Physical Activities Questions

1. Is Alzheimer's hereditary?

   There is no test for Alzheimer's disease unless the cause of their AD is caused by a "bad" gene and you know what the bad gene is. My best advice is to make sure that you keep your blood pressure under control, exercise to maintain a healthy weight, wear a helmet if you go bike riding and keep you mind active...
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2. How do I encourage my mother, who has limited mobility, to exercise?

   You're right; exercise would be great for your mom! But I have to admit, I suspect that what's lacking even more than a DVD is another word you mentioned: motivation. You said she wasn't into exercise before her health problems. I'm sure it's even harder for her to get motivated now...
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3. What's the best way to help my 250-pound father walk?

   It depends on how much physical assistance your father needs. I'd suggest you start by having him see his doctor to find out if an underlying condition is affecting how he walks. Depending on his ability, you'll need to consider a variety of things to gauge how much help he needs.
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4. How do I get my mother to do her physical therapy?

   There are a few ways you can encourage your mother to follow through with her physical therapy program. One, make sure she gets a hand-out with pictures and written instructions so she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do. Also, it’s been shown that people are more successful with exercise regimegimens...
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5. What are ROM exercises for bedridden patients?

   We usually do ROM movements on bedridden patients -- these exercises help keep joints flexible. ROM stands for "range of motion."
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6. Why is exercise important for seniors?

   Exercise enables us to remain as healthy and engaged in a meaningful life as possible. As we age, our muscles weaken; our bones weaken; our cardiovascular and circulatory systems are not as efficient; our balance lessens; our eye sight worsens. All our systems begin to decline...
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7. Is drinking red wine a bad choice for someone with high blood sugar?

   While there is alot of research going on about red wine, there are no recommendations out right now about how much is beneficial in diabetics. The American Diabetes Association recommends no more than 2 drinks per day in a male with diabetes. A glass of red wine has a low glycemic index, which means that it has very little effect on raising blood sugars...
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8. Does exercise increase lung capacity?

   I would recommend that you see a pulmonologist because of the results of your pulmonary function tests. While aerobic exercise can help improve lung function in healthy persons, you may need other medications to help improve your lung function. The pulmonologist may also have recommendations on how to exercise safely given your lung issues...
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9. What to do when client refuses range of motion therapy?

   Range of motion exercises are usually necessary to regain motion or prevent futher loss of motion. They can be very mundane for both the client and caregiver. As a therapist, I make a point to explain why these exercises are important, i.e. if you lose more shoulder movement, it will become more difficult to dress yourself...
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10. What can I do to help my hunched back?

    It sounds unusual that you lost so much weight and muscle mass as a result of the hip replacement surgery. Were there complications to the surgery and did you happen to be sedentary for a long time after as a result? Or is there something else going on medically...
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11. How do I encourage my father without being a nag?

    Of course you want your father to eat right and get regular exercise; you love him and want him to be healthy, and to live as long as possible. But while it's great to offer an encouraging word once in awhile, there's a fine line between encouraging and nagging. Besides, it sounds like he's not listening, so what's the point...
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12. How do I encourage my mother, who has limited mobility, to exercise?

    Without more specifics on your mother's ability, I'll offer some general recommendations. First, try to find out why she resists exercise. Ask her specific questions to see if you can get the discussion going. Is it too strenuous? Uncomfortable? Is it boring or does it seems unnecessary? Maybe your mother thinks she's unable to exercise...
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13. What are some good exercises for coordination?

    Your question is actually a very good one. There have been studies on using Tai Chi to improve balance, and it has been proven to help reduce falls in older adults. There are many Tai Chi DVDs for sale that you can try (even look at your local library if you don't want to buy one)...
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14. Why does my blood sugar go up after one hour of walking?

    When you are diabetic, your blood sugar will often vary depending on your activity level and how you are eating. With exercise, your blood sugar will normally decrease. However, higher intensity exercise, which can include walking for some individuals who are out of shape, can sometimes increase blood sugar due to stress hormones being released...
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15. Why do I get cramping in the arch of my right foot when exercising?

    There are several reasons you might be experiencing foot cramps while exercising. Here are some ideas and tips: 1. Dehydration can be a cause, so be sure to drink plenty of fluids before, during and after your pilates class. 2. Cramping can also be caused by a lack of potassium or calcium in your system...
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16. If someone can't do vigorous exercise, is gentle exercise still beneficial?

    The answer to question 1 is “Yes, definitely!” The benefits of exercise and its direct relationship to well-being and overall health are well documented and include:
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17. What can I do to motivate my mother to get up and exercise?

    Oh, I am so sorry. This sounds like a difficult situation and is understandably discouraging and frustrating for you. Since your mom was in the NH for 3 months, it would be interesting to talk with the rehab team there to get some insight into how they were able to motivate your mom...
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18. When Am I Going to Be Able to Stop Grieving and Start Feeling Better?

    It depends. There are a number of factors that might contribute to how long it takes to feel better again. The most common include:
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19. How do I lower high triglycerides?

    Yes, high triglyceride levels are dangerous, and you do need to lower them. But doctors often don't do a good job of explaining why or how. Triglycerides (TG) are fats, or lipids. They're sometimes called the "forgotten fat," because everyone talks about cholesterol but neglects the importance of triglycerides...
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20. What can be done to calm nighttime anxiety?

    Yes, warm milk can help. But I'd suggest she try some other things first that could be even more effective. One solution is for her to take time during the afternoon or early evening to sit down and plan the next day or even the next few days...
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