,

Concussion Nutrition (Part 2)

Patients with concussions or Mild traumatic brain injury often complain of stress and have been shown to possess higher plasma cortisol levels. Vitamin C supplementation has been shown to decrease cortisol which is commonly known as the “stress hormone”. A 1500mg daily dose of oral Vitamin C may decrease the production of the the adrenal hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, which are immunosuppressive at high levels.

Be sure to consult with your physician before taking dietary supplements.

Peters, E. M., Anderson, R., Nieman, D. C., Fickle, H., & Jogessar, V. (2001). Vitamin C supplementation attenuates the increases in circulating cortisol, adrenaline and anti-inflammatory polypeptides following ultramarathon running. International journal of sports medicine, 22(07), 537-543.

/0 Comments/by

Electrical Dry Needling for Plantar Fasciitis

This is a quick video of a runner who was experiencing an acute bout of plantar fasciitis.  This treatment was successful when combined with joint and soft tissue mobility, as well as heavy slow resistance.

/0 Comments/by
,

Calf Dry Needling

/0 Comments/by
,

Concussion Nutrition (Part 1)

Omega 3-6-9 and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may be beneficial in patients with concussions by serving not only as a vascular and neuroprotectant but by enhancing the repair process of damaged brain cells. In fact, dietary supplementation with DHA increases serum levels and, if given prior to concussion or Mild TBI, it may reduce the injury response by mitigating permanent brain cell death.

Be sure to consult with your physician before taking dietary supplements.

Hasadsri, L., Wang, B. H., Lee, J. V., Erdman, J. W., Llano, D. A., Barbey, A. K., … & Wang, H. (2013). Omega-3 fatty acids as a putative treatment for traumatic brain injury. Journal of neurotrauma, 30(11), 897-906.
Mills, J. D., Hadley, K., & Bailes, J. E. (2011). Dietary supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid in traumatic brain injury. Neurosurgery, 68(2), 474-481.
Wu, A., Ying, Z., & Gomez-Pinilla, F. (2007). Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation restores mechanisms that maintain brain homeostasis in traumatic brain injury. Journal of neurotrauma, 24(10), 1587-1595.

/0 Comments/by

EIM Orthopaedic Residency

We are pleased to announce that Vertex PT Specialists is now an Evidence In Motion (EIM)preferred host site for Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Residency.
You can apply here:

www.evidenceinmotion.com/educational-offerings/course/orthopaedic-physical-therapy-residency/

/0 Comments/by

Assess your Mortality with the Sitting-Rising Test (SRT) AKA Brazilian Get Up Test

The Sitting Rising Test (SRT), originally developed in Brazil, is a simple measure of flexibility, strength, and balance that can predict who will live longer and whose lives will be cut short.
 
To perform:
 
1. Stand in comfortable clothes, with your shoes off, and plenty clear space around you.
 
2. Without leaning on anything, lower yourself to a sitting position on the floor.
 
3. Now stand back up, trying not to use your hands, knees, forearms or sides of your legs.
 
(If you have joint pain or may be at risk of falling, DO NOT PERFORM this without the supervision of a physical therapist).
 
Everyone starts with a score of 10 (as Darryl demonstrates in the video), 1 point is deducted each time a hand, arm, knee, or side of the leg is used for support and half a point is deducted for any loss of balance.
 
In a study published in the European Journal of Cardiology, researchers had more than 2,000 patients ages 51 to 80, take the SRT. People who scored fewer than eight points on the test were twice as likely to die within the next six years compared with those who scored higher; those who scored three or fewer points were more than five times as likely to die within the same period compared with those who scored more than eight points.
 
Overall, each point increase in the SRT score was associated with a 21 percent decrease in mortality from all causes.
 
We hope this information can help get more people walking through the doors of a gym rather than rolling into an emergency room.
/0 Comments/by
,

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Biceps and Triceps

This is a sample super-set that I use as a finisher using the Occlusion Cuff for biceps and triceps hypertrophy.

/0 Comments/by