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Fitness News - March 2009
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Tuesday, 31 March 2009Nancy O’Dell and singer Jewel found out the hard way: Women are more vulnerable than men to knee and ankle injuries.
The two celebrities were forced to leave the hit TV show “Dancing with the Stars” before competition even began, due to knee injuries suffered during rehearsals. And America took notice: “Is ballroom dance really that dangerous?”
Not really. But the popularity of the show brought into focus the fact that active women need to take greater care than men to support their joints during physical activity and protect themselves against injury related to sports… or dancing.
“Men and women are built differently,” notes Megan Barclay, a physical therapist in New York. “That’s why treatment for orthopedic injury needs to take gender into account.”
There are, in fact, ankle, wrist and knee supports specifically designed for women to help speed recovery or limit the chances for further injury.
“Women’s biomechanics are unique, and they need supports that fit their measurements,” says Barclay, who adds many women don’t realize they are more vulnerable to certain types of injuries. For example:
* Torn Knee Cartilage and Ligaments. A meniscus torn in two places is what forced Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell off the current season of DWTS. And women are up to four times more likely than men to injure the anterior cruciate ligament in their knees when playing basketball, soccer or skiing, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons says. These injuries often require surgery, as it will for O’Dell. But women can limit the risk of an ACL or meniscus tear with a combination of strength training and knowing how to land on a leg. They can also use knee supports during high-impact sports. Wellgate’s Gel Comfort Knee Support, which is made specifically for women, uses stabilizers to keep the knee steady and allow the kneecap to maintain its natural groove.
* Runner’s Knee. This is the pain felt around or below the kneecap while walking, running or using stairs. It’s caused by abnormal movement of the kneecap, and a British study found women are twice as likely as men to have the condition. Among the reasons: a broader pelvis to accommodate child-bearing; a less-developed oblique muscle and weaker hips. All that can put additional pressure on the kneecap and cause pain to flare up. Among the treatments doctors may recommend for the symptoms is a knee support. Wellgate’s UltraLite Knee Support is available in a variety of sizes, including Queen, and is comfortable enough to wear all day.
* Ankle Sprains. High-heeled shoes and ankles are not meant for each other. To be sure, women have more footwear-induced ankle sprains than men, and the female contestants of DWTS are often required to wear high heels during their dance routines, making them more susceptible to injury. But even when women go flat-footed, their ankles aren’t necessarily safer. A report from Oregon Health and Sciences University found women athletes have a 25 percent better chance of injuring ankles than men. Even worse, once an ankle is sprained, it’s more likely to become sprained again. What to do? Strength and balance exercises can help. Also, wearing ankle supports, such as the Wellgate Slimfit Ankle Support, can support ligaments.
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Women are three times more likely to suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome than men, according to the National Women’s Health Information Center. The pain or numbness in the hands and wrist associated with the condition can be caused by repetitive motions, such as typing. But it can also be triggered by hormonal changes linked to pregnancy and menopause. One of the most common non-surgical treatments is wearing a brace at night to keep the wrist in a natural position. A Slimfit Wrist Support made by Wellgate can also be worn during the day to ease symptoms caused by tendonitis, arthritis and sprains.
For more details on this news, please visit www.businesswire.com.
Monday, 30 March 2009While maintaining a steady exercise regimen is one of the best things people can do for their general good health, recent studies suggest a surprising correlation between bicycling and low bone density, even among the young and fit.
“Bicycling is a wonderful low-impact cardiovascular exercise that puts little mechanical load on the bones and joints,” explains Dr. Warren P. Levy, Presid ent, and CEO of biopharmaceutical company Unigene Laboratories. “When it comes to the risk of thinning bones, however, it’s the weight-bearing nature of exercise that signals bones to create more mass. Without such stress, bones do not get stronger, and become more prone to injury.”
A recent study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that competitive male road cyclists showed significantly lower bone mineral density in their spines than a control group of men who were moderately physically active. A similar study in Bone illustrated that male road cyclists had lower bone mineral density than male mountain bikers. (Suggesting that mountain biking, with its variable terrain, provides more impact for bone growth than racing or road cycling.) Swimmers may also be at risk, because that sport requires similarly little mechanical loading, leaving the lower spine particularly vulnerable.
Caloric intake is another challenge facing cyclists and swimmers in relation to bone density. Cycling and swimming are notorious for burning up calories (witness Michael Phelps’s notorious 12,000 calorie diet), however, hard-core cyclists may not be eating enough to offset what they burn when they exercise, depriving their bodies of bone-strengthening nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. These caloric shortfalls could also trigger physiological problems such as lower levels of estrogen in women and testosterone in men, both hormones that have protective effects on bones and slow the rate of bone breakdown.
“Osteoporosis is generally considered a disease that afflicts women and the elderly,” says Dr. Levy. “People do not achieve peak bone mass until their late twenties, however, so in order to maintain healthy bones, avid cyclists and swimmers should be mindful of incorporating cross-training weight-bearing exercise into their routines.”
Unigene Laboratories seeks to provide osteoporosis sufferers, male and female alike, with a natural, effective treatment. The active ingredient in Unigene’s peptide-based nasally delivered osteoporosis treatment is salmon calcitonin, available today in a prescription drug called Fortical.
For more details on this news, please visit www.businesswire.com.
Sunday, 29 March 2009Heart disease is the number one killer of women – claiming more lives each year than all forms of cancer combined. High cholesterol is a leading indicator of heart disease, but knowing if you have high cholesterol will help you make dietary and other changes needed to lead a heart healthy lifestyle. WomenHeart is proud to partner with the Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts Tour for its second year , as they conduct free cholesterol screenings April 2nd through April 6th at various Jons, Superior and Cardenas supermarkets in Southern California. WomenHeart volunteers, all heart disease survivors, will provide educational information and a forum for discussion with women at all screening sites.
This April’s tour kicks off the first of several more 2009 Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts Tours nationwide. The tours and free cholesterol screenings are made possible by General Mills Corporation through funds raised from an on-box promotion for WomenHeart. The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. WomenHeart is the only national organization dedicated to promoting women’s heart health through advocacy, community education and patient support. As the leading voice for the 41 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease, WomenHeart advocates for equal access to quality care and champions prevention, early detection, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of women’s heart disease.
Free screenings for women to include:
* Cholesterol (Total HDL/LDL/Triglycerides)
* Blood Pressure
* Body Mass Index (BMI)
The event will take place from 11am to 4pm on the following dates and at these locations:
April 2: Jons Grocery Store Parking Lot- 15300 Golden West St, West Minister, CA
April 3: Cardenas Grocery Store Parking Lot – 2560 N. Perris Blvd. Ste H, Perris, CA
April 4: Jons Grocery Store Parking Lot- 3963 Cochran St., Simi Valley, CA
April 5: Superior Grocery Store Parking Lot – 9100 Whittier Blvd., Pico Rivera, CA
April 6: Superior Grocery Store Parking Lot – 9100 Whittier Blvd., Pico Rivera, CA
Interview/Photo Opportunity:
* Local WomenHeart Champions ; all women living with heart disease
* Local men/women who will benefit from this program
* Local program sponsors and retailers
For more details on this news, please visit www.businesswire.com.
Saturday, 28 March 2009General Healthcare Group (GHG), the leading provider of independent health care services in the UK, has reported that the number of patients undergoing weight loss surgery at its BMI Healthcare hospitals increased by more than 30 percent in October 2008 through February 2009 compared to the same period in the previous financial year.
Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery , is a highly specialised field with approximately 48 highly accredited surgeons practicing at BMI Healthcare hospitals throughout the country.
Mr Duff Bruce, a consultant bariatric surgeon based at the BMI Albyn Hospital in Aberdeen and a member of BMI Healthcare’s Bariatric Consultant Advisory Board says: “Due to a number of factors, there is no doubt we are experiencing an increase in the number of patients wanting to go through weight loss surgery. These factors include increased awareness of the health benefits of surgery as well as a change in the public’s – and to some extent the medical profession’s – perception.
There is a huge positive opportunity for many more people in the UK to benefit from weight loss surgery. However, it is also important to consider that undergoing bypass surgery or fitting a gastric band is not just a quick-fix stand-alone solution, but instead should be viewed as part of a holistic approach to changing many lifestyle elements which can deliver overall health benefits.”
“As one of the first providers to establish a national weight loss surgery programme in the UK, BMI Healthcare has some of the country’s most skilled and experienced bariatric surgeons practising at its hospitals,” said Adrian Fawcett, chief executive of General Healthcare Group, of which BMI Healthcare is a subsidiary. “Unlike many other providers who set off regarding weight loss surgery as a cosmetic procedure, BMI Healthcare approaches it as a highly effective, long-lasting medical treatment for reducing the health problems caused by obesity. The hospitals’ multi-disciplinary weight loss teams provide personal and comprehensive support for patients before, during and long after their procedures to ensure that patients are well-prepared to benefit from the physical and psychological impact of having surgery.
As the demand for bariatric procedures increases, GHG is committed to continually investing in the infrastructure of our BMI hospitals to ensure that our weight loss surgery patients receive the best possible care and health outcomes.”
For more details on this news, please visit www.businesswire.com.
Friday, 27 March 2009Only one medicine is so powerful it can improve overall health and help reduce the risk of dozens of conditions from diabetes to hypertension: Exercise. But to reap the benefits, this “medicine” must be taken as directed. To help make it easier for consumers to stick to their daily dose of activity, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company today lau nched the Exercise is Medicine™ Public Toolkit patient program. This “medicine cabinet” of physical activity tools will help consumers plan their exercise regimen, track it and stick to it more easily.
Exercise is Medicine was initially introduced to physicians nationwide in 2007 with a goal of increasing patient-physician dialogue around the importance of physical fitness.
“Powerful medicine only works if it is taken as prescribed, and since the advent of Exercise is Medicine we have reached out to thousands of physicians with this message. Now, our goal is to make sure patients have the tools they need to successfully fill their prescriptions for exercise,” said Robert E. Sallis, M.D., immediate past president of the American College of Sports Medicine and chair of Exercise is Medicine. “The key to a healthy weight is simple arithmetic – calories in cannot exceed calories out. Physical activity helps boost the ‘calories out’ side of the equation.”
“Exercise is Medicine encourages consumers to speak with their physicians about an appropriate level of exercise to help achieve and maintain good health. A healthy lifestyle that includes a sensible, balanced diet combined with regular physical activity is an essential ‘prescription’ for balanced living that can include all foods and beverages,” said Celeste Bottorff, Vice President, Living Well, Coca-Cola North America. “Exercise is Medicine is one of the many programs The Coca-Cola Company is proud to support. With ACSM, we are helping to raise the publics’ awareness of the health benefits of exercise.”
Exercise is Medicine encourages doctors to assess and review every patient’s physical activity levels at each checkup, the same way other vital signs like blood pressure and cholesterol are recorded. Doctors are urged to use the prescription pad to order daily exercise. For sedentary patients who know they need to get off the couch, following “doctor’s orders” is an easy way for them to stick to their exercise routines. The free downloadable “Public Toolkit,” available at www.exerciseismedicine.org, includes step-by-step instructions for consumers to work with a health care provider to determine the right dose of exercise. Patients can use the kit’s “Dear Health Care Professional” letter to ask their doctor to review and record their physical activity as part of a comprehensive visit.
May is National Physical Fitness Month and Coca-Cola and the ACSM will be extending their efforts to get communities across the country to embrace the Exercise is Medicine program and encourage more physician-prescribed exercise. The goal is to get Americans to pay attention to their overall wellbeing by taking their recommended “dose” of physical activity.
For more details on this news, please visit www.businesswire.com.
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