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**************************************** MEETING NOTICE
Sunday, March 18th, 2007 -- We will have an Exercise Physiologist, the Physical
Therapy Manager and the Aquatic Director from the Abilities Rehab
Center in Deltona.
May 20th, 2007 --
September 16th, 2007--
November 18th, 2007 --
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CONTENTS
From Barbara
HealthSmart – Back Pain Primer
When we Change our Clocks
FL Drivers License Emergency Contact
What a Rose Can Say
Top Ten Secrets to a Stress-Free Personal Life
Sleep Soundly
Onions are Anti-Cancer
Coughs
Hearing Services
Light That Can Cure You
Reflections
Believing in Yourself
Great Household Tips
Physical Therapy
Managing Exercise
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FROM BARBARA
One of our members, Dr. Lacourt, when I asked at our January meeting if anyone had someone they would like to have make a presentation at one of our meetings, suggested the Aquatic Director at the rehab facility he goes to. When I called there and spoke with Sandy, she volunteered that all three would like to be at our meeting. So, we will have three speakers. Should be most interesting.
The South Florida Post-Polio Group is sponsoring a conference April 9 – 11. Their registration form and information can be found on the reverse side of our Reservation Form for the March meeting. I will be on Long Island at that time and unable to attend.
Well, as you can see, I made it home from the 9-day cruise aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Pearl” – The ship is very large and very beautiful. It is also 99.9% accessible. The staff goes out of their way to be helpful. Each and every one that you pass has a friendly smile and a “hello” or “how are you” to you.
The one non-accessible point was in the theatre. There are very, very few handicap spaces – one on the main floor and either two or three in the balcony. Additionally, they have only two narrow, non-railed aisles going down to the front of the stage. They have no center aisle – for those living in Central Florida, it’s basically like the Bob Carr Theatre in Orlando. I’m bad with graphics but maybe these lines will show you what I mean –
____ ____________________ ____
My friends and I did speak with the Asst Cruise Director and told him how bad the theatre design was and he said he would mention it to management. A few days later he came over to me and said he had told corporate management what we said and they said they would take it into consideration when they build their new ship – which is due out later this year (the “Gem”).
Don’t know if you recall, but when I went on Carnival’s Celebration this past summer with my daughter and her family, I complained how bad their elevators were…. Much too narrow and too few. Well, on the Pearl, they had four different areas on the ship you could get an elevator and each area had four elevators that were large enough to accommodate my scooter, two walkers and four or five others (two friends that I was with now use walkers – and we had worked out a system to get the most out of the elevators). The buttons on these elevators were also at a level you could reach.
Would I go on this ship again – yes, BUT only if it went out of Port Canaveral. Going out of and into Miami is a horror. When we came back I had to get a supervisor to help me locate the luggage – and it took him one-half hour – that’s how bad it is there.
As to the shore excursions – there were none that could accommodate my scooter. My friends, with walkers, were able to go on one or two BUT, you have to be careful because the excursions usually involved quite a bit of walking – even when they said it was minimal. I was able to get off the ship and go into the shops right around the pier area.
That’s it for now – will let you know when and where my next “adventure” will be – but that won’t be for awhile.
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Reprinted from Daytona Beach News Journal, USA Weekend, November 19, 2006
HealthSmart
Back Pain Primer
By Dr. Tedd Mitchell
KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO
HEAD TO THE DOCTOR.
Many of us have lower back pain on occasion, and the discomfort usually is short-lived. But in some folks, back pain can signal more serious illness, so it helps to be able to distinguish the simple from the significant.
Remember that back pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Problems in many organs can manifest themselves as back pain. And even the back itself can have a variety of problems. Some of these don’t require more than the tincture of time, but others need intervention right away. The following are some of the “red flag” symptoms that require evaluation by a doctor:
■ Sudden, severe back pain in someone who has been healthy. If you haven’t been prone to back pain and a spell hits you hard and fast, it’s important to have a doctor evaluate the underlying structures.
■ Back pain with minimal activity. If you experience back pain after performing a light activity – such as bending over to pick something up – you may need to get checked. Generally, older people and older women, in particular, are more likely to have osteoporosis (a thinning of the bones) and are at higher risk for developing what is called a compression fracture of one of the vertebrae in the back.
■ Pain that moves. If you have pain that radiates from the lower back (especially sharp, shooting pain through the buttocks toward the back of the leg), you may have a disc that’s herniated or ruptured.
■ Pack pain associated with weak-ness. If you experience an episode of back discomfort that’s accompanied by significant weakness in an extremity, see your doctor. Left untreated, the weakness could become permanent.
■ Numbness. Although many people with lower back problems will experience numbness from time to time, it’s best to let your doctor decide when this needs to be addressed medically.
■ Low back pain accompanied by fever. Fever can indicate infection or inflammation, and when it accompanies episodes of back pain, visit a physician to make sure no underlying problems need to be treated.
■ Loss of bladder or bowel control. These symptoms are regulated by nerves from the spine, and the body’s inability to control these systems indicates that there may be some serious underlying pathology.
■ Prolonged pain. If you have episodes of back pain lasting more than two weeks, take a trip to your doctor’s office. Your physician can ensure that everything is anatomically OK and implement therapies to help you improve.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and medical director of Dallas Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmart every week.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- I realize that many polio survivors have back problems and know how to take care of them. This article is for those of us, like me, who, basically, are free of back pain (or other pains) and should know what to do if and when we do start having some problems. Naturally, we would go to a doctor or knows something about polio (hopefully).
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The following two items are from the “Fourth Quarter” Counsel on Aging, Volusia/Flagler County newsletter – The Counsel.
When we change
our clocks
On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. Beginning in 2007, Daylight Savings Time will begin on the second Sunday in March (03/11/07) and end the first Sunday in November (11/04/07).
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- So, don’t forget to change your clocks on March 3rd.
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Florida Drivers License
Emergency Contacts
You can have two (2) emergency contacts attached to your Florida driver’s license. In other words, if you are in an accident and they run your driver’s license, 2 emergency contacts will pop up so officials do not have to search for relatives. In order to add this information on the internet, go to www.hsmv.state.fl.us, go to Drivers License”, then “Emergency Contacts”, put in your driver’s license number; when prompted enter the name, address and phone numbers of 2 people you want to have contacted, save and you are done. A very simple process. Hopefully you will never need this, but it could be useful.
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I know Valentine’s Day has passed, but this is so beautiful I just had to put it in. After all, flowers are sent on Easter also. This, too, came from the Counsel on Aging newsletter.
What a Rose Can Say
A rose can say I love you
and I want you to be mine,
A rose can say I thank you
for being very kind,
A rose can say congratulations,
whatever the occasion may be,
A rose can say I miss you,
and wish you were here with me,
A rose can say I’m sorry,
if I’ve hurt you in any way,
A rose can say get well soon,
may you be blessed today,
A rose can say I wish you happiness,
and the best for you each day,
A rose can say farewell,
when someone goes away,
A rose can say hello,
I’m thinking of you today,
There’s just so many wonderful things that a rose can say,
A rose can say goodbye,
when a loved one is laid to rest,
No matter what there is to say,
a rose can say it best.
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The following was in our September/October 2003 newsletter. It was sent by Beverly Schroll, one of our e-mail members. Thought it was time to put it in the newsletter again.
THE TOP TEN SECRETS
TO A STRESS-FREE PERSONAL LIFE
1. Create boundaries.
Boundaries reflect what other people can or cannot do or say to you, for instance, “I am only able to listen to you when you speak calmly without shouting.” This will leave you feeling protected from hurtful situations.
2. Ask people to help you.
Choose 3 things today that you can receive help with and ask for it. You will have less to cope with and get done, you can stop being a hero who does it all and you will leave the other person feeling important with a sense of responsibility.
3. Quiet your mind at least once a day.
Concentrate on your breathing and let all of your thoughts go. You will then be able to listen fully to what your body is telling you and act more on your intuition and what’s right for you.
4. Explore and experience your feelings fully.
For example, when you feel sad allow yourself to be sad rather than try to pick yourself up and pretend it doesn’t manner. It’s okay to feel sad, happy, frustrated… accepting your feelings rather than fighting them helps you to know where in your life to make changes and reduce stress.
5. Plan a fun activity every day.
It can be for just 5 minutes or as long as you want - such as watching a comedy, dancing, a water-pistol fight with friends… You will have something to look forward to each day, keeping fun and balance in your life.
6. Communicate how you feel in a non-threatening manner.
Use the statement, “I feel…. ”
Such as, “I feel unimportant when you don’t telephone me during the day.” You will feel less conflict as you are owning your feelings and talking about the other person’s behavior, not them personally.
7. Write in your journal every day.
Find a time that works best for you, maybe first thing in the morning or last thing at night and write about your thoughts, feelings, ideas, stressful situations… You will safely explore and clarify your life and priorities, enabling you to make choices and to take action based on these.
8. Take time for yourself on a regular basis.
Perhaps you might take a long bath, read, have quiet time alone or whatever feels good for you. You will feel good about yourself and more relaxed and energized to enjoy your life more fully.
9. Don’t be demanding.
Use the words, “Would you…” when asking for things. For example, “Would you look after my plants while I’m away?” You are more likely to achieve a ‘yes’ as the other person is left feeling capable and having a choice rather than being told what to do.
10. Show your appreciation.
Every day tell someone that you appreciate them, “I appreciate the way you’ve supported me through this emotional time.” We all need to feel appreciated and showing appreciation to others will allow you to live in a more loving way.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- I’m finding that as I get older the stress factor in my life is changing. Many of the above 10 factors are, surprisingly (at least to me), more important now than they were back in 2003 when it was originally in our newsletter. What do you think????
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Another article from Dr. Tedd Mitchell’s Health Smart -- Reprinted from Daytona Beach News Journal, USA Weekend, March 17-19, 2006
SLEEP
SOUNDLY
If you have trouble getting shut-eye, there are ways to improve your sleep and feel rejuvenated without risking your health.
In our fast-paced society, the risk of developing stress-related problems is high. When you use the word “stress,” most people assume you’re talking about negative emotional effects, but stress presents itself in many other ways: high blood pressure, headaches, sexual problems and intestinal trouble. For others, stress means losing sleep.
In fact, one of the most significant conditions associated with chronic stress is insomnia. Simply put, this means a person just can’t sleep well.
Whether the difficulty is getting to sleep or remaining asleep, it’s a common problem, almost all of us have insomnia from time to time. According to a 2001 poll by the National Sleep Foundation, nearly seven out of 10 Americans said they experience frequent sleep problems, although most of them have not been diagnosed with a sleeping disorder.
The wrong way to decompress
Different people have different ways of unwinding at night. Once common practice is to have a few drinks. After a hard day’s work, some choose to relax with a few cold beers, wine or a cocktail or two. The rationale: Drinking is a way to decompress after a stressful day, which, in turn, should help you sleep, right? Wrong.
When it comes to sleep, alcohol is a funny thing. Alcohol certainly may have a calming effect at bedtime, but don’t count on it to help you sleep through the night. Research has shown that alcohol disrupts the normal sleep pattern, particularly later in the night, and leads to diminished energy and fatigue the next day. Also, those who regularly drink alcohol before bedtime find that its ability to make them sleepy decreases over time.
Your brain is busy all night
Sleep is your body’s way of recharging its batteries. Consider it nature’s way of allowing your system to recover from the day’s grind and prepare you for the next day’s challenges. Although most folks think of sleep as a very inactive state, quite the opposite is true: As you sleep, your brain goes through cycles, called stages, progressing from very light sleep to deep sleep. Four of these stages occur before the onset of what is called rapid eye movement sleep. During this REM phase, we dream. Here’s what happens: You start sleeping very lightly and systematically progress through the various stages of non-REM sleep, moving from Stage 1 to Stage 4 (see “Sleep Cycle below”). At this point you enter the REM phase of sleep, which can last from several minutes to an hour, getting longer with each subsequent cycle. Afterward, the cycle repeats.
Don’t disturb the cycle
Alcohol tends to disrupt this very coordinated cycle of stages. According to the National Institutes of Health, drinking alcohol within an hour of bedtime can disrupt the second half of the sleep period. During this fitful period, you can wake up and then have difficulty falling back asleep. As a result, your body doesn’t get the rejuvenation it needs.
Insomnia significantly upsets many people’s lives. Don’t make the mistake of adopting unhealthful behaviors to try to combat the problem. Instead, focus on tactics that improve your sleep without compromising your health (see “How to Get a Better Night’s Rest”, below).
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The Sleep Cycle
Stage 1: Lightest sleep Can be awakened easily.
Stage 2: Light sleep. Body temperature decreases.
Stages 3 and 4: Deep sleep. Known as slow-wave or delta sleep, it’s characterized by rhythmic breathing. Stage 4 is more intense than Stage 3.
Stage 5: REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Intense dreaming occurs from heightened brain activity, but this is a lighter sleep than Stages 3 and 4.
A person may go through five sleep cycles in a typical night. The cycles recur in sequence, with the first one usually lasting about 100 minutes.
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How to Get a
Better Night’s Rest
· Exercise regularly, but not just before bedtime.
· Go to bed at the same time every night, and avoid taking long naps during the day.
· Finish up any work related tasks early in the evening so you don’t take stress to bed with you.
· Don’t eat for a couple of hours before bedtime.
· Make sure your bedroom is conducive to a good night’s sleep. Keep it dark, quiet, and cool. Large pets need to stay off the bed.
· Don’t toss and turn. If you wake up in the middle of the night, get out of bed and go to a relaxing area where you can read until you become sleepy. Then, head back to bed.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- some of the above need to be adapted to our own specific needs, i.e., exercising: some of us cannot do any, so don’t try. Also the getting out of bed in the middle of the night – this may be difficult too, so, again, don’t try. Sleep is important is do what you can to get a good night’s sleep.
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EatSmart
By Jean Carper
Onions are anti-cancer
Folklore says that eating onions and garlic wards off illness. Now, research says the duo may prevent cancer.
In a large study, Europeans who often eat the most onions and garlic have lower cancer rates. In fact, eating onions more than once a day cut the risk of colorectal cancer 56% and esophageal cancer 88%. Eating lots of garlic significantly cut the risk of ovarian, kidney, esophageal and oral cancers. In addition, a recent U.S. study showed that garlic and onions cut pancreatic cancer odds 54%.
The anti-cancer ingredients: organo-sulfur compounds, which partly account for garlic’s strong taste and odor, and antioxidants such as quercetin, which is found in onions.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- And we thought garlic was just for scaring away vampires….
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HealthBrief
By Susan T. Lennon
COUGHS:
Adults, they are nothing
to scoff at…
Thinking about calling the doctor for your cough? Join the crowd. Coughing is the reason behind 30 million office visits each year. And wisely so: Coughs are associated with everything from the common cold to heart disease and acid reflux. Except for occasional episodes that are easily explained (wrong pipe, pungent odor), “it is never normal to cough,” says Richard S. Irwin, M.D., University of Mass Medical School professor.
The good news. With the help of revised guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians, doctors can diagnose and treat 90% of coughs.
Also, the guidelines strongly suggest adults under 65 get an improved vaccine for pertussis (whoop-ing cough).
Decoding Your Basis Cough
Type: acute; lasts three weeks or less.
Causes: Most often the common cold (a virus). Also, acute bronchitis (but frequently overdiagnosed).
Don’t take: Antibiotics (they don’t work on viruses). Over-the-counter cough syrups, expectorants and suppressants (these have only a placebo effect, and coughs due to colds disappear in a few days without treatment).
Do take: If your doctor permits, use old-fashioned antihistamine pills with or without a decongestant (not the “non-drowsy” formula).
Call a doctor: If coughing doesn’t improve in seven days or if it’s accompanied by shaking, chills, fever or pus.
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Did you know……
HEARING SERVICES – MEDICAID
Medicaid reimburses for hearing services rendered by licensed, Medicaid-participating otolaryngologists, otologists, audiologists, and hearing specialists. Medicaid reimbursable hearing services include:
· Cochlear implants services
· Diagnostic testing
· Hearing aids
· Hearing aid evaluations
· Hearing aid fitting and dispensing
· Hearing aid repairs and accessories
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Health
LIGHT that can cure you..
By Reed Karaim
Healing the human body with a beam of light sounds like something out of a classic Star Trek episode. But even Dr. McCoy never dreamed of the futuristic ways that today’s doctors are finding to use different kinds of light in medicine.
Researchers are exploring every-thing from penetrating beams of light that seem to repair heart tissue after a heart attack to “light therapy” that appears to improve Alzheimer’s patients’ ability to sleep through the night. Doctors are remedying the side effects of cancer treatments, severe acne and other ailments just by shining high-intensity light in varying colors on the affected area.
In these ground-breaking therapies, light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, most often are used to apply concentrated doses of light to patients. LEDs are not lasers, so tissue does not get hot, and the treatment is pain-free. “It represents a quantum leap in medicine,” says Harry T. Whelan, M.D., who is a professor of neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a leading researcher in the field. “It’s a change from the standard medical models of drugs and surgery, where you are basically either poisoning or cutting the patient.”
Light apparently works on human tissue on the cellular level, transferring energy to the mitochondria, which function as microscopic power plants, helping the body repair itself. Light also can speed up or slow down certain chemical processes in cells.
The secret to the many ways that light can be used in medicines lies in the varying wavelengths of different colors of light. “These are essentially the different colors of the rainbow, and each has a different effect on human tissue,” says David Goldberg, M.D., director of Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of New York & New Jersey, who has been doing research in the field for two decades.
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NEAR INFRARED LIGHT
The long wavelengths of near infrared light, next to red on the spectrum and invisible to the human eye, can penetrate deeply into human tissue. For that reason, it may be the light treatment with the most dramatic potential for revolutionizing medicine.
Working with patients at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, professor Whelan and his colleagues have used infrared light to treat “severe mucositis,” oral sores that are a side effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatment and leave patients unable to either eat or drink. “We’ve essentially eliminated severe mucositis here in the ward,” Whelan says.
Bigger applications could be ahead. Tests on animals have shown success reversing blindness by stimulating retinal cells in the eye. Animal studies also indicate that infrared light can help cut a heart attack’s severity by up to 50% and repair tissue afterward.
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RED LIGHT
Red light, which does not penetrate as deeply as near infrared, seems to help wounds heal more quickly. In addition, the light can be used to remove certain precancerous skin cells without scarring, Goldberg says.
But what many people may be most interested in is red light’s ability to reverse aging. Used in conjunction with near infrared, the light promotes collagen formation, which smooths out wrinkled skin. “You’re not going to take somebody who is 60 and turn them into a 20 year old,” Goldberg cautions, “but it is very clear that you can take people’s skin and make them look younger and more vibrant.”
Red light also has an anti-inflammatory effect and can kill bacteria, as can blue light. In fact, Goldberg has had success using red and blue light together to treat severe cases of acne. He says that light therapy “has revolutionized the treatment of skin.”
BLUE LIGHT
Besides its use as an antibacterial agent, blue light has a special ability to reset the biological clock. The reason seems to be tied to the thousands of years humans toiled almost completely outdoors. “We are blue-sky-sensitive creatures,” says Mariana Figueiro, assistant professor at Rensselaer Poly-technic Institute’s Lighting Research Center, based in Troy, N.Y.
Studies by Figueiro and others indicate “blue light boxes” are far more effective than full-spectrum sunlight boxes of equal intensity at fighting seasonal affective disorder, commonly known as the winter blues. Studies at Harvard Medical School in Boston and the Lighting Research Center also indicate that a dose of blue light, depending on when it’s given, can increase alertness or help fight insomnia. In particular, Figueiro’s studies show that exposure to blue light in the evening makes Alzheimer’s patients more likely to sleep through the night.
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
Ultraviolet light, which exists just below violet on the spectrum, can be used to keep bacteria and viruses from reproducing. A study by the Lighting Research Center is now underway in which the air being circulated through a Manhattan office and retain building is treated with UV light in the vents. “It’s potentially an efficient way to sterilize the air,” says Andrew Bierman, who is a researcher at the center. UV light is being used in water treatment plants, and New York City is now building the world’s largest UV treatment facility, which will be able to treat 2 billion gallons of water a day.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- I thought this was very interesting and something for us to look forward to in the not-so-far future. It seems the varying forms of light can really be helpful in many different ways.
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And it's winter before we know it....
REFLECTIONS
You know, time has a way of moving quickly and
catching you unaware of the passing years.
It seems just yesterday that I
was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.
And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years
went. I know that I lived them all...
And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... But, here it is… the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...
How did I get here so fast? Where did the
years go and where did my babies go? And where did my youth go?
I remember well... seeing older people
through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me
and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully
what it would be like...
But, here it is... wife retired and she's really getting gray... she moves slower and I see an older woman now. She's in better shape than me... but, I see the great change... Not the one I married who was young and
vibrant... but, like me, her age is beginning
to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought
we'd be.
Each day now, I find that just getting
a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat
anymore...it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just
fall asleep where I sit!
And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the
aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things.
But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how
long it will last... This I know, that when it's over... its over... Yes , I
have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done… things I should have
done. But indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done Its all in a
lifetime.. .
So, if you're not in your winter yet... let me remind you, that it will be
here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your
life please do it quickly!
Life goes by quickly… so, do what you can today, because you can never be sure
whether this is your winter or not!
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live
for good today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to
remember...
"Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who
came after. Make it a fantastic one."
LIVE IT WELL!!
~author unknown~
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The following poem was sent to us via e-mail from one of our members.
Believing In Yourself
Standing for what you believe in,
Regardless of the odds against you,
and the pressure that tears at your resistance,
... means courage.
Keeping a smile on your face,
When inside you feel like dying,
For the sake of supporting others,
... means strength.
Stopping at nothing,
And doing what's in your heart,
You know is right,
... means determination.
Doing more than is expected,
To make another's life a little more bearable,
Without uttering a single complaint,
... means compassion.
Helping a friend in need,
No matter the time or effort,
To the best of your ability,
... means loyalty.
Giving more than you have,
And expecting nothing,
But nothing in return,
... means selflessness.
Holding your head high,
And being the best you know you can be
When life seems to fall apart at your feet,
Facing each difficulty with the confidence
That time will bring you better tomorrows,
And never giving up,
... means confidence.
~ by Mary Ellen Joseph ~
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The following was sent by one of our e-mail members, Beverly Schroll. As you know, ordinarily we don’t put these items in the newsletter, but I’ve tried several of these and they do work. Sooooooooooo, I’m passing them along.
Great Household Tips
Reheat Pizza
Heat up leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove. Set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.
Broken Glass
Use a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken pieces of glass... the fibers catch ones you can't see!
Reducing Static Cling
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... voila... static is gone.
Measuring Cups
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
Foggy Windshield
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalk-board eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
Reopening envelope
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.
Conditioner
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving
cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the
conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair...
Good-bye Fruit Flies
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
Get Rid of Ants
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it "home," and can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
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Reprinted from Triad Post Polio Support Group, The Seagull, February 2007
Physical Therapy
By Susan I. Fish, MAPT
During recent years, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with patients experiencing the late effects of polio. Many times I have detected some frustration and anger regarding my professional’s lack of experience in treating Post-Polio patients. I write this brief article now for two reasons:
◄ To explain and help you understand this lack of knowledge on the part of many of my colleagues.
◄ To provide some guidelines regarding Do’s and Don’ts when seeking physical therapy.
Most Physical Therapists (PT’s) (Physiotherapists in UK) working today weren’t even alive during the major polio epidemics. Their formal education regarding poliomyelitis was more historical than factual, with little more than definitions of pathology and no clinical experience. Post-Polio Syndrome is only recently being recognized and its existence is still questioned in some medical circles. Both acute polio and post polio syndrome present clinical pictures which are unlike any other neuromuscular condition. Without the experience of working with acute polio patient and with little documented information regarding the treatment of Post-Polio Syndrome, it is not surprising to find professionals lacking in knowledge.
Although, there may be reasons for a lack of knowledge, a responsible professional should NOT treat any condition that he or she is not confident and knowledgeable in treating. You may be able to direct a PT to appropriate resources. Please see the resources at the end of this article and I would be happy to help also.
Reasons for seeking physical therapy will vary. You may be referred to a PT to help you with your Post-Polio Syndrome. You may be referred for rehabilitation following corrective surgery for a polio related condition. You may also be referred for a condition not necessarily related to polio at all, such as arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, fractures, osteoporosis, low back pain, stiff neck, etc, etc. Your physical therapist is well trained to treat these other conditions. However, your post-polio status should be taken into consideration when designing a program. Here is some advice.
Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind when going for physical therapy:-
◄ Do trust yourself and the knowledge you have gained over the years about your body.
◄ Do be willing to alter your lifestyle.
◄ Do avoid fatigue.
◄ Do get enough rest.
◄ Do pace your activities rather than discontinuing them.
◄ Do conserve energy. It may make more sense to spread your activities out, allowing for rest periods, rather than eliminating interests and activities.
◄ Do recognize that your body is aging and some physical changes will occur which are not related to post-polio. There IS a normal aging process even though post-polio may be a part of it.
◄ Do respect your feelings. This may be a difficult adjustment time for you; seeking emotional as well as physical guidance may be a wise thing to consider.
◄ Don’t follow advice regarding physical exercise if you become fatigued while doing it.
◄ Don’t become short of breath with exercise.
◄ Don’t do more than your body feels comfortable doing.
◄ Don’t cause pain with activity or exercise.
◄ Don’t gain weight.
◄ Don’t reject using aids and assisting devices without giving them serious thought. (They are meant to conserve energy and preserve anatomical structures, i.e., joints, muscles, tendons, cartilage and ligaments.) Most are delighted and surprised by the increased endurance and energy they have with the use of canes, wheelchairs, motorized scooters or the many other easily found assisting devices.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- I have been taking physical therapy for the past couple of weeks (and have two more weeks to go) to help me with some loss of range in my formerly good left arm. I’ve found that since I had the lumpectomy four years ago, and the fall 3 years ago (while trying to get away from the hurricanes coming through Florida), in which I broke my shoulder bone, I have lost quite a bit of strength and movement in that arm. In taking an MRI, they found that I had osteoarthritis there as well as the old (and new) polio damage. The therapist I’m using now is the one that took care of me when I had the broken shoulder. She has been very good in learning how to treat post-polios (several other of our local members have found her knowledge-able too). Oh, there was no list of resources at the end of this article – if you want some further information, call me (Barbara at 386-676-2435) and we’ll see if we can help you.
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Reprinted from Colorado Post-Polio Connections, Volume 22, Number 1, Winter 2007
MANAGING EXERCISE
By Lauro S. Halstead, MD
It is well known from muscle physiology that exercise of various types improves both muscle strength and endurance. Following episodes of acute paralytic polio in the past, individuals often went through long periods of exercise training and muscle re-education to regain the strength and muscle mass they had lost. In fact, exercise was frequently viewed as the “cure” for paralytic polio. The belief of many persons was that they could overcome or “beat” polio if they did enough exercises.
When people started getting new weakness many decades later, that same belief was still in tact. As a result, many individuals resumed exercising on their own, often with a vengeance, frequently producing additional weak-ness. Based on these anecdotes and the initial theory that PPS was caused by overburdened motor neurons, it is understandable that most clinicians were cautious about prescribing any form of exercise. Now, more than a decade later, there is considerable evidence that almost everyone can benefit from some form of exercise. For man individuals, this level of exercise may be nothing more strenuous than gentle stretching or various types of yoga. For others, it may be considerably more vigorous and even include aerobic training. With this range of options, it is impossible to prescribe a set of exercises suitable for everyone. Instead, a list follows of general principles and guidelines that can be used by most people with PPS to develop a safe and effective exercise program:
· Individualized and supervised program. Exercise programs should be supervised initially by a physician or physical therapist experienced in neuromuscular diseases, if not polio. All programs should be customized to each person’s needs, residual strengths, and symptom patterns. Given these constraints, research studies have shown that some polio survivors (but not all ) can improve muscle strength (caused by new muscle hypertrophy and the growth of additional terminal axon sprouts) and enhance cardiovascular endurance with a closely monitored training program. In fact, some studies have reported an increase in strength in muscles both with and without new weakness.
· Type of exercise. There are numerous kinds of exercise. Finding the one that is right for each person and each limb often takes trial and error. Usually, it is a good idea to find two or more exercises that can be varied, exercising specific muscles every other day. For example, walking or exercising the lower extremities one day and alternating with an exercise for upper extremities the next day. This program provides a period of rest for each muscle group and variation that keeps the overall exercise program challenging and enjoyable. As a general rule, muscles that have a grade of 3 or less (using the muscle examination scale: 0 = no contraction up to 5 = normal strength) should be protected and not exercised; grade 3+ muscles can be exercised with caution; grade 4 and 4+ muscles can be exercised moderately; and grade 5 muscles can be exercised more vigorously.
· Expect improvement. Exercise should make one feel better physically and psychologically or both. If the activity is not strenuous enough to improve an individual’s strength, much less the cardiovascular system (e.g. stretching or yoga exercises), it still should give a psychological lift just to be doing a special activity for oneself on a regular basis.
· Listen to your body. Avoid pain, fatigue, and weakness. These symptoms are signals that your muscles have overworked. A brief period of fatigue and minor muscle pain for 15 minutes to 30 minutes after exercise is usually normal. Symptoms that last longer than 30 minutes to 60 minutes reflect muscle overwork and possible injury. If this occurs, the exercise should be reduced or stopped. Any exercise that causes additional weakness should be discontinued immediately.
· Pacing. Pacing has been shown to be safe and effective in increasing strength in some individuals. The intervals of exercising can be as short as two minutes to five minutes alternating with equal intervals of rest. The evidence also shows that secondary symptoms, such as generalized fatigue, can be reduced as individuals become conditioned and are able to perform more work with less expenditure of effort.
· Use your best muscles. Polio is often a focal, asymmetric disease with variable amounts of weakness in different limbs. Exercise the limbs least affected or those completely unaffected by polio, while avoiding the more affected extremities. For instance, if only the legs were affected, then the arms can be used in a fairly strenuous program that includes swimming or using an upper extremity arm bicycle; meanwhile, the legs will usually get adequate exercise in the course of doing daily activities.
· Hydrotherapy. Water therapy was the exercise of choice for many persons during their recovery from the original polio. It is still excellent therapy. Because of the buoyancy of water, it allows people to do things they can’t perform on land. For especially weak limbs, inflatable cuffs can be used to float an extremity. For other limbs, water resistance provides a workout that can be fine-tuned to each person’s strength. The principal disadvantages of hydrotherapy are that the temperature may not suit one’s body and it may be difficult to find pools that have lifts (if needed). Also, the surfaces around pools tend to be slippery and dangerous for anyone with a tendency to fall.
· Warm-up and cool-down. As with other exercise programs, a warm-up followed by gentle stretching should be done to improve flexibility and reduce the possibility of injury. After exercising, a cool-down period should take place. Finally, the type of activity should be one that the participant enjoys to minimize the potential for dropping out because of lack of interest.
Halstead, M.D., Lauro S., editor. Managing Post-Polio, A Guide to Living Well with Post-Polio Syndrome. Washington,
D, C.: NRH Press, 1998. pp. 30-33.
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- For those of you not aware of it, Dr. Halstead is, himself, a polio survivor with post-polio problems. He utilizes a motorized scooter getting around his hospital duties.
This, actually, in my opinion, is an excellent article for you to take and show your doctor and/or your physical therapist.
Remember at our meeting this month we will have both a physical therapist and a aquatic therapist as our speakers. I will make sure that they both receive copies of this article before they come to the meeting.
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This is also from the Colorado Post-Polio Connections, Winter 2007 issue.
Here is Dr. Marny Eulberg’s “quick and dirty” recommendation about exercise for polio survivors:
“Stop the activity just short of what you know will cause pain, the muscle feeling like ‘mush’, or won’t allow you to do one more repetition/take one more step, etc. or you get fasciculations (muscle twitches) in the muscles that are working!”
FECPPSG Editor’s Note:- Dr. Marny Eulberg is a polio survivor herself and I have heard her speak at several conference I attended.
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Once more - Wishing all our members a Green St. Paddy’s Day, a Sweet Passover, and a Peaceful Easter.
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Radisson Hotel Miami 1-800-342-7499
“Post Polio International Conference” rate $119 available until March 14, 2007
April 9-11, 2007 in Miami, Florida
FINAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MARCH 14, 2007
Conference hosts: The Post Polio Assn. of South Florida and the International Post Polio Support Organization
Preliminary schedule of events
April 9 – Plenary Session starts 12:30 pm – Dr. Vandenakker, Miami Post Polio Clinic staff, Dr. Alba, Prof. Kossove, Mr. Imparato(AAPD) - Program focus: PPS Medical & Legislative issues (Q&A) and evening “Network & View Exhibitors” event.
April 10 – Workshops start 9:30 am – Speakers: medical specialists, renowned PPS group leaders and disability advocates, disability law experts & community partners - Topics: emotional/physical well-being; care-giver support, medication alternatives, nutrition, breathing/sleep issues, Medicare/Medicaid changes, insurance appeals, interacting with your doctors, and a PPS leader workshop series to identify unmet needs, develop action plan, & align with partners.
April 11 – Plenary Session starts 9:30 am – Speakers: Legislative, motivational, organizational, & medical - Topics: pain & fatigue relief, improving quality of life, services/programs to meet your needs, how the Rotary & other entities can partner with us and explanations about research (on-going and future) that might be beneficial for polio survivors.
REGISTRATION FORM
Name/Title _______________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address ___________________________________________________________________________________
Phone _____________________________ Email________________________________________________________
Second Person’s Name (i.e. care giver) ________________________________________________________________
PPS Group/Org. Name (for name tag(s) ________________________________________________________________
Please list any Special Needs: ________________________________________________________________________
~ To rent scooter for hotel, call Maureen (561)488-4473 or BAPPG@aol.com ~ Visit www.Go.maimidade.gov or call (305)770-3131 to plan your transportation ~ Valet parking or self-park 7th floor of hotel garage ~ Plans for real-time captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing
For conference questions, contact Barbara at (305)230-0687 (EST/Miami time) or postpoliomiami@aol.com.
For updated conference information go to www.postpolioworld.com or by request.
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Registration fees (includes lunch daily) |
One person |
Two Person Total |
Total |
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3 Day Conference Price |
$160 |
$250 |
$ |
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Early 3 Day Registration by February 16 |
$150 |
$240 |
$ |
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Single Day Option: April 9, 2007 |
$60 |
$90 |
$ |
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April 10, 2007 |
$50 |
$80 |
$ |
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