Indications and Contraindications for Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy is a popular method of treatment for chiropractors, physical therapists, and other medical care providers. It involves transferring sound waves with frequencies greater than the human sound spectrum (above 20 kilohertz) into a patient. The energy that is transferred with the sound waves can be used to treat focused, isolated areas of tissue to help with relieving pain in affected areas of the body and to speed the recovery process for injured muscle or other tissues.

When to Use Ultrasound

Therapeutic ultrasound can be used to create a deep heat effect for relief of pain, muscle spasms and in cases where joints have been tightened over a prolonged period of time - joint contracture - as in cases such as spastic cerebral palsy or in work-induced environments.

Some of the most common medical problems that warrant the use of ultrasound therapy are adhesive capsulitis ("frozen shoulder", or pain and stiffness in the shoulder caused by inflammation), calcific bursitis (the calcification of bursa sacs due to prolonged inflammation, usually in the shoulder), inflammation of the skeletal muscles (myositis), and soft tissue injuries from sports or other causes. Ultrasound therapy is also used to treat tendons that have been shortened from untreated scar tissue or past injuries. Ultrasound can be used to overcome capsular tightness or scarring, which often result from surgeries such as breast augmentation.

Contraindications

There are many situations for which the typical ultrasound therapy treatment using equipment such as the Intelect Legend or TranSport series from Chattanooga is not recommended. Ultrasound should not be used to treat local pain without the patient first receiving a thorough diagnosis, and the cause of the pain has been confidently determined. It should not be used when there are cancerous lesions on or near area to be treated. If a patient shows symptoms of carrying serious infectious diseases or in cases where the patient should be avoiding excess heat or fevers, it is not advised to use therapeutic ultrasound.

Other conditions governing the use of ultrasound therapy include avoiding particular parts of the body that may be susceptible to negative side effects from the treatment. It should not be used in areas where bones are growing. If a patient uses a pacemaker, it is not recommended to use this kind of treatment in the thoracic part of the body, as the pacemaker may be affected in those cases. Ultrasound devices should not be used where a fracture is healing, it should not be applied close to a patient's eyes, and it should not be used over the uterus region of a pregnant woman. Therapists should be careful not to use ultrasound in patients who suffer from vascular disease and who have ischemic tissue. In this case, cells could die because of the blood supply's inability to keep pace with the increased metabolic demand from tissues affected by the treatment.

Other situations that prohibit the use of ultrasound therapy include the spine area of patients who have had spinal surgeries such as Laminectomy, anywhere on a patient where anesthetics are being used, or any kind of disposition to bleeding excessively.

Competent medical professionals should be well-informed of when ultrasound therapy should be used, and under what circumstances it should be avoided.

How Swedish Massage Therapy Is Done

Just like any other massage therapy, the Swedish massage therapy is used to help rejuvenate the health of a person by striking on the vital points which makes our body relieved from pain and stress. This is done by carefully kneading and using long, smooth strokes on the body of the person being massaged.

Swedish massage is by far the most popular and most commonly used method of therapeutic massage in the United States today although there are many other types of massage therapy used world-wide. This type of therapy uses long, gentle strokes and a kneading motion.

In a Swedish massage session, it is similar to all the other methods of massaging where the massage therapist asks the customer to take of his or her clothes for a better access on the body that the therapist will massage. It is inevitable though that some people are not comfortable having their private body parts exposed, that's why they always have the option to keep their underwear on during the therapeutic process. The massage therapist will then pour oil or lotion on your body and on his or her palm and begin massaging you as you lie face down on a padded massage table with a hole where you will position your face inside it.

Its purpose is for you to lie down comfortably on the table while breathing without any difficulty while you are being massaged. The first part that will be massaged is your back where they will start from its top to the bottom and then finish on your legs. After the therapist is done working on your back and legs, you will be asked to gently and carefully turn around so that you will be facing up on the massage table. Your chest, neck, arms and legs will then be gently massaged. Additional light oil or lotion will be applied on your body when needed to avoid harsh friction on your skin. When your therapy is done, you will be left alone on the room as you put on your clothes and exit the room afterward.

Expect a comfortable and relaxing session every time you get Swedish massage therapy. You will significantly notice that your back pains, arthritis, headaches and migraines as well as other muscle spasms and pain will be relieved. A good explanation of your revitalized body is because a massage therapy helps in loosening those stiff muscles, removes lactic acid formation, and helps in providing a good oxygen flow and circulation which are the end result in a relieved body.

Any massage therapy is usually done by professional massage therapist to ensure that you are being treated with the best service. However, there are always references on how to use the Swedish massage method on your own so that you can massage at home. Be amazed on what this method of massage therapy can do to improve your health's condition and how it will make you feel much younger. So if you haven't tried one yet, better check your nearest local spa and make a schedule for a relaxing Swedish massage session.

Fun Fundraising Ideas for Schools This Year

The school systems in the UK are incredibly underfunded, making it very difficult for the teachers and the students to get all the equipment required for the assignments and projects in the class work. Aside from this, the current tough economic times have necessitated that we make renewed efforts to raise funds for schools not only for improving the learning standards, but also to improve the longevity of the school.

Let's have a close look at some unique fundraising ideas for schools that can lead to additional funds for the system.

1. Carnivals - Any fundraising event for school doesn't have to be boring. Yes, there are events where baked goods and cookies are sold, but mostly parents of children participate, and the generated funds are not considerable. On the other hand, a carnival is a completely different thing. Although there won't be assortment or rides, but every class can have its own "game"

This can be a cakewalk game where each contestant stands on a number platform with a cake and wins it if a specific number is called, or a ring toss game where contestants try toss plastic rings around soft drinks bottles.

2. Box Tops - This is one of the best fundraising ideas for schools that won't require lot of work. The "Box Top for Education" package can include boxes of crackers, cereals and various other items usually purchased at the grocery stores. Each box will bring small amount to the school when returned. This can be beneficial if all parents of students, their friends and neighbours also collect the Box Tops. These box tops are then collected and given back to the school, which then sends them back to their manufacturer. Once all these boxes are received by the manufacturer, the school will get the check, all with small expenses incurred by the parents.

3. Cheerleader/Dance Fundraisers - You can run several fundraisers with cheerleading squads, if cheerleading is not within your schools activities then dance troops will be. Try a night of dance entertainment, films like high school musical and shows like glee, x factor and The voice have inspired many young people to sing and dance. If you have many talented individuals or groups then putting on a show for an evening and selling drinks and refreshments is a great way to make money.

4. The ECO - Friendly Fundraiser - You can even do eco - friendly fundraisers where you can sell eco - friendly and herbal products. You can ask the parents to donate eco - products and sell them off or have them as prizes on stalls. Trying to get local business to donate any products or get involved with discounts on certain products like laundry balls, bamboo clothing and towels or eco - baby products can also be great if they agree to a percentage going to the school. You can even think about getting in a local colleges Indian head massage, reflexology and aroma therapy students and showing people the treatments and selling treatments to parents. The profits can be split between the two schools.

5. Discount Card Fundraisers - This is not only the quickest, but also one of the best school fundraising idea. In this, you will sell discount cards where buyers get discounts on purchases made at all major discount stores. These cards are great because they pay for themselves within few short visits and customers save good money on their purchases. Customers too love these cards because without any big investment from their side, these cards help in raising money for schools.

With these exciting fundraising ideas, you can easily generate sufficient funds for your school without putting in too much of efforts or money.

Physical Therapist Jobs Are In High Demand

Physical therapist jobs and PTA jobs pay good salaries and provide job security as well as job satisfaction to those who like helping others. The physical therapy assistant performs tasks that are very similar to those tasks performed by physical therapists. Like therapists, assistants perform therapeutic exercises and provide massages to patients with injuries or other limiting conditions. Therapists and their assistants must have a caring attitude.

The assistant's main role is to help the physiotherapist by observing the patients and tracking patient progress and keeping accurate patient logs. The physiotherapist assistant performs clerical duties, orders supplies, and in some cases helps to manage the clinic. The assistant is an integral part of the clinic because he will be called on to help in almost every aspect of the clinic from patient care to administrative duties. The assistant must have a servant's attitude.

Therapists are responsible for developing therapeutic exercises that help patients recover from injuries, surgery, or other physically limiting situations. Therapists work with patients for weeks or even months depending on the patient's medical needs. An assistant can help the patient perform the therapeutic exercises but only under to supervision of a licensed therapist. An assistant has to be ready to help the therapist out in any given area of the clinic.

An aid helps prep the patient for his exercise work and cleans up before and after the exercise session. The aid reports to the physiotherapist the patient's progress and any comments the patient has about his medical condition. The physiotherapist relies heavily on the assistant to provide patient updates, keep the clinic running smoothly, and to facilitate patient exercise sessions.

Choose the right school for physiotherapist assistant training because the right program will open many doors for employment. In order to practice in most states a person who wants to work as a PTA has to complete an associate's degree that is accredited by the licensing board. The curriculum should include biology, medical science, and general education courses related to anatomy.

Most states allow people to work as assistants once they complete their associate's degree. But some states require students to serve an internship in addition to their completing their associate's degree before working as an assistant. Some states require associate degree graduates to pass a state board examination and complete a course in CPR before working as a PTA.

People who work in the medical health care industry earn good salaries but most people go into health care because they want to help others. Do not go into health care primarily to make a good income but instead enter this field for humanitarian reasons. The good income is a residual benefit but the primary satisfaction comes from being able to help people overcome their physical limitations.

Physical therapist jobs and PTA jobs offer job security because there is growing demand for all health care related positions due to the aging population. A career in health care offers job satisfaction to those who like helping others. The physiotherapist relies heavily on the PTA who performs tasks that are very similar to those tasks performed by physical therapists.

Physical Therapy for Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is the most common type of pain from which people can suffer from during their middle and young age, between the ages of 25 and 55. 80% of the population will experience lower back pain during their lifetime. So, it is very important to understand the activities, which may prolong or exacerbate an episode of lower back pain, and also what to expect when you seek physical therapy.

Physical therapy is one of the techniques that treat the pain causing conditions by means of the physical maneuvers. This will be useful in many situations and it is a very good choice, because it does not require any surgical or medical intervention and the patients can find much relief from their pain.

In general, the aim of this therapy is to decrease the level of back pain, improve the functionality, and also provide education on the maintenance program to stop further recurrences.

Passive Therapy:

There are several forms of Physical therapy. The therapist focuses on reducing the pain with passive therapy. These types of therapies are considered as the passive therapy because these are done to patient.

• Ice or heat packs
• Iontophoresis
• TENS units
• Ultrasound

Active Therapy:

In addition to the passive therapies, the active therapy is also required to rehabilitate spine. Usually, back exercise program of a patient should encompass the following combinations:

• Stretching
• Strengthening
• Low-impact aerobic exercises

There are many advantages of lower back pain physiotherapy. This will increase the healing speed and also provides relief from pain. To acquire best result, it is necessary to continue the treatment for some days.

Lower back physical therapy is the best way to handle the back pain without taking the risk of hazard of chemicals, which can happen due to the usage of medications, and without having surgical procedures and interventions.

Before getting the physiotherapy for lower back pain, it is better to consult the physician, who examines and determines the actual nature of the existed problem. He may give you some useful suggestion for getting relief from the pain. Usually the advice of physiotherapy is given by the health care provider or a doctor.

Physical therapy for the low back pain is also used to treat the people who are practically disabled due to the pain, i.e. they are unable to function normally. For these people, a combined program of exercise and physical therapy treats them at two levels. The exercise program can stretch the muscles and restore their normal functionality. To prevent the recurrence of further pain, you can continue this exercise even after you get relief from the pain.

What Kind of Touching is Appropriate in Thailand?

Once I was traveling in Mexico, and I met a girl from Spain. Like me, she was backpacking around the country and we spent a few days hiking and sightseeing together. Then we both continued on our separate ways. When we said our good byes, she kissed me on the cheeks, and I hugged her. Both of us were a little surprised and uncomfortable.

In those days I did not know that kissing on the cheeks is a normal way of greeting in several European countries. And she did not know that hugging is quite a normal exchange among friends in the US. However in the US we do not kiss on the cheeks when we greet someone and in Spain people don't hug casual friends. So I was a little surprised by her kiss and she was surprised by my hug.

Now I live in Thailand, and touching is an interesting subject here. Girls often walk around hand in hand, and men sometimes put their arm around the shoulder of an another man in a casual way. In social gatherings Thais often have body contact, but only in a casual way.

In America it would be considered quite strange to see two women walking around holding hands, or a man with an arm around the shoulder of another. In social settings we generally avoid body contact. Two touches are ok: hand shakes and sometimes a hug. Hugs can be a quick little slap on the back or can be really heartfelt among friends or in a situation where we console someone who is sad or grieving.

But in Thailand the casual touching does not include hugs. Actually hugging is not done here and is considered very inappropriate. Thais don't hug each other at all and foreigners who hug in public draw disapproving looks. Men and women do not hold hands in public and kissing in public is seen as strange or even offensive. The casual touch is ok, more so than in the US, but any meaningful, heartfelt way of touching is not ok. Also touching of someone's head is seen as very inappropriate.

Until western habits gained a foothold in Thailand, kissing amongst lovers did not exist either. Instead Thais smelled each other's cheeks. Western-style handshakes are not appropriate either. Instead, Thais put the palms of their hands together and bow slightly, depending on their social status.

One way of touching is quite common in Thailand, and that is Thai massage. In the professional massage setting touch is enjoyed and appreciated. It is also quite common to see women give each other a little neck and shoulder massage during the work day. Men, however, don't do that.

Like in many countries, massage is sometimes used as a come-on for sexual services, but most massage shops are clean and legitimate.

Keep in mind that touching habits in Thailand are quite different from our western ways. Some Thais who have spent a lot of time in the west are more comfortable with hand shakes or even a hug, but in general the best advice is to avoid touching Thais in any way. If you want to be touched here, treat yourself to a Thai massage or oil massage which is available everywhere for just a few dollars per hour. This is one of the great luxuries of living in Thailand.

Are You Searching for a Massage Therapy Equipment Online?

Are you looking for the best massage equipment on the market today? Whether you are a certified therapist or you want to practice the ancient art of massaging in the privacy of your home with a partner, you can benefit from learning how to buy equipment on the Internet.

Looking for essential oil? There are hundreds of companies on the Internet that sell massage oil. Seeking a foot massager? There are hundreds of companies that sell those as well. How do you know which one to choose?

One way to check out all of the companies selling equipments online is to do a search of the top rated massage therapy stones and accessories suppliers. This is your online directory to all online massage equipment. When seeking for Internet stores, it is important that you investigate the following:

• Does the store carry certified massaging equipments?


• Does the equipment relate to your type of massage?


• Does the online store offer discount shipping?


• How long has the store been in business?


• Does the site offer a wide variety of individual as well as pre-configured sets?


• Does the Internet massage equipment company have a secure site?


• What types of payment do they take? Will they take Paypal?

Obviously, if you are a licensed massage therapist, you want to purchase the best equipment that you can afford that relates to your special area of therapy. There are scores of different types of therapy available today and each offers different benefits for certain conditions.

Whether you are seeking for therapy equipment for your work in a luxury spa or in a medical facility, you can find the best product by shopping online. You are better to check out different stores offering devices by visiting as many sites as possible before you commit to purchase a machine from a particular vendor.

You may find that the more you shop online for massage instruments, the more options are open to you and the better deals you can get. Perhaps you will find new massaging tools undiscovered to you prior to your perusal of different sites. If it has been a while since you shopped for therapy machines, or if you have never before shopped on the Internet, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

Internet therapy stores offer those who are interested in purchasing massage therapy machines online an opportunity to find the best type of massage equipment at the best price for their special area of therapy. Whether you are seeking to purchase a therapy bed, oil, therapeutic stones, a chair or even an electrical device, you can find the best deals by checking out the online stores that abound on the Internet today.

Therapists and those interested in practicing the ancient healing art of massaging have more choices than ever when it comes to buying massage devices on the Internet.