Cool Tech for walking again!

New technology through a company called Ekso is helping paraplegics walk again. A new study will be starting next year to test its viability next year.  The above video is of one of the initial participants Mike  a former si patrol who actually is a quadriplegic .  More info on the study and product are contained below.

http://www.kurzweilai.net/ekso-exoskeleton-allowing-traumatic-spinal-cord-injury-patients-to-walk

Stretch? How Long?

In my last posting, I alluded to the fact that I would explore the research on prolonged stretches and how long. I have always heard anywhere from 10-60 secs holds to increase flexibility.  The following study identifies that the 30 secs holds is the so called "sweet spot".  It did however find that 15 secs holds had no significant changes in flexibility and 60 secs was slightly less effective than 30 secs.  So if you aren't holding your stretches for more than 15 seconds the likelihood is that you are wasting your time.  Although this helps solidify the 30 second rule, this study did not specifically mention how many times the participants were performing per session.

http://physther.net/content/74/9/845.full.pdf

Too Stretch or not to stretch?

That is the question.   The answer is YES!!  A study run by the BYU-Hawaii department of exercise gave some good research on why and how.   Take home messages were that participants who were part of the group performing regular stretches found themselves showed gains in strength, power, flexibility and endurance.  In other words, they could run faster,  run longer,  lift more and reach farther.  So stretching is good.  Big deal.  Well it is if you look at what they did.  The group was made of inactive people or only recreationally active people who all they changed about there life style was they stretched 3 times a week for 40 minutes.  They didn't run 5ks everyday or lift tons of weight.  They simple performed a series of stretches with 15 sec holds 3 times each side for each stretch (time-frames on stretch holds will be a topic for another day).  The other big thing out of this article is the argument for regular stretching being better than activity associated stretching.  The details of the study can be found below.


KOKKONEN,  J.,  A. G. NELSON,  C.  ELDREDGE,  and  J.  B. WINCHESTER.  Chronic  Static  Stretching  Improves  Exercise Performance.  Med. Sci. Sports Exerc.,  Vol.  39,  No.  10,  pp.  1825-1831,  2007

http://www.alexandrelevangelista.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/efeitos-do-alongamento-passivo-em-forca-potencia-e-flexibilidade.pdf

To boldly go where no Physical therapist has gone before...

I have always wanted to start a blog on something I know a lot about that could help others.  Seeing as I graduate next year with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree from Rockhurst University.  It dawned on me that I might know a thing or two about health specifically how it pertains to P.T.  If this is not the case, well, I sure paid a lot for a diploma with fancy letters to hang on my wall.  I will continue my search to better improve my knowledge of health and share what I glean with you.   I hope my thoughts and or insights  will be beneficial to all those reading whether they be a practitioner for health or any one living on this planet that would like to improve their health.