![]() Winter Aches and Pains The cold winter weather is here! Many of our arthritic aches and pains will be worse than ever in our joints. Unfortunately it doesn’t help that when it's cold we tend to do less exercise. This lack of exercise makes our arthritic joints even stiffer. To stop our painful, stiff arthritic joints from seizing up completely, we need to exercise them. During long cold days spent inside, with our heads deep in a book or binge watching TV, it can be hard to exercise. However we need to break up these days with a little exercise because exercise helps oil the joints and reduces the stiffness. The added advantage of a little exercise is it’s good for the rest of our body and our mind. Here are few tips from our friendly physiotherapists: ![]()
![]()
![]()
If this seems too much, how about putting your phone and TV remote a few steps away from your chair and getting up and walking around the house every hour. Remember the Rule of thumb – move whenever you can If you need any further assistance to keep your stiff joints moving just contact Therapy Professionals our friendly Physiotherapist can help. Just contact us at Therapy Professionals Ltd Phone: 03 3775280 Fax: 03 377 5281 Email: [email protected] Website: therapyprofessionals.co.nz ![]() Keep Fit with Gardening Gardening helps keep us fit. It works and stretches our muscles. However, it can be hard on other parts of the body, especially our back and knees. Don’t overdo it!! Here is some advice from our friendly physiotherapists on how to keep fit with gardening and avoid the physical drawbacks from the activity. Their general advice is to:
![]() Advice to save your back and knees:
![]() If you want more advice on gardening safely as you age, our friendly physios and occupational therapists can help, contact us as follows: Ph: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Website: www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz Posture is Important We all take our posture for granted and rarely think about how our activities affect our posture and how our posture affects our health. Many of us don’t even know what good posture looks like. Here are a few tips from our friendly physiotherapist. Poor posture can lead to pain, discomfort and loss of function. For example:
Good posture is the position of the body puts the least strain on the muscles and joints. Your posture is good when the shoulders are down and the back and the three natural curves of the spine are maintained while standing, sitting, lying down or being active. What does good posture look like? From a side view if you were to put a straight line from your ears it should pass through the middle of your shoulders, knees and ankles. Hints on maintaining good posture: Check your posture using the reflections of shop windows or mirrors and correct if needed. ![]()
If you want any help to improve your posture our friendly physiotherapist can help,
just contact Therapy Professionals Ltd. Ph: (03) 377 5280 Email: [email protected] ![]() Prevent winter illness The elderly and disabled are at a higher risk of complications from winter illness, such as:
When we’re caring for people it is important to look after ourselves and those we are caring for. Here are some tips on preventing winter illnesses: 1. Get a flu vaccination. 2. Keep hygiene up by
3. Exercise – 30- 60 minutes at least three times a week. Guidelines on when to and when not to exercise. 4. Eat a healthy diet – have three meals a day that includes dairy, fruit, vegetables, protein, and cereals. 5. Drink plenty of fluids – eight cups plus a day. 6. Get fresh air though your house regularly - open curtains during daylight hours and windows for a short period during the day. 7. Keep your house dry and warm - heat your home to at least 18 °C. Avoid using gas heaters and drying your washing inside. 8. Ensure your vitamin D levels are good - get outside in the sun for up to 15 minutes a day, eat vitamin rich foods or discuss supplements with your Doctor. 9. Get 8 -10 hours regular sleep - the body does most of its healing and maintenance while we sleep. 10. Keep up your social life. Spending time with family and friends is good for your health. 11. If you do get sick - stay at home and seek medical attention if required. ![]() If anyone gets sick While there’s not much you can do to reverse a cold or flu there is evidence you can shorten the duration and severity by:
![]() Choosing a bed and mattress Advice for residential facilities Finding the best beds for your facility can be hard, as there’s so much choice and great marketing. Making the wrong choice can cost a lot in replacement beds, cause injury to staff or residents and loss of independence for your residents. Here are a few tips to help you purchase the most versatile beds for your residents’ needs. Bed height: We recommend: a) adjustable height beds as they can accommodate:
Electrical or manual adjustable beds are available. When choosing, consider how often the beds will be adjusted up and down each shift. If frequently, we would recommend an electric bed as it reduces the likelihood of injuries to your staff. b) ensuring enough clearance under the bed for a hoist. c) securing the bed electric cords with loosely fitting plastic ties. Other adjustable features
Mattress: We recommend a mattress: a) with a firm edge for ease of getting in and out of bed b) firm enough to support people with a soft enough surface for comfort To help keep your residents as mobile or independent as possible and reduce the likelihood of injury to your staff, there is a range of bed accessories to help. For more help choosing the right bed and accessories for your circumstances our friendly Physio and Occupational Therapists can help. Just contact us at Therapy Professionals. Phone: (03) 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Website: www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz ![]() Vitamin D and the Winter Months Vitamin D is important for:
The main way of obtaining vitamin D is to produce it ourselves by exposing our skin to the sun. In the winter it’s hard to get enough direct sunlight to maintain our vitamin D levels. If our vitamin D levels are low we can be at risk to a wide variety of health issues, including:
You may be more at risk to low levels of vitamin D if you:
Signs you may have low vitamin D levels include:
When exposure to sunshine is limited, especially in the winter in the South Island, we may need to find other sources of vitamin D, eg food. Foods containing vitamin D include:
You may need a vitamin D supplement if you can’t get outside regularly and your levels are low. Discuss supplements with your Doctor, they are not recommended for everyone. For more information listen to this from the National Radio: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday If you want help to improve your dietary vitamin D intake our friendly Dietitian can help.
Just contact Therapy Professionals. Ph: 03 3775280 Email [email protected] Website: therapyprofessionals.co.nz I don't want to be a bother As we age our bodies don’t function with the same ease they once did. This can be a slow and insidious process or a sudden shock after an accident or illness. Over time we start finding some things aren’t as easy to do as they used to be, like:
Many of us stop doing things because it’s too hard and having to ask others to do or help with these tasks can be frustrating, inconvenient and embarrassing. Many of us don’t want to ask for help as we ‘don’t want to be a bother’and we leave seeking help until we get into difficulty. We may struggle alone at home with little knowledge of the help available to assist our independence. Feeling as if you are relying on family can make you feel like a burden and we want time with family to be precious and enjoyable, not a chore. You don’t have to struggle alone professional advice is available to help you maintain your freedom and avoid an unnecessary crisis. key turner tap turner electric plug puller
If you, or anyone you know, is struggling to maintain their independence and confidence Therapy Professionals friendly therapists can help to make life easier. They will suggest adapting your home or lifestyle, recommending alternative ways of doing things or giving tips on useful gadgets and equipment. You don’t have to struggle alone, we can help, we come to you. Just contact us at Therapy Professionals Ltd PO Box 7807, Christchurch Phone: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Website: www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz ![]() Building or Refurbishing your Buildings - Advice for Residential Facilities Keeping your clients and staff safe, keeps your business safe. Planning for a safe, workable environment is cost effective. Getting the design or redesign of your building wrong can cost a lot in:
It is more cost effective to get your building future proofed while under construction. Our Therapists have seen some very expensive mistakes made over the years and recommend you consider the following:
Architects, project managers and building companies are great at the big picture of a building, however they don’t understand the complexities of the work you do. ![]() For a small cost an Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist can help refine a design to ensure the environment will work effectively and safely for your staff and residents. This small investment could save you thousands of dollars in remediation and disruption to your business. Our friendly Physio and Occupational Therapists are available to give you advice, just contact us at Therapy Professionals. Phone: (03) 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz ![]() Handwriting is Crucial for Development For most of us handwriting is a task we take for granted. We don’t consider how much goes in to it, nor do we think about the implications of not mastering this skill. Handwriting is a complex process. It involves:
Today with technology we increasingly use typing in place of handwriting. Although typing and technology are useful tools handwriting has many benefits. According to research three areas of the brain light up in a highly coordinated way when a person is handwriting and no such activity is observed with typing. The physical act of handwriting helps improve:
Children who struggle to write by hand often avoid it or are encouraged to type instead. Unfortunately they then miss out on all the benefits derived from handwriting and from gaining help for the underlining cause of their difficulty, which may include problems with:
These functions are necessary for many other life skills and activities, eg tying shoe laces, using a knife and fork, dressing and grooming Occupational Therapists are experts in improving handwriting and hand skills. If you know a child who is struggling with their handwriting contact us at Therapy Professionals as our friendly Occupational Therapist can help. Just contact us: Phone: 03 377 5280 Email: [email protected] Website:: www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz ![]() Falls and Eyesight Currently, one in seven New Zealanders are 65 and over. Around 30% to 60% of people in this age group have a fall each year. And 10% to 20% will end up in hospital with a fracture. Those over the age of 85 are 15 times more likely to fracture their hip in a fall than a 65-year-old. Hip fractures can have a huge impact, with 30% of those over 85 who suffer one requiring placement in aged residential care. Research shows there is a link between poor eyesight and falls in older people. As we age most of us will become long sighted (presbyopia), making it hard to focus on things close up and we’re slower to adjust to light. This is because the muscles of the eye lens harden. Eventually we will all need glasses. Other age related eye conditions that contribute to falls are cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Some tips to prevent falls associated with eyesight issues:
Follow this advice and you will help to reduce the chances of falling. For other tips on falls prevention check out these links: http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/be_aware_of_your_feet.pdf http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/getting_yourself_up_from_the_floor._.pdf http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/footwear_matters__.pdf http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/to__exercise_or_not_to_exercise_.pdf http://www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz/uploads/4/9/5/2/49523375/hpme_gym.pdf For more information and advice on preventing falls our friendly Physiotherapists can help, just contact Therapy Professionals : Phone: 3877 5280 Fax: 03 377 5281 Email: [email protected] www.therapyprofessionals.co.nz |
AuthorShonagh O'Hagan Archives
July 2024
|