Fall 2007 - A.T. Still University

Health Awareness
Months throughout the year are designated as “awareness months” in an effort to increase
knowledge and recognition of various diseases, illnesses, and other social causes. By setting aside
these months, the general population has the opportunity to gain insight into issues affecting
the status of individuals, family and friends, and the community at large. Quite often, just gaining knowledge of the existence of an issue becomes the catalyst needed to make changes and
improvements in one’s lifestyle and choices. You can check out the awareness months for the
year at www.healthfinder.gov/library/nho/nho.asp.
By the President of the United States of
America: A Proclamation
Fall 2007
Published quarterly by the
Still-Well Committee for
A.T. Still University.
Editorial Board
Wendy Pinkerton
Lynda Crossgrove
Joni Newland
Dolores Tafoya
ATSU is an equal opportunity/
affirmative action employer.
Hospice care plays an important role in American medicine by easing a patient’s suffering
while reaffirming individual dignity in a familiar, comfortable environment. Across our Nation,
hospice care providers are assisting in hospitals, nursing homes, and private residences, offering
physical, emotional, and spiritual support to patients who often have a short life expectancy.
Hospice teams consist of physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, and volunteers who are
experts in end-of-life issues. They offer pain management, therapy, nutrition, and other supportive care in the home or other comfortable surroundings, making it easier for patients, family
members, and friends to spend time together in their loved one’s final days. Hospice experts
also offer grief counseling to friends and family members after their loss.
Every stage of human life deserves to be treated with respect and care. I commend all those
who work and volunteer as hospice care providers.
Their contributions make our Nation a better place.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do
hereby proclaim November as National Hospice Month. I encourage Americans to increase
their awareness of hospice service and to observe this month with appropriate activities and
programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of October, in the
year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America
the two hundred and twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
In this Issue:
National Physical Therapy Month........................... Page 2
Still-Well Bowling Night.......................................... Page 3
Water Play Day......................................................... Page 4
Healthy Hints........................................................... Page 4
Still-Well Newsletter
THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION’S NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH TO
FOCUS ON NATION’S OBESITY EPIDEMIC
Month-long Observation Focuses on the Importance of Physical Activity for Adults and Children
ALEXANDRIA, VA, September 18, 2007 — For the
nearly 100 million Americans who are overweight or obese,
physical activity must be a crucial component to weight loss
and better health, which is the focus of National Physical
Therapy Month, the American Physical Therapy Association
(APTA) announced today.
According to a recent study conducted by the Trust for
America’s Health, a research group that focuses on disease
prevention, obesity rates continued their climb in 31 states
last year. Health officials say the latest state rankings provide
evidence that the nation has a public health crisis on its
hands. Last year, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited evidence that found that more than 22 percent
of Americans did not engage in any physical activity in the
previous month.
A lack of exercise is a major contributing factor to obesity
rates. “People who are overweight or obese must follow an
appropriate exercise program that includes aerobic conditioning and avoids exercise that can lead to injury,” notes
Terry Michel, PT, DPT, DSc, CCS, a physical therapist at
Boston’s Mass General Hospital. “Physical therapists will
typically recommend a low-impact form of weight training,
such as exercise bands that help avoid excessive joint stress,
and modified yoga stretches and Tai Chi for promoting flexibility and relaxation,” she adds.
Physical therapists develop fitness plans for both adults
and children that promote the ability to move, reduce pain,
restore function, and prevent disability. For those who are
overweight or obese, physical therapists balance the progression of the exercise prescription with the need for joint
protection and safety during exercise.
“We are no longer looking at just adults who have diseases resulting from obesity,” says physical therapist Susan
S Deusinger, PhD, professor and director of the Program
in Physical Therapy at Washington University School of
Medicine. “Rather, physical therapists need to regard obesity
as a primary concern for intervention,” she adds. Previous
research** conducted by Dr Deusinger confirmed recent
rising health concerns on college campuses. Her study of
300 undergrads at Washington University in St Louis found
that 70 percent of the students had gained an average of 9
pounds between their freshman and sophomore years, and
most were still not meeting recommended guidelines for
healthy eating and exercise behavior.
2
“To say the least, the results of this study are cause for
concern,” notes Deusinger. “People are dying from the
effects of obesity, and it’s not just our parents and grandparents anymore; it’s our friends, siblings, and colleagues.
No one is immune from the dual epidemics of obesity and
sedentary behaviour.”
Connie Cushing, PT, MS, a 17-year-veteran physical
therapist at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, is
a member of a practice team that focuses on overweight and
obese children and teens at the Hospital’s Center for Weight
Management. Along with a psychologist, physician, nurse
practitioner and nutritionist, Cushing evaluates each child
individually (both before they enter and leave the Center).
As a result, Cushing can determine whether the patient is
at risk for joint and musculoskeletal problems, as well as
implement what the collective team learns regarding other
commonly seen issues such as diabetes or asthma. “Patients
often have multiple, pre-existing medical conditions that can
affect their ability to exercise and what specific exercises they
are capable of doing,” notes Cushing.
“For the younger children at the Center we recommend
restricting television viewing and video game playing and
encourage family games that can be played both indoors and
outdoors at home,” says Cushing. “It becomes a bit more
complicated with teens, as we need to factor in what their
interests are, both in and out of school; if they work better in
groups or individually; and if they prefer being outdoors or
indoors. Based on their profile, we determine a list of goals
and the best ways to achieve those goals. We’ve also found
that having teens keep daily logs of their physical activity
provides great incentive.” She adds, “The goal of the Center
is not solely weight loss. Our ultimate goal is for these kids
to make lifestyle changes. Yes, we want them to lose weight,
but we also want them to eat better, sleep better, and to feel
better physically and emotionally.”
Consumers can find information about the fight against
obesity and about National Physical Therapy Month, whose
theme is “Physical Therapy: The Science of Healing. The Art
of Caring,” by visiting APTA’s Consumer Web page at www.
apta.org/consumer.
Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the
elderly, who have medical problems or other health-related
Fall 2007
continued on next page
Still-Well Newsletter
Still-Well Bowling Night
The Still-Well Social Team had a quaint night of bowling
fun at Leisure World on October 4. Students who came
bowled for $1 a game and enjoyed the atmosphere. It was a
great way to prepare for the upcoming three-day weekend,
thanks to Wellness Day. The competition was friendly, but
gained intensity as one game turned into two. The Jensen
twins showed everyone up when little Max bowled a strike
from the kiddy ramp. The Social Team is hoping to have
another great night of bowling fun in the near future.
Another upcoming event is
dance lessons for the Winter
Formal.
Ray Jensen, OMS II, Max Jensen, JonnieLynn Jensen, and Natalie Jensen
Georgia Marsh, OMS II
Social Team Leader
Students and staff enjoying the evening bowling.
continued from previous page
conditions that limit their abilities to
move and perform functional activities
in their daily lives. PTs examine each
individual and develop a plan of care
using treatment techniques to promote
the ability to move, reduce pain, restore
function, and prevent disability. Physical therapists also work with individuals
to prevent the loss of mobility by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented
programs for healthier and more active
lifestyles.
The American Physical Therapy
Association (www.apta.org) is a national organization representing 70,000
physical therapists, physical therapist
bet you didn’t know
assistants, and students nationwide. Its
goal is to foster advancements in physical therapist education, practice, and
research. Consumers can access “Find a
PT” to find a physical therapist in their
area, as well as physical therapy news
and information at www.apta.org/consumer.
** Racette SB, Deusinger SS, Strube
MJ, Highstein GR, Deusinger RH. “Weight
Changes, Exercise and Dietary Patterns During
Freshman and Sophomore Years of College.”
Journal of American College Health, vol. 53 (6); pp.
245-251, May/June 2005.
Please note the American Physical Therapy
Association has given permission for us to print
their article in our newsletter.
Fall 2007
—
u Men are 20% more likely than
women to sneeze in a dusty
room
u a cup of coffee-flavored yogurt
can contain about as much
caffeine as a 12-ounce can of
cola
u dandruff is not caused by dry
scalp — fact is, it’s more common with oily scalps
u whispering when you’re hoarse
is actually worse for your vocal
cords than speaking normally
u “Rx,” the symbol appearing on
prescriptions, means “take,”
from the Latin word for recipe
3
Still-Well Newsletter
Water Play Day
The objective of the Still-Well Emotional Team
is to assist students in dealing with the plethora of
emotions they will see, feel, and experience both
as students and as professionals. We feel that taking time
to play is an important way
to relax, release energy, and
reduce tension. On Friday,
September 7, we sponsored
a “Water Play Day” for all students, faculty, and staff. The
day was sunny and warm,
and the water cold! Great
fun was had by all. Lesson
learned for the next water
play day: bring a towel!
Michael Paddock, OMS II
Watch for future Emotional Team events and join
in the fun! For more information on the
Emotional Team, or to join the team, contact
Lynda Konecny, Emotional Team Leader at
lkonecny@atsu.edu.
Thuy Tran, OMS II
Lynda Konecny, M.S.
Emotional Team Leader
Healthy Hints:
Hidden Ways to Help Your Heart
Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk
It’s true that certain risk factors for breast cancer are beyond a woman’s control. Examples: family history and aging.
Fortunately, researchers are finding ways to lower one’s risk:
- Cut the fat. Countries with high-fat diets have the highest rates of breast cancer. Choose foods high in fiber,
such as beans, bran, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli.
- Stay Active. Research suggests that exercise helps prevent
breast cancer. One study found that women who exercised at least four hours a week cut their breast cancer
risk by 60%, while those who worked out 1-3 hours a
week reduced their risk by 30%.
- Limit alcohol if you drink. More than 40 studies have
linked heavy alcohol use to an increased risk of breast
cancer.
- Keep screening. Do monthly self-exams and see your
health care provider regularly.
4
Y Don’t Skip Breakfast. Most heart attacks occur between
7 a.m. and noon — possibly because the cells that help
blood to clot, called platelets, are stickiest then. Eating
breakfast appears to make platelets less sticky … and less
likely to clump together and block a vital artery.
Y Lighten Up. People who overreact to stressful situations are more likely to have heart trouble. In one study,
people whose blood pressure and heart rate jumped the
most during frustrating tests were also the ones most
likely to have reduced blood flow to the heart.
Y Meet The “A’s.” You may have heard about the antioxidants — vitamins A, C, and E, and beta-carotene — that
appear to slow plaque formation in the arteries.
Y Kick Tobacco If You Are Using It. Smoking affects
more than your lungs. Fact is, within a few years of quitting, you’ll cut your risk of heart attack by at least half,
similar to those who never smoked.
Y Get Off The Couch. Sedentary living — not high cholesterol — is one of the greatest risk factors in heart attack
deaths. So walk briskly. Take the stairs. Play actively with
kids. Live longer.
Fall 2007