Sunday, March 24, 2019

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a term referred to the psychotherapy treatment that changes patterns of thinking or behaviour that are behind people's difficulties.It is used to help treat a wide range of issues in a person’s life, from sleeping difficulties or relationship problems, to drug and alcohol abuse or anxiety and depression.

This therapy focuses on the thoughts, images, beliefs, and attitudes that people have and how the cognitive process relate to the way a person behaves, as a way of dealing with emotional problems.
With this statements we can say that CBT can be a combination of psychotherapy and behavioral therapy. Psychotherapy emphasizes the importance of the personal meaning we place on things and how thinking patterns begin in childhood. Behavioral therapy pays close attention to the relationship between our problems, our behavior and our thoughts.
CBT is based on a model or theory that express the following idea: If our thoughts are too negative, it can block us seeing things or doing things that don’t fit – that disconfirm – what we believe is true. Feeling distressed, in some cases, may distort one’s perception of reality. Dr. Beck, the father of CBT,  suggested that these thinking patterns are set up in childhood, and become automatic and relatively fixed.
This therapy mainly say that this negative things can and do happen. But when we are in a disturbed state of mind, we may be basing our predictions and interpretations on a biased view of the situation, making the difficulty that we face seem much worse. CBT helps people to correct these misinterpretations.Cognitive-behavioral therapy acts to help the person understand that this is the correct way to going on.

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Art Therapy

Expressing oneself through a drawing, painting, sculpture, or collage makes our thoughts, feelings, and ideas tangible and communicates what we sometimes cannot say through words alone, this is very important and we can do it in a therapeutic way called art therapy.
Even if you believe you can not draw a straight line, you have the capacity to use the creative process. Art therapy uses simple art activities to help people express themselves and develop a sense of well-being; additionally,  the main idea of this therapeutic process is the creativity that you have and the product, but we need to emphasize that art therapy is also an avenue of communication of feelings, thoughts and experiences.
This kind of therapy is commonly used on children and also, it is confused with play therapy because the specialist on this two types of therapeutics process mix the activities to created a special and dynamic relationship with their patients.
The product that art therapy produce are tangible in most cases and this is used for the therapist to help and to understand visually express and record experiences, perceptions, feelings and imagination, among other; they use their vast knowledge of arts-based approaches to enhance young clients’ ability to communicate through creative expression.
Art therapy “works” with the following principles:
  • Non-Verbal:  its simplest definition, art expression is a form of non-verbal communication. For children who may not be able to articulate thoughts, sensations, emotions or perceptions, it is one way to convey what may be difficult to express with words.
  • Sensory-based:  means that it allows the children to experience themselves and communicate on multiple levels (visual, tactile, kinesthetic, etc.)
  • Growth and Development: as we say before art expressions provide useful information on development in children, especially young clients who are 10 years or younger, because differences in artistic development can help us understand something about a child’s emotional experiences, cognition and sensory integration.
  • Self-Regulation: Some sensory characteristics of art making seem to be effective in improving mood, sensory integration, and calming the body and mind.
  • Meaning-Making: the patient can express metaphor or experiences through art expression, so with the guidance of a specialist, these narratives can tell us about some traumatic experiences or disorders on the patient.
  • Right-Hemisphere-to-Right Hemisphere: It is about the patient-specialists´ relationship.

There are some simple art activities that anyone can do:
  • Try to draw something on a sketchbook or sheet anytime you feel stress or anxious, (using colors, shapes and lines to describe how you are feeling today).
  • Simply doodle or draw whatever comes to your mind.
  • If drawing does not stimulate your creative juices, collect magazine pictures, postcards and photos that are soothing to you. Using scissors and glue, make a collage of your images on a large sheet of paper or cardboard.

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Music Therapy

Music is an important part of daily life, people commonly use music to do or made daily activities; for example when they’re cooking a meal, taking a shower, or folding the laundry. For this reason and many others, music is often linked to mood; we know that a certain song can make us feel happy, sad, energetic, or relaxed,  because music can have such an impact on a person’s mindset and well-being.
With this affirmative points, It is not a surprise that music therapy has been studied for use in managing numerous medical conditions. Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions with a therapeutic objective to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. the specialist in this area realize a diagnosis to catch the different needs of each patient. Then,  the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music.
Some of the benefits of this therapeutic context are:
  •  Patients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives.
  • Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words.
  • All forms of music may have therapeutic effects, although music from one's own culture may be most effective
  • It can help us with some special cases, for example: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), dementia, depression or depressive disorder, sleep quality, infant development, etc.

We need to be careful because just as certain music can help induce relaxation and peaceful states, other music may cause agitation. For example, classical music has been found to cause comfort and relaxation while rock music may lead to discomfort.
On therapeutic ways music may be used with guided imagery to produce altered states of consciousness that help uncover hidden emotional responses and stimulate creative insights. other uses are:
  • Music in the classroom to aid children in the development of reading and language skills.
  • Music to create a different environment in a specific situation, as a physical exercise  class, a test, a hospital, etc.
Curiosities-on:

Animal-assisted therapy

Animals have an important role on human life, and they can help us not only with a form of nourishment for our bodies, they also can help us psychologically and emotionally. It is not a new idea to use animals on the process of mental ealing in human therapy, this is nowadays called Animal Assisted Therapy.
Animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic complementary intervention that incorporates animals, such as horses, dogs, cats, pigs, and birds, into the treatment plan.
AAT has roots with ancient Greeks, they were the first to use animals, specifically horses and currently pets animals are used to reduce the levels of anxiety and stress in adult and youth psychiatric patients. The first formal research into Animal-Assisted Therapy was made during the 1960s, Dr, Boris Levinson found that his dog had a positive effect on mentally impaired young patients and he discovered that this patients were more comfortable and likely to socialize with his dog than with others humans.
This therapy works because animals can provide a sense of calm, comfort, or safety and divert attention away from a stressful situation. Some of the benefits that AAT has a very important role on the quality of human life as the followings:
  • They can help people to stabilize their emotions, and improve their communication, self-regulation, and socialization skills.
  • Studies shown that owning a pet can help you live a longer, happier and healthier life.
  • Animals can reduce the risk of heart disease, specially dogs.
  • They can reduce feelings of depression and loneliness, especially on children or young people.
  • Pets ease aggression presented by those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
  • Animals are great for teaching children responsibility and reducing a child’s risk of allergies and asthma.
Curiosities-on:

Friday, March 22, 2019

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an alternative therapy that uses essential oils to help, improve and balance you (emotionally and physically), while helping you to take time out for yourself, even for a moment. Aromatherapy uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it is called essential oil therapy.

The aromas experienced through aromatherapy and essential oils have a dynamic effect on the mind and body. You can use essential oils in any number of ways; for example you can use with body lotions, facial toner, shampoo, or conditioner. On a physical level, essential oils help to ease muscular aches and pains, improve circulation, ease sinus congestion and act as a strong antioxidant.

Aromatherapy is thought of as both an art and a science. Recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine.

Aromatherapy commonly used the followings products: diffusers, aromatic spritzers, inhalers, bathing salts, body oils, creams, or lotions for massage or topical application, facial steamers, hot and cold compresses, clay masks, among others.
Aromatherapy has a lot of benefits such manage pain, reduce stress, agitation or anxiety. It can be used to treat headaches and migraines, respiratory problems and others illnesses.  However, we need to remember that side effects of using essential oils include rashes, nausea, allergic reactions, etc; so the specialist need to be careful and also prepare for this situations.

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Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the use of water for health purposes; also, it is called as water therapy, hydrotherapy, treatments as saunas, steam baths, foot baths, contrast therapy, hot and cold showers, among others. In many European countries, hydrotherapy takes place in spa water, because they suggest that mineral content of the water may make a difference, other studies show that hydrotherapy has significant benefits.

Hydrotherapy can help you on different ways:
  • The warmth of the water allows your muscles to relax and eases the pain in your joints, helping you to exercise.
  • The water can be used to provide resistance to moving your joints.

Scientific studies have shown that hydrotherapy can improve strength and general fitness in people with various types of arthritis. It is effective and you can start slowly and gradually build up your strength and flexibility.  Adsicionally, alternating hot and cold water, you can decrease inflammation and stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage.


Types of hydrotherapy
  • Watsu.
  • Sitz bath.
  • Warm water baths.
  • Steam bath or Turkish bath.
  • Sauna.
  • Compresses.
  • Wraps.
  • Contrast hydrotherapy.
  • Warming socks.
  • Hot fomentation.
  • Hydrotherapy pool exercises.

Precautions

Hydrotherapy may not be appropriate in certain circumstances:
  • Cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure.
  • Fever.
  • Inflammation (Warming may not be recommended for acute injuries).
  • Kidney disease.
  • Cancer.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Decreased sensitivity to hot and/or cold.

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Alternative and Complementary Therapy

Nowadays, it is common used phrases as complementary therapy and alternative therapy, traditional medicine, etc; but they are different things.
A complementary therapy means you can use it alongside your conventional medical treatment. It may help you to feel better and cope better with others treatments, improving your quality of life.
There are many different types of complementary therapy, including:
  • Aromatherapy
  • acupuncture
  • herbal medicine
  • massage therapy
  • visualisation
  • Yoga

An alternative therapy is generally used instead of conventional medical treatment. There is no scientific evidence to show that this therapies can replace medical treatments; for this reason, they can be a risk for the patient. 

We need to remember that there are several different terms commonly used to describe complementary or alternatives therapies. You may see therapies described as:
  • Unconventional therapies
  • CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
  • Integrated healthcare or integrated medicine
  • Traditional Medicine

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Friday, March 15, 2019

Kinesio Tape.

Kinesio Tape, also called Kinesio Tex Tape, is the original elastic adhesive tape developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase in 1979. It is latex-free, hypoallergenic and wearable for days at a time. Additionally, it can be used in athletes, pediatric patients, among other necessary cases.

    This tape alleviates discomfort and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. Kinesio Tape has the ability to re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce inflammation, prevent injury and promote good circulation, and assist in returning the body to homeostasis. With the utilization of single “I” strips or modifications in the shape of an “X”, “Y” or other specialized shapes as well as the direction and amount of stretch placed on the tape at time of application, however; we need to remember that the findings of the clinical evaluation or assessment dictate the specifics of the Kinesio Tape application and other possible treatments or modalities.


    One of the many benefits of kinesiology tape is to provide structural support for weak or injured muscles or joints. While it is not recommended for severe injuries because of its elasticity, it can be used effectively to prevent potentially harmful ranges of motion and to improve static or dynamic postures; for this reason is common see it on athletes who are in competition.

    The key in the treatment of any clinical condition are the evaluation and assessment, this assessment should include manual muscle testing, range of motion testing, gait assessment, and any other orthopedic special tests that you deem necessary. It can be used in conjunction with a multitude of other treatments and modalities within your clinic and is effective during the rehabilitative and chronic phases on an injury as well as being used for preventative measures.

The specialist can applied the Kinesio Tape with 3 steps::
  •     Step 1: Preload the muscles by placing the affected area into a position of maximal stretch. Take your time; once, the maximal stretch has been achieved, this position should be held throughout the taping.
  •     Step 2: Apply one or more “decompression” strips directly over the most painful areas.
  • Step 3: Apply “stabilization” strips around the perimeter of the affected area. This is a good place to use Y-strips.



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Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Physiotherapy: basic concepts.

The Physiotherapy has many concepts that sometimes, when we go to the specialist, we do not understand. On this space, we are going to learn a little of some words that physiotherapists use daily with a patient:
-Abduction - A movement of a limb away from midline or the center of the body.

-Adduction - A movement of a limb toward midline or the center of the body.
-Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) - refer to daily self-care activities like bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding and meal preparation.
- Ataxia - Muscular incoordination especially manifested when voluntary muscular movements are attempted.
- Bilateral - Pertaining to two sides of the body, as in: both arms or both legs.
-Cartilage- It is connective tissue that covers the ends of bones and acts as a cushion to absorb shock and a smooth surface to decrease friction between two or more bones in a moving joint.
- Contracture - occurs when a joint loses motion due to structural changes in the muscle, ligaments or tendons. Contractures are common in stroke as a result of lack of movement.
- Core - Pertaining to the trunk (primarily abdominals and back).
- Deformity - A major difference in the shape of a body part compared to what is normal for that body part. Deformity is most often seen in arthritis and sometimes in severe burn cases.
- Dissociation - To separate. For example: one extremity/limb performs a movement without the other extremity doing the same or similar movement at the same time.
- Distal - Farthest from the center, from midline or from the trunk.
- Extension - A straightening or backward movement of the spine or limbs.
- External rotation - An outward turning of the limb away from the body.
- Fine motor - the action involving the small muscles of the hands, as in handwriting, sewing or knitting.
- Flexion - A bending or forward movement of the spine or limbs.
- Gross Motor - Refers to movement of large muscle groups.Gross motor involves the larger muscle groups of the body to perform bigger movements such as walking or kicking a ball.
- Hamstrings - A muscle group on the back of the thigh that can bend/flex the knee and straighten/extend the hip.
- Hyperextension - Excessive movement in the direction of extension.
- Hypermobility - Movement beyond normal range of motion.
- Hypertonic - Muscle tone higher than normal; resistance to passive movement; in extreme form = spasticity.
- Hypotonic - Less than normal tone; floppy.
- Internal rotation - An inward turning of the limb toward the body.
- Instability - Lack of firmness in weight-bearing. Difficulty maintaining weight bearing.
- Kyphosis - An increased convexity in the curvature of the thoracic spine (hunchback).
- Ligaments- they are the soft tissues that hold two or more bones together.

- Lordosis - An anterior/forward curvature of the lumbar and cervical vertebrae (spine). An increase is often referred to as “sway-back”.
- Lumbar - Pertaining to the low back.
- Motor Control - The ability of the Central Nervous System to regulate or direct the musculoskeletal system in a purposeful act.
- Motor Planning - The ability to organize and perform movement in a meaningful manner.
- Prone - Lying on the belly, face down.
- Proprioception - The awareness of posture, movement, changes in equilibrium, and the knowledge of position, weight, and resistance of objects in relation to the body. Sensed by muscles, tendons, and soft tissue.
- Proximal - Nearest to the point of attachment or center of the body.
- Quadriceps - A large muscle group on the anterior/front surface of the thigh responsible for knee extension.
- Range of Motion - A measure of the amount of movement/motion available at any given joint of the body.
- Reflex - An involuntary/automatic response to a stimulus.
- Sacral - The triangular-shaped bone below the lumbar spine formed, typically, by the fusion of 5 vertebrae.
- Spasticity - Hypertension of muscles causing stiff and awkward movements.
- Supine - Lying on the back, face up.
-Tactile Defensiveness - A negative response or increased sensitivity to touch.
- Tendon- It is the non-contractile unit that transmits the force of the muscle to the bone. Tendons connect muscles to bones.
- Thoracic - Pertaining to or affecting the chest or upper back.
- Tone (muscle) - The degree of tension normally present in the resting state of a muscle.
Curiosities-on:

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Frist aid

The first aid is the primary action to save a person who are at risk of life, but it is a difficult decision because we do not have information about the person, we do not know who is he, what kind of diseases suffered and the most important are we ready and with the necessary knowledge to apply the first aid?

To do a good job, we need to know some basic steps:
  1. Your life is the most important, sometimes people we know first aids forget to look carefully the enviorment and the patient; with this, He/she is in risk and can became in a patient, too. You need to be sure that the patient and all the people or elements that are in the area are safe or in good conditions.
  2. If the area is sure, you can start with the patient. First he/she is counscious or unconscious. Look for a response of the patient, you can ask name, age, where is he/she, what day is or the date (be careful if the patients knows the place and the time, it is important to the paramedics).
  3. If the person is not counscious, call the emergency number of your country !

The first aids have different techniques to save a person's life. One of this technics is:

  • CPR or cardio-pulmonary resusitation: it is one of the most importante because they can prevent the death of the patient for a heart attack. To provied CPR to a patient we need to follow some steps:

  1. Airway: Open carefully the mouth and check that the airway is clean, or in other words, the airway does not has any material or unusual object inside. Open the airway by tilting head with chin lift.
  2. Breathing: Be careful if the patient is breathing or not (if he/she if breathing, you need to pay attention on how he is doing it. It is fast, slow, difficult or is normal)
  3. CPR: if he/she is not breathing and does not have pulse star with CPR (30 chest compressions x 2 breaths).
  4. Desfibrillation: use a AED if the patient does not respond.

You can have also a firts aid kit, that commonly is compouned by:
  • Gloves (sterile)
  • Bandages, roller bandages and tape
  • (Sterile) Gauze
  • Antiseptic wipes and swabs
  • Absorbent compresses
  • Antibiotic cream
  • Burn ointment
  • Mask for breathing (rescue breathing/CPR)
  • Chemical cold pack
  • Eye shield and eye wash
  • First aid reference guide that includes local phone numbers
Curiosities-on:

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

NPL II Origins and Technics



NLP Origins

Neuro Linguistic Programming began its life in the 70s with John Grinder (a professor from the University of California) and Richard Bandler; both men have a fascination with the human excellence, the behavioural patterns, amount others.  They started Modelling three people, Fritz Perls, Virginia Satir and Milton Erickson.

As we say before modelling is the core activity in NLP and it consists in the process of replicating the language and behavioural patterns of an individual who is excellent at some activities. The first three  people, already mentioned, was the 'models’ of Grinder and Bandler with their unconscious excellence. Through NLP Modelling both men made explicit the skills that the three geniuses have and with this the NLP was  born.


Grinder and Bandler presented two books in 1975, “Structure of Magic I and II.” The books put NLP on the world and,  with the interest that appears in the society, they started to offer some courses to share the information with others. NPL teaches the world that the most important communication is not between people but within people.


NLP Research and Recognition Project

The clinical psychologist Frank Bourke created a non-for-profit organization,called the NLP  Research and Recognition Project. The main idea was to expand the clinical investigation into Neuro-Linguistic Programming.

Dr. Bourke has been using NLP clinically since the early 70’s  and with the 9/11 attack , he designed and applied a rehabilitation to the survivors of the WTC building; as a result he founded the organization because he considered that science need  this implementation.


Popular NLP Techniques

Eye Accessing Cues: Grinder and Bandler discovered the different movements that eyes do when people are talking , thinking or listening. This movements indicate whether one is using pictures, words, sounds, or feelings when thinking, remembering or learning; they are called essing cues.


The body language is also a Technics or method in curiosities-on we have an example













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Sunday, February 17, 2019

NPL and its Principles

What is NLP?
Neuro Linguistic Program is the practice of understanding how people organise their thinking, feeling, language and behaviour to produce the results they do. Commonly, NLP is used for personal development and for success in business; additionally the NPL has a key elements, that is the study of de internal mental maps of the world as a product of the way that people filter and perceive information through their senses.

Now, we are going to study a little about the words that compound the NLP:

The word 'Neuro' is referred to the mind or brain and also, about how states of mind and body affect communication and behavior; as we said before, people have mental maps that are constituted of internal images, sounds, tactile awareness, internal sensations, taste, smells, amount others (this is the “neuro” aspect). The word ‘Linguistic’ is referred to the personal meaning that assigned for the information received from the world outside; on other words, we select a language to our internal map, it can be verbal and nonverbal communication. At last, the word ‘Programming’ is referred to the behavioural response that occurs as a result of the neuro linguistic processes; also, it is referred to be ability to change our mind and body states.

To discover the world of NLP, the people have some others to do it, they are NPL Modelling, NLP Training and NLP Application.


  • NLP Modelling: It is the highest skill level in NPL, Modelling can be used to capture patterns of excellence present in anyone or in any context. Communly, it uses the activity of compared someone who is excellent with someone that is mediocre at the same thing. 
  • NLP Training: they are the beginners that start to share thief knowledge about NLP .
  • NLP Application: a practitioner can employ the necessary skills as an agent of change working with individuals, groups, companies or in others environments.

On other hand; we need to remember that all the theories, investigations or ideas are based on pillars of foundations in this case we have four of this:
  • Rapport: it is the connection that people have with others. Rapport can be built quickly through technics as eye accessing, preferences, traditions,etc.; It is and important gift from NLP to the people.
  • Sensory awareness: NLP invited you to notice that the world is much riches and different when you take the time to see it and to pay attention on it.
  • Outcome thinking: An outcome is your goal for doing something, this principle may help to make the best decisions and choices, it connects to thinking about what you want.
  • Behavioral flexibility: It means being able to do something differently if the way you are currently doing it; it is about being flexible to find fresh perspectives and to build these habits into your repertoire.

Curiosities-on: 



Sunday, January 20, 2019

Biomechanics


   
   Biomechanics is a science part of the larger field of kinesiology, it is focusing on the mechanics of movement; it is a multidisciplinary science that combines biological and medical knowledge with engineering. Biomechanics includes how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement. Also, the mechanics of blood circulation, renal function, and other body functions; it studies not only the human body, it studies animals and even extends to plants and the mechanical workings of cells, too.

     This beautiful science includes some elements, as the followings:
  • Statics: Studying systems that are in equilibrium or forces associated with not-moving. 
  • Dynamics: Studying systems that are associated with moving. 
  1. Kinematics: Describing the effect of forces on a system, motion patterns including linear and angular changes in velocity over time. Position, displacement, velocity, and acceleration are studied.
  2. Kinetics: Studying what causes motion, the forces and moments at work.


     There are multiple specialty areas in biomechanics, such as cardiovascular biomechanics, cell biomechanics, human movement biomechanics (in particular orthopedic biomechanics), occupational biomechanics, and sport biomechanics. Specialties with biomechanics include:
  • Biological Science: Studies of human, animal, cell and plant biomechanics.
  • Exercise and Sports Science: Applying biomechanics to human performance in athletics. 
  • Health Sciences: Researching causes, treatment and prevention of injury and using biomechanics to design rehabilitation programs and equipment. 
  • Engineering and Applied Science


     Study this science is very difficult because is not a common career, a biomechanics' student take courses about physics, biology, anatomy,  psychology, mathematics and engineering. Also, the student with doctorates can work with different aspects: research and design by sports companies, athletic research and testing, workplace testing and design of interfaces between humans and equipment. The applications of biomechanics are wide-ranging and some examples include the use of biomechanical analysis in the design of implantable artificial prostheses, such as artificial hearts and small-diameter blood vessels; in the engineering of living tissues, such as heart valves and intervertebral discs; and in injury prevention related to vehicle accidents, etc.

     
In Venezuela the most common way to studied about biomechanics is with health sciences or sports. The following aspects are included in the study of biomechanics:
  • Biomechanics can be applied to individuals, analyzing their movements and coaching them for more effective movement during exercise, sports, work, daily activities, etc. 
  • Biomechanics can be used in the design of sports equipment, clothing, shoes, etc. 
  • Biomechanics can study sports techniques and training systems and develop ways to make them more efficient.  
  • Biomechanics can be applied to studying the causes, treatment, and prevention of injuries. The research analyzes the forces at work that can lead to an ankle sprain and how shoe design or the playing surface might reduce the risk of injury.

Curiosities-on