Healthy wealth: therapy

Showing posts with label therapy. Show all posts

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Radiotion Therapy

What is radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells . X-rays, gamma rays, and charged particles are types of radiation used for cancer treatment.

The radiation may be delivered by a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy, also called brachytherapy).

Systemic radiation therapy uses radioactive substances, such as radioactive iodine, that travel in the blood to kill cancer cells.

About half of all cancer patients receive some type of radiation therapy sometime during the course of their treatment.

How does radiation therapy kill cancer cells?

Radiation therapy kills cancer cells by damaging their DNA (the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information and pass it from one generation to the next). Radiation therapy can either damage DNA directly or create charged particles (free radicals) within the cells that can in turn damage the DNA.

Cancer cells whose DNA is damaged beyond repair stop dividing or die. When the damaged cells die, they are broken down and eliminated by the body’s natural processes.

Does radiation therapy kill only cancer cells?

No, radiation therapy can also damage normal cells, leading to side effects.

Doctors take potential damage to normal cells into account when planning a course of radiation therapy. The amount of radiation that normal tissue can safely receive is known for all parts of the body. Doctors use this information to help them decide where to aim radiation during treatment.

Why do patients receive radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy is sometimes given with curative intent (that is, with the hope that the treatment will cure a cancer, either by eliminating a tumor, preventing cancer recurrence, or both). In such cases, radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, or both.

Radiation therapy may also be given with palliative intent. Palliative treatments are not intended to cure. Instead, they relieve symptoms and reduce the suffering caused by cancer.

Some examples of palliative radiation therapy are:

Radiation given to the brain to shrink tumors formed from cancer cells that have spread to the brain from another part of the body (metastases).
Radiation given to shrink a tumor that is pressing on the spine or growing within a bone, which can cause pain.
Radiation given to shrink a tumor near the esophagus, which can interfere with a patient’s ability to eat and drink.

How is radiation therapy planned for an individual patient?

A radiation oncologist develops a patient’s treatment plan through a process called treatment planning, which begins with simulation.
During simulation, detailed imaging scans show the location of a patient’s tumor and the normal areas around it. These scans are usually computed tomography (CT) scans, but they can also include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and ultrasound scans.

Computed Tomography Scanner. CT scans are often used in treatment planning for radiation therapy. During CT scanning, pictures of the inside of the body are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.

During simulation and daily treatments, it is necessary to ensure that the patient will be in exactly the same position every day relative to the machine delivering the treatment or doing the imaging. Body molds, head masks, or other devices may be constructed for an individual patient to make it easier for a patient to stay still. Temporary skin marks and even tattoos are used to help with precise patient positioning.

Patients getting radiation to the head may need a mask. The mask helps keep the head from moving so that the patient is in the exact same position for each treatment.

After simulation, the radiation oncologist then determines the exact area that will be treated, the total radiation dose that will be delivered to the tumor, how much dose will be allowed for the normal tissues around the tumor, and the safest angles (paths) for radiation delivery.

The staff working with the radiation oncologist (including physicists and dosimetrists) use sophisticated computers to design the details of the exact radiation plan that will be used. After approving the plan, the radiation oncologist authorizes the start of treatment. On the first day of treatment, and usually at least weekly after that, many checks are made to ensure that the treatments are being delivered exactly the way they were planned.

Radiation doses for cancer treatment are measured in a unit called a gray (Gy), which is a measure of the amount of radiation energy absorbed by 1 kilogram of human tissue. Different doses of radiation are needed to kill different types of cancer cells.

Radiation can damage some types of normal tissue more easily than others. For example, the reproductive organs (testicles and ovaries) are more sensitive to radiation than bones. The radiation oncologist takes all of this information into account during treatment planning.
If an area of the body has previously been treated with radiation therapy, a patient may not be able to have radiation therapy to that area a second time, depending on how much radiation was given during the initial treatment. If one area of the body has already received the maximum safe lifetime dose of radiation, another area might still be treated with radiation therapy if the distance between the two areas is large enough.

The area selected for treatment usually includes the whole tumor plus a small amount of normal tissue surrounding the tumor. The normal tissue is treated for two main reasons:

To take into account body movement from breathing and normal movement of the organs within the body, which can change the location of a tumor between treatments.
To reduce the likelihood of tumor recurrence from cancer cells that have spread to the normal tissue next to the tumor (called microscopic local spread).

How is radiation therapy given to patients?

Radiation can come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy) or from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy, more commonly called brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, given by mouth or into a vein, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body.
The type of radiation therapy prescribed by a radiation oncologist depends on many factors, including:

The type of cancer.
The size of the cancer.
The cancer’s location in the body.
How close the cancer is to normal tissues that are sensitive to radiation.
How far into the body the radiation needs to travel.
The patient’s general health and medical history.
Whether the patient will have other types of cancer treatment.
Other factors, such as the patient’s age and other medical conditions.

External-beam radiation therapy
External-beam radiation therapy is most often delivered in the form of photon beams (either x-rays or gamma rays). A photon is the basic unit of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It can be thought of as a bundle of energy. The amount of energy in a photon can vary. For example, the photons in gamma rays have the highest energy, followed by the photons in x-rays.

Linear Accelerator Used for External-beam Radiation Therapy.
Many types of external-beam radiation therapy are delivered using a machine called a linear accelerator (also called a LINAC). A LINAC uses electricity to form a stream of fast-moving subatomic particles. This creates high-energy radiation that may be used to treat cancer.

Patients usually receive external-beam radiation therapy in daily treatment sessions over the course of several weeks. The number of treatment sessions depends on many factors, including the total radiation dose that will be given.

One of the most common types of external-beam radiation therapy is called 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT). 3D-CRT uses very sophisticated computer software and advanced treatment machines to deliver radiation to very precisely shaped target areas.

Many other methods of external-beam radiation therapy are currently being tested and used in cancer treatment. These methods include:

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): IMRT uses hundreds of tiny radiation beam-shaping devices, called collimators, to deliver a single dose of radiation (2). The collimators can be stationary or can move during treatment, allowing the intensity of the radiation beams to change during treatment sessions. This kind of dose modulation allows different areas of a tumor or nearby tissues to receive different doses of radiation.
Unlike other types of radiation therapy, IMRT is planned in reverse (called inverse treatment planning). In inverse treatment planning, the radiation oncologist chooses the radiation doses to different areas of the tumor and surrounding tissue, and then a high-powered computer program calculates the required number of beams and angles of the radiation treatment (3). In contrast, during traditional (forward) treatment planning, the radiation oncologist chooses the number and angles of the radiation beams in advance and computers calculate how much dose will be delivered from each of the planned beams.
The goal of IMRT is to increase the radiation dose to the areas that need it and reduce radiation exposure to specific sensitive areas of surrounding normal tissue. Compared with 3D-CRT, IMRT can reduce the risk of some side effects, such as damage to the salivary glands (which can cause dry mouth, or xerostomia), when the head and neck are treated with radiation therapy (4). However, with IMRT, a larger volume of normal tissue overall is exposed to radiation. Whether IMRT leads to improved control of tumor growth and better survival compared with 3D-CRT is not yet known (4).
Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT): In IGRT, repeated imaging scans (CT, MRI, or PET) are performed during treatment. These imaging scans are processed by computers to identify changes in a tumor’s size and location due to treatment and to allow the position of the patient or the planned radiation dose to be adjusted during treatment as needed. Repeated imaging can increase the accuracy of radiation treatment and may allow reductions in the planned volume of tissue to be treated, thereby decreasing the total radiation dose to normal tissue (5).
Tomotherapy: Tomotherapy is a type of image-guided IMRT. A tomotherapy machine is a hybrid between a CT imaging scanner and an external-beam radiation therapy machine (6). The part of the tomotherapy machine that delivers radiation for both imaging and treatment can rotate completely around the patient in the same manner as a normal CT scanner. Tomotherapy machines can capture CT images of the patient’s tumor immediately before treatment sessions, to allow for very precise tumor targeting and sparing of normal tissue.
Like standard IMRT, tomotherapy may be better than 3D-CRT at sparing normal tissue from high radiation doses (7). However, clinical trials comparing 3D-CRT with tomotherapy have not been conducted.
Stereotactic radiosurgery: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can deliver one or more high doses of radiation to a small tumor (5, 8). SRS uses extremely accurate image-guided tumor targeting and patient positioning. Therefore, a high dose of radiation can be given without excess damage to normal tissue. SRS can be used to treat only small tumors with well-defined edges. It is most commonly used in the treatment of brain or spinal tumors and brain metastases from other cancer types. For the treatment of some brain metastases, patients may receive radiation therapy to the entire brain (called whole-brain radiation therapy) in addition to SRS.
SRS requires the use of a head frame or other device to immobilize the patient during treatment to ensure that the high dose of radiation is delivered accurately.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) delivers radiation therapy in fewer sessions, using smaller radiation fields and higher doses than 3D-CRT in most cases. By definition, SBRT treats tumors that lie outside the brain and spinal cord. Because these tumors are more likely to move with the normal motion of the body, and therefore cannot be targeted as accurately as tumors within the brain or spine, SBRT is usually given in more than one dose (8). SBRT can be used to treat only small, isolated tumors, including cancers in the lung and liver (8). Many doctors refer to SBRT systems by their brand names, such as the CyberKnife®.
Proton therapy: External-beam radiation therapy can be delivered by proton beams as well as the photon beams described above. Protons are a type of charged particle. Proton beams differ from photon beams mainly in the way they deposit energy in living tissue. Whereas photons deposit energy in small packets all along their path through tissue, protons deposit much of their energy at the end of their path (called the Bragg peak) and deposit less energy along the way.
In theory, use of protons should reduce the exposure of normal tissue to radiation, possibly allowing the delivery of higher doses of radiation to a tumor (9). Proton therapy has not yet been compared with standard external-beam radiation therapy in clinical trials (10, 11).
Other charged particle beams: Electron beams are used to irradiate superficial tumors, such as skin cancer or tumors near the surface of the body, but they cannot travel very far through tissue (1). Therefore, they cannot treat tumors deep within the body.

Patients can discuss these different methods of radiation therapy with their doctors to see if any is appropriate for their type of cancer and if it is available in their community or through a clinical trial.

Internal radiation therapy
Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) is radiation delivered from radiation sources (radioactive materials) placed inside or on the body (12). Several brachytherapy techniques are used in cancer treatment. Interstitial brachytherapy uses a radiation source placed within tumor tissue, such as within a prostate tumor. Intracavitary brachytherapy uses a source placed within a surgical cavity or a body cavity, such as the chest cavity, near a tumor. Episcleral brachytherapy, which is used to treat melanoma inside the eye, uses a source that is attached to the eye.

In brachytherapy, radioactive isotopes are sealed in tiny pellets or “seeds.” These seeds are placed in patients using delivery devices, such as needles, catheters, or some other type of carrier. As the isotopes decay naturally, they give off radiation that damages nearby cancer cells.

If left in place, after a few weeks or months, the isotopes decay completely and no longer give off radiation. The seeds will not cause harm if they are left in the body (see permanent brachytherapy, described below).

Brachytherapy may be able to deliver higher doses of radiation to some cancers than external-beam radiation therapy while causing less damage to normal tissue (1, 12).

Brachytherapy can be given as a low-dose-rate or a high-dose-rate treatment:

In low-dose-rate treatment, cancer cells receive continuous low-dose radiation from the source over a period of several days (1, 12).
In high-dose-rate treatment, a robotic machine attached to delivery tubes placed inside the body guides one or more radioactive sources into or near a tumor, and then removes the sources at the end of each treatment session. High-dose-rate treatment can be given in one or more treatment sessions. An example of a high-dose-rate treatment is the MammoSite® system, which is being studied to treat patients with breast cancer who have undergone breast-conserving surgery.

The placement of brachytherapy sources can be temporary or permanent (1, 12):

For permament brachytherapy, the sources are surgically sealed within the body and left there, even after all of the radiation has been given off. The remaining material (in which the radioactive isotopes were sealed) does not cause any discomfort or harm to the patient. Permanent brachytherapy is a type of low-dose-rate brachytherapy.
For temporary brachytherapy, tubes (catheters) or other carriers are used to deliver the radiation sources, and both the carriers and the radiation sources are removed after treatment. Temporary brachytherapy can be either low-dose-rate or high-dose-rate treatment.

Doctors can use brachytherapy alone or in addition to external-beam radiation therapy to provide a “boost” of radiation to a tumor while sparing surrounding normal tissue (12).

Systemic radiation therapy
In systemic radiation therapy, a patient swallows or receives an injection of a radioactive substance, such as radioactive iodine or a radioactive substance bound to a monoclonal antibody.

Radioactive iodine (¹³¹I) is a type of systemic radiation therapy commonly used to help treat some types of thyroid cancer. Thyroid cells naturally take up radioactive iodine.

For systemic radiation therapy for some other types of cancer, a monoclonal antibody helps target the radioactive substance to the right place. The antibody joined to the radioactive substance travels through the blood, locating and killing tumor cells. For example:

The drug ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The antibody part of this drug recognizes and binds to a protein found on the surface of B lymphocytes.
The combination drug regimen of tositumomab and iodine I 131 tositumomab (Bexxar®) has been approved for the treatment of certain types of NHL. In this regimen, nonradioactive tositumomab antibodies are given to patients first, followed by treatment with tositumomab antibodies that have ¹³¹I attached. Tositumomab recognizes and binds to the same protein on B lymphocytes as ibritumomab. The nonradioactive form of the antibody helps protect normal B lymphocytes from being damaged by radiation from ¹³¹I.

Many other systemic radiation therapy drugs are in clinical trials for different cancer types.
Some systemic radiation therapy drugs relieve pain from cancer that has spread to the bone (bone metastases). This is a type of palliative radiation therapy. The radioactive drugs samarium-153-lexidronam (Quadramet®) and strontium-89 chloride (Metastron®) are examples of radiopharmaceuticals used to treat pain from bone metastases (13).

Why are some types of radiation therapy given in many small doses?

Patients who receive most types of external-beam radiation therapy usually have to travel to the hospital or an outpatient facility up to 5 days a week for several weeks. One dose (a single fraction) of the total planned dose of radiation is given each day. Occasionally, two treatments a day are given.
Most types of external-beam radiation therapy are given in once-daily fractions. There are two main reasons for once-daily treatment:

To minimize the damage to normal tissue.
To increase the likelihood that cancer cells are exposed to radiation at the points in the cell cycle when they are most vulnerable to DNA damage (1, 14).

In recent decades, doctors have tested whether other fractionation schedules are helpful (1), including:

Accelerated fractionation—treatment given in larger daily or weekly doses to reduce the number of weeks of treatment.
Hyperfractionation—smaller doses of radiation given more than once a day.
Hypofractionation—larger doses given once a day or less often to reduce the number of treatments.

Researchers hope that different types of treatment fractionation may either be more effective than traditional fractionation or be as effective but more convenient.

When will a patient get radiation therapy?

A patient may receive radiation therapy before, during, or after surgery. Some patients may receive radiation therapy alone, without surgery or other treatments. Some patients may receive radiation therapy and chemotherapy at the same time. The timing of radiation therapy depends on the type of cancer being treated and the goal of treatment (cure or palliation).

Radiation therapy given before surgery is called pre-operative or neoadjuvant radiation. Neoadjuvant radiation may be given to shrink a tumor so it can be removed by surgery and be less likely to return after surgery (1).

Radiation therapy given during surgery is called intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). IORT can be external-beam radiation therapy (with photons or electrons) or brachytherapy. When radiation is given during surgery, nearby normal tissues can be physically shielded from radiation exposure (15). IORT is sometimes used when normal structures are too close to a tumor to allow the use of external-beam radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy given after surgery is called post-operative or adjuvant radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy given after some types of complicated surgery (especially in the abdomen or pelvis) may produce too many side effects; therefore, it may be safer if given before surgery in these cases (1).

The combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy given at the same time is sometimes called chemoradiation or radiochemotherapy. For some types of cancer, the combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may kill more cancer cells (increasing the likelihood of a cure), but it can also cause more side effects (1, 14).

After cancer treatment, patients receive regular follow-up care from their oncologists to monitor their health and to check for possible cancer recurrence. Detailed information about follow-up care can be found at NCI's Follow-up Medical Care page.

Does radiation therapy make a patient radioactive?

External-beam radiation does not make a patient radioactive.
During temporary brachytherapy treatments, while the radioactive material is inside the body, the patient is radioactive; however, as soon as the material is removed, the patient is no longer radioactive. For temporary brachytherapy, the patient will usually stay in the hospital in a special room that shields other people from the radiation.

During permanent brachytherapy, the implanted material will be radioactive for several days, weeks, or months after the radiation source is put in place. During this time, the patient is radioactive. However, the amount of radiation reaching the surface of the skin is usually very low. Nonetheless, this radiation can be detected by radiation monitors and contact with pregnant woman and young children may be restricted for a few days or weeks.

Some types of systemic radiation therapy may temporarily make a patient’s bodily fluids (such as saliva, urine, sweat, or stool) emit a low level of radiation. Patients receiving systemic radiation therapy may need to limit their contact with other people during this time, and especially avoid contact with children younger than 18 and pregnant women.
A patient’s doctor or nurse will provide more information to family members and caretakers if any of these special precautions are needed. Over time (usually days or weeks), the radioactive material retained within the body will break down so that no radiation can be measured outside the patient’s body.

What are the potential side effects of radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy can cause both early (acute) and late (chronic) side effects. Acute side effects occur during treatment, and chronic side effects occur months or even years after treatment ends (1). The side effects that develop depend on the area of the body being treated, the dose given per day, the total dose given, the patient’s general medical condition, and other treatments given at the same time.
Acute radiation side effects are caused by damage to rapidly dividing normal cells in the area being treated. These effects include skin irritation or damage at regions exposed to the radiation beams. Examples include damage to the salivary glands or hair loss when the head or neck area is treated, or urinary problems when the lower abdomen is treated.

Most acute effects disappear after treatment ends, though some (like salivary gland damage) can be permanent. The drug amifostine (Ethyol®) can help protect the salivary glands from radiation damage if it is given during treatment. Amifostine is the only drug approved by the FDA to protect normal tissues from radiation during treatment. This type of drug is called a radioprotector. Other potential radioprotectors are being tested in clinical trials.

Fatigue is a common side effect of radiation therapy regardless of which part of the body is treated. Nausea with or without vomiting is common when the abdomen is treated and occurs sometimes when the brain is treated. Medications are available to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting during treatment.
Late side effects of radiation therapy may or may not occur. Depending on the area of the body treated, late side effects can include (1):

Fibrosis (the replacement of normal tissue with scar tissue, leading to restricted movement of the affected area).
Damage to the bowels, causing diarrhea and bleeding.
Memory loss.
Infertility (inability to have a child).
Rarely, a second cancer caused by radiation exposure.

Second cancers that develop after radiation therapy depend on the part of the body that was treated (16). For example, girls treated with radiation to the chest for Hodgkin lymphoma have an increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life. In general, the lifetime risk of a second cancer is highest in people treated for cancer as children or adolescents (16).
Whether or not a patient experiences late side effects depends on other aspects of their cancer treatment in addition to radiation therapy, as well as their individual risk factors. Some chemotherapy drugs, genetic risk factors, and lifestyle factors (such as smoking) can also increase the risk of late side effects.
When suggesting radiation therapy as part of a patient’s cancer treatment, the radiation oncologist will carefully weigh the known risks of treatment against the potential benefits for each patient (including relief of symptoms, shrinking a tumor, or potential cure). The results of hundreds of clinical trials and doctors’ individual experiences help radiation oncologists decide which patients are likely to benefit from radiation therapy.
A more comprehensive discussion of acute and late side effects from radiation therapy, as well as ways to cope with these side effects, can be found in the NCI publications Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People With Cancer and the Radiation Therapy Side Effects Series.

What research is being done to improve radiation therapy?

Doctors and other scientists are conducting research studies called clinical trials to learn how to use radiation therapy to treat cancer more safely and effectively. Clinical trials allow researchers to examine the effectiveness of new treatments in comparison with standard ones, as well as to compare the side effects of the treatments.

Researchers are working on improving image-guided radiation so that it provides real-time imaging of the tumor target during treatment. Real-time imaging could help compensate for normal movement of the internal organs from breathing and for changes in tumor size during treatment.

Researchers are also studying radiosensitizers and radioprotectors, chemicals that modify a cell's response to radiation:

Radiosensitizers are drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation therapy. Several agents are under study as radiosensitizers. In addition, some anticancer drugs, such as 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy.
Radioprotectors (also called radioprotectants) are drugs that protect normal cells from damage caused by radiation therapy. These drugs promote the repair of normal cells exposed to radiation. Many agents are currently being studied as potential radioprotectors.

The use of carbon ion beams in radiation therapy is being investigated by researchers, but, at this time, the use of these beams remains experimental. Carbon ion beams are available at only a few medical centers around the world. They are not currently available in the United States. Researchers hope that carbon ion beams may be effective in treating some tumors that are resistant to traditional radiation therapy.

People with cancer who are interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. A comprehensive list of current clinical trials is available on NCI’s website.
NCI's Cancer Information Service (CIS) can also provide information about clinical trials and help with clinical trial searches. Call the CIS at 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237).

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Physical Therapy Service

Physical Therapy
“I come to you”
At-Home, In-Office, At-Fitness Facility

The Physical Therapy service that I provide is delivered to you at your home, at your office, or at your fitness facility. I come to you.

It is cash based Physical Therapy.
Cash based service allows me to provide direct one on one high quality service. Traditional health insurance based Physical Therapy is burdened with administrative requirements which take time away from the services that I provide. Removing the requirements from health insurance plans provides a unique opportunity to take control of your problem.

Depending on what your expectations and goals are you can have a Physical Therapy visit last as long as you want or as short as you want. Depending on what your expectations and goals are you can have as many Physical Therapy visits as you want or as few visits as you want. We have control.

Are you looking for Physical Therapy service that provides?

•good enough healthcare
•all the healthcare you need to get back to what you want to do
•healthcare that is all the way well care

Together we can take the time to identify, clarify and measure your expectations and goals. We can become a team without hassles from a health insurance company. When the goals and expectations are agreed upon as Steven Covey said, we “can begin with the end in mind”. If we do not come to agreement on your expectations and goals, I will assist you in finding a more appropriate healthcare professional team member to help.

The expense of this type of healthcare is not necessarily more expensive than insurance based healthcare it is differently expensive.

•The expense/cost can be less than traditional insurance based Physical Therapy. National benchmarks for traditional health insurance based Physical Therapy is typically10 Physical Therapy visits per episode of care. I have honed my craft to a point where the average number of visits per episode of care is 3 visits. Using a standard outcome measure that is used by over 7 million Physical Therapists my score for improvement per visit ranks in the 97th percentile I provide effective and efficient service.
•If you have a health insurance plan with a high deductible, and are healthy, using cash based fee for service makes sense. I provide statements to you which you can submit and apply to your out of network deductible.
•All of the time during the visit with me is one on one with me. If you are going to pay for skilled Physical Therapy visit it makes sense to spend all of the time with the Therapist, as opposed to a PT Tech or exercising on your own during the PT clinic visit.
•If you have used all your allotted visits allowed by your health insurance plan for the year and you need additional Physical Therapy, using traditional insurance based Physical Therapy will be higher than using cash based Physical Therapy services. You will be responsible for the entire bill including co-pay. And, the time spent with the skilled Physical Therapists typically is only 15 minutes/visit.
•If you do not have health insurance the quality and efficiency of cashed based fee for service Physical Therapy is better than traditional insurance Physical Therapy.
•If you prefer privacy and convenience of At-Home, At-Office, At-Fitness Facility, I can help. Scheduling times are available early morning, evening, and weekends. On-line access is available.

Give me a phone call for a free consultation +65 9733 0932. I will provide details of benefits and costs of cash based Physical Therapy and a worksheet you can use to determine what your health insurance benefits and costs for Physical Therapy would be. You can than compare to determine if using cash based Physical Therapy makes sense.

Services provided:

•Orthopedic Physical Therapy
•Second opinions regarding Orthopedic Physical Therapy
•In home/office/vehicle ergonomic evaluation
•Assistance in ordering adaptive medical equipment, and home modifications to address movement system dysfunction
•Education on treatment/prevention or movement system disorders, and wellness
•Gait evaluation gait training motion analysis

If you combine, time saved, less time in pain, less time traveling to clinic, greater knowledge and understanding of your problem and being empowered to self-manage the problem, At-Home, At-Office, and At Fitness Facility Cash Based Service can be a real bargain.

Fluid Replacement Controversy: Too Little – Too Much
In 1996 the American College of Sports Medicine (www.acsm-msse.org) position stand on exercise and fluid replacement recommended that during exercise athletes should start drinking early and at regular intervals in an attempt to consume fluids at a rate sufficient to replace all the water lost through sweating (i.e. body weight loss), or consume the maximal amount that can be tolerated. Since 1996 studies have documented athletes can over drink, leading to water retention, weight gain, and in a few cases death from exercise associated hyponatraemic encephalopathy. Hyponatraemia is water poisoning; there is far too much water and too little sodium in the body. Symptoms associated with hyponatraemia include nausea, vomiting, head aches, cramps, convulsions, leading to coma. A study in 2002 documented that 13% of the Boston Marathon runners suffered from hyponatraemia. Hyponatremia is defined as a serum sodium level of less than 135 mEq/L and is considered severe when the serum level is below 125 mEq/L.

In July 2006 the International Marathon Medical Directors Association (www.aimsworldrunning.org) published a position statement “Update Fluid Recommendation”. The IMMDA presents 6 practical recommendations one of which is drinking to thirst will protect the athlete from hazards of both over and under drinking.

This recommendation of “drinking to thirst” is contrary to the common interpretation of the 1996 ACSM guidelines that drinking according to the dictates of thirst leads to “dehydration”, which impairs exercise performance and promotes risk of ill health. Frequently, I have heard the recommendation that you should start drinking early in the race even though you are not thirsty; because in order to stay hydrated you need to drink early and often. Dr. Tim Noakes argues that this practice increases the risk of drinking too much water and slower runners are at greater risk for hyponataemia, as they have more time to consume more water
(2007).

In Feb 2007 the ACSM published a replacement position stand on Exercise and Fluid Replacement. The goal of drinking during exercise is to prevent excessive (>2% body weight loss from water deficit) dehydration and excessive changes in electrolyte balance to avert compromised performance. The ACSM no longer recommends that during exercise athletes should start drinking early and at regular intervals in an attempt to consume fluids at a rate sufficient to replace all the water lost through sweating (i.e. body weight loss), or consume the maximal amount that can be tolerated. The 2007 guidelines recognize that drinking too much
fluid can also be dangerous. Athletes should weigh themselves before running and write the results on their race bibs. If anything goes wrong, emergency workers can use the weight information to tell if the patient had consumed too too little or too much water. The ACSM cites data water quenches the sensation of thirst before body fluid replacement is achieved, so thirst should not be the only determinant of how much fluid is consumed.

Dr T Noakes critics the 2007 ACSM position stand on Fluid Replacement relative to using body weight as a measure of dehydration. Dr. Noakes suggest body weight is not an accurate measure of body fluid and electrolyte volume during exercise. He suggest that the controller of the balance between body fluid and electrolytes particularly sodium is the thirst mechanism. Dr. Noakes has concluded there is no conclusive evidence that athletes who drink sparingly during exercise develop specific medical conditions and the ability to sweat profusely while exercising in the heat is on of the most important determents of human evolution. Research by S Schwellnus (2007) found no relationship between dehydration and cramping. During his study athletes measured their levels of electrolytes, body weight changes, and found those who cramped were no different from those who did not cramp.
He suggests cramping is likely related to meuromuscular control at the spinal cord level in response to fatiguing exercise.

The bottom line according to Dr. Noakes is drink according to the dictates of your thirst during exercise, and do not ignore thirst. This approach works for every creature on planet earth even the slower runners. According to Dr. Noakes when athletes drink according to thirst, the risk that they will over drink is minimized, and there is no evidence that they are at any significant disadvantage from the 3-5% level of dehydration that develop as a result.

The ACSM and the IMMDA disagree on whether thirst should be the guide regarding fluid replacement, but they agree that considerable variability exists among individuals, and blanket advice to widely variable population of individuals seeking simple answers is out of place. Athletes should be encouraged to explore, understand, and be flexible to their own needs. Look for multiple signs suggesting dehydration including thirst, body weight, volume and color of urine, and rectal body temperature.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Anti-Inflammatory Oxygen Therapy

Image result for cellular oxygen level percent

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It has long been recognized that solid tumors contain poorly vascularized regions characterized by severe hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), acidosis and nutrient starvation.[5] Tumor hypoxia is typically associated with poor patient prognosis. Over the past decade, work from many laboratories has indicated that hypoxic microenvironments contribute to cancer progression by activating adaptive transcriptional programs that promote cell
survival, motility and tumor angiogenesis.[6] Oxygen pulls the rug out from under cancer cells and tumors by removing the basic condition that makes them virulent.

There is no substitute for oxygen in regards to maintaining human life. If there is not an adequate amount of oxygen in a cell, then energy production is unavoidably restricted (just as any fire must have ample oxygen in
order to continue to burn). When energy production is inadequate to meet cellular needs, then many cell operations do not proceed normally, allowing cancer and other diseases to occur.

Cancer, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and much more are all potential results of inadequate cellular oxygenation. These diseases of inadequate oxygenation cause untold suffering and loss of life, which is avoidable when using Anti-Inflammatory Oxygen Therapy. With enough oxygen, we can regain our lives and our health.

It is common for people to have plenty of oxygen in their blood stream and yet have insufficient oxygen inside their cells because cell membranes have become resistant over time to the diffusion of oxygen into the cell interior. One of the principle reasons for this are massive magnesium deficiencies inside of the cells. A full protocol needs to be incorporated with oxygen to realize maximum results.

The National Institutes of Health is experimenting with targeted cancer drugs that repair damaged arteries. The University of Texas Arlington received $1.4 million to develop nanoparticles that promote healing in damaged endothelium, the lining of blood vessels. "Angioplasty and stenting often damage arterial walls, with a significant risk of subsequent complications, such as re-narrowing of the artery or blood clot," said Dr. Yang.
Platelets accumulate on the damaged vessel, initiating clot formation. Other cells can deposit on the damaged vessel wall, building up a blockage.[7] Oxygen is the ultimate nanoparticle in terms of medicine and health. It will do the job without collateral side effects that pharmaceuticals have because of their toxic origin.

Georgetown University and many other universities are testing a new class of cancer drugs called immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Stimulating the immune system works and there are reports of primary tumors fading and
patients becoming completely cancer free. Oncologists are calling this approach a breakthrough but even the most enthusiastic supporters of the checkpoint inhibitors acknowledge that about half their patients have not
benefited.

These new, sophisticated forms of molecular medicine cannot outperform oxygen, which will do the same job safely and quickly.
[1] Apoptosis of T-leukemia and B-myeloma cancer cells induced by hyperbaric oxygen increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.
Chen YC et al; Leuk Res.; 2007 Jun; 31(6):805-15. Epub 2006 Oct 24.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17064767

[2] .University of Colorado Denver. "Lack of oxygen in cancer cells leads to growth and metastasis." ScienceDaily; September 13, 2012 .

[3] Many of the cellular responses to hypoxia are mediated through changes in gene expression. The transcription factors primarily responsible for these changes are the Hypoxia Inducible Factors (HIFs), the biology of which has been reviewed elsewhere (Pouyssegur et al., 2006; Semenza, 2003). Briefly, HIFs are members of the bHLH-PAS family of proteins, and bind to canonical DNA sequences (hypoxia regulated elements, or HREs)
in the promoters or enhancers of target genes. They consist of an alpha (HIF-α) and a beta (HIF-β, or ARNT) subunit, and activate the expression of at least 150 genes encoding proteins that regulate cell metabolism, survival, motility, basement membrane integrity, angiogenesis, hematopoiesis, and other functions. Regulation of HIF activity is mediated primarily through the stability of the alpha subunit: under conditions of abundant oxygen (>8–10%), HIF-α proteins are translated but rapidly degraded. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150586/

[4] The Hypoxic Cell. A Target for Selective Cancer Therapy—Eighteenth Bruce F. Cain Memorial Award Lecture 1
J. Martin Brown2; http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/59/23/5863.full

[5] Carmeliet and Jain, 2000; Pouyssegur et al., 2006

[6] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3150586/

[7] Penn State Materials Research Institute. "Researcher turns sights on prostate cancer, tissue engineering, blood vessel repair." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 January 2014.

.http://buteykoclinic.com/wp-content/themes/kingdomvision-v1-12/docs/Anti-Inflamatory-Oxygen-Therapy-Dr-Mark-Sircus-1.pdf

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Water Therapy?

Water therapy essentially is drinking water, especially when first getting up in the morning.

Water is important in hydrating the body; every cell needs water. Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj discovered the healing powers of water and the link between dehydration and chronic illness 17 years ago. He was then serving a jail sentence as a political prisoner in Iran.

Whether this is therapy or is just stating the importance of drinking water is debatable. Although the Dr. F. Batmanghelidj feels it treats many diseases.

Be Careful the Next Time You Drink Tap Water

Did you know…that drinking water with fluoride lowers IQ? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorizes fluoride as a “chemical having substantial evidence of developmental neuro-toxicity.”

This classification is backed by 24 studies linking fluoride exposure to lower I.Q in children, 3 studies connecting fluoride exposure to dysfunctional neuro-behavorial development, and 100 animal studies associating fluoride exposure to impaired cognitive function.

Unsafe drinking water is not just a concern of third world countries; the United States heavily fluoridates its water. In fact, 70% of U.S. public drinking water supplies contain dangerous levels of fluoride lowers IQ levels.

One measurable side effect of fluoridation is dental fluorosis, a condition in which tooth enamel does not properly develop because of overexposure to fluoride. Dental fluorosis can manifest as white spots, stains, and deep grooves in the tooth. Alarmingly, 41% of American children between the ages of 12 and 15 have some form of dental fluorosis, an indication that fluoride levels in water are not safe.

Dental fluorosis provides visual proof that fluoride is a toxin, and it is logical to assume that fluoride’s toxic effects do more than just damage developing teeth.

Despite numerous studies highlighting the damage fluoride lowers IQ, inflicts on developing brains, health agencies in the United States and other fluoridating countries refuse to lend credibility to the findings. They have criticized the methodology of the studies, the majority of which have been conducted in China, but fail to conduct studies of their own to either refute or validate the claims.

Take for instance a highly publicized study of 512 children between 8 to 13 years living in 2 Chinese villages. Researchers ruled out lead exposure and iodine deficiency as possible causes of reduced IQ. They did not study children with a history of brain damage or disease, and none of the participants consumed brink tea, a beverage high in fluoride lowers IQ.

Neither village was exposed to fluoride pollution from industrial causes such as coal burning, thereby allowing researchers to zero in on water fluoridation as the primary culprit. Results showed that 28% of children in areas with low levels of fluoride in the drinking water scored IQ levels in the normal to high range, whereas only 8% of children in areas with high levels of fluoridated water exhibited normal to high IQs. In high-fluoride neighborhoods, 15% of children had scores reflecting mental retardation versus 6% of children in low-fluoride communities.

Proponents of fluoride will argue that the Chinese children were exposed to fluoride-enhanced drinking water at much higher levels than fluoridated water in the U.S. Paul Connett, Ph.D, director of the Fluoride Action Network refutes this argument, claiming, “the levels of the fluoride in the community where the lowered IQs were recorded were lower than the EPA’s so-called ‘safe’ drinking water standard for fluoride of 4 ppm and far too close for comfort to the levels used in artificial fluoridation programs (0.7 – 1.2 ppm).”

Experts such as Arvid Carlsson, Nobel laureate in medicine/physiology, advocate against exposing infants to fluoride levels greater than that found in breast milk. Unfortunately, infants fed formula reconstituted with fluoridated tap water are exposed to 250 times more fluoride than the amount found in mother’s milk. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recommended lowering the fluoride level given to infants to 0.7 ppm, but this level is still 175 times more than the level of fluoride in breast milk!

Having fluoride exposure and seeing that fluoride lowers IQ is just one of the effects. Sixteen animal studies have found that fluoride damages the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for forming new memories and retrieving old ones.

One animal study found that 1 ppm of fluoride prompted morphological changes in rats’ brains and kidneys, increased the presence of aluminum in the brain, and led to the formation of beta-amyloid deposits, a primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

Upon reviewing 5 IQ studies, the National Research Council (NRC) concluded: “it is apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain and the body by direct and indirect means.”

With the evidence mounting, why do countries such as the United States continue to implement fluoridation programs? History suggests that health agencies are more inclined to protect their fluoridation programs than the minds of their youth. One of the first animal studies published in the United States resulted in the firing of its lead author from the Forsyth Dental Center, a not-so-subtle warning to stop the case against fluoride lowers IQ.

Statistics show that the rates of Alzheimer’s, Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are steadily rising. While we may not know the exact causes of these brain impairments, we can safely assume that overexposure to toxins such as fluoride may have a significant impact on brain health.

To ensure optimal brain development avoid drinking tap water. You can further protect the health of your brain by adding 35% food grade H2O2 to your drinking water.

If you mean drinking a gutful of water in the morning, also known as Water cure (therapy), it's a pre-scientific practice. There's no reason to think it helps with much, though it's probably relatively harmless.

“Water is nectar and medicine; it cures all the diseases, Says Veda”

“Water energy is one of the healing energies of cosmic energy.”

Water has tremendous energy referred to as the God of water (jal). Water is the energy of God. No one can survive without water. Water heals all the living being. Indian sages prayed the lord of water to kindly feed the humanity with the “medicinal water” (“jal oshadhi”) to get the food, health, pleasure, bliss and strength, as a mother feeds her infants, Says Rig Veda.

Water is the second important element among the five elements which constitutes the microcosm or a human being. ¾ components of the universe, earth and human body is water only. No activity, whether physical or religious is successful without the water. All the herbs grow in the water and all the herbs are in

All the herbs grow in the water and all the herbs are in the water as well, says Vedas. Water is a life force and God blessings for living beings. Therefore, it is essential to intake the water and avoids the wastage of water.

Spiritual Value of Water

1. Not only, mental or physical, but the spiritual value of water is also very high. No one can depart from this world without drinking divine water. Hence, holy water is offered to the person leaving the world.

2. Not only the body but also soul needs water to leave the attachment from the body and therefore the bones or ashes of the departed body are offered to Holy Goddess Ganga.

3. Goddess Ganga came on the earth from the heaven to give peace and bliss to the people living on the earth and going to depart from the earth both.

4. In various occasions people take bath in holy Ganga to clean their sins.

5. Some people wish to live near to rivers to get emotional healing from water. Breathing and living near to rivers and lakes emotionally heals people from stress, anxiety and depressions.

Get to know some important tips related to the water that must be followed by everyone to keep body fit and healthy:

Water Therapy

“Water energy is one of the healing energies of cosmos. Water is the enemy of diseases. It has great potential to cure all the diseases, Says Veda”

Water has tremendous energy referred to as the God of water (jal). Water is the energy of God. No one can survive without it. Water heals all the living being. Indian sages prayed the lord of water to kindly feed the humanity with the “medicinal water” (“jal oshadhi”) to get the food, health, pleasure, bliss and strength, as a mother feeds her infants, Says – Rig Veda.

Water is the second important element among the five elements which constitutes the microcosm or a human being. ¾ components of the universe, earth and human body is water only. No activity, whether physical and religious is successful without the water.

All the herbs grow in the water and all the herbs are in the water as well, says Vedas. Water is a life force and blessing for living beings. Therefore, it is essential to intake the water and avoids the wastage of water. Some important tips related to water, given below need to be followed by everyone to keep body fit and healthy:

1. Ushapan

Drinking morning water or “Ushapan”, stored in the copper jug, without washing your mouth is alike nectar. It strengthens immunity system of the body and keeps away various diseases.

“If you have faith Ganga is mother, she will care and love you, if you have faith Ganga is water, she is only water for you” – Mamta Rajshree

2. How to Drink Water

Always drink water in the comfortable sitting posture to keep away knee pain.
Drinking lukewarm water in the morning prevents arthritis.

Always drink water by small sips similar to birds and other animals.

3. Eye Bath

Eye bath or splashing fresh water on the eyes after filling your mouth with the water is good for the eyesight.

4. Don’t Drink Water Immediately after Eating Food

Don’t drink water immediately after eating food to prevent the body from all the diseases which occurs due to indigestion.
Drink water before taking food or after 40 minutes of eating your food.

5. Water Physical Therapy

Water cures, various diseases like cold, cough, sinusitis, constipation, arthritis, throat ache, lung ailments, liver problems, skin diseases, hair troubles, stress, anxiety, mental disorders, back pain, migraine, diabetes and many more.
Water cures fever. During the fever drink a little water in small intervals. Keep wet cloth strip on the forehead to remove temperature during fever.
Water gives strength to the body. Drink a glass of water to get energy.
Water cures arthritis. Drink lukewarm water empty stomach in the morning to cure arthritis.
Drink fresh or lukewarm water in accordance to the weather and to cure cold and cough. Don’t drink cold water of freeze.

6. Water is Nectar for all the Living Beings

Not only living beings, but trees and plants also get life from the water

7. Best Body Cleaner

Water is the best body cleaner. Drink minimum 8 to 10 glasses of water in a day to get shine on your face. Water is a beauty drink.

8. Bare Feet Walk on the Wet Grass

Bare feet morning walk on the wet grass increase life force, cures eyes, removes stress and anxiety.

Bare feet walking on the fresh snow fall cures tooth ache and cracked heels.

Walking on Snow Fall.

Bare feet walking in the water cures the trouble of painful urination and also cures urinary tract infection (UTI) infection, Says “Akhanda Jyoti”. This exercise is good in the summer season only.

9. Hip Bath

Hip bath (Hindi: Kati Snana) gives relief from various ailments such as High blood pressure, Asthma, Paralytic attack, Jaundice, Anemia, vertigo and many more.
Hip Bath: Filled a tub with water and sit in the tub. Keep your legs outside the tub. Water should be till the navel point only.

10. Water Massage Therapy

Dip a clean towel in the hot water, squeeze the towel and keep the towel on your head after doing oil massage of the head. It gives strength to the roots of the hairs and stops the hair fall.

11. Cold Water Therapy

Dip a cloth in cold water, squeeze the cloth and keep it on the part of the body from where blood is coming out due to injury. It stops blood flow immediately and gives relief.
Cold water cures burning organs too.

12. Hot Water Therapy

Boil water and take steam through nose. It is very effective to cure troubles related to cold, cough, bronchitis and sinus.

A water cure in the therapeutic sense is a course of medical treatment by hydrotherapy.Water therapy is helpful in curing diseases without using medicine. You just have to drink 1.5 liter of water each day and follow simple instructions to get rid of terrible diseases. It is a natural remedy for most diseases.

Instructions for following the water therapy

~You can prevent and even get rid of health problems by only drinking water. All you have to do is strictly follow these instructions.

~Drink 1.5 liters or 5-6 glasses of water as soon as you get up in the morning. You can wash your face and brush your teeth after drinking water.

~Start with drinking 3-4 glasses of water if you are unable to drink 5-6 glasses of water in the beginning.

~Avoid taking alcoholic beverages the previous night.

~Avoid eating or having any other drink one hour before and after drinking water in morning.

~Drink water thrice a day if you are suffering from Arthritis or Rheumatism. You should drink 1.5 liters of water each time. You should continue this routine for one week. After one week you can drink 1.5 liter twice a day till the disease is cured.

~Consult your doctor to find out whether water therapy will suit your body or not if you are ill or are already having a health problem.

Benefits of water therapy

~Water therapy is so simple that it does not require expert supervision or professional guidance. Have a quick look at benefits that can be gained with the help of water therapy. It will almost feel like water is a magical drink.

~Helps detoxify your body through sweat and urine.

~Helps you get glowing and healthy skin.

~Helps maintain body temperature.

~Help expelling waste products from the body.

~Water therapy helps to control anemia, rheumatism, general paralysis, obesity, arthritis, sinusitis, tachycardia, giddiness, cough, leukemia, bronchitis, meningitis, hyper acidity, dysentery, gastroenteritis, uterus cancer, rectal piodapse, eye-disease, ophthalmic hemorrhage, irregular menstruation, laryngitis, headache and many other diseases.

~Helps control constipation in 1 day, acidity in 2 days, diabetes in 7 days, cancer in 4 weeks, pulmonary TB in 3 months, gastric in 10 days and Blood Pressure & hypertension in 4 weeks.

I consider water therapy that type of therapy where one gets into water that is warm and soaks for the benefits of this water, itself. When one gets into a whirlpool for relaxation this is the most common form of water therapy, known. Soaking in warm water that is also moving can be very beneficial to the muscles of ones body, especially if there is soreness in certain areas of the body. It can also be a very relaxing form of therapy for the person, it relieves tension from the person in the water. The main thing to remember, is not to stay in the water for very long periods of time, otherwise, one will become very dizzy upon getting out of the water, possibly causing injury to that individual. I have done this on occasion. If this does happen all benefits of the therapy are lost. When done correctly it can be very rewarding to you. It feels good!

I find this to be a great question to consider in view of Dr. Luc Montagnier’s recent studies. Water Memory (Documentary of 2014 about Nobel Prize laureate Luc Montagnier) My on-going question is what the ramifications are for digital biology and digital medicine when we determine how often the water molecules in the human body are replaced. Some say every 16 days … others longer. Irrespective of the current understanding, the question is indeed compelling. (Watch Youtube click here )

Whirlpool Therapy or Water Therapy as you put it is the combination of both heated and cold water baths that help people suffering from chronic pain and many other disorders. Its also become very common in the sports medicine world for its benefits like increased muscle recovery and more.

BENEFITS OF WHIRLPOOL THERAPY ON TENDONITIS
So after years of working in physical therapy, I recently became a patient myself. 20 years of yoga practice and 10 years as a massage therapist had gifted me with tendonitis in both wrists. Suffering from chronic wrist pain, I was a little skeptical when my doctor suggested a physical therapist specializing in sports medicine. I just didn’t think there was much they could do for me. 4 months later, I’m stoked to report, I’m primarily pain free!

One of my favorite modalities my physical therapist used was a therapeutic whirlpool. When he first suggested it, visions of my gym’s scary hot-tub filled my head. Luckily he set me straight and introduced me to what would become my new best friend; the therapeutic whirlpool.

Whitehall Hi-Boy Therapeutic Whirlpool

Standard Table Top Whirlpool for Physical Therapy

Here’s the low-down on Therapeutic Whirlpool Treatment

The therapeutic whirlpool I used was big enough for me to put my hands in (although they do make them big enough for your entire body) and my pt encouraged me to gently stretch and move while the water was moving. What I loved about it was it was extremely gentle on my wrists, but my range of motion always improved and my pain decreased. And who doesn’t love being able to pretend they’re getting a spa treatment at their physical therapist’s office?

Now what’s cool about the whirlpool is it’s versatile in its use depending on your pt goals, it all comes down to the temperature from the water. Warm water will help increase your circulation, while cold water helps decrease inflammation and swelling. My favorite though was the contrast bath. The contrast bath uses both a warm and cold bath. You spend a minute or two in each bath and switch back and forth for about 20 minutes. Theoretically this creates a “pumping” effect: rapidly opening and closing the arteries, which helps decrease swelling significantly. All I know is I experienced greater range of motion after the contrast bath and was able to then do the physical therapy exercises given to me to rehab my wrist without pain.

I loved the whirlpool so much especially how gentle it was I even recommended it to my sister who suffers from Arthritis. This modality is also great for anyone suffering from a fracture, plantar fasciitis, sprains, and tendonitis or even to treat wounds and scabbing.

So there you have it, the beginning of my love affair with whirlpool therapy. As your physical therapist if they offer it as part of their treatment, because it rocks.

Water therapy is drinking water first thing in the morning even before you brush your teeth and not eating anything for 1 hour after that.

The other Health Benefits of drinking water are:

It keeps your body hydrated.
It keeps your skin glowing.
It provides nutrients to the cells in your body.
Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water keeps you healthy.
It helps in weight loss.
It helps in digestion.
It is good for diabetes.
As 70 percent of the earth is covered with water so is our body.

Absorbing warm water is one of the most seasoned types of option therapy, and there's justifiable reason motivation behind why this practice has stood the test of time. Research has indicated warm water therapy works ponders for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including fibromyalgia, joint inflammation and low back agony. "The examination demonstrates our predecessors hit the nail on the head. It improves you feel. It makes the joints looser.

Water therapy or hydrotherapy has been used since Egyptian times to treat physical problems. By swimming there is low impact on the joints and water gives our muscles something to push against.

Try water aerobics your muscles will have quite a workout!

The Romans used it too. Saunas open up the pores and cleanse the skin of impurities

It's practiced today in Iceland and has many health benefits like increasing circulation of blood flow. By going from hot to cold is very invigorating. And may even increase lifespan!

Water therapy generally means
-Drinking 8-9glasses of water everyday.
-Taking only water for 2-3 days.
-Taking hot or cold water bath.
-Shower cold water or hot water according to illness.
-Sitting on warm water tub for fomentation.
-Ice cold fomentation in case of injury.

All these come under water therapy .

Healthy wealth