Dementia is a group of conditions that affect the brain, causing problems with memory, thinking, communication, and behavior. Dementia has many forms, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and more. It’s a big deal. According to the WHO, it’s the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and one of the major causes of disability among older people. While there is no cure for dementia, physical therapy can help manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life for people living with this condition.

Firstly, physical activity is one common recommendation. While exercise is certainly beneficial to everyone, the evidence for exercise’s effect on dementia symptoms is mixed. Most studies do show that exercise can help delay or reduce symptoms like depression, or apathy. Some studies also show a benefit in delaying or reducing cognitive declines. If you’re familiar with the benefits of exercise, this all makes sense. We know exercise has a positive effect on mood and depression. When your heart pumps harder during exercise, it increases blood flow throughout your body, including to your brain. 

Does Any Type of Exercise Work?

For people with dementia, it doesn’t appear as simple as “exercise and symptoms improve.” Studies have shown that the type of exercise, duration, and frequency all make a difference. For example, one study showed that people with dementia who engaged in dance movement therapy had less depression and better physical function. A second group who performed other types of exercise at the same intensity did not see those benefits. So, this is where a physical therapist can be incredibly beneficial. 

Physical therapy for dementia is tailored to each individual’s needs, goals, abilities, and preferences. The physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation of the person’s medical history, physical condition, cognitive status, functional level, and personal interests. Based on this information, the physical therapist will design a personalized treatment plan. This will include specific exercises and activities that target the areas that need improvement.

The Physical Therapy treatment plan for Dementia

• Aerobic exercises to improve cardiovascular health, oxygen delivery to the brain, mood, energy levels, and cognitive function.
• Strength exercises to build muscle strength and power.
• Balance exercises to challenge the person’s ability to maintain equilibrium and prevent falls.
• Functional exercises that mimic or practice daily activities that are important or meaningful to the person, such as climbing stairs, getting in and out of bed or a car, or using utensils.
• Coordination exercises or more complex movements like dance or tai chi. Evidence shows more complex movements like these have larger effects on more dementia symptoms than a simpler exercise like riding a stationary bike. 
• Dual – task or cognitive exercises like combining walking with doing math out loud, or solving puzzles while on a stationary bike or treadmill. Again, research shows that combining physical and cognitive challenges can have an effect on dementia symptoms. 

The physical therapist will monitor the person’s progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed. They’ll also provide feedback and encouragement. The physical therapist will also educate and advise the person and their family or caregivers on how to continue or incorporate physical activity into their daily routine and lifestyle.

Physical therapy is a safe and effective way to help people with dementia improve their physical and mental health, as well as their quality of life. In addition, physical therapy can also provide support and guidance to people with dementia and their caregivers. This can help them cope and adapt to the changes and challenges that come with this condition.

References

1. The effect of physical activity on dementia – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31425142/
2. Low & High Intensity exercise for people with dementia – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32192537/
3. Dance movement & exercise with dementia – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30496547/

Are you tired of living with constant headaches? Do you long to find relief from headaches and the throbbing pain that affects your daily life? If so, physical therapy may hold the key to finding the relief you’ve been searching for. While headaches can have various causes, physical therapy has been proven to be an effective treatment option for many adults. So, don’t lose hope – there is light at the end of the tunnel! 

Identify the root Cause to Find Relief from Headaches

The first step towards finding relief from headaches is identifying the root cause. Physical therapists are experts in assessing musculoskeletal imbalances and postural issues that may contribute to headaches. They will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine if your headaches are related to tension in your neck, jaw, or even poor posture. By targeting the underlying cause, physical therapy can provide long-term relief instead of just masking the symptoms. 

Tailored Treatment Plans

Once the cause of your headaches has been identified, your physical therapist will design a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs. This plan may include a combination of manual therapy techniques, such as soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilization, to relieve tension and restore proper movement. Additionally, they may incorporate exercises to strengthen weak muscles and improve posture. By targeting the root cause and addressing any contributing factors, physical therapy can help alleviate your headaches and prevent their recurrence. 

Stress Reduction Techniques

Stress is a common trigger for headaches, and physical therapy can provide you with valuable tools to manage stress effectively. Your physical therapist may teach you relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, or guided imagery, to help you reduce tension and promote a sense of calm. They may also provide advice on ergonomics and proper body mechanics to minimize stress on your body during daily activities. By learning these stress reduction techniques, you can take control of your headaches and improve your overall well-being. 

Education and Empowerment will Help You Find Relief from Your Headaches

Physical therapy is not just about receiving treatment. It is also about empowering you to take an active role in your own healing process. Your physical therapist will educate you about your condition, helping you understand the factors that contribute to your headaches and how to manage them effectively. They will provide you with exercises and self-care strategies that you can continue at home. This ensures that you have the tools to maintain your progress long after your therapy sessions have ended. 

Living with chronic headaches can be debilitating, but physical therapy offers hope for relief. By identifying the root cause, creating tailored treatment plans, teaching stress reduction techniques, and empowering you with knowledge, physical therapy can help you regain control over your life. So, don’t suffer in silence any longer. Reach out to a physical therapist today and take the first step towards a headache-free future. Remember, you deserve to live a life free from pain and enjoy every moment to the fullest! 

In the womb, babies develop primitive reflexes that are integral to their survival and future development. But, what are primitive reflexes? They are a set of special reflexes that develop in the brain stem before birth. They help the baby with positioning in the womb, birthing, breathing, feeding, urination, etc. Throughout the first year of life these primitive reflexes go away or “integrate” as higher levels of the brain develop into more mature or voluntary movement. If primitive reflexes do not integrate, they can interfere with the neurological organization of the brain which may limit developmental and academic skills. If any reflexes remain after 12 months of age, they are called retained primitive reflexes. Each primitive reflex comes with its own set of movements and leads to new and different developmental milestones.

Palmar Primitive Reflexes

Firstly, there is the palmar reflex, which is important for the development of purposeful grasping. You may see by placing an object in the palm of an infant’s hand. Their reflex response is to hold on to the object. Children with a retained palmar reflex may: fatigue easily with handwriting or fine motor tasks, have sensitive palms, open and close their mouths while using their hands for tasks (writing or cutting), and/or difficulty with speech articulation. The mouth and hands connect via neural pathways in infancy, therefore the connection is still strong in those who have retained the palmar reflex.

Moro Primitive Reflexes

The Moro reflex, or the startle reflex, causes a baby to stretch out their arms and legs and quickly bring them back in with jerky movements. This response is similar to the feeling of falling, a loud sound, or a drastic change in temperature. Children with a retained Moro reflex are often sensitive to stimuli (sounds, textures, lights), lack emotional and self-regulation skills, and have a difficult time paying attention in class. Without an integrated Moro reflex, a child’s fight or flight response may be active, easily causing difficulties in many areas of life.

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

The asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) is important to build connection between the hand and eyes. The reflex builds skills to develop each side of the body, hand-eye coordination, and helps to build muscle tone. While infants are on their bellies, the arms and legs move as the baby turns their head. Therefore, they are exposed to a ton of visual stimulation by looking at their arms moving, looking at objects in the environment, and grabbing toys. Children with a retained ATNR may have challenges with the following: crawling, handwriting, visual tracking, crossing midline, and coordination.

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex

The symmetrical tonic neck reflex (STNR) assists the infant with moving from laying on their belly onto hands and knees. This is sometimes referred to as the crawling reflex. It helps with the flexion and extension of the baby’s upper and lower extremities. Therefore, children with a retained STNR may have: difficulty crawling, poor posture and low muscle tone, W-sitting, and poor sustained attention.

While there are many more primitive reflexes, these are some of the most common ones that OTs address in therapy. We are all born with primitive reflexes. They should naturally integrate in order to promote higher level learning and motor development. However, sometimes they don’t. This can potentially cause challenges for children. An occupational therapist can test for any primitive reflexes and assist with integrating any retained reflexes.

For more information regarding primitive reflexes and signs to look for check out this great handout from Solve Learning Disabilities.

The ability to cross midline is an essential part of child development. What is midline crossing? Midline crossing is when one side of the body crosses over the central line of the body and performs a task on the other side of the body. You can think of the midline as an imaginary line that runs down the center of the body from the top of the head to the toes. Crossing the midline can be done with your eyes, hands, arms, feet, or legs.

The left side of our brain controls the right side of the body. This side of the brain is responsible for tasks like speaking, writing, math, science, and using reasoning. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. This side of the brain is responsible for tasks such as creativity, imagination, intuition, music, and art. The ability to cross midline is very important for many of our daily tasks including climbing stairs, walking, dressing, typing, catching a ball and so much more. Midline crossing is also required for developing hand preference.

Difficulty with Midline Crossing

What you may notice if your child is struggling with midline crossing includes moving their paper to one side when writing or drawing or switching hands in the middle of fine motor activities. They may also struggle with catching a ball with both hands, hitting a ball with a bat, skipping, or kicking a ball. Additionally, they may have trouble with reading as our eyes need to be able to scan from the left to the right side of the page when reading text. 

Activities to Try

These activities can be tried at home to encourage your child to cross the midline. 

• Play gross motor games – Some games to try include playing t-ball, swimming, martial arts, tennis, and skipping.
• Cross Crawls – While standing, have your child touch their opposite hand or elbow to the opposite knee and then switch. Do this 20-30 times.
• Arts and Crafts – Activities such as coloring, drawing, threading, cutting, and folding can naturally prompt midline crossing. Try doing these activities on a vertical surface.
• Animal movements – Encourage your child to try to move like different animals. Some examples include crawling like a crab, hopping like a bunny, and standing like a flamingo. 
• Transferring objects – Have your child transfer objects or toys from one side of the body to the other. Then repeat the activity going the opposite direction. 
• Ball Toss – Have two targets set up, one to the left of the child and one to the right. Have your child sit crisscrossed and throw a ball to a target on the opposite side of their body. The right hand will throw to the target on the left and the left hand will throw to the target on the right. You can also try to gradually increase the angle of the throw by moving the targets. 
• For Babies – Have them spend time on their tummy, exploring and playing. Which naturally encourages crossing the midline. Additionally, as they get older, encourage time crawling and pushing toys around. For children who skipped crawling, have them go back and practice crawling with proper coordination to the left and right sides of the body. 

Neck pain is a common ailment that affects millions of adults worldwide. Whether it’s caused by poor posture, muscle strain, or underlying conditions, neck pain can significantly impact one’s quality of life. While there are various treatment options available, physical therapy (PT) has emerged as a highly effective and holistic approach to managing and alleviating neck pain. In this blog article, we will explore the numerous benefits of physical therapy for adults suffering from neck pain and how it can help them regain their mobility and live pain-free lives. 

Targeted physical therapy Exercises and Stretches for neck pain

Physical therapy offers a range of targeted exercises and stretches that specifically focus on the neck muscles and surrounding areas. These exercises help to strengthen weak muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance posture, ultimately reducing pain and discomfort. Therefore, a skilled physical therapist will need to design a personalized treatment plan based on the individual’s specific needs. Thus, ensuring that each exercise is performed correctly and safely. 

Physical Therapy Manual Techniques for Neck Pain

Secondly, physical therapists employ various manual therapy techniques to alleviate neck pain. These techniques may include joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and myofascial release. By applying gentle pressure and manipulation, physical therapists can release tension, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in the affected area. Manual therapy techniques can also improve blood circulation, which aids in the delivery of essential nutrients to the injured tissues. 

Posture Correction

Poor posture is often a leading cause of neck pain in adults. Physical therapists play a crucial role in identifying and correcting postural imbalances that contribute to neck pain. They educate patients on proper ergonomics, body mechanics, and postural awareness. This enables them to make necessary adjustments in their daily activities. By addressing the root cause of the problem, PT helps individuals maintain a healthy posture, preventing future instances of neck pain. 

Pain Management

PT offers various pain management techniques that provide immediate relief to adults suffering from neck pain. These may include hot or cold therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or traction. These modalities help to reduce pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms, allowing individuals to regain their range of motion and function. 

Physical therapy is a highly effective and non-invasive approach to treating neck pain in adults. By combining targeted exercises, manual therapy techniques, posture correction, and pain management strategies, physical therapists can help individuals regain their mobility, reduce pain, and improve their overall quality of life. So, if you are experiencing neck pain, don’t hesitate to consult a physical therapist. Allow yourself to embark on a journey towards a pain-free and active lifestyle. Remember, it’s never too late to seek professional help and take control of your well-being. 

What are speech sound disorders and what are the different types? Children learn to say different sounds as they grow and develop. They do not pronounce first words the same way an adult might say them. In fact, we do not expect later developing sounds (r, th) until the around 5-6 years of age. So children may exhibit some distorted sounds or sound substitutions in their early years of talking. Children learn some sounds early (p, b, m, w). They should gradually learn how to say new sounds, improving the ability for others to understand them. Some children may have increased difficulty learning how to say their sounds, and they may have a speech sound disorder. 

There are various reasons that children may have difficulty producing sounds, and there are different classifications of speech sound disorders.

Speech Sound Disorder #1: Phonological

Phonological speech sound disorders are due to difficulty understanding the rules of the speech sound system, often learned naturally by children. Errors might include “tat” instead of “sat” or “wabbit” instead of “rabbit.” Sometimes, children may pronounce the sound accurately in another position of the word. For example, a child says “s” at the end of words accurately, but does not say “s” at the beginning of words correctly. Other times, a child may substitute a whole group of sounds for a different sound. For example, they produce s, sh, f, and ch as t (“shin,” “chin”, and “fin” become “tin”).

#2: Articulation

An articulation disorder involves difficulty producing specific speech sounds. A child may eliminate, add, distort, or substitute a speech sound. This is typically because they do not know how to produce the accurate speech sound. Structural abnormalities of the facial structures (teeth, lips, tongue, palate) may also cause an articulation disorder.

#3: Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)

CAS is a motor speech disorder. This means the child has difficulty planning and producing speech sounds due to difficulty with the brain telling the mouth muscles how to move. This brain-mouth disconnection makes it hard for the child to move their lips or tongue to produce speech sounds. Sometimes the child may not say much at all. CAS is often characterized by the child not saying words the same way every time, putting stress on a wrong syllable or word, distorting or changing sounds, and saying shorter words more clearly than longer words. 

Speech sound disorders can have variable causes, leading to variable errors, requiring various treatment strategies. Sometimes, speech sound disorders can overlap as well. Ask your child’s speech therapist for the best strategies to use at home to help their speech sound progress. You can find speech and language developmental milestones here.