Celebrate Fibromyalgia Awareness Day- May 12th

Here is the final post from my student, Lisa Rockey.  

As we all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, February is American Heart Month, but did you know that May 12^th is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. Well, now that you do, what are you going to do about it?

I began searching the World Wide Web for some information about this day. I found many sites such as ehow.com offering tips on recognizing May 12^th. Some suggestions included: emailing/facebooking/tweeting about National Fibromyaglia Day.  Write some fun facts to educate others about this condition or post fliers around your community with this information.

Another place I went looking was youtube.com. I found many videos but I’ve posted two I liked the best. Perhaps you are as electronically savvy as these individuals and can make your own. You could share a video like this with members in your community or family. Again just letting people know a little bit more about Fibormyalgia.

Youtube: Fibromyalgia Awareness and Support

Youtube: Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Other ways to honor the day is to wear a purple or a purple ribbon for Fibromyalgia, find or organize an event to participate in involving fibromyaglia.  



Wii for Balance

Here is an article on having fun while you work on your balance from Lisa Rockey SPT.

Technology advancements never cease to amaze me.  There is always a new gadget or device that can do a million things.  The Nintendo Wii has changed the way video games are played.  I think it is all pretty clever.  It makes a typically sedentary activity (video gaming) an active game that is fun for the whole family.  The Wii and the WiiFit are being used not only for fun and games but in physical therapy as well.  The device is actually a very sophisticated piece of equipment. This allows for your PT to design rehabilitation homework that is not only beneficial but fun.  This makes it more likely you will actually DO your home program!

A 2010 study was published in Gait and Posture called "Validity and Reliability of the Nintendo Wii Balance Board for Assessment of Standing Balance."  This study compared the Wii Balance Board to a force platform device (a laboratory device that measures the forces a body is putting on the ground during activities such as standing or walking).  These researchers examined the reliability and validity of both devices to measure the center of pressure.  In simple terms, they compared the Wii and the force platform to see if they were consistent (reliability) and measured what they were supposed to measure (validity) in relationship to a persons actual center of balance.  A small group of young adults had to complete four standing challenges:  standing on one leg with eyes open, standing on one leg with eyes closed, standing on both legs with eyes open, and both legs with eyes closed.  Both the Wii Balance Board and the force platform device were good to excellent in the reliability and validity. 

So what does this mean?  Well, next time you are playing on your WiiFit and you advance in stages you know you actually improved your balance.  Also, the next time your PT gives you rehab "homework" you just might be playing games!

Lisa Rockey SPT

~ Pelvic Pain on TV

Here is another post from my student, Lisa Rockey.

 

Reality TV is all the rage these days, yet as we all know, it's not quite REAL.  So why in the world am I blogging about a reality show on MTV?  Well you see, MTV's recently aired a REAL issue for women.  It was an episode called MTV's True Life: I Can't Have Sex.  

 

Three 20-something women who have chronic pelvic pain issues openly talked about the impact their pain had on their lives.  They discussed the social, relationship, and sexual issues they had as a result of their pelvic pain.  The pelvic conditions in this episode include vulvar vestibultitis, pelvic floor dysfunction, and vaginismus which all cause painful sex (dyspareunia).  

 

Each woman had different experiences, support systems, and treatments for their pelvic pain. Included in their treatment options were physical therapy, dilators, and talk therapy.  The stories of each of these women illustrate the emotional and physical issues that accompany pelvic pain.  Two of the women discussed the problems associated with pelvic pain in a relationship and the other the problems associated with dating and trying to find a relationship.  

 

Women of all ages have pelvic pain.  These three young women show that it is OK to talk about it.  Women with chronic pelvic pain issues are not alone.  There are other women out there just like you and there are treatments like PT available that can help.

Lisa Rockey, SPT



~Spring is Here! Pain and Weather

Spring is finally officially here!  We have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring through the long, dark dreary days of winter.  The birds have been singing, the spring peepers are peeping, and the flowers are starting to poke their way up through the ground.  

With all the temperature changes this past week, I have been reminded how much weather affects pain conditions.  I see a lot of people with fibromyalgia, headaches, and arthritis.  The weather seems to "flare" these conditions more than others.  I notice the effect of the weather on people the most in spring and fall when there are a lot of temperature fluctuations, but pain can also be triggered by cold or damp conditions.  

 

The bad news:  We can't change Mother Nature.  You just have to ride out the weather changes best you can.  

The good news:  The weather always straightens out in a few days to allow for some pain relief.  Just hang in there and know it is bound to improve.  Take a warm shower or bath to decrease the soreness in the meantime.

The great news:  Spring is the start of the good weather.  Even if we have a late snow storm, it is always comforting to know that summer and all that warm sunshine is on the way.  

~ Website for Fibromyalgia

I currently have a Physical Therapy Student from West Virginia University doing her last clinical rotation before graduating in May.  She will be writing a few blog posts.  Here is her first.

 

Online social networks become more and more popular each day. People of all ages can talk with old friends or meet new people through the World Wide Web.  The internet can also be a good resource to learn new things and gather information about health topics- if you know where to look.  

 

For people who live with issues of fibromyalgia, one of these resources is www.myfibro.com

 

This web site provides information including resources about fibromyalgia, treatment options, videos, and a blog page.  It provides some good basic information as well as an overview of the condition and pertinent research topics.  

 

There are also interactive aspects of this website. There is a page called "Ask a Question".  Registered users may ask a question or answer another user's question.  The blog page allows you to share your information with other bloggers.  Some people describe their daily routine.  They also share recipes, exercise routines, books, and current research findings. It is nice to know someone may experience the same things as you in a typical day.  Remember to always talk with your physician before making any changes to your personal health routine.  

 

Lisa Rockey, SPT