The Benefits of Pilates in Spine Care

We all know that participating in regular exercise provides numerous benefits from reducing the risk of developing diabetes to improving strength and mobility. With a plethora of exercise programs to choose from, why would one choose Pilates?

Pilates works from muscles deeper within the body toward the outside muscle groups. By working from the inside out, you develop a greater understanding of the body. Smaller muscle groups come into use, and you begin to discover muscles you never knew you had. The Pilates method also helps you develop a control that is useful for performing a range of movements- from the simplest, such as walking up a flight of stairs, to the most complex, such as lifting an awkward loadfrom a difficult position without straining your back, shoulders or other muscles.

Pilates is a mind-body centering technique that emphasizes the importance of beginning movement to form a central core of stability. Pilates is a safe, no-impact exercise routine that stretches and strengthens all the major muscle groups in a logical sequence, without neglecting the smaller, weaker muscles. It is taught in two categories, matwork and machine based work. Both are taught in many formats and are tailor-made for individuals following an assessment. Matwork consists of 34 original Pilates exercises performed on the “mat” that are designed to promote core stability, flexibility, endurance, postural and body awareness and to correct muscle imbalances. Machine based Pilates takes the concepts of matwork into spring loaded resistance machines.

Pilates is based on the following eight principles:

1. Breathing

2. Concentration

3. Control

4. Centering

5. Precision

6. Flow

7. Integrated isolation

8. Routine/Repetition

The repertoire of APPI Pilates exercises focuses to improve spinal mobility, flexibility of the key trunk and lower limb muscles groups, body awareness and postural awareness. Thus, allowing me to incorporate Pilates as a form of physical therapy for patients that I am seeing whom suffer back and neck pain. Roughly five years ago, I started my Pilates journey by taking classes and courses to educate myself about the process. Pilates is more than an exercise routine for me. It is a way of moving throughout the day. For more information about the NH NeuroSpine Institute’s use of Pilates, please call us at (603) 472-8888.

Nicole Feinauer, PTA
New Hampshire NeuroSpine Institute

May is Osteoporosis Month

If you are a female over 50 years old, take a moment to ponder something...You have a 50% chance of breaking a bone.

Yes, that’s right. One out of every 2 women in the United States who are over 50 years old will suffer a fracture. For the men reading this article, the risks are not much better… one out of every 5 men over 50 will suffer a fracture.

It is because of the “silent disease” known as OSTEOPOROSIS.

Literally, osteoporosis means “porous bones.” Osteoporosis is a slow, insidious disease that progressively decreases the strength of your bones by reabsorbing your bone faster than you can create new bone. This results in a painless loss of bone density that eventually leads to an inability of your bones to withstand any insult or trauma!

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in humans. There is an estimated 44 million people living in the United States with either low bone mass or osteoporosis. Studies estimate that by 2020, over half the population of the United States will be effected by this disease. Osteoporosis-related fractures are responsible for over 430,000 hospital admission, 2.5 million doctor office visits, and 180,000 nursing home admissions a year. In 2005, the estimated cost of osteoporosis to the health-care system was $17 billion and is expected to double or even triple by 2040.

Osteoporosis is serious and unfortunately surrounded by many myths. For example, do you think you are supposed to loss height or “shrink” as you age? Do you think taking extra calcium is going to prevent this disease from occurring? Do you think osteoporosis is a disease that only elderly women need to worry about?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you need to think again!

“Shrinking” is not normal! A historical height loss of over 1 ½ inches or a documented height loss of 0.8 inches is an indication your bones may be weakening and screening for osteoporosis is necessary.

The recommended daily intake of calcium is 1000-1200mg. Getting the majority of your daily calcium through your foods is best and is utilized more efficiently by your body. If you cannot get the recommended amounts of calcium through food, supplements are important. However, taking more calcium does not give you any added bone strength but may instead cause other medical issues like kidney stones, calcification of the blood vessels, and other serious health problems.

Osteoporosis is not just a disease of the elderly. Osteoporosis can affect the young and old! While it is more commonly seen after menopause, there are other secondary causes of osteoporosis that can present at any age. Examples include, Celiac Disease and other malabsorption issues, vitamin D deficiency, thyroid disease, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, chronic steroid use…the list goes on!

If you are over 50 and concerned about your bone health – talk to a health care provider – especially if you have suffered a fracture! If you are post-menopausal or over the age of 65, you need to be screened for osteoporosis whether you have had a fracture or not. Don’t let your first indication of poor bone health be a painful or possibly debilitating fracture!

Here at NH NeuroSpine Institute, we offer a unique clinic that is designed for patients who suffer from osteoporosis, are over 65 or have suffered from a fracture. We can help reduce the risk of further fractures or help to slow the process of bone loss. Prevention is the key to good health! Call us for your bone screening today.

Happy National Osteoporosis Awareness Month from NH Neurospine Institute.

The NH NeuroSpine Institute Welcomed Osamu Shirado, MD, PhD

The NH NeuroSpine Institute welcomed Osamu Shirado, MD, PhD who visited from Japan to observe Thomas J. Kleeman, MD of the NHNSI, perform a less invasive back surgery that reduces a patient's medical costs, length of hospital stay and recovery time. He will introduce these surgical techniques in Japan. The NHNSI is proud to showcase our cutting edge work that is attracting surgeons nationally and internally to learn from our providers.

To read more about this story, click the link below: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130405/NEWS12/130409480

Advances in the Treatment of Spinal Compression Fractures

New Hamshire Neurospine Institute is unique in our approach to the treatment of osteoporotic compression fractures and osteoporosis.   We have a number of experts working together to address your problem. Our team of professionals look at the underlying cause of the problem (in our osteoporosis clinic), utilize therapies such as PT and Bracing in cooperation with our Physical Therapists and if indicated a surgical consultation might be arranged with Dr. Aron Jeffrey who is trained in balloon kyphoplasty.

A spinal fracture occurs when one of the bones in the spinal column breaks. This type of fracture is also known as a vertebral compression fracture because the bone that breaks (the vertebral body) often cracks and collapses, becoming compressed.

The bones in your spinal column are different than the bones elsewhere in your skeleton. For example, the long bones in your legs are more rigid and dense than the square bones in your spine.

Strong, dense bone enables your legs to withstand rigorous movement. The vertebral bodies, however, are less dense and more “spongy,” to accommodate movements like bending and twisting. Because your vertebral bodies aren’t as strong as the bones in your legs, they can become more vulnerable to fracture.

Certain diseases, such as osteoporosis or cancer, are known to cause loss of bone mass and changes in bone structure, making them brittle and weak. Genetic factors and certain lifestyles, such as a low calcium diet, can also damage bone. Over time, the vertebral bodies can become so weak that normal activities such as bending over or lifting a bag of groceries, can cause a spinal fracture. You can’t feel the changes in your bones while they are happening; in fact, many people are unaware that there is anything wrong until a fracture occurs.

When more than one spinal fracture occurs, loss of height or spinal deformities such as a dowager’s hump may result. Even though most osteoporotic spinal fractures are typically a stable injury, in many cases they cause debilitating pain and reduce the quality of life for those who suffer from them. In recent years, the treatment of osteoporotic fractures has advanced considerably with the development of the surgical procedure known as Balloon Kyphoplasty. With Balloon Kyphoplasty, an orthopedic balloon is used to elevate the bone fragments of the fractured vertebra and return them to the correct position. The incision site is approximately 1 cm in length. A hollow instrument is used to guide the balloon into the vertebra. The balloon is then inflated so that the collapsed vertebra is returned to its normal position. Once the vertebra is in the correct position, the balloon is deflated, leaving a space for bone cement. The cement stabilizes the fracture and holds the vertebra in place. The Kyphoplasty is minimally invasive. It is typically done in an outpatient setting at a hospital or surgery center. As with any procedure, there are potential risks and the procedure is not for everyone.

The New Hamshire NeuroSpine Institute is unique in our approach to compression fractures as we have a team of experts to work together in addressing our patients’ problems. Our team of professionals may look at the underlying cause of the problem (through our Osteoporosis Clinic), utilize therapies such as PT and Bracing in cooperation with our Physical Therapists and if indicated, a surgical consultation might be arranged with one of our physicians trained in Balloon Kyphoplasty.

NH NeuroSpine Institute Welcomes Matthew Porter, PA-C

NH NeuroSpine Institute welcomes Matthew Porter, PA-C to our Orthopaedic surgery team. Matthew graduated from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Manchester, NH. He is a certified physician assistant and is affiliated with the American Academy of Physician Assistants. “I am honored and excited to have joined a patient centered practice and team of highly skilled and well regarded surgeons and PAs, well trained and knowledgeable nursing staff, and dedicated and friendly ancillary staff,” says Matt about joining the NH NeuroSpine Institute team.