Use Of Physical Therapy Tables In Rehabilitative Therapy Programs

Physical therapy tables are necessary fixtures for every
therapy program. Physical therapy tables are utilized to augment
more than just physical therapy programs, but pediatric therapy
programs, geriatric therapy programs, neurological therapy
programs and others. The physical therapy tables in our
inventory are designed to accommodate the needs of almost every
patient, whether they're in a wheelchair or require the use of
walkers or other mobility aids. Each physical therapy table is
easy to move, simple to adjust, and the crank handles on the
physical therapy tables are retractable so they won't present an
obstacle or hazard to either patient or healthcare provider. The
physical therapy tables we carry are simply vital for any
rehabilitation program and physical therapy procedure.

The purpose of physical therapy is to help patients regain the
use of their muscles, bones, and nervous system through the use
of exercise equipment, heat therapy, cold therapy, massagers,
whirlpool baths, among a myriad of other techniques. Every
physical therapy treatment plan attempts to relieve pain,
improve strength and mobility, and train patients to perform
necessary tasks in order to resume their everyday lifestyles.
Physical therapy is often prescribed to rehabilitate a patient
after many injuries, illnesses, and disease such as:

- Amputations
- Arthritis
- Burns
- Cancer
- Cardiac Disease
- Cervical and Lumbar Dysfunction
- Neurological Problems
- Orthopedic Injuries
- Pulmonary Disease
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Stroke
- Traumatic Brain Injuries

The duration of any physical therapy program varies depending
on the severity of the injury or illness being treated as well
as the patient's response to therapy.

Physical therapy tables are commonly used in exercise regimens,
the best known and most widely used form of physical therapy.
Depending on the patient's condition, exercises may be performed
alone or with the assistance of a therapist. An exercise regimen
will incorporate rehabilitation & exercise equipment including
physical therapy tables, floor mats, stationary bicycles,
walkers, wheelchairs, practice stairs, parallel bars, and pulley
weights among others.

Physical therapy programs also incorporate hot & cold
therapies. Heat therapy can be applied with compresses, paraffin
wax therapy, or by soaking in a whirlpool. This strategy aims to
stimulate a patient's circulation, relax muscles, and relieve
pain. Cold therapy can be applied with ice or soaking. As well,
massagers can help improve circulation, relieve pain and muscle
spasms, reduce swelling, and help the patient to simply relax.
Electrotherapy may also be used to stimulate muscle and make
them contract, helping weakened or paralyzed muscles respond
again.

Geriatric physical therapy encompasses a broad area of issues
that concern people as they age, but is typically focused on the
elderly. There are conditions that affect many people as they
grow older including arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer,
Alzheimer's disease, hip and joint replacement, balance
disorders, and more. The use of physical therapy treatment
tables in geriatric physical therapy will help restore
dexterity, movement, cognizance, object recognition, and more.

Neurological physical therapy focuses on individuals with a
neurological disorder or disease, including cerebral palsy,
Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, stroke, spinal
cord injuries, and others. Common problems associated with
neurological disorders include vision impairment, poor balance,
paralysis, and loss of functional independence. Therapists use
physical therapy treatment tables to work with patients to
improve these areas of dysfunction.

Pediatric physical therapy uses a wide variety of modalities to
treat disorders in children. Physical therapy tables will be
utilized as work stations to improve motor skills, coordination,
as well as cognitive and sensory processing. Children with
developmental delays, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and
torticollis are a few of the patients treated by pediatric
physical therapists.

About The Author: To learn more visit our
http://rehabilitation-products.medical-supplies-equipment-company.com
physical therapy tables section or read more about the benefits
http://rehabilitation-products.medical-supplies-equipment-company.com/PPF/page_ID/199/article.asp
physical therapy.

Magnificent Massage: The Health Benefits of Bodywork

With experts estimating that nearly ninety percent of disease is stress related, now more than ever it's imperative that Americans make the most of self-care options available today to help decrease and manage stress levels. Massage, the application of soft-tissue manipulation techniques to the body, has shown to reduce stress and fatigue while improving circulation. Massage helps to decrease anxiety, enhance sleep quality, provide energy, improve concentration, and more. For the everyday American, as well as sufferers of chronic conditions, this translates into a proven method for managing pain and stress.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, massage therapy is a practice dating back thousands of years. References to its uses have been found in ancient writings from Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Japan, China, and Egypt. Massage therapy first became popular in the United States in the mid-1800s for a variety of health purposes, complemented with the mineral essentials of natural hot spring resorts so fashionable at the time. It fell out of favor in the 1930s due to advances in other medical treatments at that time. However, it made a return in the 1970s, due in some part to athletes who discovered its benefits in preparing for, or recovering from, strenuous workouts.

Massage is used in both conventional and alternative medicine therapies. There are more than 80 types of massage therapy, and in all of them, therapists apply pressure and movement with the use of their hands and fingers mostly. However, forearms, elbows, and feet may also be a part a therapist's technique. The well-known Swedish massage uses long strokes, kneading and finger pressure on tight or knotted muscles. Trigger point massage utilizes deeper, more focused pressure on knots that form in muscles. Shiatsu massage applies varying, rhythmic pressure from the fingers on parts of the body that are believed to be key to the flow of vital energy called chi.

Perhaps the two most obvious benefits of massage are increased circulation and flexibility. Designed to work independently of one another, as muscles dehydrate, their fibers stick together resulting in stiffness. With the use of massage, fluid is reintroduced, softening the muscles and allowing for flexibility. Increased circulation in between the muscle fibers allow nutrients to reach the cells and for toxins to be carried away more efficiently. Dehydrated muscle fibers also cause a lack of circulation which leads to a decrease in oxygen to the muscles. This in turn causes pain to the affected area. Professional massage, combined with adequate dehydration (8 to 10 glasses of water per day), can relive areas of pain and increase flexibility.

Additional benefits of massage are far reaching. Massage therapy has been successfully combined with rehabilitation programs as a treatment for chronic conditions including back pain and arthritis, as well as injuries associated with exercise or injury. Other chronic conditions such as depression, anxiety, smoking cessation, and high blood pressure have been greatly aided with the use of professional massage.

Research studies show that massage therapy also reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and increases endorphins. Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate inactive muscles and partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury. Research has also indicated that office workers who receive massages regularly perform better and with less stress than those who weren't massaged.

In children, massage therapy creates body awareness from head to toe, as well as relieve growing pains in older children. Studies also show massage for children can aide in digestion and constipation. Premature infants receiving massage reportedly gained more weight and fared better than those babies who did not receive massage. Bodywork therapy has also show to be beneficial for autistic children, who displayed less erratic behavior following a massage.

"Often times people are stressed in our culture," said Dr. Joan Borysenko in a Massage Journal interview. "Stress-related disorders make up between 80-90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians". One of the complaints heard frequently is that physicians don't touch their patients any more. Years ago, massage was a big part of nursing. Now nurses for the most part are as busy as physicians. I believe massage therapy is absolutely key to the healing process not only in the hospital environment but because it relieves stress, it is obviously foundational in the healing process anytime and anywhere."

Geologix Inc. manufactures the Mineral Essentials line which focuses on spa, skin care, and massage products to moisturize and provide anti-aging protection for great skin. http://www.mineralessentials.com and http://www.acheaway.com