A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine this month is good news for women who want more personalized care for treatment of breast cancer.
10,000 women were followed over 9 years. These women had early stage, receptive to hormones and negative to a receptor called HER2, all characteristics of the most common type of breast cancer. They then had genetic testing and given a score that predicts risk of breast cancer recurrence after surgery. Low scorers can be treated with hormone therapy and high scorers do better with chemotherapy and hormone therapy. The middle scorers were divided into 2 groups – chemo plus hormones or hormones only. After 9 years, the cancer-free rate for both of the groups that scored in the middle after genetic testing were similar, 83-84%.
Side effects from chemotherapy can be very disruptive, so this is study is very exciting for women desiring a more gentle approach.
Within the foundation of osteopathy is the concept that freedom of movement within all structures of the body is the key to their healthy functioning and self-healing abilities. Life is movement, a result of our muscles, bones and organs moving together harmoniously. Visceral manipulation is one such manual technique that fully embraces this concept.
How it works
The viscera, or the internal organs located within the chest and abdomen, have an inherent motion and this motion is connected to the physiological functioning of the organs. Most people don’t realize that our organs are indeed in constant motion as we move. For example, our kidneys slide up and down our Psoas muscle, a major hip and trunk flexor. This is possible because our vertebrae create a frame which is supported by our muscles. Its job is to protect our organs that are enveloped by membranes and serous fluid and allow them to move freely in the cavities formed by the skeleton. When the viscera become restricted, the body is forced to compensate in various ways, leading to a functional problem. And if not remediated it could eventually lead to a structural problem. Getting back to the example of our kidneys, if its mobility is restricted, it can contribute to someone’s back pain.
But how does one lose this mobility in the first place? It can be the result of many factors such as surgeries, diet, posture, and physical trauma, to name a few. A small dysfunction in one area can lead to problems elsewhere in the body due to the interconnectedness of the fascial system. Therefore, the origin of pain can actually be in a different place. The body is essentially forced to develop a compensatory pattern until the source of the dysfunction is located and treated.
The goal of visceral manipulation is to restore homeostasis, or stability, within the affected organ(s). This, in turn, will also positively affect the lymphatic, circulatory and neurological systems that surround the organ being mobilized. Palpating, or using gentle touch, to locate tensions in the fascia (muscles) by a trained hand can reveal much about the organ’s function. This technique allows the practitioner the opportunity to affect deep change through a gentle approach.
Jean-Pierre Barral, a Physiotherapist (R.P.T.) and Osteopath (D.O.), is the developer of the Visceral Manipulation technique. He first developed this technique in France and started teaching it in the United States in 1985. His clinical work observing tissue tension patterns in cadavers along with knowledge of biomechanics lead to the development of Visceral Manipulation which is now used by many health practitioners as an important therapeutic tool.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
How to Avoid Blood Clots and Other Circulatory Health Problems While Flying
Recently, I flew from Colon, Panama, to Dallas, Texas, and then home to Dulles, Virginia – a total of 7 hours on planes. Wow, were my arms tired!
Actually, it wasn’t really my arms that were bothering me at the end of that flight. It was my feet, ankles, and lower legs. They were sore, and they had swelled up so much that they scared me. This had never happened to me before. I made an appointment with Physical Therapist Jessica Coleman, who walked me through the ABC’s of in-flight self-care.
It turns out that I did exactly the wrong things:
I SAT quietly, nearly motionless, for the entire 7 hours that I was flying.
I didn’t drink a lot of fluids, so I wouldn’t have to get up and disturb the person seated beside me.
I didn’t wear compression stockings (I had never considered them before thinking they were too ugly!).
Jessica informed me that I needed a new in-flight routine, including:
Wearing compression stockings. She recommended “Bauerfeind Sports Compression Socks.” I now have a pair. They look normal and they are soft to the touch and super comfortable to wear. Good one, Jessica!
Wearing loose clothing. By wearing loose clothing you will not constrict the fluid flow in your body.
Moving. Jessica instructed me to walk the aisle periodically, as often as possible. I mentioned, “turbulence,” and she responded, “There’s a lot you can do while seated: point your toes, roll your feet in circles to keep the blood moving, turn your feet out and then in, bump your knees up and down, twist from your waist as far as you can, reach your elbows up, bend forward as much as possible to stretch your spine, tense your glutes, then relax.” Repeat every 30-45 minutes.
Drinking lots of water. Staying hydrated enables your lymphatic system to keep fluids moving efficiently through your system. Consuming water also has the inevitable effect of leading to Step 2 above (walking the aisle to the restroom). Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks because they cause fluid retention. Water is best!
And Jessica recommended one post-flight recovery step:
Elevating your feet above your heart. Once you arrive at your destination, lay on the floor or bed, and put your legs up on a wall or headboard. Staying in this simple position for about 20 minutes has been shown to decrease the effects of jet lag and facilitate venous return to the heart, helping you to avoid blood clots. Not to mention making your back, legs, and feet feel fantastic.
If you do experience swelling in your lower limbs after air travel, consider scheduling a session with Jessica, so she can read you the riot act! Or, you can schedule a session of lymphatic massage to gently direct fluids that have accumulated in the body’s tissues back to the cardiovascular system.
On a more serious note, Jessica also pointed out that if you experience swelling and pain in only one leg, if you have a history of blood clots, or you are at an increased risk of getting a blood clot because you recently had major surgery or you are taking certain medications, you should check with your physician before you fly.
The good news: I’ve taken several long flights since February, and by following Jessica’s instructions, I have avoided a second episode of foot, ankle, and lower-leg swelling.
New Breast Cancer Study Supports A More Gentle Approach to Treatment
/in News/by Lisa Lilienfield, MDA study published in the New England Journal of Medicine this month is good news for women who want more personalized care for treatment of breast cancer.
10,000 women were followed over 9 years. These women had early stage, receptive to hormones and negative to a receptor called HER2, all characteristics of the most common type of breast cancer. They then had genetic testing and given a score that predicts risk of breast cancer recurrence after surgery. Low scorers can be treated with hormone therapy and high scorers do better with chemotherapy and hormone therapy. The middle scorers were divided into 2 groups – chemo plus hormones or hormones only. After 9 years, the cancer-free rate for both of the groups that scored in the middle after genetic testing were similar, 83-84%.
Side effects from chemotherapy can be very disruptive, so this is study is very exciting for women desiring a more gentle approach.
Lisa Lilienfield, MD
Visceral Manipulation: What Is It & How Does It Work?
/in Treatments/by Patricia Alomar, M.S., P.T.Within the foundation of osteopathy is the concept that freedom of movement within all structures of the body is the key to their healthy functioning and self-healing abilities. Life is movement, a result of our muscles, bones and organs moving together harmoniously. Visceral manipulation is one such manual technique that fully embraces this concept.
How it works
The viscera, or the internal organs located within the chest and abdomen, have an inherent motion and this motion is connected to the physiological functioning of the organs. Most people don’t realize that our organs are indeed in constant motion as we move. For example, our kidneys slide up and down our Psoas muscle, a major hip and trunk flexor. This is possible because our vertebrae create a frame which is supported by our muscles. Its job is to protect our organs that are enveloped by membranes and serous fluid and allow them to move freely in the cavities formed by the skeleton. When the viscera become restricted, the body is forced to compensate in various ways, leading to a functional problem. And if not remediated it could eventually lead to a structural problem. Getting back to the example of our kidneys, if its mobility is restricted, it can contribute to someone’s back pain.
But how does one lose this mobility in the first place? It can be the result of many factors such as surgeries, diet, posture, and physical trauma, to name a few. A small dysfunction in one area can lead to problems elsewhere in the body due to the interconnectedness of the fascial system. Therefore, the origin of pain can actually be in a different place. The body is essentially forced to develop a compensatory pattern until the source of the dysfunction is located and treated.
The goal of visceral manipulation is to restore homeostasis, or stability, within the affected organ(s). This, in turn, will also positively affect the lymphatic, circulatory and neurological systems that surround the organ being mobilized. Palpating, or using gentle touch, to locate tensions in the fascia (muscles) by a trained hand can reveal much about the organ’s function. This technique allows the practitioner the opportunity to affect deep change through a gentle approach.
Jean-Pierre Barral, a Physiotherapist (R.P.T.) and Osteopath (D.O.), is the developer of the Visceral Manipulation technique. He first developed this technique in France and started teaching it in the United States in 1985. His clinical work observing tissue tension patterns in cadavers along with knowledge of biomechanics lead to the development of Visceral Manipulation which is now used by many health practitioners as an important therapeutic tool.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Return to the Heart
/in Treatments, Wellness/by Kaplan CenterHow to Avoid Blood Clots and Other Circulatory Health Problems While Flying
Recently, I flew from Colon, Panama, to Dallas, Texas, and then home to Dulles, Virginia – a total of 7 hours on planes. Wow, were my arms tired!
Actually, it wasn’t really my arms that were bothering me at the end of that flight. It was my feet, ankles, and lower legs. They were sore, and they had swelled up so much that they scared me. This had never happened to me before. I made an appointment with Physical Therapist Jessica Coleman, who walked me through the ABC’s of in-flight self-care.
It turns out that I did exactly the wrong things:
Jessica informed me that I needed a new in-flight routine, including:
And Jessica recommended one post-flight recovery step:
If you do experience swelling in your lower limbs after air travel, consider scheduling a session with Jessica, so she can read you the riot act! Or, you can schedule a session of lymphatic massage to gently direct fluids that have accumulated in the body’s tissues back to the cardiovascular system.
On a more serious note, Jessica also pointed out that if you experience swelling and pain in only one leg, if you have a history of blood clots, or you are at an increased risk of getting a blood clot because you recently had major surgery or you are taking certain medications, you should check with your physician before you fly.
The good news: I’ve taken several long flights since February, and by following Jessica’s instructions, I have avoided a second episode of foot, ankle, and lower-leg swelling.
Thanks so much, Jessica.
– F.C.