Many of us experience sleeping problems and these problems may be temporary or ongoing.
For those who find getting to sleep and then staying asleep hard there could be a number of explanations. Some people are light sleepers, others only need what seems like a limited number of hours sleep and still more people wake up due to muscular or skeletal discomfort.
If the problem appears to be related to some kind of discomfort, then it is possible that the bed, or more probably, the actual mattress could be at the heart of the poor sleep pattern. If this is the case then changing the mattress for one offering a superior orthopedic foundation could be the solution. Often problems connected with the back can be caused by, or accentuated by, a poor mattress and even a poor sleeping posture. A new mattress made from good quality pocket springs or memory foam may resolve the discomfort and result in a far better night’s sleep.
If the sleeping trouble is not physical, then it may be down to stress, restlessness or keeping the mind active and purposeful immediately prior to trying to sleep.
Obviously medication “may” be a solution to these impediments, however having a proper sleep “preparation” regime can often have surprisingly good results. In fact in many cases changing a few things that you do, or don’t do, before you go to bed can completely alter your sleep pattern.
The first thing to do is to try and relax and relaxing actually takes a conscious effort – it is not something that just happens.
Concentrating on breathing and rhythms can be one way of relaxing, or trying to clear the mind of all thoughts can be another.
One mistake that many people make is in doing something mentally taxing prior to going to bed. Unless you feel tired, doing a crossword, watching an action film, or playing on a PC game is not a good way to prepare for sleep. You want your mind to be slowing down, not being activated and stimulated.
Information about sleeping techniques and tips can be found at the sleep council's website.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Products for the overweight
The populations of many countries in the EU and North America have seen a rapid rise in the levels of obesity. Just 15 to 20 years ago seeing someone who was excessively overweight was almost a rarity, now it covers up to 30% of the population. We even have a name for this – bariatrics.
Why so many people are obese is one question. Obviously it relates to a lack of exercise, poor diet and a minimal degree of self worth. However, given that there appears to be no slowing down of this trend, the next question is how can society and the people whom obesity affects deal with it?
One possible solution is better dietary advice, but this information has always been there and is simply ignored. Another option is to make people aware of the health benefits of exercise and staying in shape. But yet again this is nothing new and everyone knows that being obese and being healthy do not go hand in hand.
The honest fact is that an increasingly large proportion of many populations simply make the decision that they would rather eat excessive amounts of unhealthy food and lead a sedentary lifestyle. This is of course nothing more than a lifestyle choice and one that anyone and everyone is perfectly entitled to make – just like smoking or consuming large quantities of alcohol.
So what is the other way of looking at the obesity situation?
It is simply to accept that this is a continuing trend that is endemic of many modern societies and that, rather than trying to remove obesity, we should look at how to live with it.
This leads on to the relatively new specialism in medical science called bariatrics. Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that concerns itself with obesity, its causes, its treatments, and helping people who are excessively big to live comparatively normal lives. It is a rapidly growing area of medicine.
One way of doing the latter is to gain the assistance of occupational therapists, but the other is to use a massive range and variety of bariatric aids, products and gadgets that help someone to compensate for their obesity.
Bariatric aids come in all manner of sizes and applications. These cover mobility scooters with heavy duty chassis and very wide seats that make it possible for a large person to retain their independence and mobility. They also include much smaller aids like devices that can help someone get dressed, and larger stronger toilet seats that are suited to much bigger bodies and their corresponding weight.
A range of aids for the bariatric sector can be found in some mobility and disability shops. Many of these aids are developments or amended versions of other previously existing medical aids, but with the addition of widening, strengthening and support alterations to make them suitable for large and heavy people.
Why so many people are obese is one question. Obviously it relates to a lack of exercise, poor diet and a minimal degree of self worth. However, given that there appears to be no slowing down of this trend, the next question is how can society and the people whom obesity affects deal with it?
One possible solution is better dietary advice, but this information has always been there and is simply ignored. Another option is to make people aware of the health benefits of exercise and staying in shape. But yet again this is nothing new and everyone knows that being obese and being healthy do not go hand in hand.
The honest fact is that an increasingly large proportion of many populations simply make the decision that they would rather eat excessive amounts of unhealthy food and lead a sedentary lifestyle. This is of course nothing more than a lifestyle choice and one that anyone and everyone is perfectly entitled to make – just like smoking or consuming large quantities of alcohol.
So what is the other way of looking at the obesity situation?
It is simply to accept that this is a continuing trend that is endemic of many modern societies and that, rather than trying to remove obesity, we should look at how to live with it.
This leads on to the relatively new specialism in medical science called bariatrics. Bariatrics is the branch of medicine that concerns itself with obesity, its causes, its treatments, and helping people who are excessively big to live comparatively normal lives. It is a rapidly growing area of medicine.
One way of doing the latter is to gain the assistance of occupational therapists, but the other is to use a massive range and variety of bariatric aids, products and gadgets that help someone to compensate for their obesity.
Bariatric aids come in all manner of sizes and applications. These cover mobility scooters with heavy duty chassis and very wide seats that make it possible for a large person to retain their independence and mobility. They also include much smaller aids like devices that can help someone get dressed, and larger stronger toilet seats that are suited to much bigger bodies and their corresponding weight.
A range of aids for the bariatric sector can be found in some mobility and disability shops. Many of these aids are developments or amended versions of other previously existing medical aids, but with the addition of widening, strengthening and support alterations to make them suitable for large and heavy people.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Saunas for health
One way of detoxifying the body, cleansing the skin, relaxing and even losing weight is to take a sauna on a regular basis. You can enjoy a sauna at a health spa, some sports centres or even some clinics. Alternatively you can buy one of the many small home sauna kits and install a sauna in your own home.
Saunas use hot dry air to encourage sweating which in turn helps the body to expel toxic chemicals via the skin. As the largest organ of the human body the skin is an important expeller of waste in the form of sweat which is then evaporated into the air. This sweating activity also rejuvenates and hydrates the skin making it feel and look younger and healthier. Most medical experts and dermatologists agree that the use of a sauna is helpful to the skins wellbeing.
In northern Europe the taking of a sauna is a very popular and socially acceptable pastime. Indeed very few people have a sauna on their own, instead they have group saunas where taking and often drinking make the experience a social one.
How to enjoy a sauna
The correct way to enjoy a sauna is to take a series of short 15 to 30 minute sauna sessions punctuated by periods of “cooling off” outside the sauna. This means that a complete session can last for several hours and this is one of the reasons why group saunas have become so popular in countries like Finland.
In localities like Britain and the USA the sauna is seen as much more of a private and intimate experience and congregating in groups is less popular. The result of this is that small 2 to 4 person saunas have become popular in these countries and they can be purchased and assembled from kits. The primary material is timber and either an electric hot rock stove or multiple infrared heaters are used to generate the hot air sauna effect.
For a more detailed look at “everything” sauna you can visit the sauna-kits.net website where information about how saunas work, how you can buy and build one in your own home, and what the health benefits can be, are described in greater detail. Steam showers and some other spa and hydrotherapy treatments are also covered and paced in the context of the sauna.
Saunas use hot dry air to encourage sweating which in turn helps the body to expel toxic chemicals via the skin. As the largest organ of the human body the skin is an important expeller of waste in the form of sweat which is then evaporated into the air. This sweating activity also rejuvenates and hydrates the skin making it feel and look younger and healthier. Most medical experts and dermatologists agree that the use of a sauna is helpful to the skins wellbeing.
In northern Europe the taking of a sauna is a very popular and socially acceptable pastime. Indeed very few people have a sauna on their own, instead they have group saunas where taking and often drinking make the experience a social one.
How to enjoy a sauna
The correct way to enjoy a sauna is to take a series of short 15 to 30 minute sauna sessions punctuated by periods of “cooling off” outside the sauna. This means that a complete session can last for several hours and this is one of the reasons why group saunas have become so popular in countries like Finland.
In localities like Britain and the USA the sauna is seen as much more of a private and intimate experience and congregating in groups is less popular. The result of this is that small 2 to 4 person saunas have become popular in these countries and they can be purchased and assembled from kits. The primary material is timber and either an electric hot rock stove or multiple infrared heaters are used to generate the hot air sauna effect.
For a more detailed look at “everything” sauna you can visit the sauna-kits.net website where information about how saunas work, how you can buy and build one in your own home, and what the health benefits can be, are described in greater detail. Steam showers and some other spa and hydrotherapy treatments are also covered and paced in the context of the sauna.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Personal care for those with mobility limitations
Although getting around, eating and dressing often get priority when it comes to information and the availability of aids relating to those with reduced mobility, personal care is another very important area.
Being able to wash, groom and take care of private hygiene needs are of great importance and significance, particularly when it comes to dignity and retaining independence. Naturally age, illness, an accident or a disability can make personal care a major challenge, however a number of aids are available that can counter these problems. Some can even help an individual retain their independence indefinitely.
One of the big problems when it comes to activities like washing, cutting nails and brushing hair is holding the implement in question.
The first challenge is to be able to hold the item and the second challenge is to be able to reach or direct it to the point where it is needed. Control of movement and use are of great importance.
The holding aspect can easily be assisted by the use of ergonomic designs that take account of how and by whom the aid is being used. This can involve making handles larger (bigger diameter) and longer as well as having grips that are moulded to the contours of a gripping hand (i.e. the fingers).
Extending the handle, or section between the handle and the point of action, can help to eliminate the reaching problem. Making this extended handle section hinged or bendable can also make reaching around the back of the body, head or limbs much easier too. Some of these aids allow the user to adjust them for each use of type of use.
The materials from which these aids are made from can improve the way that they work. Soft easy grip materials are better to hold and this also makes them easier to manipulate and use. They also feel better and are less tiring and wearing on the hands.
Other grooming products can include inflatable washbasins and various attachments and removable additions to a toilet. A good example is a bariatric toilet seat which is larger and wider than a standard seat and consequently more comfortable for the larger person. Soft gel toilet seat cushions and bidet pan inserts are other examples of cleaning and hygiene related bathroom aids. All can make the bathroom a more user friendly and versatile area.
Not all of these aids can help an individual to retain their independence. Some of them are intended for use by a carer or family member and they make the looking after a patient’s personal grooming needs less traumatic. Some of these aids are for those who are confined to their bed, or have very limited mobility within the home.
More information about the various grooming and personal body care products available can be found through various sources where a number of small but useful aids are described in more detail.
Being able to wash, groom and take care of private hygiene needs are of great importance and significance, particularly when it comes to dignity and retaining independence. Naturally age, illness, an accident or a disability can make personal care a major challenge, however a number of aids are available that can counter these problems. Some can even help an individual retain their independence indefinitely.
One of the big problems when it comes to activities like washing, cutting nails and brushing hair is holding the implement in question.
The first challenge is to be able to hold the item and the second challenge is to be able to reach or direct it to the point where it is needed. Control of movement and use are of great importance.
The holding aspect can easily be assisted by the use of ergonomic designs that take account of how and by whom the aid is being used. This can involve making handles larger (bigger diameter) and longer as well as having grips that are moulded to the contours of a gripping hand (i.e. the fingers).
Extending the handle, or section between the handle and the point of action, can help to eliminate the reaching problem. Making this extended handle section hinged or bendable can also make reaching around the back of the body, head or limbs much easier too. Some of these aids allow the user to adjust them for each use of type of use.
The materials from which these aids are made from can improve the way that they work. Soft easy grip materials are better to hold and this also makes them easier to manipulate and use. They also feel better and are less tiring and wearing on the hands.
Other grooming products can include inflatable washbasins and various attachments and removable additions to a toilet. A good example is a bariatric toilet seat which is larger and wider than a standard seat and consequently more comfortable for the larger person. Soft gel toilet seat cushions and bidet pan inserts are other examples of cleaning and hygiene related bathroom aids. All can make the bathroom a more user friendly and versatile area.
Not all of these aids can help an individual to retain their independence. Some of them are intended for use by a carer or family member and they make the looking after a patient’s personal grooming needs less traumatic. Some of these aids are for those who are confined to their bed, or have very limited mobility within the home.
More information about the various grooming and personal body care products available can be found through various sources where a number of small but useful aids are described in more detail.
Friday, 29 April 2011
Aids for reach and ease of use
The last post was about aids to assist when dressing and this one complements it to some degree.
This post looks at some of the gadgets that can help with reaching and stretching, or the reduction of any reaching and stretching that is required to perform certain tasks.
Reaching, twisting and bending ultimately become a problem for just about everyone as they get older. But a number of medical conditions can make these types of movements challenging at any age.
Injury, illness, arthritis or recovery from surgery can all result in the body being less supple and flexible than it could be and, when this is the case, aids with long handles can make life much easier.
Examples of long handled aids are many and amongst the most popular are various brushes. These can be brushes for the hair, or brushes that make it possible to reach around to the back and lower legs when having a shower or bath.
The shape of long handles can also assist in their use. The handles of some garden tools project at 90 degrees to the standard tool in order to save stresses on the wrist and lower arm.
Another branch of gadget like aids is aimed at making certain hard to hold items and objects more tactile and ergonomic. A good example is the opening of a door which requires the locating and turning of a key followed by the twisting of a handle.
Many modern lock keys are small and, although convenient to store in a pocket, are difficult to hold for those with gripping issues. Special key holders and key fobs can make these small items easier to hold and manipulate.
The handles on certain “knob style” doors may also be hard to grasp and special knob holders can make them easier to use.
Within the home utilities like taps (faucets) can be stiff to turn and hard to grip, especially when wet. However, tap turners can be fitted to the tap heads or carried around and used when required. Many of these aids are capable of fitting most tap heads and they have a long lever arm that makes turning them effortless.
More specialist devices can be essential for personal hygiene in the bathroom. Using toilet paper is a particular challenge that involves twisting, bending and a high degree of dexterity that is not always possible for some people. The available options are seeking help from a carer, or using a special toilet wiping aid, the latter of which retains independence and dignity.
Bed handles and rails can make the getting in and out of a bed much easier and less physically strenuous. These simple but effective handles run under a mattress and then project upwards from the side of the bed. They are an essential aid for many.
A number of small items like those used for personal grooming can also benefit from longer or angled handles. A good example is tweezers and another can be a nail file. Easy hold large grip handles can also add to the ease of use of these aids.
This post looks at some of the gadgets that can help with reaching and stretching, or the reduction of any reaching and stretching that is required to perform certain tasks.
Reaching, twisting and bending ultimately become a problem for just about everyone as they get older. But a number of medical conditions can make these types of movements challenging at any age.
Injury, illness, arthritis or recovery from surgery can all result in the body being less supple and flexible than it could be and, when this is the case, aids with long handles can make life much easier.
Examples of long handled aids are many and amongst the most popular are various brushes. These can be brushes for the hair, or brushes that make it possible to reach around to the back and lower legs when having a shower or bath.
The shape of long handles can also assist in their use. The handles of some garden tools project at 90 degrees to the standard tool in order to save stresses on the wrist and lower arm.
Another branch of gadget like aids is aimed at making certain hard to hold items and objects more tactile and ergonomic. A good example is the opening of a door which requires the locating and turning of a key followed by the twisting of a handle.
Many modern lock keys are small and, although convenient to store in a pocket, are difficult to hold for those with gripping issues. Special key holders and key fobs can make these small items easier to hold and manipulate.
The handles on certain “knob style” doors may also be hard to grasp and special knob holders can make them easier to use.
Within the home utilities like taps (faucets) can be stiff to turn and hard to grip, especially when wet. However, tap turners can be fitted to the tap heads or carried around and used when required. Many of these aids are capable of fitting most tap heads and they have a long lever arm that makes turning them effortless.
More specialist devices can be essential for personal hygiene in the bathroom. Using toilet paper is a particular challenge that involves twisting, bending and a high degree of dexterity that is not always possible for some people. The available options are seeking help from a carer, or using a special toilet wiping aid, the latter of which retains independence and dignity.
Bed handles and rails can make the getting in and out of a bed much easier and less physically strenuous. These simple but effective handles run under a mattress and then project upwards from the side of the bed. They are an essential aid for many.
A number of small items like those used for personal grooming can also benefit from longer or angled handles. A good example is tweezers and another can be a nail file. Easy hold large grip handles can also add to the ease of use of these aids.
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Overcoming dressing difficulties
Most healthy people take mobility and the everyday tasks that they overcome without effort for granted. For most people, at least until they reach their later years, only jobs that require physical effort, strength or a special skill are deemed hard and challenging.
There is however an increasingly large section of all western societies where many of the day to day chores that able bodied people take in their stride are positively difficult. These tasks, chores and processes may not be physically demanding or require any great skill, but for someone who has trouble moving, lifting, bending or holding (with their hands), these activities may be very difficult.
Naturally walking and staying mobile, both in the home and outdoors, is an obvious example, however tasks like personal hygiene and even being able to dress and undress oneself can become a very demanding chore for older people and those with illnesses and conditions that reduce and restrict movement.
So what is available and what kind of aids and inventions can be used to help?
Mobility can be restored in some part by wheelchairs and mobility scooters and bath lifts, lifting toilets seats and the like can all help with personal hygiene. This still leaves the problem of putting on clothes.
There are however many clever and highly effective aids that can make getting dressed firstly, an independent and dignified process and, secondly, a much easier and less challenging one.
The aids that are available for dressing are quite extensive and they range from clever pocket sized tools that can button and unbutton a button hole, to frames that can be used to help pull pants up.
Some of these tools are multi purpose and can perform more than one task whilst other are task-specific.
There are also some clever alternatives to things like regular shoelaces that make wearing shoes easier. One example is coiled laces that can be pulled to a comfortable tightness before being released so that the “coil effect” of the laces hold the pre-set tightness without the need for a bow or knot.
Other dressing aids include dressing sticks that can be of great assistance when it comes to putting on a shirt or a jacket. These sticks have a hook or claw at one end and this makes it possible to pull part of a garment that would otherwise be out of reach.
Many clever aids and variations on aids are available for dressing and they even run to shoe removers and sock lifters – the feet quite naturally being one of the hardest parts of the body to reach and stretch to.
Although reduced mobility, resulting from any cause, can be traumatic and distressing, there are now more ways of regaining or extending mobility than ever before. New aids, tools and physical therapies are constantly coming to the fore and there are very few tasks or activities for which some kind of assistive device has yet to be designed.
There is however an increasingly large section of all western societies where many of the day to day chores that able bodied people take in their stride are positively difficult. These tasks, chores and processes may not be physically demanding or require any great skill, but for someone who has trouble moving, lifting, bending or holding (with their hands), these activities may be very difficult.
Naturally walking and staying mobile, both in the home and outdoors, is an obvious example, however tasks like personal hygiene and even being able to dress and undress oneself can become a very demanding chore for older people and those with illnesses and conditions that reduce and restrict movement.
So what is available and what kind of aids and inventions can be used to help?
Mobility can be restored in some part by wheelchairs and mobility scooters and bath lifts, lifting toilets seats and the like can all help with personal hygiene. This still leaves the problem of putting on clothes.
There are however many clever and highly effective aids that can make getting dressed firstly, an independent and dignified process and, secondly, a much easier and less challenging one.
The aids that are available for dressing are quite extensive and they range from clever pocket sized tools that can button and unbutton a button hole, to frames that can be used to help pull pants up.
Some of these tools are multi purpose and can perform more than one task whilst other are task-specific.
There are also some clever alternatives to things like regular shoelaces that make wearing shoes easier. One example is coiled laces that can be pulled to a comfortable tightness before being released so that the “coil effect” of the laces hold the pre-set tightness without the need for a bow or knot.
Other dressing aids include dressing sticks that can be of great assistance when it comes to putting on a shirt or a jacket. These sticks have a hook or claw at one end and this makes it possible to pull part of a garment that would otherwise be out of reach.
Many clever aids and variations on aids are available for dressing and they even run to shoe removers and sock lifters – the feet quite naturally being one of the hardest parts of the body to reach and stretch to.
Although reduced mobility, resulting from any cause, can be traumatic and distressing, there are now more ways of regaining or extending mobility than ever before. New aids, tools and physical therapies are constantly coming to the fore and there are very few tasks or activities for which some kind of assistive device has yet to be designed.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Radiator efficiency – reducing heating costs
One of the big problems for many elderly people is keeping warm at this time of year.
In the UK at least, the worst of winter is now just about over, but in many temperate climates the cool winter and autumnal period can easily span 5 or 6 months and staying warm can be a challenge.
The first part of the problem is having a satisfactory heating system, normally based around a boiler, and the second challenge is the energy cost. Unfortunately fuel prices have escalated and, in the UK in particular, successive governments have allowed them to become double and in some cases triple there equivalents in other European countries.
Whilst this is clearly undesirable and a desperately sad reflection on Britain, the main problem is that for many older people who are dependent on state pensions, they simply cannot afford to run their heating for as long as they would like. The result of this is a risk of hypothermia and, at the very least, increased discomfort. Neither are satisfactory outcomes.
So is there a solution or something that can be done? Well without a more caring welfare system (and legislatory control over unrealistic energy price increases) there is little that can be done financially. However, there are energy saving options that can help in many cases. Some are free, some incur an initial cost, but all will ultimately save energy bills or produce more heat for the same amount of money.
Firstly, for anyone of retirement age or beyond, free loft insulation is now available. This means that the insulation and its fitting is free up to a value of about £3000. This is a government scheme and it will not only save money, but it will immediately make a home feel warmer. My mother used this scheme about three weeks back and she says that the difference is very evident. It does impact on the usability of the loft space, but it certainly hold a building’s heat in.
The next option is using what you have more effectively and this starts with radiators.
There a couple of options and both cost money, but both will also save money.
Option one is to replace any old radiators with new efficient convection radiators. These will distribute the heat throughout a room more effectively and consequently the home will feel warmer. This will also result in the thermostat tripping the heating off much sooner – i.e. stopping the boiler from burning energy (and money).
Option two is cheaper, but every bit as effective and it involves replacing the standard radiator valves with new ones. These old valves are replaced with new thermostatic valves, thereby enabling the controlling and turning on and off of each radiator individually. This means that different rooms can have their heat settings adjusted individually, or even turned off altogether. As an example, this could allow a bedroom radiator to be left on all night whilst all of the other radiators were turned off. The energy savings of having these thermostatic valves can be impressive.
Other simple but effective actions can be to make sure that the fins at the rear of radiators are not clogged up with dust. This often happens over time and it stops the convection action from working properly.
Tucking curtains in behind radiators (so that the heat does not get trapped between the radiator and the window) can also help to save energy and keep a room feeling warm.
In the UK at least, the worst of winter is now just about over, but in many temperate climates the cool winter and autumnal period can easily span 5 or 6 months and staying warm can be a challenge.
The first part of the problem is having a satisfactory heating system, normally based around a boiler, and the second challenge is the energy cost. Unfortunately fuel prices have escalated and, in the UK in particular, successive governments have allowed them to become double and in some cases triple there equivalents in other European countries.
Whilst this is clearly undesirable and a desperately sad reflection on Britain, the main problem is that for many older people who are dependent on state pensions, they simply cannot afford to run their heating for as long as they would like. The result of this is a risk of hypothermia and, at the very least, increased discomfort. Neither are satisfactory outcomes.
So is there a solution or something that can be done? Well without a more caring welfare system (and legislatory control over unrealistic energy price increases) there is little that can be done financially. However, there are energy saving options that can help in many cases. Some are free, some incur an initial cost, but all will ultimately save energy bills or produce more heat for the same amount of money.
Firstly, for anyone of retirement age or beyond, free loft insulation is now available. This means that the insulation and its fitting is free up to a value of about £3000. This is a government scheme and it will not only save money, but it will immediately make a home feel warmer. My mother used this scheme about three weeks back and she says that the difference is very evident. It does impact on the usability of the loft space, but it certainly hold a building’s heat in.
The next option is using what you have more effectively and this starts with radiators.
There a couple of options and both cost money, but both will also save money.
Option one is to replace any old radiators with new efficient convection radiators. These will distribute the heat throughout a room more effectively and consequently the home will feel warmer. This will also result in the thermostat tripping the heating off much sooner – i.e. stopping the boiler from burning energy (and money).
Option two is cheaper, but every bit as effective and it involves replacing the standard radiator valves with new ones. These old valves are replaced with new thermostatic valves, thereby enabling the controlling and turning on and off of each radiator individually. This means that different rooms can have their heat settings adjusted individually, or even turned off altogether. As an example, this could allow a bedroom radiator to be left on all night whilst all of the other radiators were turned off. The energy savings of having these thermostatic valves can be impressive.
Other simple but effective actions can be to make sure that the fins at the rear of radiators are not clogged up with dust. This often happens over time and it stops the convection action from working properly.
Tucking curtains in behind radiators (so that the heat does not get trapped between the radiator and the window) can also help to save energy and keep a room feeling warm.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
A Stroke
A family friend had a stroke just before Christmas and, at the time, is appeared that things were not looking good.
Initially the stroke was described as “mild”, but over the week following the event she seemed to deteriorate. Some two plus months later the initial diagnosis would appear to be the correct one as her progress has been nothing short of amazing and she is now almost back to normal. Her only problems are benefiting (although not necessarily needing) a walking stick. This is something that she will probably cast aside at some future point. The other remaining difficulty is concentration and short term memory which is still not quite 100%. Again this is something that should go a long way towards correcting itself over time.
For my part I have to confess an interest in the numerous aids that were supplied to her by the NHS. On the one hand the NHS can appear inadequate and completely useless, yet on the other they can be exceptional. In this instance the hospital care fitted into the first category and the post hospital care the latter.
The equipment with which she was supplied for home-use numbered a commode (portable loo), a fold up wheelchair with smallish wheels, a rollator, a zimmer frame and walking sticks. All appeared to be brand new and they were delivered prior to her arrival back at home.
All (bar one) of these items have been used to varying degrees during her quick rehabilitation and the wheelchair is now no longer required. It will be interesting to see how quickly these aids are taken back into the NHS and re-issued for those in need of them.
The big positive to all of this is of course the variety and flexibility of mobility aids that are available in the UK through the NHS. Naturally, the rollator and wheelchair were not top of the range models, however they were more than adequate for someone with a short term requirement and where car transport and fold-ability was an important requirement. They were also robust and looked like they could take many years of wear transportation.
Aids such as these can often be a means to an end and they may not have to become a permanent necessity of future life. In cases like strokes and limb or back injuries these aids can offer temporary support whilst the body repairs or re-wires itself. This means that they may not be required as lifelong “crutches” in all cases.
Initially the stroke was described as “mild”, but over the week following the event she seemed to deteriorate. Some two plus months later the initial diagnosis would appear to be the correct one as her progress has been nothing short of amazing and she is now almost back to normal. Her only problems are benefiting (although not necessarily needing) a walking stick. This is something that she will probably cast aside at some future point. The other remaining difficulty is concentration and short term memory which is still not quite 100%. Again this is something that should go a long way towards correcting itself over time.
For my part I have to confess an interest in the numerous aids that were supplied to her by the NHS. On the one hand the NHS can appear inadequate and completely useless, yet on the other they can be exceptional. In this instance the hospital care fitted into the first category and the post hospital care the latter.
The equipment with which she was supplied for home-use numbered a commode (portable loo), a fold up wheelchair with smallish wheels, a rollator, a zimmer frame and walking sticks. All appeared to be brand new and they were delivered prior to her arrival back at home.
All (bar one) of these items have been used to varying degrees during her quick rehabilitation and the wheelchair is now no longer required. It will be interesting to see how quickly these aids are taken back into the NHS and re-issued for those in need of them.
The big positive to all of this is of course the variety and flexibility of mobility aids that are available in the UK through the NHS. Naturally, the rollator and wheelchair were not top of the range models, however they were more than adequate for someone with a short term requirement and where car transport and fold-ability was an important requirement. They were also robust and looked like they could take many years of wear transportation.
Aids such as these can often be a means to an end and they may not have to become a permanent necessity of future life. In cases like strokes and limb or back injuries these aids can offer temporary support whilst the body repairs or re-wires itself. This means that they may not be required as lifelong “crutches” in all cases.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Orthopedic products
There are a number of products designed with orthopedics in mind.
Some of the obvious ones are for rehabilitation from injury or surgery, but others are daily use products that “should” help to keep us fit and healthy.
The medically based orthopedic aids cover a wide range of items and include braces, supports and different mobility devices. These can be use to support limbs or their muscle groups, or to control and direct correct and desirable joint movements.
The more common and less medically relevant orthopedic products include anything from mattresses and chairs to shoes and computer mouse mats. The aim of these products is to promote good health by doing things like keeping the actions and movements of the body healthy.
Obvious examples would be lying on an orthopedic mattress that holds the spine in a good alignment, or having the wrist adequately supported whilst manipulating a mouse. These may seem like small or unimportant things, but over time they can prevent ailments like chronic back problems or repetitive strain injuries.
There are of course many products that are given the “orthopedic” tag for a mix of marketing and politically correct reasons, so common sense needs to be employed in determining which items really are designed with ergonomics and body-aware design as a primary goal.
Recently some unusual designs have come to light as a result of manufacturers, designers and “end users” putting their heads together to improve how something is made. A current example of this would be the five finger shoes that have recently appeared in shops and stores. This footwear solution took a radical look at how our feet “should” function and then took a completely different approach to designing a shoe. The result looks strange, but so far all of the research and testing seems to back up the health advantages of these unusual shoes.
Memory foam or visco elastic foam is a material that has seen much use in the “orthopedic” product sector. A major usage area is in mattress design and construction, but shoe insoles and other “body supporting” products have seen the application of this unique material.
Some of the obvious ones are for rehabilitation from injury or surgery, but others are daily use products that “should” help to keep us fit and healthy.
The medically based orthopedic aids cover a wide range of items and include braces, supports and different mobility devices. These can be use to support limbs or their muscle groups, or to control and direct correct and desirable joint movements.
The more common and less medically relevant orthopedic products include anything from mattresses and chairs to shoes and computer mouse mats. The aim of these products is to promote good health by doing things like keeping the actions and movements of the body healthy.
Obvious examples would be lying on an orthopedic mattress that holds the spine in a good alignment, or having the wrist adequately supported whilst manipulating a mouse. These may seem like small or unimportant things, but over time they can prevent ailments like chronic back problems or repetitive strain injuries.
There are of course many products that are given the “orthopedic” tag for a mix of marketing and politically correct reasons, so common sense needs to be employed in determining which items really are designed with ergonomics and body-aware design as a primary goal.
Recently some unusual designs have come to light as a result of manufacturers, designers and “end users” putting their heads together to improve how something is made. A current example of this would be the five finger shoes that have recently appeared in shops and stores. This footwear solution took a radical look at how our feet “should” function and then took a completely different approach to designing a shoe. The result looks strange, but so far all of the research and testing seems to back up the health advantages of these unusual shoes.
Memory foam or visco elastic foam is a material that has seen much use in the “orthopedic” product sector. A major usage area is in mattress design and construction, but shoe insoles and other “body supporting” products have seen the application of this unique material.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Spa treatments and home Spas
Spa treatments are one way of rejuvenating the body and mind and they come in many forms.
To most people a Spa treatment conjures up the image of a massage or a facial, however you can include facilities like saunas, Jacuzzis and bathing in this category. Also included are a number of the complementary therapies that fall outside the scope of regular medicine and which use water, massage or a therapy commonly associated with relaxation or de-stressing.
Today most Spa treatments are offered through “Spa hotels” or beauty salons although some sports centres and clinics now provide these services.
Home Spa treatments are available too and these can come in a diverse array of forms. Many of the better known Spa chains offer packages of their products that make it possible to have a relaxing bathe followed by the infusion of oils and creams of the same type offered at the Spa in question. These “home use” treatments are not cheap, but they add a touch of luxury to bathing time.
Advances in technology have also made it possible to incorporate some quite extravagant spa equipment in the home or garden. The most obvious examples are the garden Jacuzzi and the steam shower, and home sauna kits are readily available online or through home improvement stores.
The steam shower is usually nothing more than an extra (and cost incurred) additional function of a more up-market home shower. This means that it doubles as a regular shower and a mini steam room.
Jacuzzis can be installed outside or inside and they come with a lid that helps to keep them clean and prevent evaporative heat loss. They are a luxury that can be enjoyed throughout the year and many owners find that they enjoy using them more in the winter months than the summer months.
What all of these options mean is that it is possible to make nearly all of the Spa resort services available in your own home, the only feature that you will lack is the therapist to deliver some of the “hands on” treatments. However, even here it is quite feasible to learn general massage, or hot rock massage and the application of creams and oils is typically explained in detailed instructions when they are supplied as packages from propriety brands.
How much you do or do not invest is something that you can build on gradually. You can start by using aromatherapy oils and bathing products and progress to installing specialist equipment like a sauna room at a later stage.
Searching for Spa products will produce many options for buying different oils, creams, gels etc. Therapists can be found at health centres, Spa hotels and some clinics.
To most people a Spa treatment conjures up the image of a massage or a facial, however you can include facilities like saunas, Jacuzzis and bathing in this category. Also included are a number of the complementary therapies that fall outside the scope of regular medicine and which use water, massage or a therapy commonly associated with relaxation or de-stressing.
Today most Spa treatments are offered through “Spa hotels” or beauty salons although some sports centres and clinics now provide these services.
Home Spa treatments are available too and these can come in a diverse array of forms. Many of the better known Spa chains offer packages of their products that make it possible to have a relaxing bathe followed by the infusion of oils and creams of the same type offered at the Spa in question. These “home use” treatments are not cheap, but they add a touch of luxury to bathing time.
Advances in technology have also made it possible to incorporate some quite extravagant spa equipment in the home or garden. The most obvious examples are the garden Jacuzzi and the steam shower, and home sauna kits are readily available online or through home improvement stores.
The steam shower is usually nothing more than an extra (and cost incurred) additional function of a more up-market home shower. This means that it doubles as a regular shower and a mini steam room.
Jacuzzis can be installed outside or inside and they come with a lid that helps to keep them clean and prevent evaporative heat loss. They are a luxury that can be enjoyed throughout the year and many owners find that they enjoy using them more in the winter months than the summer months.
What all of these options mean is that it is possible to make nearly all of the Spa resort services available in your own home, the only feature that you will lack is the therapist to deliver some of the “hands on” treatments. However, even here it is quite feasible to learn general massage, or hot rock massage and the application of creams and oils is typically explained in detailed instructions when they are supplied as packages from propriety brands.
How much you do or do not invest is something that you can build on gradually. You can start by using aromatherapy oils and bathing products and progress to installing specialist equipment like a sauna room at a later stage.
Searching for Spa products will produce many options for buying different oils, creams, gels etc. Therapists can be found at health centres, Spa hotels and some clinics.
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Complementary therapies
There are many alternative or complementary therapies that can be used to treat any number of injuries, illnesses and physical or mental disorders.
Some of these treatments are on the border of becoming a recognised variation of conventional medicine whilst others are considered slightly wacky. What they all have in common is a different approach to body wellbeing or healing. In many cases this is globally termed as holistic, meaning a treatment for the entire body – and often the mind too.
An interesting feature of some complementary therapies is the fact that, whilst considered outside the classification of conventional medicine in the west, many are seen as main stream in other parts of the world like China and India.
Examples of complementary and holistic therapies include Indian head massage, Rolfing, Thai massage, hypnosis, acupuncture, aromatherapy, shiatsu, Reiki and many more. You can get details of many different therapies from http://www.healthandmobilitystore.com/Treatments.html, where full descriptions are provided. You will also see information on some of the “lesser” known treatments.
Some of these therapies can involve a one time treatment, however most will have a systematic approach to the treatment that starts with a complete assessment following on from which a number of appointments will be scheduled. Because so many of these therapies are holistic they look to treat the body as a whole and in some cases, e.g. acupuncture or reflexology, they will be focussed on the bodies natural energy. This is something that regular medicine ignores or dismisses.
The success of complementary therapies is something about which there is much debate. Most therapies have limited conclusive evidence to support their claims, however gaining this type of evidence is near impossible as reports into the effectiveness of conventional medicine often show.
Many alternative therapies use some form of massage or manipulation, however an equal number use a non physical contact therapy. Examples of these can include the likes of hypnotherapy and Reiki.
Some therapies like NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) appear to combine older approaches like hypnosis with a more modern understanding of how the mind works. Others like Thai massage have been around for centuries and, in their countries of origin, are practiced by “masters” who have acquired years of carefully developed experience.
In the west the best place to access a good selection of alternative therapy treatments will usually be at a Complementary Therapy Clinic. These clinics are increasing in popularity on a massive scale as people seek more holistic solutions to their health problems. Clinics of this kind will often include the services of some better known medical practitioners like osteopaths and chiropractors. They should also offer a degree of security in the competence of the therapists that they employ or provide services to.
The cost of complementary therapies varies greatly. The better known therapies are more expensive, as are those therapists who have been in practice for prolonged periods of time and have built up a good reputation. Many therapists will travel to someone’s home if the treatment can be performed using a portable treatment chair or bed, however most patients prefer to visit a clinic.
Most therapies will have one or more national voluntary bodies for their members. These associations are not usually government validated, but they do set out rules and qualifications for their members aimed at ensuring best practices. Seeking a therapist who is a member of one of these bodies increases the chances of getting a “Good one”.
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