Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Mary Kneiser and iliotibial band friction syndrome

Iliotibial band friction syndrome has long been acknowledged as one of the most common lower extremities injuries in long distance runners. Physical medicine and rehabilitation experts, such as Mary Kneiser helps in developing rehabilitation regimens for athletes who have iliotibial band friction syndrome or “runner’s knee.”

Mary Kneiser Photo Credit: Medicmagic.net

The condition is caused by repetitive movement of the Iliotibial band, a thick band of fibers running from the hip region to the outer thigh region. When a runner performs continuous unbalanced exercises or activities, such as running only on one side of an uphill road or running in one direction on track, this causes the pelvis to tilt to one side, putting stress on the iliotibial band on the knee. Factors that may lead to incurring iliotibial band syndrome injuries include:

Mary Kneiser Photo Credit: running4women.com

• Overuse syndrome
• Sudden and abrupt physical activities, and increase in training intensity
• Overtraining
• Ill-timed return from injuries
• Faulty biomechanics or movement
• Training flaws

Mary Kneiser and other physiatrists state that there are non-surgical alternatives for treating or alleviating the symptoms of this condition. These include:

• Alteration of warm-up regimens
• Using exercise machines that produce less stress on the iliotibial band
• Using addition heel lifts to compensate for leg length discrepancies
• Cessation or limitation of certain activities

Mary Kneiser Photo Credit: www.remedies-for-natural-health.com

To avoid incurring this type of injury, runners should carefully choose their running shoes, and take time to properly stretch the leg muscles prior to engaging in long distance runs. It is also advised to rectify any training errors to negate possibilities of either exacerbating the injury, or to avoid incurring it.

For more information about Mary Kneiser, log on to www.abilityassessments.com.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Mary Kneiser and muscular dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a hereditary illness, and it causes progressive debilitation and degeneration of a patient’s muscular and skeletal system. Though there is still no cure for this condition, Mary Kneiser and other physiatrists provide patients with various treatments to improve their quality of life.

Mary Kneiser Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

Muscular dystrophy is a condition that weakens the muscles of the body that help it move. People who are afflicted with MD have flawed genetic information, restricting the body from producing the dystrophin, the needed for a healthy muscular system. Over time, the patient’s body is debilitated to a degree that it loses the ability to accomplish simple tasks like walking or even sitting up straight. Among the more common types of MD include:
  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy 
  • Becker muscular dystrophy 
  • Limb-girdle dystrophy 
  • Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy
  • Myotonic muscular dystrophy 

Mary Kneiser Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

Physiatrists such as Dr. Mary Kneiser have determined that muscular pathology or dystrophy is a gender-locked disease, meaning that people who are most likely to develop the illness are males. Many females, though carrying the genetic abnormality, remain unaffected, and are unlikely to develop the disease. Their children, however, may develop the disease. Females who carry the genetic defect have a 50 percent chance of passing the disease to their offspring.

Mary Kneiser Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

Though there is no cure for MD, specialists such as Dr. Kneiser recommend several modes of prognosis aimed at keeping the patient independent of machine aids and to prevent any complications that may arise from the patient’s weakening muscles. Among these treatments are:
  • Assisted ventilation 
  • Medications 
  • Physical therapy
  • Nutritional changes and supplementing 
  • Occupational therapy 
  • Corrective surgery  

Mary Kneiser conducts her practice at Ability Assessments, PC. For more information, visit www.abilityassessments.com.