your body. – We have heard this before.

Exercise releases endorphins and improves your mood. – We have heard this before.

Exercise makes you smarter.  This may be something new to us.  New research from the journal, Genes, Brain, and Behavior shows that regular exercise not only helps with overall health but it can actually be essential in getting smarter and could help with cognitive activities.

In this study the researchers saw that “mice who exercised regularly were not only better able to complete cognitive tasks than those that didn't, but even more than mice that were provided with other cognitive games and toys. They loved the toys, but unless the mice exercised (eg, had access to a running wheel in their habitat), the researchers didn't see the changes in their brain that corresponded with the improved cognitive performance on their tests.”

It is always hard to compare animal studies with real life situations but the research in this article does point to the need for exercise for improvement in cognitive activities.  There obviously needs to be more research on humans to have conclusive evidence on cause and effect but this research reinforces a common thread that we have covered in this blog; we are moving beings and are built to be moving and active.  Physical activity leads to a more healthy life physically, mentally, and cognitively.  Contact your physical therapist at Hayashida and Associates Physical Therapy for information on our fitness programs.

Ref: http://lifehacker.com/5904961/regular-exercise-leads-to-a-healthier-smarter-brain

Ref: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1601-183X.2010.00674.x/abstract;jsessionid=87940EA8C9786FE153CF586F50AE40DB.d04t03

Img: http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17ko1hbtyw2zkjpg/original.jpg

Hayashida PT's are Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

On October 6, 2012 Hayashida & Associates physical therapists and trainers joined up with other community leaders in the fight against Breast Cancer by participating in a 5k non-competitive walk in Santa Ynez. The walk was a beautiful one with many great supporters of this just cause. As you may notice the Hayashida & Associates Physical Therapy team was honored to wear blue ribbons as they were one of the top fundraisers for the event.  HAPT thanks all of our friends, families, patients and clients for helping raise over $2700.  This money will go directly to patients for counseling, treatment, and research. This small event is held in Santa Ynez annually and raised a record setting amount this year, over $22,000. We were proud to be a part of this event and look forward to participating again next year.

Hayashida PT In the Community: Westmont Physicals

Every Fall, the physical therapists of Hayashida and Associates participate in an injury prevention program at Westmont College; this year screening over 250 athletes. The therapists use the Biomechanical Scan (BMS), to efficiently scan each body region and identify any impairments and/or faulty movement patterns. These impairments, if not addressed, often cause abnormal wear and tear throughout the season and can predispose these athletes for injury. The therapists then work with the athletic trainers of Westmont College in designing and implementing individualized and proactive exercise programs to address the faulty patterns to optimize the athletic careers of each athlete.

Check Your Posture Before It Is A Problem

Postural issues and dysfunctions run rampant in our society, especially for those who sit all day and are hunched over their keyboards, staring at computer screens.  Many patients and clients come into the clinic not aware that their posture is an issue. Correct posture is something that is often overlooked in our society but it is an issue that affects us in many areas of life.  I can lead to headaches  shoulder and arm pain, low back pain, and leg pain.  Posture is the first thing evaluated during at our physical therapy clinic to make sure the patient and/or client is setup for optimal healing from their movement dysfunction.

It would not be a bad idea to examine your posture before you're at to the point of pain and dysfunction.  There is an easy way to grossly analyze your posture.  Have a friend of family member take a picture of you from the front and side.  Then compare your normal standing posture with the graphic above.

There may be some issues that can be addressed on your own and some of these corrections can be found in a recent Men’s Health’s article.  Found here.  But for any medical or fitness related problem you should contact your physical therapist or physician prior to initiating anything mentioned in the magazine article.


Ref: http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/principles_of_good_posture/
Img: http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/cms/uploads/1/0909-posture-illo-500x500.gif

Physical Therapy for Migraines

The Migraine Action and Headache Clinics of the UK recently conducted a survey which showed that although around half of headache (HA) sufferers were referred to a headache specialist or neurologist by their primary physician less that 15% were offered any sort of physical therapy services.  Of those with migraines surveyed, 88% said they would prefer physical therapy to other treatment methods but it was never offered by their primary physician.

“Migraine headaches remain a condition which is under diagnosed, under-treated and the impact on quality of life is under estimated.  With no cure, it is a condition which many have to manage for a number of year (over 60% of those surveyed had lived with the condition for 20 years or more.)”

There is a vast amount of research and studies that have shown that evidence based physical therapy for migraine and other headaches is as good as common migraine medications, but with the advantages of fewer side effects.  One example stands out.  In 2000, a randomized controlled trial of spinal manipulation therapy for migraines showed “22% of participants receiving treatment reported more than a 90% reduction in migraines after two months of treatment, with a further 50% reporting a significant improvement in the morbidity of each episode.”

The take home message should be that a hands on approach from a physical therapist can often be as successful as common prescribed medications with much fewer side effects.  The issue is that primary care physicians rarely offer or suggest the use of physical therapy in the treatment plan.  It may have to be up to the patient to take control of their care and discuss the role of physical therapy with their primary care physician.

Ref: http://www.migraine.org.uk/index.php?sectionid=1639
Img: http://migrainehomeremedies.com/wp-content/uploads/migraine-home-remedies.jpg