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VOLUME 31, NUMBER 10
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Alternative Health News
Can There Really Be Too Much of a Good Thing? Never!
Convention and conference season is in full swing! So many incredible events are going on all over the country.
Healing Leaders

Energy is a hot commodity. Society pays dearly for it and for the expertise of those who know how to cultivate it.


VacuTherapies and Working With the Senior Athlete
There are more than 10,000 men and women between the ages of 50 and 90+ that gather every two years to compete in the National Senior Games. These athletes train year round in their chosen sport and participate in yearly local events in order to improve their skills.
A Freebie
Let's face it – patient evaluation takes time. Unless you are really into the diagnostic evaluation game, you probably have found the formal exam protocol tedious if not downright annoying.
Technique Synergy: Blending Unique Combinations for Success
Specific techniques and modalities are the key tools of our profession. But as any artisan or craftsmen will tell you, each tool is only as good as the person using it.
Economics of Complementary/Integrative Care
Although this column doesn't usually feature a book review, we're going outside of our usual public health format to discuss a new book written by Patricia Herman ND, PhD.
The Top 5 Supplements You Need for Self-Care
To propose a mere five supplements for self-care is a presumptuous task. But indeed, those of us in a position to advise others about their health, and offer healing touch, must attend to the proverbial "health thyself," if not heal, at least attend to.
The ABC's of Meeting with Physicians
Have you decided it is time to market your practice to physicians? It is inspiring to know that many physicians see fifteen or more patients a day and some practices have two or more doctors on staff.
The Relevant Way to Rank Your Massage Practice
Every time Google makes another change (panda, penguin, etc.), it can affect your hard earned time spent ranking your massage practice.

Pediatric Massage for Healthy Childhood Development
"Mommy, my tummy hurts!" This is commonly heard in many households throughout North America everyday. Childhood abdominal pain has many different characteristics and can be dull, sharp or feel like cramping.
There Are No Secrets: Treating Complicated Conditions with TCM
Including standardized extra points, there are just over 400 acupuncture points on the body. You get 400 and I get 400 - same. Yet, time and time again treatment protocols are coveted as if they were some secret formula only intended for the right and privileged.
You are What You Eat Part II: Integrative Protocols
In the previous installment of this article I discussed important ideas concerning gastrointestinal health and foundational ideas from TCM, which can provide key insights into creating effective protocols for healing the gut.
Marketing Your Practice: A Lesson in Press Release Writing 101
There are certain things to bear in mind when creating a press release. At the top left, indicate who is sending out the release; in other words, the name and contact information of the person who will be in charge of receiving any phone calls from inquiring press members.
The Journey to Find the Cause of a Pain in the Butt
I hope that title caught your attention because I like to get you questioning and thinking before we begin. I'm going to be talking about a possibly new term I may have just coined: sports butt.
Helping Patients Through Pregnancy Loss
There is a lot of focus in the acupuncture world on fertility and helping women get pregnant. It's exhilarating to hear the news that a patient is expecting a baby. The other side of that is pregnancy loss. That includes abortion, miscarriage or stillbirth.
Peer Points: Stories of Practice Success
When patients go see Arizona-based acupuncturist Jing Liu, it is to get top care from an practitioner well versed in all aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Happenings in Our Evolving Profession
Good things seem to be happening for our profession and recent developments show we are all on board. Talking about being on board, this September The Veterans Express-Purple Heart Tour is expected to make its way out of the station.
Temporary Injunction Granted in FL PIP Case
Circuit Judge Terry P. Lewis issued a partial injunction against the Florida Personal Injury Protection law, putting a halt - at least temporarily - to the portion of the law that requires a finding of an emergency medical condition as a prerequisite for payment of PIP benefits and that prohibits payment for services provided by massage therapists, acupuncturists and chiropractors.
Soft Tissue Tools Help Post-Natal Calf Pain: A Case Study
Do you use massage tools in your practice? Do you work with post-natal women? If so, this month's Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) research column features a case study that might interest you.
Helping Infertility Patients with the Spirit Essence
As many of you know, when it comes to treating infertility, we are dealing with a patient population that is, generally speaking, in emotional turmoil. These patients often experience fear, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, grief and anger.
Specific Considerations when Massaging Seniors
On January 1, 2011, the first baby boomers turned 65. Every day since then, and for the next 18 years, 10,000 people will turn 65 according to the U.S. Census.
The Spirits of the Points: The Gall Bladder Official
The Gall Bladder is known as The Official of Decision Making and Judgment. In any given day, this Official makes countless decisions – conscious and unconscious, which influence every aspect of our being.
Herbal Medicine: Go Mainstream
When it comes to practicing herbal medicine in a mainstream setting, there are a number of important points to understand when it comes to prescribing formulas. Some important questions to ask are - what method of prescribing and dispensing is most effective in this setting?
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Chiropractic Research Review
Senior Health » Geriatrics

Assessing Balance and Gait Impairments: Functional Tools

Functional tools are tests or measures that objectively quantify patients' abilities to perform certain tasks or activities. In today's health care environment, functional tools serve to demonstrate objective function and provide evidence of improvement to third-party payers, agencies, practitioners and patients.



Health care providers have many functional tools available to them. This article focusing on the geriatric patient details the key characteristics of functional tools, the various types of functional tools available, and the benefits of utilizing such tools in clinical decision-making. Included is an overview of specific functional tools for evaluating gait and balance impairments, including:

* Sharpened Romberg;
* One-Legged Stance Test;
* Functional Reach Test;
* Timed Stands;
* Tinetti Assessment Tool;
* Berg Balance Scale; and
* Modified Gait Abnormality Rating Scale (GARS).

Functional tools provide objectivity and encourage standardization while allowing for concise, accurate assessment and recording of functional status. Printed copies of the normative database, the Tinetti Assessment Tool, the Berg Balance Scale, and the Modified GARS are included in the text of the article for clinical use.

Note: One reason this is such a great article is the inclusion of several clinical forms for evaluating your patients!

Anemaet WK, Moffa-Trotter ME. Functional tools for assessing balance and gait impairments. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 1999:15(1), pp66-83.

Chiropractic Research Review
Dynamic Chiropractic
What concerns you most about physical therapists performing spinal manipulation?
Aren't adequately trained to do so
Reduces our potential patient base
Affects our standing with insurers
Reduces referrals from MDs
Compromises our "uniqueness"
Other
It doesn't concern me at all
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