Not all risk factors can be changed, but healthy habits and a proper exercise routine designed by your physical therapist can keep bones healthy and reduce risk.

Physical therapists can play an important role in helping you ensure optimal bone health.

Not only is it important to eat a balanced diet with plenty of calcium and supplement important minerals and vitamins as needed, it is also important to live an active lifestyle.  Exercises that strengthen your muscles also strengthen your bones.

Click here to read more about how Physical Therapy can help to decrease your fracture risk and promote healthy aging.

*If you have osteoporosis, are at high risk for a fall or fracture, or have a medical condition, affecting your ability to exercise, do not begin an exercise program without first consulting your physician and a physical therapist.

Coady, Deborah. Fish, Nancy. “Vulvar Pain Resulting from Orthopedic Causes.” NVA News 16.2 (2011): 1-4, 6, 7, 9, 15, 16. Print.

                                                                                                                             Read Article Here

September 16, 17, 18 in Tualatin, Oregon

Visceral Manipulation for the Urologic Organs

Taught by Ramona Horton MsPT of the

Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehab Institute

hermanwallace.com/

December 1 to 4, 2011

Vancouver BC, Canada

Visceral manipulation for the Thorax

Level 4

taught by The Barral Institute

Julie DePaul PT

October 21- 23, Las Vegas NV

International Pelvic Pain Society Annual

Fall Meeting on Chronic Pelvic Pain

to Achieve Optimal Mangement of

Chronic Pelvic Pain Disorders

December 1 to 4, Vancouver BC

 Visceral Manipulation for the Thorax,

Level 4. Taught by The Barral Institute

This study concludes that up to 1 out of every 8 healthy women who have not carried or birthed children have urinary incontinence. 1000 healthy, young women (age 16-30) in Melbourne, Australia were surveyed regarding continence status. The results not only concluded that as many as 12.6% of the 1000 women experienced urinary incontinence (UI), it also suggests that UI significantly affects quality of life for these women. This comes from an article shared on the MONASH University website, discussing the incidence of urinary leakage in young women.

Most studies correlate UI with childbirth history, therefore this study is unique in its look at such a large population of young women who do have pregnancy and childbirth as a risk factor. Researchers found that 6.2% of the women reported stress urinary incontinence, 4.5% reported urge incontinence, and 1.9% of the women reported experiencing both stress and urge leakage. Women were more likely to experience UI if they reported bedwetting history beyond the age of 5.

This research is being presented this weekend at the 15th Australasian Menopause Society Congress. This study brings to light the importance of sharing these statistics with younger populations of people and with the healthcare providers who reach these young women.

It may also be helpful to reach out to your local coaches, coaching educators, associations, or high school and college athletic trainers, college athletic directors, school nurses, high school health education teachers, or to life fitness programs at colleges. What better place to start than with the people who are working with our younger women? Through creative education strategies on our part we can continue to increase the public’s awareness so that fewer people have to suffer these issues in silence.

Our current research comes from Herman and Wallace. Check out their website for more information and listing of professional education classes. http://www.hermanwallace.com/

Bellingham physical therapist Julie DePaul tells me she provided care to victims of the Haitian earthquake as part of an emergency medical team sent by Children of the Nations. She worked at the field hospital in Fond Parisian, outside of Port au Prince, operated by Harvard Humanitarian Initiative out of Boston. She also helped start a physical therapy clinic at the American refugee camp.

Julie says rehabilitation medical care is the priority, now that the emergency is over. HHI closed its field hospital and trauma center, discharging the last of 2,000 patients on May 5. The new physical therapy clinic at the American refugee camp is a large, open-air tent with a smaller supply tent alongside. Each day, treatment tables and supplies are moved in and out for therapy.

Volunteer teams of therapists from the U.S., sent by the nonprofit organization Hands of Light in Action, will provide care into August. Physical therapy included exercise, gait training, nerve mobilization and back care using minimal equipment, translated teaching, and hands-on skills. Many patients had broken bones, amputations, injuries caused by falling objects, or nerve injuries from being pulled out of the rubble by an arm. Julie specializes in orthopedics and women’s health physical therapy at her clinic, Healthy Focus PT, 1400 King St., Suite 102.

She says her favorite memory from Haiti was singing a hymn in English, along with Haitians singing it in Creole, while providing physical therapy.