Physical Therapy For Your Child With Torticollis

Physical therapy is important when your child is born with congenital Torticollis in the muscle. When your child is born with this, you might not know what it means, and you might be a little scared. This is a problem with the neck where a child will only want to look one direction because the muscles are tight or in some cases because of a malformation of the cervical vertebrae. It is actually important to know what is causing your child's problem because it is important if your child has not yet had an x-ray of his or her spine

If your child was born with Torticollis, it is considered congenital. The muscular type can be treated through physical therapy. The type that has to do with a malformation in the bones cannot be treated in this way. If it is the type that has to do with the bones, you will also need to have your baby's hearing and kidneys checked, as these can be associated problems with this type of Torticollis.

If your baby does have Torticollis, he or she will probably not want to lay their head on the one side. This can cause an asymmetrical shape to the skull. Although it is not dangerous, it can be disfiguring, so it is important to get help with this, or they may end up needing to wear a helmet to correct it.

Within physical therapy there are different techniques that might be beneficial for your baby with Torticollis. Myo-fascial release is one type. One that is associated with this is cranio-sacral. Both of these will be beneficial if your child has the muscular form of Torticollis.

Sometime insurance does not cover as much physical therapy as you would like. Another option is to see if they cover an occupational therapist because someone in this profession is also trained in physical therapy.

If your insurance will not cover either of these, another option is to find an Osteopathic doctor or see if one is already on staff at your pediatrician's office. Some doctors trained in Osteopathy are also trained to do some manipulation for Torticollis.

It may take some work, but you should be able to find the help that you need for your child's problem. It is important to remember that you are your child's advocate. You are the one who speaks for them and makes decisions for them until they are able to do it on their own.

Sports Medicine - A Look at the Role of a Specialist

If you have wondered what exactly a sports medicine specialist is and why you should see them, it is time for you to learn how important that doctor is to your health. This professional is a person that diagnoses and provides treatment for injuries that trouble the musculoskeletal system. This means that injuries where the knees, arms, joints, back, bones, and muscles are hurt need special attention to make sure that they heal properly. These injuries can be sustained a variety of ways, including everyday activities to exercising and even playing sports. In addition to receiving treatment from this professional, you will also be instructed on how to prevent and reduce your risk for future injuries.

Even though the majority of patients a sports medicine doctor will see may be athletes, they will also have some patients that are regular people. These injuries happen very often to people of all ages and in some cases require immediate treatment. Upon arriving at the specialist for treatment, your doctor may run some tests and further evaluate your condition so they can get a clear picture of what has happened and what is going on with your body. Depending on how severe your condition is, you may need to have therapy or surgery to resolve the issues that you are having.

Even if you are not an athlete, you can still benefit from seeing a sports medicine doctor. They will not turn you away especially if you were hurt doing some sports related activity. It doesn't matter if you have a strain, sprain, dislocation, broken bone, or torn ACL, you will be treated so that you don't continue to experience any pain or discomfort during the course of your treatment. In many cases you will be given a prescription for an anti-inflammatory pain medication and prescribed some therapy to rehabilitate the affected joint. Rest may also be advised in the event of sprains, strains, and broken bones. In the event of a torn ligament, you may need surgery. Keep in mind that some injuries may require more testing in order for the doctor to determine what the best method of treatment should be. These tests can include X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.

Keep in mind that a sports medicine specialist doesn't work alone. They work in cooperation with several other types of professionals that also play a significant role in how well you recover from your injuries. They work with physical therapists who can help you learn how to effectively use your body while recovering and encourage healing through special stretches and exercises. You can find sports medicine doctors in hospitals, both private and group practices.

If you need to see a specialist, check with your insurance company to find out which practitioners accept your insurance. If you don't have insurance, contact your personal doctor for a recommendation to see a specialist.

Astaxanthin - Potent Antioxidant

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid, and like many other carotenoids, astaxanthin is a colorful fat-soluble pigment that is very high in antioxidants, and it has a very low toxicity when taken by mouth. Carotenoids are a very large family [about 700] of fat-soluble pigments. These carotenoids are responsible for the lovely red and yellows we see in fruits and vegetables, and these pigments are produced by fungi, algae, plants, and some bacteria and phytoplankton.

Sources of astaxanthin include micro-algae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill crayfish, shrimp, crustaceans, and the feathers of some birds. In plants and algae these pigments are part of the light 'harvesting' process along with chlorophyll. The red color of salmon meat comes from this pigment, and also the red color in cooked shellfish, while the pink flamingo eats the spirulina, filters then converts the yellow carotenoids beta-carotene and zeaxanthin into the pinkish-red carotenoids astaxanthin and canthaxanthin which goes into their plumage, making that glorious color.

Poor nutrition, stress, air pollution, smoking, ultraviolet light or disease can upset our oxidative balance. The oxygen we breathe, we get from air, and we need oxygen for normal metabolic activity. This is called 'ground-state' or 'triplet' oxygen, and is stable unless it is converted to other forms that present severe challenges to cells. These harmful reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals are formed as a result of photo-oxidation, physiological stress and normal immune system functions. Singlet oxygen is an excited form of ground state oxygen that is formed from normal biological functions; it is highly reactive and long-lived and must transfer this excess energy to another molecule to relax again to the ground state of oxygen. Astaxanthin is especially effective in absorbing the excess energy from singlet oxygen then releasing it as heat then returning both oxygen and itself back to the grounded state. This action is known as 'quenching'. So it goes to show that just breathing and living requires an army of antioxidants to achieve a healthy oxidative balance. The free-radical scavenging ability of astaxanthin makes it useful in preventing chronic diseases, and also in supporting joint and tendon health; eye and brain health; and it also helps to improve recovery after exercise. It can also benefit skin during UV and sun exposure, and generally is of benefit throughout our body to obtain a healthy oxidative balance.