Does Diet Quality Impact Chronic Pain Outcomes?
The TLDR:
- Physical therapists help patients with chronic pain through multiple forms of interventions (e.g. therapeutic exercise, pacing, mental health strategies).
- Some prior studies have linked obesity with having greater odds of body pain, and possibly with chronic pain.
- A new study highlights how diet quality is directly related to pain. For women especially, a diet rich in unprocessed foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, had less pain. Interestingly, those that were more overweight did not necessarily have greater pain.
If you like what you see here, check out our board-approved CEU courses for physical therapy. We cover topics like:
- Nutrition interventions for chronic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases)
- Advanced nutritional strategies to support physical therapy for patients with metabolic disorders
- Case studies demonstrating successful integration of nutrition into physical therapy care plans
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Folic Acid and DHA to Improve Mild Cognitive Impairment
The TLDR:
- Physical therapists help to manage those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) through exercise, patient education, caregiver support, and more.
- Certain nutrients and phytochemicals may help to improve memory in older adults
- A new study highlights some of the benefits of supplementing with DHA and Folic Acid...check out our video for more details!
If you like what you see here, check out our board-approved continuing education courses. We cover topics like:
- Nutrition interventions for chronic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases)
- Advanced nutritional strategies to support physical therapy for patients with metabolic disorders
- Case studies demonstrating successful integration of nutrition into physical therapy care plans
Each course emphasizes practical, evidence-based learning, ensuring that participants can immediately apply the skills to their clinical practice. Sign up today and save:
Photo by Darina Belonogova: https://www.pexels....
Does Drinking Water Really Improve Health Outcomes?
- Water is essential for life and many guidelines tout varying amounts that should be consumed per day.
- We know that some guidelines have been swayed by the bottled water companies.
- New research does show that water can be helpful for several key health conditions, but overall the number and quality of studies remain low and poor at best.
- Bottom line: Water can help with some health conditions, and finding the right amount should be patient-specific and dependent on other variables as well (e.g. exercise, environment). Water, unsweetened tea, and unsweetened black coffee should be the mainstay of fluids for most people.
Full article here, transcript below.
If you like what you see here, check out our board-approved continuing education courses. We cover topics like:
- Nutrition interventions for chronic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases)
- Advanced nutritional strategies to support physical therapy for patients with metabolic disorders
- Case studies...
Liver Cirrhosis and Exercise: The Power of PT
This week's article and video goes out to my hospital, acute, and SNF PTs. Liver cirrhosis is a devastating disease which often ends in cancer, transplant, other comorbidities, or even death. PT plays an integral role and here's more research to back up our services in these settings!
Enjoy the video (transcript below), here's the article, and if you like what you see here then know there is more in our 3 board-approved continuing education courses on Nutrition specific for Physical Therapists. Enroll today in our new bundled course offering and save 20%, a value of $60!
Hey, Dr. Wells here from Nutritional Physical Therapy. Just coming with a research update today. Today will be a good one for our general physical therapists as well as our acute care physical therapists.
This article is published by Hasih et al. It's published in 2024 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases and Science. Effectively, it was a meta-analysis looking at the effect of exercise on body measurements, in...
Protein Timing: Myth or Muscle-Building Essential?
Protein Timing: Myth or Muscle-Building Essential?
For years, athletes and exercise experts like physical therapists have been obsessed with the concept of protein timing. The idea that consuming protein immediately after a workout is crucial for maximizing muscle growth has been deeply ingrained in the fitness community. I can still hear the echoes of the Schoenfeld 2018 article being cited at the NSCA National Conference and Sports Sections at APTA CSM. However, recent research is challenging this long-held belief.
A new study investigated the impact of protein timing on muscle mass and strength gains in resistance-trained men. Surprisingly, the researchers found no significant difference in muscle growth between those who consumed protein immediately after workouts and those who spread their protein intake throughout the day. Check out these graphs to see how little a difference that the protein timing had on muscle performance:
While these findings may seem counterintuiti...
Nightshade Plants and Arthritis: Should PTs Care?
Nightshade Controversy: Implications for Rheumatoid Arthritis Management
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex autoimmune condition often accompanied by a myriad of symptoms. While dietary interventions can significantly impact disease management, the role of nightshade plants remains a topic of debate. A recent registration of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) looking at the role of nightshade plants and inflammation in those with RA will be exciting to read once finalized. Until then, let's look at these plants, how it impacts our PT patients, and how we should educate our clients.
Nightshades, which include tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, have long been associated with increased inflammation. For individuals with RA, this association has raised concerns about potential exacerbation of symptoms. Part of the rationale for these plants causing inflammation is due to the solanine they contain. Solanine is a glycoalkaloid, a type of chemical compound that serves as a defense mechan...
Could Combining Supplements Make the Difference in Knee OA?
Many physical therapists and orthos know the standard supplement for arthritis for years has been glucosamine. But what if you combined other supplements together: could you get a bigger impact and would it be safe? A new study is out that looks at combining supplements and their effects on PT specific measures like pain, ROM, and function. Check out the video with the transcript below and research article here:
If you like what you see here then know there is more in our 3 board-approved continuing education courses on Nutrition specific for Physical Therapists. Enroll today in our new bundled course offering and save 20%, a value of $60!
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Learn about the Top 5 Functional Foods to Fight Inflammation and Pain in Physical Therapy.
Transcript:
Here is a recent article that was published by Mineretti et al in the open access journal called Cureus. This article was a small randomized trial looking at a chondro-protective supplements. So, for a...
Additional Proteins Aid in Muscle Protein Synthesis for Geriatrics
We've known for some time that extra protein for our geriatric clients can help them add some extra lean muscle mass. For physical therapy, more lean muscle mass means better balance, less falls, and greater lifespan. Despite this, the FDA still calls for the standard 0.8g/kg/bw for protein for older adults. Does more protein really help actual muscle protein synthesis? Also, does the protein source matter? I have many clients taking collagen right now, assuming they are getting added joint benefits plus extra protein for the muscles -- but does it help?
We explore these topics and more in our recent video. The transcript of the video is below. Enjoy!
If you like what you see here then know there is more in our 3 board-approved continuing education courses on Nutrition specific for Physical Therapists. Enroll today in our new bundled course offering and save 20%, a value of $60!
Download Your Copy of the Free E-Book:
Learn about the Top 5 Functional Foods to Fight Inflammation an...
Hormones, Balance, and Influencers
The world of hormones is complex and also full of shady pseudoscience, as well as influencers. What's real, what's fake, what should PTs know about. Listen to our video here and sign up for our courses today! Transcript below:
Hey y'all, it's Dr. Wells here again from St. Augustine Beach. Another gorgeous day here. I want to talk today about hormones and influencers.
There seems to be more trends going around on TikTok and Instagram about your hormones and how they should be balanced, particularly for women, to some degree in men, but let's kind of go into some of the myths. I think it's definitely a trend or a fad. The first kind of myth is this notion of like renal or insufficiency or cortisol burnout.
Yes, while people are stressed, people can have sustained or higher levels of cortisol, but there's no current literature showing that by being stressed, you're going to be in a state where you're burning your adrenals out. In some of those rare cases where there's adrenal failure a...
Aswagandha: A PT's Helper for Anxiety and Sleep?
Aswagandha: A PT's Helper for Anxiety and Sleep?
This herbal supplemental is used a lot for sleep, anxiety, so perhaps it could help people with pain? PTs are getting asked this a lot, and many of us don't have the answers...until now! Enjoy the video, read the transcript below, and sign up for our courses today!
Hey y'all, Dr. Wells here again from St. Augustine Beach with another video for you. This one is about ashwagandha. Some of you may have heard of this plant, this herbal supplement.
It's a nightshade plant. The scientific name actually means to induce sleep. The Sanskrit name is for horse sleep.
Some people also call it Indian ginseng. The reason why it's called Indian ginseng is the active compound in it is withanolides. It's a phytochemical steroid-like compound.
It's found in ginseng, so that's why people call it Indian ginseng. Anyhow, it's used for sleep and anxiety. Some people have started taking it recently.
I've had a patient case recently in the last probably s...
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