Month: March 2010

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease (disorder in which the body’s tissues are attached by its own immune system), that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of the tissues around the joints, as well as in other organs in the body.

The disease can begin at any age, but it most often starts after 40 years of age.

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Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis develops when the piece of new bone formation can not keep up whit the loss of bone.

Osteoporosis is a silent disease. If it not prevented or left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks ( tipically in the hip, spine, and wrist)

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The McKenzie Method

The Mckenzie Method is a system of evaluating and treating spinal disorders that was developed by New Zeland Physioterapist, Robin Mckenzie in the ’60s.

This is an active treatment phylosophy that emphasizes teaching the patient how to manage and treat the pain themselves, how to prevent the pain from occourring again. It is also explained how important posture and their personalized exercise program.

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Discus hernia

Anatomy: – the discs betveen the vertebrates allow the spine to flex or bend. Discs also act as shock absorberts. Discs are composed of a tick outer ring of cartilage (annulus fibrosus) and an inner gel-like substance (nucleus pulposus)

Cause: -A disc herniates or rupures when part of the center nucleus pushes trought the outer edge of the disc and back toward the spinal canal. This puts pressure on the nerves. Spinal nerves are very sensitive to even slight amounts of pressure, which can result pain, numbness, tingling, weakness in one or both limb,etc.

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Scheuermann’s disease

Scheuermann’s disease is a self-limiting skeletal disorder ( deformity in thoracic or thoracolumbar spine) of childhood. Scheuernann’s disease refers to osteochondritis of the secondary ossification centers of the vertebral bodies.

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The Schroth Method

In children with immature skeletons and remaining growth potential, Schroth- method physical therapy is used in combination with the Cheneau brace, not only to prevent progression of the abnormal curvature, but also to train and strengthen patients in holding their bodies in a corrected position after completion of the bracing treatment. A patient’s consistent practicing of an individualized Schroth program has been clinically schown to inhibit the mechanical forces, exacerbated by poor postural habits and gravity, that otherweise perpetuate the progression of the curvature over time( the so –called „vicious cycle”) even after the cessation of physical growth.( Weiss HR, Lohschmidt, el- Obeidi N, Verresc, 1997 „Preliminary results and worst-case analysis of in- patient scoliosis”

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Scoliosis

Scoliosis: is a medical condition in wich a person’s spine is curved from side to side, and is more often diagnosed in females.

Scoliosis is typically classified as either congenital (caused by vertebral anomalies present at birth) idiopatic (cause unknown) or neuromuscular (having developed as a secondary symptom of another condition, such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy or physical trauma, etc.)

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