Ando and Aston Physical Therapy Blog

We are pleased to announce that Arlene Dragon, Pilates Instructor, has joined our Wellness team. She continues to work at McCoy-Rigby in Yorba Linda as a ballet and mat Pilates instructor. She will now be able to offer reformer, trap table, wunda chair, ladder barrel and the rest of the Pilates toys we have at Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy. Arlene’s instructional offering will include Pilates private, semi-private, duet classes, reformer-only classes and mat classes. Call the clinic at 714.974.0330 for her days and times of availability. Welcome Arlene!
Comments are appreciated.
Dr Art Ando,
Comprehensive Physical Therapist

Well, it’s surgery time again. With families coming home from vacation, students getting ready to go back to school, medical deductables now paid, surguries are on the seasonal rise. This week I’ve had 2 separate calls on PT advice on ACL reconstruction so I thought I’d post some thoughts.

1. Do everything the surgeon and PT tell you, don’t cheat!
2. Using crutches and waiting a bit before the surgery will help get the swelling down. Getting pre-operative PT during this time is even better, you’ll know the exercises and the whole PT drill ahead of time.
3. If you do go for a cadaver graft (the advantage is that you don’t have another wound from the graft site), make sure you take it extra easy for the first few months, many with that surgery feel so good they stretch the graft out.
4. To decrease the pressure in the knee before and after surgery, wear shoes! Sandals MUST have an arch to them, no barefeet! Use Superfeet (full length blue if you can’t take the original insole out, green if you can, 3/4 length dress inserts in ‘Diesel’ like shoes) inserts in your shoes, they work (Dr. Scholls and most others are junk) and are inexpensive (compared to customs). Nordstroms, REI (and Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy of course) carry them.
5. Make SURE you ask your doctor for, get and use a CPM, at night for sure, and through day, to get in your 8 hours. Arrangements for this have to be done BEFORE the surgery.
6. Make SURE you ask your doctor for, get and use an ice machine, even if you have to buy one for $2-300. It is worth it. Arrangements for this have to be done BEFORE the surgery. Ask for the size that holds 6 frozen water bottles instead of plain ice, the bottles will last 8 hours, ice 4-5, and getting up in the middle of the night to recharge the ice just won’t happen… cycle through another set of 6 bottles in the freezer, leave some an inch of airspace in the bottle when you fill, so they don’t split open when frozen.
7. Stay out of pools, tubs until the wound is completely closed. When showering keep the wound dry using a simple sealing technique I have used several times myself. Use a thumb-size piece of Vaseline, spread it in a 2-3″ wide path completely around, but not touching, the wound, cover this with a single piece of plastic kitchen wrap. Have a paper towel handy to wipe up the Vaseline after showering.
8. Only take the serious pain meds (Vicodin, Percocet, Darvocet, Tylenol w/codeine etc) only when you have pain, taking it by time is a sure way to increase risk for developing a dependency in just a few days. This does not apply to over the counter pain meds like Advil or regular Tylenol.
9. Remember: most ACL reconstructions come out stronger than the original ligament, so work hard in PT and hang in there!

Comments are welcome.
Dr. Art Ando
Physical Therapist

There are many hurdles young throwers may have to face. The very act of throwing is fairly aggressive requiring a unique combination of flexibility and strength. The epitome of this combination is expressed in elite pitchers, who some say, are born, not made.

One of the important structural elements of throwers is at the elbow. The ‘carrying angle’ is a measurement of the slight angle at the elbow. This is best seen when the elbow is fully straight. Normally the carrying angle is about 11 degrees valgus (forearm turned outward in relation to upper arm) in adult males and 13 degrees in adult females.

An increase in carrying angle puts more stress to the medial elbow structures (ulnar collateral ligament, flexor-pronator muscles, medial epicondyle and ulnar nerve) and makes them more susceptible to traction injuries. The increase in carrying angle can be due to trauma, developmental abnormalities or adaptive changes to repetitive stress.

During the overhead throwing cycle, large medial tensile force generated on the elbow stresses the medial structures in the late cocking and acceleration phases. Therefore, it is not uncommon for overhead throwers to develop an increase in carrying angle due to the repetitive stress. As a result of the combination, these athletes are prone to injuries such as medial epicondylitis, ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency, ulnar neuritis, etc. Most of them experience pain during acceleration phase of throwing.

In most cases, the increased carrying angle is due to the inefficient alignment/ hypomobility of the 3 bones (humerus, radius and ulna) that formed the elbow joint and/ or soft tissue tightness and Physical Therapy can help this condition!

Recently, a 14-year old baseball player with medial epicondyle microtrauma has been treated at Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy. The patient had an increased carrying angle of 20 degree and pain with throwing when he first came in. After 6 weeks of treatment (joint/ soft tissue mobilization and exercise program) he is able to throw and play continuously for more than 20 innings without pain and his carrying angle has decreased to 12 degrees!
Comments are welcome.
Gary Aston PT

I’m home 2 weeks now from a 6-day 60 mile backpacking trip in Yosemite CA. The trip was beautiful as it was demanding, our last night was a dry-camp on North Dome, just across Tenaya Canyon from rockclimbers ascending Half Dome. At night their tiny flashlights marked their ‘campsite’ to us, I’m sure just as our modest fire did ours to them.
The real story began 2 weeks before I left, involuntarily sidelined from chronic exercise this Spring and Summer, I started walking the 2 miles uphill and 2 miles downhill to home after work to get into shape for the trip. When my right ankle started hurting, I did what most people do, i.e., wish it would go away. 3 days later I did what PT’s are supposed to do, start treatment! A quick assessment by Gary Aston PT, acupuncture by Shannon Heninger, Rolf method work by Ken Smith and a few Advil was all I had time for before the trip began.
My Yamuna massage ball survived the pretty serious weight-reducing paring of equipment and food. Good decision. Every night I had to explain to my hiking buddies what I was doing rolling my hips and back on a massage ball. By the 3rd day it was being used by others as well. The self-massage and a daily jump into the nearest (freezing) lake or river (PT’s call this cryotherapy) was just what the PT ordered…
When I got home from the trip, I weighed myself and saw my post-trip weight was the same as my pre-trip weight. But not for long…after the 2nd post-hike massage, my weight started to drop, 4 pounds so far, with maybe 1-2 to go. This phenomena I am experienced with. Backpacking, even with very light loads (in my case 28 pounds with 6 days of food and 2 liters of water) is very stressful, and my body gets a bit swollen especially in my lower extremities. The post-hike treatments helped get those 4 pounds of edema (water) out of my body faster than just waiting, and the muscle work was great as well.
Not all have the opportunity to get the help to get ready for a rigorous trip, or to recover quickly from one like myself, but there has to be an advantage working at Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy, right? Just kidding, we would do the same for you too…
Comments are welcome.
Dr. Art Ando
Physical Therapist

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal noted that scientists have isolated the effectiveness of acupuncture to an increase of adenosine, a neurotransmitter. Adenosine levels rose 24-fold in the surrounding tissue of the skin following placement of the needle. Adenosine has been shown to reduce inflammation, regulate heart rate, and have an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system therefore decreasing pain sensation. To read this article click on the link below:
online.wsj.com /article

In other studies acupuncture has also increased the circulation of other neurotransmitters, serotonin and endorphins in the body. Serotonin is closely involved with mood and emotion. When there is a lack of serotonin symptoms such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and sleep disorders can occur. Endorphins are the “feel good” chemical that increases pleasure and decreases pain. In fact, the word endorphin is short for “endogenous (self-produced in the body)morphine”. It is interesting to note that deficiency of endorphins can lead to addictive behavior, pain intolerance, depression and emotional lability. The increased circulation of both of these neurotransmitters can contribute to the deep relaxation and oceanic “floaty feeling” that people report after receiving acupuncture.

These studies demonstrate that acupuncture grants access to the bodies self-healing mechanisms, giving us more knowledge on why acupuncture alone has proven to be effective in many of the aforementioned disorders. For more information, check out this resource:
California acupuncture consumer guide

If you feel that you could benefit from Acupuncture or have any questions please contact Shannon Hennigar L.Ac. at Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy (714) 974-0440.

Comments are welcome.

Ando and Aston Physical Wellness Therapy is the only Physical Therapy center in Orange County offering Guided Imagery and Clinical Hypnosis.

Guided Imagery is the language of the mind, the oldest form of healing on the planet. Before we had a verbal or written language, we used mental images in the mind.

A perfect example is worry. Every one worries and plays the mental image over and over in the mind. When you worry, it creates a chemical change in your body. A lot of worry compromised the immune system. When we change the pictures in the mind, we change the chemistry in the body.

Imagery is getting in touch with all your senses. Touch, taste, smell, feel see, or just know. An example is imagining biting into a juicy lemon. Notice if you salivate or need to swallow just thinking about it.

Hypnosis is a common every day event that all people experience. A good example is when driving your car on the freeway and missing your exit…. you were thinking or concentrating on something. You were safe, in control, eyes open and still missed your exit. Another example is when a child is focused or concentrating on a snail on the sidewalk and he only hears you calling him when your voice finally reaches a high pitch, breaking him out of the snail trance.

While you are wide awake and you are in control, as you allow your body to experiencing a wonderful deep physical relaxation, the clinical hypnosis therapist offers you positive suggestions that are good for the body and accepted by the mind. Example: “Your lungs enjoy fresh air” for a smoker wanting to stop smoking.

Imagery and hypnosis are both very powerful holistic, ancient healing modalities.

Give Yourself a Treat and Experience
The Powerful Alternative Healing Modalities
Guided Imagery and Clinical Hypnosis

Rhona is available at Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy Monday through Fridays and is also available for hospital and home visits. For more information please visit www.Rhonaimagery.com or by calling Rhona Jordan, C.GIt. C.CHt at (714) 974-4094.
Comments are welcome.

Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy will be covering Peter Pan at the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a 11-week run starting in September. This new production of J M Barrie’s classic story direct from engagements in London and San Francisco has amazing puppets, epic music, dazzling flying scenes and the world’s first 360-degree CGI theater set.
Looks like I’ll have plenty of ribcage work to do given the flying harnesses they use.
Check out the promo video! See you there!

http://www.ocpac.org/home/Events/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1079&NavID=122

(you’ll need to copy/paste into your browser)

Comments are welcome.
Dr Art Ando
Comprehensive Physical Therapist

Ever hear of the saying “Use it or lose it”? We sure say it at Aston Physical Wellness Therapy!
Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia are providing more details on the relationship between exercise and osteoporosis.
Here is the technical info…
Declining estrogen levels have long been associated with osteoporosis, but bone density starts to decline years before these levels drop. It’s during that time that levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), released by the pituitary gland to help regulate ovarian function, actually increase. These higher levels of FSH decrease bone mineral density by increasing cytokines. One cytokine in particular, interleukin-1, signals certain cells to transform into osteoclasts, which break down and resorb bone.
After measuring follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and bone mineral density in 36 women between the ages of 20 to 50, the researchers correlated higher FSH levels with lower bone mineral density. Additionally, they found that study participants who exercised more than 180 minutes a week retained greater bone density.
Take home message: exercise promotes factors that keep bone breakdown under control, so go out there and “use it” before you “lose it”!
Comments are welcome.
Dr. Art Ando
Physical Therapist

Did you know we offer the only Yamuna Body Rolling Classes in Orange County? Perhaps you’re wondering “What is Yamuna Body Rolling and how can it benefit me?”

Everyone can benefit from Yamuna Body Rolling. Whether you’re a dedicated athlete or a couch potato, Body Rolling is fun and you feel better in your body immediately. It requires only a ball and may be practiced at home. Because the balls are inflatable and take up little space, they are ideal for travel. It’s like having a therapist in your suitcase.

Yamuna Body Rolling is practiced on a six to ten inch inflatable ball according to specific routines, in a sequence that follows the logic of the neuromuscular system. The general idea of Body Rolling is this: Muscles release from origin to insertion. Following this logic you place the ball at the point where a muscle begins, where tendon touches bone. You release your body weight towards the ground or other solid surface via the ball, and then you breathe, wait and feel for change.

Call Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy (714) 974-0330 and register for a class with Barbara Nelson, one of 38 Yamuna Body Rolling Practitioners in the State of California.

Women’s Health Physical Therapist Dr. Jamie Taylor of Ando & Aston Physical Wellness Therapy was recently the guest speaker at the May 2010 Ebell Club meeting in Anaheim Hills. Dr. Taylor spoke about women’s health issues and the benefits that physical therapy has to offer. The highlights included the many changes that occur to a woman during the menopause transition.

Urinary incontinence and pelvic pain are two very common, under-treated issues that have a huge impact on an individual’s quality of life. Physical therapy can help decrease pelvic pain/dysfunction, and restore urinary continence and control through specialized manual therapy techniques and individualized rehabilitation programs.

According to the research over 200 million people are affected by urinary incontinence worldwide, and approximately 25 million adult Americans, 75-80% which are women. Research also shows that 1 in 7 women in the U.S. are affected by chronic pelvic pain that stems from a wide range of issues including vulvodynia, vaginismus, painful bladder syndrome, post abdominal or pelvic surgery, adhesions, and many other issues.

Dr. Taylor is available for consultations. Comments are welcome