Stress Management: Maintaining Balance
19.08.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Pain Management: Controlling Your Life, Stress Management: Maintaining Balance
An intriguing article discusses a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine that indicates the practice of Tai Chi may improve symptoms of Fibromyalgia (a global pain condition that may include significant symptoms of fatigue).
According to the article, 66 people with Fibromyalgia were divided into two groups. One group did hour-long sessions of Tai Chi twice a week for 12 weeks while the other had twice-weekly wellness education classes followed by gentle stretching.
The Tai Chi group experienced “decreased pain and increased ability to do daily tasks without pain; less fatigue, depression and anxiety; and an overall better quality of life. Furthermore, they reported better sleep quality and improved physical conditioning.”
Although the article stated that the study had no definitive answer as to exactly how Tai Chi had generated these improvements, principle investigator Chenchen Wang, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at Tufts Medical Center, Boston noted, “the physical component of Tai Chi can improve aerobic capacity, strength and muscle function. But in my opinion, the most important part is mental. You see lots of patients improve their depression and become good friends with each other.”
These results are very promising and yet another indication of the value of non-pharmacological techniques and practices to help increase well-being and quality of life.
Article available at: http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=642242
Study abstract available at: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0912611
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
04.08.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Reinforcing Relationships, Stress Management: Maintaining Balance
Although it is not new evidence that therapy can be effective for children and adolescence, a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that single-episode (30min) talk therapy sessions for kids in the ER for violent injuries can drastically reduce future incidents of violence.
The article reports that the original study centered around a program called SafERteens which “involved more than 700 kids aged 14 to 18 who had visited an emergency department in Flint, Mich., from noon and 11 p.m. any day of the week between September 2006 and September 2009.”
Results showed that “after three months, participants in the therapist arm showed a 70 percent to 76 percent reduction in violence, including peer aggression, compared with the controls.” Most strikingly, the article points out that that the authors (headed by Maureen A. Walton, Ph.D., research associate professor, department of psychiatry, Addiction Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) concluded “for every 10 kids seen, a single 30-minute intervention would prevent one violent episode in the future.”
I think this is an extremely significant conclusion indicating the effectiveness of psychotherapy in our society to reduce teen violence and alcohol abuse. Furthermore, although it may cost at cost to the hospitals etc, it is likely that it may reduce cost in the long run as a result of overall teen violence.
Article available at: http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=641797
Original study available at: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/304/5/527
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
12.07.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Stress Management: Maintaining Balance, The Wounded Heart: Heart Disease and You
A recent article summarizes a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology indicating that overall picture of cardiac care has improved overtime in the U.S. This included factors ranging from people becoming more aware of heart attack symptoms, quicker visits to the ER/Hospital, better pharmaceutical care, hospital procedure outcomes, less mortality.
According to the article, Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a cardiology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, noted, “These findings show the substantial efforts to provide physicians and hospitals with detailed feedback on performance coupled with targeted quality improvement efforts are producing measurable and meaningful benefits to cardiovascular disease patients.”
Article available at: http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=641040
Original study located at: http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/short/56/4/254 (Journal Access Needed)
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net
03.06.2010
Lifestyle Coaching: Changing Your Path, Stress Management: Maintaining Balance, What is Biofeedback?
A new study out of Indiana University indicates that certain breathing exercises done regularly can “reduce [athletes'] need for oxygen [and] helps boost performance during endurance sports such as cycling and swimming.”
The researchers “found that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) significantly reduced the amount of oxygen required by breathing muscles during exercise, making more oxygen available for other muscles.”
The article stated that IMT, “Involves the use of a hand-held device that creates resistance while inhaling, requiring a person to make greater use of inspiratory muscles.”
“After six weeks of IMT training, inspiratory muscles required about 1 percent less oxygen during low-intensity exercise and 3 percent to 4 percent less oxygen during high-intensity exercise.”
Although the study involves a relatively small sample size of 16 male cyclists, it is very exciting to see such research that involves breathing associated with biofeedback, sports psychology, and physiological training and rehabilitation. It’s a great start!!
Article available at: http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=639730
Study abstract available at: http://www.abstractsonline.com/Plan/ViewAbstract.aspx?sKey=3ac12429-3e7f-481e-96de-3fc67b36ea2f&cKey=fa65fab0-325a-4cf1-8f4e-e884fae4dd41&mKey={24A58842-A6E4-47C5-889B-B8D603BBBA25}
Dr. Schwartz
San Diego Psychologist
www.integrative-health.net