Monday, November 21, 2011

Posture... Sit Up

http://www.journal-advocate.com/ci_18121116?source=most_viewed

Key Bullet points:

Poor posture while sitting changes digestion and breathing. Remember when we talked about how important it is to digest and receive our gu qi, or food energy from what we digest?

Remember how important it is to breathe properly to gain ta qi, or air for the functioning of the body?

The reason that your posture is so important while sitting or standing is for the proper functioning of the body`s digestive and respiratory functions.

Posture... sit up

Dr. Teresa C. Hill, For the Journal-Advocate

There are many exercises and stretches that can be given to relieve or improve back pain. Exercises and stretches can also aggravate back pain if not properly prescribed at the right time in recovery. Most importantly, some patients will need very simple exercises while others are happy doing a series of exercises and stretches.

It has been my experience, over the last 25 years, that most patients will only do the very minimum. So, try to focus their degree of activity to their specific needs. The posture is the most important aspect in improving spinal health. Remember when your parents kept reminding you to "Stand up straight?" One of the best and most effective ways to begin your journey to better posture is to use the wall as your plumb line. Most walls are pretty straight up and down, depending on the carpenter. Place your heels against the wall, your buttocks against the wall and then your shoulder blades and back of your head against the wall. Get the idea of what that feels like and try to maintain that posture when you exercise and walk.

Maintain those landmarks (heels, buttocks, shoulder blades and back of the head) against the wall and then add deep breathing to flex and extend the muscles of the spine. Your breathing is an important aspect of your posture. Then, add the arms in an "airplane type" action, out from the body. Hold this position while you breathe deeply and maintain your landmarks for as long as you can. Then when your arms get tired, go one more step and stretch them upwards with thumbs now touching the wall. Hold this position for as long as you can and then when you`re tired bring them all the way down to your side. I consider this as one repetition. You will want to begin slow and work up to five repetitions, three times per day.

For those with a "bubble butt," or hyper lordosis, while you are doing the above exercise gently squeeze the buttock muscles together. Pretend to squeeze a silver dollar between your buttock muscles. This can vastly improve problems in the pelvic region.

Have you ever watched how people will sit in their chairs? Oh my, what a generation of slouches. Watch your children as they sit at the dinner table, or watch TV. Remind yourself, as well as your loved ones, to sit up straight. Poor posture while sitting changes digestion and breathing. Remember when we talked about how important it is to digest and receive our gu qi, or food energy from what we digest? Remember how important it is to breathe properly to gain ta qi, or air for the functioning of the body? The reason that your posture is so important while sitting or standing is for the proper functioning of the body`s digestive and respiratory functions.

Protecting your spinal column with proper posture and exercise will serve you well now and in the future. As always, God bless America and our troops. Yours in good health!

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Good Posture : an Upright goal

To all,

Powerful article I came across today:

**Over the long term, poor posture can cause spinal compression, reduced lung capacity, chronic back and neck pain, poor circulation, and even poor psychological health. A study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness in 2000 reported that individuals with poor posture were more likely to have a poor self-image and less self-confidence.

**Poor posture also creates muscle imbalances where some become too long and weak while others become too short and strong. This can create chronic joint pain along with other pathologies such as headaches, fatigue, and pinched nerves.

***Poor posture often elicits a judgmental response from others, generally on the negative side, when someone who is slouching is thought to be weak, easily cowed, and even less intelligent. So, yes, when a parent chides a child to "stop slouching," there is good reason for all the fuss. But the parent should also set the example in the first place.

http://www.denverpost.com/fitness/ci_19167066?source=rss

Achieving good posture an upright goal

Spinal alignment means body's at its most efficient

By Linda J. Buch

Don't sit for long periods of time. Get up and move around every 20 minutes. (Chicago Tribune file)

Q: I work in an office with a variety of people and notice that most of us have "slumpy" posture while we are at our desks. Often this translates to similar posture when standing as well. What are the long-term effects of poor posture and what can we do about it? — Cathy Lee, Portland, OR

A: "Posture" can be defined as muscular balance and spinal alignment that allows the body to perform with efficiency while also protecting the body from injury and/or deformity.

Good posture, when standing, will allow a plumb line to drop from the ear through the shoulder and hip, bisecting the knee and ankle joint; the head is erect and sits directly over the neck and spine; the joints are all working together equally and the body is performing at maximum efficiency.

Pushing against all of this glorious equilibrium are cars, office chairs, computers, heavy backpacks, briefcases, purses, and a substantial number of hours sitting in front of a TV or game station. Way too many of us are going through life looking like commas (,) instead of exclamation points (!).

Over the long term, poor posture can cause spinal compression, reduced lung capacity, chronic back and neck pain, poor circulation, and even poor psychological health. A study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness in 2000 reported that individuals with poor posture were more likely to have a poor self-image and less self-confidence.

Poor posture also creates muscle imbalances where some become too long and weak while others become too short and strong. This can create chronic joint pain along with other pathologies such as headaches, fatigue, and pinched nerves.

Poor posture often elicits a judgmental response from others, generally on the negative side, when someone who is slouching is thought to be weak, easily cowed, and even less intelligent. So, yes, when a parent chides a child to "stop slouching," there is good reason for all the fuss. But the parent should also set the example in the first place.

Postural awareness is the first step to bringing a body back into balance and equilibrium from poor posture pathology. This involves more than just pulling the shoulders back when the "posture reminder" floats through the brain.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, proper sitting posture includes:

• Keeping feet on the floor or on a footrest. Ankles should be in front of the knees.

• Keep a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat.

• The backrest should support the low and mid-back.

• Shoulders should be relaxed with forearms parallel to the ground.

• Do not sit for long periods of time. Get up and move around every 20 minutes.

Proper standing includes:

• With knees slightly bent, bear your weight primarily on the balls of the feet.

• Keep feet shoulder- width apart and let the arms hang naturally at your side.

• Stand tall with stomach tucked, and shoulders/shoulder blades pulled back and down, respectively.

• The head should be level, with earlobes in line with the shoulders.

While genetics can sometimes play a part, poor habits and fitness levels are the usual culprits. The posture-improvement prescription should include an assessment from a qualified professional such as a physical therapist, chiropractor, or certified fitness trainer.

The Egoscue Method, Alexander Technique or Rolfing are other options. A strength- training program that will bring all muscles into their proper balance should be implemented. Massage, yoga, T'ai Chi, and Pilates are good activities to improve flexibility and relieve stress.

Linda J. Buch is a certified fitness trainer in Denver; linda@ljbalance.com.

Read more: Achieving good posture an upright goal - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/fitness/ci_19167066?source=rss#ixzz1bp8yuC2F
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

FW: Stand Up Straight if you want to stay young

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2044867/From-hunched-walking-like-duck-Stand-straight-want-stay-young.html?ITO=1490

From hunched back to walking like a duck: Stand up straight if you want to stay young

By Peta Bee

Last updated at 12:54 AM on 4th October 2011

Stand up straight! It’s the cry of generations of mothers — and they were right to nag. Not only is poor posture ageing, but it can contribute to pain and immobility.

Here, PETA BEE guides you through the most common postural problems and asks leading experts for the best ways to avoid and tackle them...

The most common change in posture as we get older is that our bodies gradually revert to the foetal position

ROUND SHOULDERS

The most common change in posture as we get older is that our bodies gradually revert to the foetal position: the head and shoulders shift forwards, the chest curls inwards and the spine crunches from a healthy S-curve to a less healthy C-position as the pelvis tilts forward.

The main cause is weak abdominal muscles from years of sitting in a hunched position.

This places uneven pressure on the discs — the cushioning pads — between the bones of the lower back, over time causing them to become compressed and painful.

‘If you look around, you see many people over 50, particularly women, who are starting to develop this stance,’ says Carolyn Hewison, physiotherapy manager for the Nuffield group of hospitals and an expert in postural issues.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: ‘By middle age we have often developed such poor postural habits that our body and brain have simply forgotten where things should be,’ says Ms Hewison.

She advises standing up straight several times a day with your back to a wall, heels against the skirting board and your shoulders and the back of your head touching the wall.

More...

‘Try to maintain the position as you walk away,’ she says. ‘The more often you do this, the more accustomed your abdominal and back muscles become at providing the necessary support.’

Sammy Margo, of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, also recommends a sitting exercise to stretch out the chest muscles.

Sit on a chair with your feet hip-width apart and elbows tucked into the waist. Your hands should be on your knees with the palms facing upwards.

Breathe in and sit up straight, keeping the neck relaxed. Breathe out, gently pulling your navel to your spine.

Breathe in again and, keeping the elbows at the waist, draw your forearms out to the side to open out the chest. Repeat several times a day.

SPLAYED FEET

The reason older people often walk with their feet turned out like a duck is to stay balanced.

As the muscles that wrap around the abdominal area to support the spine weaken with age, your ability to stay steady on your feet is reduced.

Some people compensate by turning the feet and toes outwards in a subconscious attempt to provide better support for the body, says Ms Hewison.

‘Stiffness in the hips can also cause people to adopt a splayed out walking style. Foot problems such as bunions can make matters worse by forcing you to alter the way you walk.’

WHAT YOU CAN DO: It’s never too soon to start strengthening the abdominal muscles and Pilates is perfect for this, says Ms Hewison.

Calf raises (lifting up onto the balls of your feet as if you are putting on high heels) can also help to improve walking style by strengthening muscles in the lower legs.

Gym exercises to strengthen the back and abdominal muscles can be helpful, too.

Or try the lower back raise: lie face down with legs stretched out and toes pointing downwards. Push your hips into the floor and rest your forehead on the floor. Place the palms of your hands on your buttocks and breathe in. As you exhale, raise your upper body slowly off the floor in a controlled movement. Hold briefly before lowering back down. Repeat the lift three to five times.

HUNCHED BACK

From the age of 25 on, all of us suffer from sarcopenia - a gradual loss in muscle mass. An average one fifth of a pound of muscle is lost a year

A hallmark of old age, the so-called dowager’s hump, or kyphosis, is characterised by a rounded, upper back, sometimes with a visible hump. Shoulders are usually hunched forward.

‘It’s caused by a partial collapse of the spine due to compression of the vertebrae in the upper back,’ says Dr Tom Crisp, a sports physician and lower back expert at the Barbican BUPA medical centre, London.

‘Often it is a result of osteoporosis and the fractures that can cause.’

Another problem is that from the age of 25 on, all of us suffer from sarcopenia — a gradual loss in muscle mass. An average one fifth of a pound of muscle is lost a year.

Beyond the age of 50, the process speeds up, causing a loss of up to 1lb of muscle a year. Studies suggest sarcopenia is a risk factor for osteoporosis and postural problems such as a curved spine.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: ‘You can lessen the risk of getting a hump just by being active from as young an age as possible to slow the rate of bone loss linked to osteoporosis,’ says Dr Crisp.

‘Bone mass peaks at the age of 30, and there is a gradual decline after that. However, there is evidence that you can stem the drop in bone mass by keeping the muscles that support the spine fit and healthy.’

Some weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, aerobics or skipping, is important, says Dr Crisp. But so is resistance or strength-training — try working out with Dynabands (large elastic exercise bands) or Swiss Balls, both of which can strengthen bones, ligaments and muscles.

There is no means of preventing sarcopenia completely, but the latest research suggests the best preventative measure is regular weight training.

‘Muscle function can improve — sometimes robustly — with resistance training, even after the onset of sarcopenia,’ says Robert Wolfe, a professor of geriatrics at the University of Arkansas and a leading expert in this area.

‘It’s far more effective to begin it before the process gains momentum and to start at the age of 40, but it’s never too late.’

Rather than lifting just a few light weights every so often, Professor Wolfe recommends a high intensity of effort (70 per cent of the maximum weight someone perceives they can lift) a couple of times a week for 15 to 30 minutes, with exercises for all the major muscle groups.

STIFFNESS

The loss of that youthful S-curve in our spine is often down to reduced mobility in the hips and pelvic area. As a result, the body becomes stiff, rigid and appears old.

‘Elastic tissue in the ligaments disappears as we get older,’ says Dr Crisp.

‘That, combined with the accumulation of minor injuries to joints over the years will compound stiffness.’

WHAT YOU CAN DO: ‘Move about more often,’ is Dr Crisp’s simple prescription.

‘Make a rule to yourself that you won’t stay in the same position for longer than 20 minutes.

‘Exercise lubricates the joints and is the best preventative medicine for postural problems.’

When sitting on soft chairs or a sofa, consciously tip your pelvis forward and sit up as high as you can, says Ms Hewison.

‘This will help to retain a nice S-shaped curve of the spine. Placing a foam roll in the curve of your spine can also help when you are sitting for longer periods, for example, when driving.’

Hula hooping helps keep the pelvic area and lower back mobile and flexible.

Swimming also strengthens muscles, particularly if you vary the strokes you use.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2044867/From-hunched-walking-like-duck-Stand-straight-want-stay-young.html#ixzz1ZvLglBBA

FW: Stand up Straight: Exercises can help posture

http://thesouthern.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/c8b488da-ee49-11e0-9dda-001cc4c03286.html

Exercises can help posture, spare you back pain down the line

Stand up straight!

BY JULIE DEARDORFF, McClatchy-Tribune News thesouthern.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 12:00 am | No Comments Posted

(COURTESY ART SERVICES)

"Poor posture isn't just disrespectful; it will ruin your spinal health and leads to a dreadful life," said Gloria Starr, an international business coach who teaches posture at her North Carolina finishing and etiquette school.

When your frame is aligned - meaning your heels, knees, pelvis and neck are stacked on top of each other - it moves more efficiently, can carry heavier loads, tires less easily and is less susceptible to strain or injury.

But the minute you sit down to update your Facebook page or drive to the store, you'll likely drop your chin, tilt your head forward and round or hunch your shoulders. This pulls your muscles and ligaments out of balance - some muscles grow tight while others become weak - leading to back and neck pain, headaches, fatigue and other problems.

Still, it takes years to develop slouched shoulder syndrome and vulture neck, conditions that can't be reversed overnight. Simply increasing physical activity doesn't necessarily help; when a person with bad posture becomes more active it's "like driving around with a crooked axle and hoping that the driving will straighten it out," said Esther Gokhale, founder of the Gokhale Method, which treats chronic pain through postural adjustments.

The moves

If you're having pain, get your posture assessed by a physical or occupational therapist who can test muscle strength and flexibility, and can make adjustments to your work station if you have a sedentary job. The following exercises can also help strengthen the muscles that grow overused and tight.

The OJ squeeze: When shoulders hunch, the muscles that stabilize the shoulder - the rhomboids and mid-trapezius muscles - become weak.

Try it: Pretend you're holding an orange between your shoulder blades and try to squeeze it to make juice by bringing the shoulder blades (scapula) down and together, said physical therapist Paul Drew, the author of the book "Red Carpet Posture." Hold for 10 seconds. You'll also stretch out the front of your shoulders, which may be tight from slouchy desk posture.

The shoulder roll: Hunching the back forward compresses the front section of certain spinal discs and squeezes the contents backward, similar to squeezing one side of a s'more, said Gokhale, author of "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back." "Over time, this action wears and tears the fibrous exterior at the back of the disc," she said.

Try it: Move one shoulder forward, upward and as far backward as you comfortably can without significantly moving your body. Gently slide your shoulder blade down along your spine. Your shoulder may settle further back than usual. Repeat on the other side.

The 5-minute rest: The eyes are often overlooked when it comes to posture. Once they're overused or fatigue, the head moves forward, taking us out of alignment, said Donna Eshelman, a Los Angeles-based Feldenkrais practitioner who teaches posture improvement to desk workers.

Try it: Lie on your back for five minutes. "Cup" your eyes by interlacing your fingers and placing the heels of your hands on your cheekbones and outer eyes to block out the light. This will help "oxygenate your fatigued muscles, improve breathing and restore your alignment," said Eshelman. Repeat once an hour.

Towel chest stretch: To keep the shoulders from rounding forward, stretch out the chest muscles and strengthen the mid-upper back, said fitness expert Tracey Mallett, a Pilates instructor and personal trainer.

Try it: Stand tall with your legs shoulder-width apart, holding a rolled-up bath towel - one end in each hand, said Mallett. Keeping the bath towel taut, reach the arms forward at shoulder height. Exhale and pull the arms up and as far back as you can; you should feel a stretch in the pectoral muscles. Hold for two breath cycles and then return the arms back to shoulder height. Repeat five more times.

Plank: Strong transversus abdominus muscles, which are the deep back and abdominal muscles closest to your spine, protect your discs and nerves from impact, said Gokhale.

Try it: Begin in push-up position, with your arms straight. Imagine a straight line from your legs through your torso to your neck. Don't sag or lift your butt. If your shoulders are tensed toward your neck, roll them open, Gok-hale said. Hold for up to a minute. This will "strengthen the muscles that keep your spine happy and lengthened," she said.

Posted in Health-med-fit on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 12:00 am Updated: 12:29 am. | Tags: Mind And Body, Posture, Back

FW: bad posture = Body Aches in young Executives

http://www.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20110926-301455.html

>> ASIAONE / HEALTH / NEWS / STORY

Young execs' bad posture to blame for body aches

By Gwendolyn Ng

Young working adults are increasingly seeking physiotherapy for aches and pains caused by seemingly harmless occupational hazards, like poor posture in the office.

The Singapore Physiotherapy Association estimated that the number of adult patients seeking treatment here has risen by about 30 per cent in the last three to five years.

The association's president, Mr. Low Hsien Chih, said at a World Physical Therapy Day event at the National Library Building yesterday that there was also a change in the profile of these adult patients.

Mr. Low said: "Previously, we used to get patients who come in when they sustain injuries or get into an accident. But, now, we see seemingly fit and healthy people who come in with ailments."

He pointed to two reasons for the rising numbers: A sedentary lifestyle and greater awareness of the help available in the form of physiotherapy.

"Many (young adults) sit in front of a computer for at least eight hours a day. This causes a lot of stress as the human body is not designed to sit for a long time," Mr. Low explained.

As a result, neck and back injuries are common, even among young adults who have been working for just a few years, he added.

Engineer Liew Kim Hoe, 38, is familiar with the discomfort that bad posture at work can bring.

For the past five years, he experienced stiffness and pain in his neck and shoulders as he slouched over his computer for up to six hours a day.

He said: "At first, I brushed it aside as I thought it was something minor and had to do with the natural process of ageing."

Two years ago, the pain got so bad that Mr. Liew had to leave the office in the afternoon to see a doctor.

He said: "I felt so stiff that I didn't want to continue sit- ting in front of a computer." Working adults can avoid such woes by taking breaks every 45 minutes to stretch for about two to three minutes, said principal physiotherapist Cai Cong Cong of Alexandra Hospital.

Mr Low also said that there is another group of adult patients prone to injuries - the "weekend warriors".

These people are mostly sedentary on weekdays but active on weekends.

Their bodies, he said, may not be conditioned to what they put themselves through.

For more my paper stories click here.

FW: Sloucher, Straighten Up!

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/sc-health-0921-fitness-posture-20110913,0,2841037.story?track=rss

Straighten up, sloucher

These exercises can help your posture, which could spare you back pain down the line.

(Bill Hogan/Chicago Tribune)

By Julie Deardorff Tribune Newspapers

2:20 p.m. EDT, September 13, 2011

Poor posture can make you look 10 pounds heavier. It could sabotage a promotion. And slumped or hunched shoulders are a major reason why back pain affects 80 percent of Americans at some point in their life.

"Poor posture isn't just disrespectful; it will ruin your spinal health and leads to a dreadful life," said Gloria Starr, an international business coach who teaches posture at her North Carolina finishing and etiquette school.

When your frame is aligned — meaning your heels, knees, pelvis and neck are stacked on top of each other — it moves more efficiently, can carry heavier loads, tires less easily and is less susceptible to strain or injury.

But the minute you sit down to update your Facebook page or drive to the store, you'll likely drop your chin, tilt your head forward and round or hunch your shoulders. This pulls your muscles and ligaments out of balance — some muscles grow tight while others become weak — leading to back and neck pain, headaches, fatigue and other problems.

Still, it takes years to develop slouched shoulder syndrome and vulture neck, conditions that can't be reversed overnight. Simply increasing physical activity doesn't necessarily help; when a person with bad posture becomes more active it's "like driving around with a crooked axle and hoping that the driving will straighten it out," said Esther Gokhale, founder of the Gokhale Method, which treats chronic pain through postural adjustments.

These moves can help you stand up straight

If you're having pain, get your posture assessed by a physical or occupational therapist who can test muscle strength and flexibility, and can make adjustments to your work station if you have a sedentary job. The following exercises can also help strengthen the muscles that grow overused and tight.

The OJ squeeze

When shoulders hunch, the muscles that stabilize the shoulder — the rhomboids and mid-trapezius muscles — become weak.

Try it: Pretend you're holding an orange between your shoulder blades and try to squeeze it to make juice by bringing the shoulder blades (scapula) down and together, said physical therapist Paul Drew, the author of the book "Red Carpet Posture." Hold for 10 seconds. You'll also stretch out the front of your shoulders, which may be tight from slouchy desk posture.

The shoulder roll

Hunching the back forward compresses the front section of certain spinal discs and squeezes the contents backward, similar to squeezing one side of a s'more, said Gokhale, author of "8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back." "Over time, this action wears and tears the fibrous exterior at the back of the disc," she said.

Try it: Move one shoulder forward, upward and as far backward as you comfortably can without significantly moving your body. Gently slide your shoulder blade down along your spine. Your shoulder may settle further back than usual. Repeat on the other side.

The 5-minute rest

The eyes are often overlooked when it comes to posture. Once they're overused or fatigue, the head moves forward, taking us out of alignment, said Donna Eshelman, a Los Angeles-based Feldenkrais practitioner who teaches posture improvement to desk workers.

Try it: Lie on your back for five minutes. "Cup" your eyes by interlacing your fingers and placing the heels of your hands on your cheekbones and outer eyes to block out the light. This will help "oxygenate your fatigued muscles, improve breathing and restore your alignment," said Eshelman. Repeat once an hour.

Towel chest stretch

To keep the shoulders from rounding forward, stretch out the chest muscles and strengthen the mid-upper back, said fitness expert Tracey Mallett, a Pilates instructor and personal trainer.

Try it: Stand tall with your legs shoulder-width apart, holding a rolled-up bath towel — one end in each hand, said Mallett. Keeping the bath towel taut, reach the arms forward at shoulder height. Exhale and pull the arms up and as far back as you can; you should feel a stretch in the pectoral muscles. Hold for two breath cycles and then return the arms back to shoulder height. Repeat five more times.

Plank

Strong transversus abdominus muscles, which are the deep back and abdominal muscles closest to your spine, protect your discs and nerves from impact, said Gokhale.

Try it: Begin in push-up position, with your arms straight. Imagine a straight line from your legs through your torso to your neck. Don't sag or lift your butt. If your shoulders are tensed toward your neck, roll them open, Gokhale said. Hold for up to a minute. This will "strengthen the muscles that keep your spine happy and lengthened," she said.

Do devices help?

"Ergonomic training," or teaching people how to sit at their desk, is one of the most common ways to improve posture. But can gadgets such as posture braces (think SkyMall magazine), posture clothing and even posture necklaces also help?

In general, postural supports or harnesses "can be a helpful reminder to not slump the upper body forward," said Esther Gokhale. The iPosture device, a microchip that clips to your shirt or a necklace and vibrates when you slump, could be useful for this as well, but there's no evidence to show that it actually works.

The problem with many of the devices is "they don't improve pelvic position, which is the key to sustainable, healthy posture," Gokhale said. "Ultimately, there is no product that can substitute for knowing what to do with one's own body. Devices can only be useful in conjunction with an education in healthy posture."

One promising device, however, is a webcam that provides desk workers with pictures of how they currently look alongside a photo of their own correct posture. A study in the current issue of Applied Ergonomics found that use of the webcam, in conjunction with conventional training, resulted in sustained improvement. An effective intervention should be "a continuous process that provides frequent feedback," said the Israeli researchers.

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stooped Posture possibly related to blocked blood vessels in the brain

http://www.austindailyherald.com/2011/09/24/signs-of-aging-could-point-to-blocked-vessels-in-the-brain/

Signs of aging could point to blocked vessels in the brain

Published 4:16pm Saturday, September 24, 2011

Email Comments

Many common signs of aging, such as hands that shake, stooped posture and walking slower, may be due to tiny blocked vessels in the brain that can’t be detected by current technology, according to a study in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association September 2011.

In the study, researchers examined brain autopsies of older people and found:

• Microscopic lesions or infarcts — too small to be detected using brain imaging — were in 30 percent of the brains of people who had no diagnosed brain disease or stroke.

• Those who had the most trouble walking had multiple brain lesions.

• Two-thirds of the people had at least one blood vessel abnormality, suggesting a possible link between the blocked vessels and the familiar signs of aging.

In 1994, the researchers began conducting annual exams of 1,100 older nuns and priests for signs of aging. The participants also donated their brains for examination after death.

This study provides results on the first 418 brain autopsies (61 percent women, average 88 years old at death). Although Parkinson’s disease occurs in only 5 percent of older people, at least half of people 85 and older have mild symptoms associated with the disease.

Before the study, researchers believed that something more common, such as microscopic blocked vessels, might be causing the physical decline.

The study’s autopsies found the small lesions could only be seen under a microscope after participants died. The lesions couldn’t be detected by current scans.

During the annual exams of the nuns and priests, researchers used the motor skills portion of a Parkinson’s disease survey to assess their physical abilities. “Often the mild motor symptoms are considered an expected part of aging,” said Buchman, who is also a member of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center.

“We shouldn’t accept this as normal aging. We should try to fix it and understand it. If there is an underlying cause, we can intervene and perhaps lessen the impact.”

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