Physical Therapy Services of Tennessee March 2019

Physical Therapy Services of Tennessee March 2019

MARCH 2019

www.ptstn.net 423-543-0073

EastTennessee Physical Therapy News

T he S lim S cience B ehind F asting D iets I nvestigating the H ealth T rend T hat ’ s A ll the R age

We are constantly getting referrals from orthopedic surgeons for patients who have had a total joint replacement — primarily total knee replacement and total hip replacement. There is good news from medical researchers in Canada about joint replacement surgery for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Total joint replacement surgery for RA patients dropped by half in the time period from 1997–2010. The number of patients diagnosed with RA rose during that time period but the number of total joint surgeries dropped by 51.9 percent. The researchers attributed this drop in surgeries to “improved medical treatment” consisting of new drugs to control joint inflammation, as well as earlier diagnosis and treatment. Both physical therapists and occupational therapists play a role in helping RA patients maintain a healthy and functional lifestyle through joint protection activities and specific exercises which limit undue stress and strain on the joints. The body responds to excessive stress on the joints of RA sufferers with pain, swelling, inflammation, loss of strength, loss of motion, FROM THE DESK OF Dr. Smith

If each new year brings with it a new diet plan that promises the world to those who follow it, 2019 is shaping up to be the year of fasting. If you’ve missed the hype, fasting is quite a bit simpler than other nutrition trends like the keto diet or Weight Watchers program. Instead of counting calories or limiting sugars, you just don’t eat. Supporters argue that by putting your body into a “fasting state,” you can shed pounds and damaged internal tissue, increase your energy, promote cellular repair, lower bad cholesterol, and even protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Chances are you have a friend or loved one who’s tried out some form of fasting and discovered dramatic benefits. But before everyone starts skipping meals, it’s important to examine the research. Writer Julia Belluz at Vox splits the fasting trend into four categories. The first, “intermittent fasting,” cuts out or drastically limits your calorie intake intermittently. For example, thousands of people follow the popular “5:2 diet,” during which you eat normally on weekdays but consume less than 500 calories on Saturday and Sunday. Second is “time- restricted feeding,” where you only eat during a four- to six-hour window each day — followers usually skip breakfast or dinner. The third category is “periodic fasts.”With this diet, extreme fasters abstain from food for several days, opting for calorie-free fluids instead. Finally, there is the “fasting mimicking diet,” which involves intaking highly limited, plant- based calories for several days each month. People who use this technique like it because they believe they get the benefits of fasting without missing out on key nutrients. The underlying philosophy behind fasting for weight loss is pretty self-evident — if you don’t eat for periods at a time, you’re bound to burn off some weight. But proponents say the diet’s success can be attributed to more complex factors as well. They argue that as the human race shifted from hunter-gatherers to world-conquering agriculturalists, we left

and a decrease in functional activity.

Contact either of our offices to speak to a therapist about RA programs.

–Danny

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It’s worth noting that fasting to lose weight can be an extremely difficult strategy to stick to, and according to one literature review, as many as 40 percent of fasters drop out of the diet. Furthermore, at least one study indicates that fasting is not superior to the average calorie-counting diets. In short, fasting is promising, but the >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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